The Compelling Interests a t Stake in the Contraceptive Coverage Rule

1. The Compelling Interests at Stake in the Contraceptive Coverage Rule

2. IFHobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood have religious rights, AND IFthe contraceptive coverage rule substantially burdens these rights, Next question for the Court: Does the rule forward compelling interests?

3. Safeguarding public health Furthering gender equality

4. Public health • Birth control is critical preventive care • Greatly reduces unintended pregnancy and its consequences • Depression • Delayed prenatal care • Greater incidence of domestic violence • Health conditions exacerbated by pregnancy • Independent health benefits • Pre-term birth and low birth weight • Poorer mental and physical health for children

5. Public health • Eliminating cost-sharing critical to avoiding unintended pregnancy • Increases access to most effective methods • Ensures most appropriate contraception available • Removes barriers to effective use • Data demonstrate the impact

6. Gender Equality Contraceptive coverage requirement— • Remedies gender discrimination in health care plans • Addresses the economic harm to women imposed by the cost of contraception • Promotes greater social and economic opportunities for women

7. Denial of Coverage =Harm to Women • These compelling interests demonstrate the harm threatened by denial of coverage. • Increased financial burden for women affected • Increased risk of unintended pregnancy with negative health, social, and economic consequences • Past religious exercise cases sharply distinguish between exercising religion and imposing it on others. • Religious exercise has not previously been held to provide a license to harm third parties or deny the rights of third parties.