Religious Claims By Robert Warne - May 5, 2003Thou shall not file a claim. Even though this isn’t one of the Ten Commandments, it might as well be for certain religious sects. In fact because filing a claim is against their religion, the Amish and Mennonite populations in Ohio want out of the state’s workers’ compensation system and the legislators are serious about cutting them loose.
A bill that exempts religious sects from paying insurance premiums has recently passed the state’s House and Senate and is expected to be signed by the governor as part of the state’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation two-year budget.
Once in effect, religious sects won’t be required to obtain insurance if it goes against their principles. But to dissuade creative enterprises from seeking exemption by claiming religion, the legislation establishes a distinct set of guidelines.
If a sect has been a recognized religion since December 1950 and has an established church program to cover members’ insurance needs, then exemption for such an organization is possible.
Other states with large Amish and Mennonite populations like Kentucky and Pennsylvania allow for a similar exemption, but Michigan and Indiana don’t.
As can be imagined such an exemption doesn’t come without its share of opposition. Many believe that exempt businesses will have a competitive advantage over businesses that must pay insurance premiums. Others against the legislation think that it crosses the line of separation of church and state because the government will be using religion as a means of regulating insurance.
One thing is for sure though, there would be rioting in California is such legislation made its way to Sacramento.
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