U.S. proposes new rule to strengthen birth control access through Obamacare

The U.S. government on Monday proposed a new rule allowing women enrolled in Obamacare plans to get access to birth control even if their employer, school or health plan objects on religious grounds.

The rule could help expand coverage for "tens of millions of women across the country" who have access to birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) said.

Contraceptives have been in focus since abortion rights were sharply curtailed by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

Under 2018 rules, some women and covered dependents could get contraceptive access only if their plan sponsor voluntarily signs a form saying the organization would not cover contraceptive services on religious or moral grounds.

That left many women without access to no-cost birth control if their sponsor did not sign the form, the HHS said.

The new rule seeks to make a pathway that would allow women access to contraceptives through a willing provider at no cost even if the sponsor objects and refuses to sign the form.

The rule would also remove moral exemptions granted to private health plans and insurers to exclude coverage of contraceptive services.

LISTEN | Exploring the history of abortion rights in Canada: 

Front Burner29:47How safe are abortion rights in Canada?

The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had secured constitutional protections for abortion in the country for nearly 50 years, raises questions about whether something similar could happen here. Canada has its own historic Supreme Court ruling that protects abortion rights: R. vs. Morgentaler. It still stands. But is it ironclad? Or could it be overturned, too? Today on Front Burner, we explore the history of abortion rights in Canada, just how protected they really are, and how much sway the anti-abortion movement has here. We talk to Kelly Gordon, an assistant professor at McGill University and co-author of the book, The Changing Voice of the Anti-Abortion Movement: The Rise of Pro-Woman Rhetoric in Canada and the United States.