Healthcare plan law would ‘ignore religious freedom and conscience’

Christian retailers have expressed concern and retail groups have condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in June upholding ObamaCare as constitutional. 

The court upheld the law, formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including its mandate requiring individuals to buy health insurance and employers with 50 employees or more to provide insurance to their workers, Associated Press (AP) reported.  

ObamaCare will punish businesses of all sizes, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said. 

“The court missed an opportunity to redress the many shortcomings of the law,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “As it stands, the law wrongly focuses more on penalizing employers and the private sector than reducing health costs.”

Curtis Riskey, CBA executive director, told Christian Retailing that the implications of the healthcare plan on small businesses are “uncertain because no meaningful guidelines for employers exist that would enable them to make business plans or budget for changes.”

“We are also concerned that the law ignores religious freedom and conscience, and many could be penalized for standing up for their faith if they don’t provide specific health services,” he said. 

Andrew Criswell, owner and CEO of Pee Dee Christian Book & Supply in Florence, S.C., was also unhappy with the ruling. 

“Medical insurance is the single-largest recurring line item in our monthly budget,” said Criswell, a CBA board member. “It is breaking our back, but I’d hate to lose the staff members who are covered by it if I drop it. 

Berean Christian Stores Chief Operation Officer Bill Nielsen said it’s too early to say what the impact of the ObamaCare ruling what be on the 18-outlet chain.

Berean will “seek the advice of insurance specialists to help us navigate any regulation issues, especially knowing that the upcoming elections and sequential congressional bills that could result may have as much or more effect than recent court rulings on the future of healthcare in our country,” he said. 

Munce Group President Kirk Blank said the ObamaCare decision should not be the focus for Christian retailers.  

“While we are certain that many in our group are not happy regarding the ruling, we know that our job is to impact the kingdom of God by putting Christian products into the hands of people as quickly and efficiently as possible,” he said. 

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) criticized the ruling. 

“President Obama repeatedly assured Americans that if they liked their health insurance, they could keep it,” said RILA President Sandy Kennedy. “However, with just 17 months until the law takes effect, and no meaningful implementation guidelines available for employers, those assurances are in doubt. While retailers are committed to continuing to provide health coverage to their employees, over-regulation jeopardizes their ability to do so.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins also said new federal regulations will “toss aside the constitutional right to religious freedom by forcing religious institutions and employers to pay for abortion-causing drugs, contraceptives and sterilizations,” he said.

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