Wheaton College stops student health care over birth control objections

Wheaton College will no longer offer students health care coverage plans starting Friday.

The college announced last month that they would stop student insurance plans to avoid having to provide coverage for birth control that is mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

Providing the “morally objectionable products” would interfere with the college's religious freedom, Wheaton's Student Development Vice President Paul Chelsen wrote in an announcement on the school's website July 22.

Colleges and universities are not required to provide health care coverage for their students.

Wheaton officials held a health insurance information session for students July 23. Staff answered questions regarding how the estimated 700 students affected by this move should go about getting covered.

During the session, Chelsen confirmed the college has objections to contraceptives including Plan B, ella and intrauterine devices.

Chelsen says money will be available for students facing financial hardships without the student insurance. “Funding will be made available for students who were enrolled in the student health insurance plan for the 2014-2015 school year and are experiencing an increase in health insurance costs in comparison to the announced 2015-2016 student health care plan,” Chelsen said.

Wheaton College is directing all questions to their attorneys at the Becket Fund. The Becket Fund focuses their work on “protecting the free expression of all religious traditions,” according to their website.

The Becket Fund could not be reached for comment.