After the US Supreme Court ruled on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, corporate giants from various industries have pledged to provide support and financial assistance to employees – and, in some cases, their dependents – seeking abortions in states that ban the procedure. , which protected the federal constitutional right to abortion, is expected to transform the reproductive health landscape in the United States, leaving abortion policy to individual states and paving the way for several states to pass new restrictions on abortion.
As of Friday afternoon, state officials in at least seven states said new bans on abortion could now be enforced. Millions of people seeking abortions could soon be forced to travel across state lines to access the procedure, adding to the cost. of an already often expensive health service. For many, employer benefit packages may be the only way to pay for an abortion.
In response, several US corporations, some with headquarters or offices in Republican-controlled states, are taking drastic measures. Companies like Citigroup (C), Salesforce (CRM) and Match Group (MTCH) pledged, for the first time, financial support to officials seeking abortions in affected states after a draft opinion was leaked in May. Many others followed suit on Friday. Some, including Bumble and Lyft, have also previously said they would donate to organizations that support women’s rights, such as Planned Parenthood and Fund Texas Choice.
Corporate America is increasingly being pulled from the political fringes of the abortion issue in response to pressure from investors, customers and employees. Companies are also struggling to attract and retain talent and worry about the impact these states’ anti-abortion laws could have on their workers. Here are some of the prominent companies that offer expanded assistance to employees in states that restrict abortion care.
Microsoft
Microsoft (MSFT) has expanded its financial support for “critical health care,” including abortions and gender-affirming care, to include coverage for travel expenses for those services, after the draft opinion taking down Roe first leaked.
Apple
The company’s existing benefits package allows employees to travel out of state for medical care if it’s not available in their home state, according to an Apple (AAPL) spokesperson.
Meta
The tech giant intends to offer travel expense reimbursement “to the extent permitted by law” to employees seeking out-of-state health and reproductive services, according to a spokesperson. “We are in the process of evaluating the best way to do this, given the legal complexities involved.“, Meta (FB) spokesperson said in a statement.
Yelp
Yelp’s existing health plan for U.S. employees pays for women, family members, and partners to travel outside states with strict abortion laws, such as Texas and Oklahoma, which prohibit abortions after 6 weeks.
“This decision puts women’s health at risk, denies them their human rights and threatens to dismantle the progress we’ve made towards gender equality in the workplace since Roe.“, disse Jeremy Stoppelman, cofundador do Yelp (YELP).
“Business leaders must strive to support the health and safety of their employees, speak out against the wave of abortion bans that will be unleashed as a result of this decision, and ask Congress to encode Roe into law.”
Disney
Disney employees (DIS) who cannot access medical care at one location will receive affordable coverage to access the same care at another location, according to a company spokesperson. The benefit covers family planning and pregnancy-related decisions.
Uber
Uber’s U.S. insurance plans already cover reproductive health benefits, including abortion and travel expenses for healthcare. The ride-hailing company will also reimburse any driver sued under state law for providing transportation to a clinic through the app, according to an Uber (UBER) spokesperson.
Netflix
The streaming company offers travel reimbursement coverage for full-time U.S. employees and their dependents who need to travel for health care, including abortions and gender-affirming care, a Netflix (NFLX) spokesperson told CNN. The company offers a lifetime allowance of $10,000 per employee (or their dependents) for service.
Bumble
Bumble (BMBL), a dating app run by women, said Friday that it will support its employees’ ability to access “the health services they need,” including abortion assistance. A spokesperson for Bumble added that the company will make donations to the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
“Abortion is health, and health is a human right. We are deeply concerned about the Supreme Court’s decision“, the spokesperson said in a statement.
Match Group
Dating app company Match Group (MTCH) in October partnered with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles to provide abortion access for its Texas employees and their dependents. The company is currently considering expanding this benefit to all of its US employees, including remote employees in states with trigger laws that may soon ban abortions, according to a Match spokesperson. Match health plans also help cover travel and accommodation costs for employees who need to travel to receive care, the spokesperson said.
Box.com
Box.com will cover employee travel and medical expenses incurred by employees while seeking reproductive services.
Levi Strauss
The jeans company said through the Levi Strauss Foundation that it is providing grants to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Afiya Center and ARC-Southeast, which provide direct assistance to women and communities in need of care. The company previously said that under its benefits plan, employees can be reimbursed for travel expenses for services not available in their home state, including abortion. Part-time employees and others not included in the company’s benefit plan are also eligible for reimbursement, he said.
Comcast-NBC Universal
Comcast (CCZ) has an existing health care travel benefit for all employees that covers up to $4,000 per trip, up to three trips per year, with a maximum coverage cap of $10,000 per year. The amount paid depends on the type of health procedure, but abortion care is covered, according to the company.
Warner Bros Discovery
Warner Brothers Discovery, which owns CNN, on Friday expanded health benefit options to include expenses for employees and their covered family members who need to travel to access abortions and other reproductive care, according to a company spokesperson.
Condé Nast
The media company said on Friday that it will reimburse travel and accommodation for employees who need abortion, infertility or gender reassurance services and cannot obtain them locally. CEO Roger Lynch said in an internal memo that the Supreme Court’s decision was a “crushing blow to reproductive rights” and said the company’s most powerful way to respond is through its content and journalism.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan (JPM) said Friday that its health benefits have long covered abortion care. And starting in July, abortion will be included in the company’s health care travel benefit, which covers services that can only be obtained away from home, according to spokesman Joseph Evangelisti.
Nike
The sportswear company said in a statement that it covers travel and lodging expenses in situations where healthcare services are not available close to home, according to a statement from Nike (NKE) released Friday. According to the statement:
“No matter where our teammates are on their family planning journey – from covering contraception and abortion to pregnancy and supporting family building through fertility, surrogacy and adoption benefits – we are here to support your decisions.”
Starbucks
The coffee company is providing employees enrolled in its health plan with a medical travel benefit to access an abortion, according to a public letter to employees from Sara Kelly, acting executive vice president of partner resources at Starbucks (SBUX). . “We all need to process this in our own way, and as you do, here’s what I want you to know: No matter where you live or what you believe in, we will always make sure you have access to quality healthcare.“, Kelly said in the letter.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
For employees living in a state that restricts access to abortion, Dick’s will provide up to $4,000 in travel expense reimbursement to travel to the nearest location where care is legally available, the company said in a statement Friday. fair. The benefit will be granted to any employee, spouse or dependent registered in their health plan, along with a companion.
Kroger
The grocery store’s health package includes travel benefits of up to $4,000 to facilitate access to reproductive health services, including abortion and fertility treatments, according to a spokesperson for Kroger (KR).
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines said in a statement that it has always provided travel refunds for “certain medical procedures and treatments if they are not available where you live.” Today’s Supreme Court ruling does not change that“, These.
Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs (FADXX) on Friday extended its healthcare travel reimbursement policies to include all medical procedures, treatments and evaluations, including abortion services, in areas where a provider is not available close to where its employees live, a benefit that will take effect July 1, according to an internal memo obtained by CNN.
Zillow
Zillow (Z) said in a statement on Friday that its health benefits cover a wide range of reproductive health services, including abortions. The company said that effective June 1, its health plan has been updated to include a refund of up to $7,500.”each time significant travel is required to access healthcare, including reproductive services“.
This article is a translation of the writing by Clare Duffy to the website CNN Business.
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