Women's Health Policy

ABORTION IN THE U.S.

KFF infographic explaining who regulates mifepristone, showing four entities and their roles: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves and regulates medications for safety and effectiveness; state legislatures pass laws that can restrict or protect access; courts rule on legal cases affecting regulation; and Congress can pass federal legislation influencing regulation.

Louisiana v. FDA: Access to Mifepristone Back at the Supreme Court

Louisiana sued the FDA in October 2025, claiming the FDA’s 2023 regulatory change eliminating the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in-person—allowing it to be mailed or dispensed at retail pharmacies—harm the state's ability to enforce its abortion ban. This brief reviews the Louisiana v. FDA case now before the Supreme Court, and provides an overview of the other pending litigation involving mifepristone, as well as the mounting tension between states seeking to protect abortion and those banning the provision of abortion.

CONTRACEPTIve care IN THE U.S.

New and noteworthy

Over-the-Counter Oral Contraceptive Pills

In July 2023, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive pill to become available over the counter (OTC) without a doctor’s prescription. This issue brief provides an overview of OTC oral contraceptives and laws and policies related to insurance coverage.

featured

A promotional image for the the KFF Health Policy 101 Issues in Women’s Health chapter

Health Policy Issues in Women’s Health

Examine the core health coverage and access issues —shaped by federal and state policies—that affect women’s health today, including health coverage and costs, reproductive health services, maternal health, mental health, and intimate partner violence.

State Profiles for Women’s Health

Explore the latest national and state-specific data and policies on women’s health. Topics include health status, insurance and Medicaid coverage, use of preventive services, sexual health, maternal and infant health, and abortion policies. Many indicators provide state-level information for women of different racial and ethnic groups.

The essentials
  • Women’s Health Insurance Coverage

    This factsheet reviews major sources of coverage for women residing in the U.S., discusses the ACA's impact on coverage, and the coverage challenges that many women continue to face.
  • Medicaid Coverage for Women

    This data note presents key data points describing the current state of the Medicaid program as it affects women, including eligibility, reproductive health, chronic conditions, and more.
  • Dobbs: What are the Implications for Racial Disparities?

    This analysis examines the implications of the Dobbs decision and state restrictions on abortion coverage for racial disparities in access to care and health outcomes.
  • State Health Facts: Women's Health Indicators

    Information on women’s health status, utilization of services, health insurance coverage, family planning and childbirth, and abortion statistics and policies.
  • Key Facts on Abortion in the United States

    This report answers some key questions about abortion in the United States and presents data collected before the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

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  • The Growth of Managed Care: Are Women Getting What They Need?

    Fact Sheet

    How the Changing Health Care Marketplace Affects Coverage and Access to Reproductive Health A fact sheet, Q&A and resource list prepared for a media briefing held in New York on March 27, 1996. The purpose of the briefing was to respond to questions about how reproductive health services are currently delivered in managed care systems and to explore the implications of the growing managed care environment for women's ability to get the reproductive health care…

  • KFF Examines Key Considerations for the Implementation of Insurance Coverage for Over-the-Counter Contraceptives

    News Release

    With federal regulators seeking public input on the potential benefits, costs, and implementation considerations of requiring private health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter preventive products without a prescription, a new KFF post explores the issues relevant to covering over-the-counter contraceptives. These contraceptives include Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive pill to receive FDA approval for over-the-counter availability. The analysis draws on the lessons learned from KFF staff interviews with more than 80 key players nationally…

  • Poll: Early Perceptions of House Bill Show Public Thinks It Would Cover Fewer People and Raise Health Costs

    News Release

    Republicans More Likely to Expect Positive Changes Than Democrats or Independents Large Majority Favors Continued Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood Fielded March 6-12 as Americans were first learning about the American Health Care Act and before the Congressional Budget Office estimated its effects, the latest Kaiser Tracking Poll shows that large shares of the public expect the House Republican health care plan would result in fewer people having health insurance and higher costs for people…

  • Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): Access and Coverage in the U.S.

    Fact Sheet

    Intrauterine devices (IUDs), along with implants, are known as long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) because they can be used to prevent pregnancy for several years. This fact sheet reviews FDA-approved IUDs, as well as use, availability, and key issues in insurance coverage and financing of IUDs in the U.S.

  • The Use of Mainstream Media to Encourage Social Responsibility:  The International Experience – Report

    Report

    The Use of Mainstream Media to Encourage Social Responsibility: The International Experience Executive Summary The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation commissioned the Advocates for Youth Media Project to carry out a study titled The Use of Mainstream Media to Encourage Social Responsibility: The International Experience. The study examines the outcomes of programs using mass media entertainment to stimulate changes in health behaviors. Entertainment-education is defined as the process of putting educational content in entertaining formats…

  • From the Patient’s Perspective: Quality of Abortion Care

    Report

    To learn how women view abortion care, the Kaiser Family Foundation commissioned a study of more than 2,200 patients. The Picker Institute, a health care assessment and improvement research organization, interviewed a diverse group of women drawn from 12 abortion providers in a dozen states around the country. The study, the first of its kind on such a large scale, found that patients generally gave abortion providers high marks for quality of care. Women also…

  • 2008 Election Briefs

    Poll Finding

    Health care remains among the top three election issues voters want to hear the presidential candidates discuss. Kaiser's new series of election briefs frame the challenges the heath care system faces, provide basic facts, and offer questions to assess the presidential candidates' plans on key health policy issues. Check back for more issue briefs.  Eliminating Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Care: What are the Options  Health Care Costs and Election 2008  Women's Health and Election 2008…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/ Self National Survey on Women’s Health Policy Priorities & Election 2000, Summary of Findings and Questionnaire

    Report

    The Kaiser Family Foundation and Self magazine have partnered on a nationally representative survey of more than 1000 Americans, ages 18 and older, to examine how women (and men) rate the importance of health policy issues from abortion to HIV/AIDS to Medicare in the upcoming election. Highlights from the survey include Americans views about politicians health care promises as well as which candidate Americans trust with the health care issues that are most important to…