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US companies will cover travel costs for employees who need to have an abortion

After the United States Supreme Court ruled on Friday (24) to overturn Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the federal constitutional right to abortion, 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.

The court’s resolution to reverse the nearly 50-year-old landmark ruling protecting the federal constitutional right to abortion is set to transform the country’s reproductive health landscape, leaving abortion policy to individual states and paving the way for several states to pass new restrictions. to the act.

As of Friday afternoon, state officials in at least seven states said new bans on abortion could now apply.

Millions of people seeking abortions could soon be forced to travel across state borders to access the procedure, adding to the cost of an already often expensive healthcare service. For many, employer benefit packages may be the only way to pay for an abortion.

In response, corporations, some with headquarters or offices in Republican-controlled states, are taking action. Companies like Citigroup (Ç), Salesforce (CRM) and Match Group (MTCH) first pledged 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) 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 is not available in their home state, according to an Apple spokesperson (AAPL).

Goal

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 how best to do this, given the legal complexities involved,” said Meta’s spokesperson (FB) 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 toward gender equality in the workplace since Roe,” said Jeremy Stoppelman, co-founder of 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 in one location will receive affordable coverage to access the same care in 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 spokesperson (UBER).

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 spokesperson said.NFLX) a CNN .

The company offers a lifetime allowance of $10,000 per employee (or their dependents) for service.

bumble

The Bumble (BMBL), a women-run dating app, 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

The dating app company Match Group (MTCH) in October partnered with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles to provide access to abortion 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 US$4,000 per trip, up to three trips per year, with a maximum coverage cap of US$10,000 per year. The amount paid depends on the type of health procedure, but abortion care is covered, according to the company.

Discovery Warner Bros.

Warner Brothers Discovery, owner of CNN expanded health benefit options Friday 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.

JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan (JPM) said on 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 is not available close to home, according to a statement from Nike.NKE) released this Friday.

“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 their decisions,” the statement reads.

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.

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 on July 1, according to an internal memo obtained by the CNN .

Source: CNN Brasil

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