US Supreme Court Archives

This December, the US Supreme Court will hear the case of a UPS worker who sued the shipping company for making her take unpaid leave when she got pregnant.

The complainant Peggy Young requested to be given lighter duty or other tasks during her pregnancy but was told to take unpaid leave instead.

The company argued that it only had to make special accommodations for

injured employees and not for pregnant ones under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Young argues the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act says you have to treat pregnant women the same as other employees with short-term disabilities.

The U.S. Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) writes that the court will consider “whether, and in what circumstances, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e(k), requires an employer that provides work accommodations to non-pregnant employees with work limitations to provide work accommodations to pregnant employees who are “similar in their ability or inability to work.”

Depending on when you get pregnant, if you don’t already

have health insurance, you

may qualify for an expansion of the Medicaid program in your state.

It is part of the 2010 Affordable Healthcare Law, sometimes

called “Obamacare” because it was pushed by President Barack Obama and is part of his bellwether accomplishment for his first term in office, and is having widespread implications into his second term.

The elements of the contentious law gradually go into effect over the years. Despite efforts to repeal or defund it because of claims it would cost jobs and some to lose their existing coverage, the US Supreme Court

has declared it constitutional, the president signed it into law and Congress

voted it into law four years ago.

You can fight it or if you’re in need, figure out how it can

help you especially if you find yourself knocked up without adequate healthcare.

Last December, the Internal Revenue Service exempted pregnant women,

among other categories of people, from the penalty all Americans who do

not get insurance by April 1 must pay.

But the law also adds a special coverage just for pregnant women,

depending on the timing of the pregnancy. If you qualify, meet certain income

minimums, your care would be covered for FREE.

If you are not eligible for Medicaid, you

may qualify for a subsidized low-cost health care form a “Qualified

Healthcare Provider”.

Under AHA, all QHP must provide, with No Co-Pay:
·

Maternity care
·

Labor and delivery
·

Prenatal care, and
·

all diagnostic screenings.

States still have flexibility to determine what services are

covered so you should examine and compare plans carefully.

US Supreme Court

Supreme Court to decide on pregnancy discrimination

The IRS exempted Pregnant women from “Obamacare” tax penalty