The high-stakes fight over implementing parts of the troubled health care reform law will move to the U.S. Supreme Court in coming months , in a dispute involving coverage for contraceptives and religious liberty . The justices agreed on Tuesday to review provisions in the Affordable Care Act requiring employers of a certain size to offer insurance coverage for birth control and other reproductive health services without a co-pay . At issue is whether private companies can refuse to do so on the claim it violates their religious beliefs . Oral arguments will likely be held in March with a ruling by late June . Nearly 50 pending lawsuits have been filed in federal court from various corporations challenging the birth control coverage benefits in the `` Obamacare '' law championed by President Barack Obama , which has come in for fierce political criticism over its rocky public introduction . The high court last year narrowly upheld the key funding provision of the health care law , a blockbuster ruling affirming that most Americans would be required to purchase insurance or pay a financial penalty -- the so-called `` individual mandate . '' The constitutional debate now shifts to the separate employer mandates and whether corporations themselves enjoy the same First Amendment rights as individuals . Three federal appeals courts around the country have struck down the contraception coverage rule , while two other appeals courts have upheld it . That `` circuit split '' made a Supreme Court review more likely . The Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases involving for-profit corporations . Among the plaintiffs is Hobby Lobby , Inc. a nationwide chain of about 500 arts and crafts stores . Hobby Lobby finds way around $ 1.3-million-a-day Obamacare hit - for now . David Green and his family are the owners and say their Christian beliefs clash with parts of the law 's mandates for comprehensive coverage . They say some of the drugs that would be provided prevent human embryos from being implanted in a woman 's womb , which the Greens equate to abortion . The privately held company does not object to funding other forms of contraception -- such as condoms and diaphragms -- for their roughly 13,000 employees , which Hobby Lobby says represent a variety of faiths . Companies that refuse to provide the coverage could be fined up to $ 1.3 million daily . Kyle Duncan , general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead lawyer for Hobby Lobby , called the Supreme Court decision to hear the case a `` major step '' for the Greens and their business , and `` an important fight for Americans ' religious liberty . '' Opinion : Religious liberty is for people , not corporations . The White House said on Tuesday that it believes a requirement on contraceptives is `` lawful and essential to women 's health . '' The White House added that it is `` confident the Supreme Court will agree . '' The Obama administration has defended the law and federal officials say they have already created rules exempting certain nonprofits and religiously affiliated organizations from the contraceptives requirements . In those cases , women would receive coverage from another company at no cost . The Supreme Court was asked to take up the issue by a private Christian university in Virginia but the court , without explanation , decided not to hear that appeal . The law 's supporters say it does not require individual company owners to personally provide coverage they might object , but instead places that responsibility on the corporate entity . A key issue for the justices will be interpreting the 1993 federal law known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act . Can companies , churches , and universities be included , or do the protections apply only to `` persons ? '' The botched rollout of HealthCare.gov , the federal Obamacare website , has become a political flashpoint along with other issues that Republicans say proves the law is unworkable . WH : Obamacare website 'on track ' to meet Nov. 30 goal . The cases accepted were Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores , Inc. ( 13-354 ) ; and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius ( 13-356 ) . Church and state , executive power on Supreme Court docket .
High court accepts appeal on Obamacare 's abortion coverage . Supreme Court was more likely to take up appeal with lower courts split . Blockbuster 2012 ruling by justices involved the individual mandate . This appeal centers around individual mandate and coverage of abortion .