In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, major companies such as Disney, Amazon, Meta, Paramount, Starbucks, Tesla, Yelp , Airbnb and Netflix, have reported that they will cover travel expenses related to abortion services for their employees, especially in states where they have a presence and have declared a ban on such health services.
The Walt Disney Company reported, through a letter signed by Paul Richardson, the company's head of Human Resources, and Vice President of Benefits and Wellness Pascale Thomas, that the company is committed to its employees, families and reproductive care.
"Please know that our company remains committed to removing barriers and providing comprehensive access to quality, affordable care for all of our employees, cast members and their families, including family planning and reproductive care, regardless of where they live," the document states.
In turn, he details that the company has processes in place so that an employee who cannot access care in one location has affordable coverage to receive similar levels of care elsewhere.
This travel benefit, he said, covers medical situations related to cancer treatment, transplants, treatment of rare diseases and family planning - including pregnancy-related decisions.
For its part, Amazon, the country's second-largest private employer, told its staff Monday that it will pay up to $4,000 in travel expenses annually for non-life-threatening medical treatments, including abortions, according to a message seen by Reuters news agency.
Amazon's new benefit, effective Jan. 1 retroactively, applies if an operation is not available within 100 miles of an employee's home and virtual care is not possible, and is open to U.S. employees or covered dependents enrolled in Premera or Aetna health plans, whether they work in a corporate office or a warehouse.
Warner Brothers said it would cover travel expenses for abortions. "In light of the recent Supreme Court decision, we immediately expanded our health care benefit options to cover transportation expenses for employees and their covered family members who need to travel to access abortion and reproductive care," a company spokesperson told The New York Times.
A Meta spokesperson told the same media outlet that they intend to offer travel expense reimbursements, to the extent allowed by law, for employees who will need them to access out-of-state reproductive and health services. "We are in the process of evaluating how best to do this given the legal complexities involved."
For its part, Condé Nast said it would cover employees' travel and lodging for abortions. "It's a crushing blow to reproductive rights that have been protected for nearly half a century," said Roger Lynch, the publisher's chief executive.
Zillow said it would reimburse its employees up to $7,500 when major travel is required for medical procedures, including abortions.
Patagonia reaffirmed its commitment to cover employees' travel expenses for miscarriages. "Caring for employees goes beyond basic health insurance," the company said on LinkedIn. "It means supporting employees' decisions about whether or when to have a child."
Lyft, which had previously said it would cover travel expenses for abortions, said the Supreme Court's decision "will harm millions of women by taking away their access to safe, private reproductive health services."
It also said it was expanding its "legal defense commitment" to protect drivers who may be sued for taking people to clinics. "No driver should have to ask a passenger where he or she is going and why," Lyft said.
Uber emphasized the company's insurance coverage for "a range of reproductive health benefits, including pregnancy termination" and its commitment to cover travel expenses for employees accessing health care services.
Like Lyft, he said they will continue to support drivers by reimbursing legal fees if any driver is sued under state law for providing transportation on the platform to a clinic.
With information from Reuters and The New York Times
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