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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171 - 180 of 871 Results

  • Analysis: Insurance Riders to Cover Abortion Services Not Available to Women in States That Restrict Abortion Coverage

    News Release

    In 10 states, insurance plans are currently banned from including abortion as a covered service in state-regulated private plans -- all individually purchased policies and fully-insured group plans. Most of these laws do not include exceptions for rape, incest, or health endangerment. In nine of these states, insurers may sell health insurance riders for abortion coverage, but the availability of such riders has been unknown. A new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of the insurance plans offered in…

  • Post-Election Survey: Priorities for the 106th Congress

    Poll Finding

    A national voter survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health conducted shortly after the November congressional elections in 1998. The purpose is to gauge voters' priorities for the next Congress, both generally and with specific regard to health care issues. The survey also measures voter attitudes on Medicare and HMO reform, proposals to help the uninsured, and abortion. The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. TOPLINE Download CHARTPACK…

  • Emergency Contraception Survey in California

    Poll Finding

    - Survey Toplines As the FDA continues to deliberate about whether emergency contraception will be made available "over-the-counter" without a prescription, a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey examines Californian's awareness of and experiences with emergency contraception, inlcuding findings on the state's "pharmacy access " program. California's "pharmacy access" program permits women to receive emergency contraception from participating pharmacists directly without contacting a physician , while the "over-the-counter" option the FDA is considering would allow people…

  • SexSmarts Survey – “Safer Sex”, Condoms and “the Pill”

    Poll Finding

    As part of an on-going public information partnership called SexSmarts, seventeen and the Kaiser Family Foundation conduct nationally-representative surveys of teens 15 to 17 on issues related to their sexual health. This survey examines teens' knowledge and attitudes about "safer sex" and contraception (November 2000).Summary of Findings (.pdf)Toplines/Survey (.pdf)

  • Minors’ Ability to Consent to Contraception and Abortion Services

    Issue Brief

    This brief examines state consent requirements for minors accessing contraceptive and abortion care, processes for minors to attempt to obtain abortion without parental involvement, and trends in state policy increasing requirements for parental involvement in minors’ health care decisions.

  • Access to Care for Low-Income Women: The Impact of Medicaid

    Issue Brief

    Health coverage is of critical importance to low-income women. This study was undertaken to assess how low-income women with Medicaid, private insurance, or no insurance vary with regard to personal characteristics, health status, and health utilization. Data are from a telephone interview survey of a representative cross-sectional sample of 5,200 low-income women in Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. On the whole, low-income women were found to experience considerable barriers to care; however, uninsured low-income…

  • Condom Ads on TV: Unwrapping the Controversy

    Poll Finding

    Ever seen a condom advertised on TV? Up until a few years ago, the answer was almost always "no." But condoms and other topics once considered "taboo" are beginning to make an appearance on the small screen. A number of leading broadcast networks, as well as cable channels have in recent years quietly let go of long-standing policies prohibiting contraceptive commercials. But several others still prohibit advertising for condoms - even though they accept ads…