Wheaton College ends student health plans over birth control

“The college is considering all of its options and will explore the possibility of again offering a (student health insurance plan) in the future if circumstances allow us to do so in good conscience”. The school will continue providing health insurance for its faculty and staff.

Wheaton’s student development vice president Paul Chelsen told students during a July 23 information session that the school will provide hardship funding for some students losing insurance. In 2010, Wheaton added a requirement that students enroll in or provide proof of insurance every year.

While other religious schools and organizations have gone along with the provision, Wheaton College officials found it unacceptable and at odds with its spiritual teachings.

On July 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit denied Wheaton’s request for a preliminary injunction.

One of America’s most prestigious Christian colleges is dropping its healthcare coverage for students. That’s because, while the provision allows the school to register religious objections to covering contraception, the opt-out would result in the students getting the coverage anyway. A lawyer for Wheaton told the Tribune that the college does not want any part of an insurance plan that would provide services it finds morally reprehensible. “For the government to do that is to effectively change the terms of the plan”.

The Obamacare birth control mandate originally required employers to provide 20 types of contraception to employees at no cost, but the administration offered an accommodation in response to outcry from religious employers that oppose certain types of birth control.

“I just feel it is a very sad thing”. “Wheaton is really overstepping its bounds”.

“What has brought us here is about student health insurance, but it’s bigger than student health insurance”, Chelsen said. “I can’t make any promises. But we’re going to give it our best shot”.