‘ObamaCare’ Forces Popular Christian Liberal Arts College To Drop Student Health Insurance

ObamaCare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, has just negatively affected another batch of Americans in Chicago. ObamaCare’s “contraception mandate” has been causing headaches for countless organizations that have sought religious exemption from said mandate. It has been hit or miss for organizations seeking the exception, and according to the Daily Caller, Wheaton College will end its student health insurance on Friday. The decision would’ve happened a lot sooner, but the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court cases opened the option for the Christian school to try to opt out of ObamaCare.

Sadly, for students at Wheaton College, the health insurance that it provided will no longer be offered. The Christian liberal arts college explained in a July 22 statement.

“We regret that we were not able to provide earlier notice of this significant change, which affects roughly a quarter of our student body. 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 Christian college had been in an on again, off again legal battle over the ObamaCare’s contraception mandate since 2012, and finally lost its battle on July 1. A federal appeals court denied the school’s request for an injunction while they had a lawsuit waiting to be heard. Wheaton College decided to abandon the suit against ObamaCare and end their student health insurance program.

Without being mandated by ObamaCare, in 2010, Wheaton College pushed the requirement for students to enroll in health insurance or show proof they had insurance. The Christian liberal arts school made its decision to stop offering health insurance July 10, USA Today reports. Wheaton College Student development vice president Paul Chelsen feels the move to end the student’s health insurance because of ObamaCare is regrettable, but about something bigger.

“What has brought us here is about student health insurance, but it’s bigger than student health insurance. What really breaks my heart is that there are real people that are affected by our decision. But if we don’t win this case, the implications down the road in terms of what the government will tell us what we can and cannot do will be potentially more significant. I acknowledge that students have been hurt by this decision and I regret that. But protecting the case is important because the government is telling the school it has to offer something it finds ‘morally objectionable’.”

Wheaton ranks 56th, as far as liberal arts schools go. The school motto is “For Christ and His Kingdom,” which certainly gives credence to their status as a school rooted in their faith, and a school unwilling to do something against their faith or their students.

The decision to abandon ObamaCare is not unique to Wheaton. The Inquisitr reported last Friday that 7.5 million Americans opted to reject ObamaCare, and pay the individual mandate penalty. More are expected to turn down the mandate care.

What are your thoughts? Was this a good or bad move for the school?

Though it has legal backing, should the “contraception mandate” be applied to faith-based organization, other than churches?

Leave your thoughts.

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