Signed by Governor Jan Brewer

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts "religiously affiliated employers" from providing health insurance coverage for contraception based on a religious objection.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a  “religiously affiliated employer” to require an insurance company to provide a contract without coverage for prescribed drugs or services used as contraceptives and outpatient contraceptive services due to religious objections of the “religiously affiliated employer” (Secs. 1-5).

• Defines a “religiously affiliated employer” as an entity that either (Secs. 1- 5):
• Primarily employs people who share the religious beliefs of the entity;
• Primarily serves people who share the religious beliefs of the entity; and   
• Is a non-profit organization; or
• Is an entity whose articles of incorporation “clearly state” that it is a “religiously motivated     organization” whose religious beliefs are “central” to the organization's operating principles.

• Requires health-care providers to provide coverage for prescription contraceptive methods ordered by a health-care provider for medical purposes besides the following uses (Secs. 1-5):
• Contraception;
• Abortifacient;
• Abortion; and
• Sterilization.

• Authorizes religiously affiliated employer to require employees to first pay for prescription contraceptive methods and then submit a claim to a health care services organization along with providing evidence that the prescription is necessary for a medical purpose other than those prohibited by the objections of the employer(Secs. 1-5).

• Prohibits a religiously affiliated employer from obtaining a employee's protected health information (Secs.1-5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts "religiously affiliated employers" from providing health insurance coverage for contraception based on a religious objection.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the following entities to refuse to provide health insurance coverage for specific items or services if doing so would violate the entity’s religious beliefs (Sec. 1-5):
• Employers;
• Hospital service corporations;
• Medical service corporations;
• Dental and optometric service corporations; and
• Other entities.

• Requires the entity to file a written affidavit with the insurance company stating the objection to coverage (Sec. 1-5).

• Exempts prescription contraceptive methods from the provisions of this bill, provided that they have been prescribed by a health care provider for medical purposes and not for any of the following purposes (Secs. 1-5):
• Contraceptive;
• Abortifacient;
• Abortion; or
• Sterilization.

• Authorizes an employer or other entity offering an insurance plan to require the subscriber to first pay for a prescription and then submit a claim to the entity for reimbursement with evidence that the prescription is not being used for a purpose included in the entity's written objection to coverage (Sec. 1-5).

• Prohibits an employer from obtaining an employee’s protected health information (Sec. 1-5).

• Specifies that this act does not restrict or limit any protections against employment discrimination that exist in current federal or state law (Sec. 1-5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts "religiously affiliated employers" from providing health insurance coverage for contraception based on a religious objection.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the following entities to refuse to provide health insurance coverage for specific items or services if doing so would violate the entity’s religious beliefs (Sec. 1-5):
• Employers;
• Hospital service corporations;
• Medical service corporations;
• Dental and optometric service corporations; and
• Other entities.

• Requires the entity to file a written affidavit with the insurance company stating the objection to coverage (Sec. 1-5).

• Exempts prescription contraceptive methods from the provisions of this bill, provided that they have been prescribed by a health care provider for medical purposes and not for any of the following purposes (Secs. 1-5):
• Contraceptive;
• Abortifacient;
• Abortion; or
• Sterilization.

• Authorizes an employer or other entity offering an insurance plan to require the subscriber to first pay for a prescription and then submit a claim to the entity for reimbursement with evidence that the prescription is not being used for a purpose included in the entity's written objection to coverage (Sec. 1-5).

• Prohibits an employer from obtaining an employee’s protected health information (Sec. 1-5).

• Specifies that this act does not restrict or limit any protections against employment discrimination that exist in current federal or state law (Sec. 1-5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes employers to refuse to provide health insurance coverage of contraception due to religious objections.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the following entities to refuse to provide health insurance coverage for specific items or services if doing so would violate the entity’s religious beliefs (Sec. 1-5):
• Employers;
• Hospital service corporations;
• Medical service corporations;
• Dental and optometric service corporations; and
• Other entities.

• Requires the entity to file a written affidavit with the insurance company stating the objection to coverage (Sec. 1-5).

• Exempts prescription contraceptive methods from the provisions of this bill, provided that they have been prescribed by a health care provider for medical purposes and not for any of the following purposes (Secs. 1-5):
• Contraceptive;
• Abortifacient;
• Abortion; or
• Sterilization.

• Authorizes an employer or other entity offering an insurance plan to require the subscriber to first pay for a prescription and then submit a claim to the entity for reimbursement with evidence that the prescription is not being used for a purpose included in the entity's written objection to coverage (Sec. 1-5).

• Prohibits an employer from obtaining an employee’s protected health information (Sec. 1-5).

• Specifies that this act does not restrict or limit any protections against employment discrimination that exist in current federal or state law (Sec. 1-5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes employers to refuse to provide health insurance coverage of contraception due to religious objections.

Highlights:

• Authorizes employers to refuse to provide health insurance coverage of contraception due to religious beliefs or moral convictions, whereas existing law limited the authorization to religious employers (Secs. 1-5).

• Exempts prescription contraceptive methods when prescribed by a health care provider for medical purposes other than (Secs. 1-5):
• Contraceptive;
• Abortifacient;
• Abortion; or
• Sterilization.

• Requires a claim to be submitted with evidence that a prescription is not, in whole or in part, for contraceptive purposes before an employer with a religious or moral objection is required to provide health care coverage for the prescription (Secs. 1-5).

• Repeals the requirement that prohibits religious employers from discriminating against an employee who independently obtains insurance coverage or prescriptions for contraception (Secs. 1-5).

Full Bill Text