The U.S. 3rd Circuit Court in Philadelphia ruled against the Mennonite owners of Conestoga Wood Specialities challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s rule that mandates employers provide insurance coverage for contraception. The ruling upholds a lower court’s denial of a preliminary injunction. The lower court ruled that Conestoga Wood did not qualify for an exception as a religious employer, since it is a for profit company making a secular product.
The owners of the East Earl, Lancaster County based company claimed the new health insurance requirement that they pay for employee’s contraceptive services violate their free speech and religion rights.
The case is one of more than 60 across the country challenging the rule mandating contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act.