Religious nonprofit groups won’t have to pay for birth control under Affordable Care Act proposals

Women who work for nonprofit religious institutions such as hospitals and universities will get free birth control without their employers paying, under new proposals from the Obama administration.

The proposals come after a growing movement of more than 50 organizations challenged the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employees’ health insurance plans cover contraception. Among the most recent was Hobby Lobby, a national arts and crafts retail chain run by a family with strong religious beliefs.1

Under the new proposals, the eligible organizations …