Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, is expanding its abortion coverage for employees after largely staying silent on the issue for months following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down abortion rights throughout the country.
In a memo sent to employees Friday, the company said its health care plans will now cover abortion for employees “when there is a risk to the mother’s health, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability.”
The new policy will also provide “travel support” to workers and dependents covered by their health care plans so they can access services that aren’t available within 100 miles of their locations, said Donna Morris, the retailer’s chief people officer. in the note
Walmart employs nearly 1.6 million people in the US. In Arkansas, where the company is based, abortion is prohibited under all circumstances unless the procedure is necessary to protect the life of the mother in a medical emergency. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
A Walmart spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the company’s health plan (or travel support) will cover elective abortions.
Previously, the company’s benefit plan had covered abortion only in cases “where the mother’s health would be at risk if the fetus was carried to term, the fetus could not survive the birth process, or death would be imminent after birth,” according to a copy of the policy seen by The Associated Press but not confirmed by Walmart.
Many companies, including Meta, American Express and Bank of America, have said they will cover the travel costs of their employees following the high court ruling that launched Roe v. Wade.
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