The US Supreme Court overturned Roe V Wade last week (June 24). If you didn’t know, Roe V Wade is the court case that allowed women and people with a uterus to decide if they wanted an abortion. Now that it has been overturned, US states can determine if they want to ban abortions. Numerous companies have spoken up in response.
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Seeking care out of state
Due to the ruling, many pregnant people will be forced to travel across states in order to get an abortion. This adds more expenses to an already expensive medical procedure. As reported by CNN, many may have to rely on their employers to help cover the cost. Indeed many US companies offer healthcare packages.
Some companies have spoken out since the ruling to overturn Roe V Wade and are offering help for their employees.
Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 24, 2022
‘Critical healthcare’ packages
As reported by The Guardian, various companies have added a ‘critical healthcare’ package. This new package is a direct response to the overturning of Roe V Wade. The companies are offering to cover travel expenses for those seeking abortions in states that have banned the medical practice.
The companies offering this package come from a variety of industries. In banking, companies like Bank of America and Goldman Sachs will cover the cost of travel for the procedure.
Sara Wechter, head of human resources at Citigroup said:
We will continue to provide benefits that support our colleagues’ family planning choices wherever we are legally permitted to do so
Tech companies like Microsoft, Meta and Apple have also joined the effort to protect pregnant people’s rights. In the entertainment industry, major companies like Disney and Netflix will also offer to reimburse employees for their travel expenses to seek abortions.
Read more:
⋙ Roe vs. Wade overturn: These are the states that are affected by the supreme court’s decision
⋙ Roe v Wade: How will the end of abortion rights affect contraception and same-sex marriage
⋙ Ukrainian refugees in Poland have been denied access to abortions
