Women's Health Policy

ABORTION IN THE U.S.

The Status of Abortion-related State Ballot Initiatives Since Dobbs

Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, voters in 17 states have weighed in on ballot measures regarding abortion — some more than once. In November 2026, voters in Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia will weigh in on abortion measures that could change the legal status of abortion in their state. In addition, a measure in Colorado is in the process of collecting signatures.

CONTRACEPTIve care IN THE U.S.

SELECTED RESOURCES

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.

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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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251-260 of 880 results

  • What Are the Exceptions to State Abortion Bans?

    News Release

    A new KFF analysis reviews exceptions to abortion bans and describes how the stated aim to provide life-saving and health-preserving abortion care may not be achieved in practice. Abortion is currently banned in 14 states and many other states have attempted to ban or severely restrict abortion access. Exceptions to state abortion bans generally fall into four general categories: to prevent the death of the pregnant person, when there is risk to the health of…

  • Update on the Status of Medication Abortion and the Courts

    Policy Watch

    This policy watch explains the April 21, 2023 United States Supreme Court's ruling on Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, a case challening the FDA's approval of mifepristone, the medication abortion pill.

  • After Dobbs, Survey Seeks to Understand Telecontraception Clients Better

    News Release

    According to a new KFF survey with a nonprobability sample of clients from four online sources of contraception, one in four clients said they got emergency contraception to have on hand because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Additionally, more than a fifth (22%) said they have considered sterilization, 12% reported that they considered switching to or started using a more effective method of birth control, and eight percent said that…

  • As the Courts Weigh the Future of the ACA’s Preventive Services Coverage, a New Analysis Shows that Most People with Private Insurance Received At Least One of Those Benefits in 2018

    News Release

    The provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires most private health plans to cover many preventive services without any cost-sharing for their enrollees is being challenged in federal court. The U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas in September concluded that aspects of the requirement were unconstitutional and violated religious rights but has allowed the provision to remain in effect while it considers a remedy. As the courts consider the ACA’s…

  • Challenges to the FDA’s Approval of Medication Abortion Pills Could Curtail Access Throughout the United States

    News Release

    In anticipation of a ruling in a case with enormous implications for access to medication abortion in the United States, a new KFF brief explains the impact of this case, and others filed in federal courts, involving the FDA’s regulation of medication abortion. The case that has gotten the most attention recently is Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM) v. FDA, filed in November 2022, a challenge to the FDA’s decision to approve mifepristone (the first…

  • Legal Challenges to the FDA Approval of Medication Abortion Pills

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief details the Alliance of Hippocratic Medicine challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion pill, mifepristone. It provides context for the challenge, as well as what some of the possible rulings in the case could mean for access to medication abortion.

  • Medication Abortion in the Courts: What’s at Stake?

    News Release

    Access to medication abortion has emerged as a central issue following the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. There is ongoing litigation in four federal cases about the FDA’s approval and regulation of mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortion. Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, has a long record of safety and effectiveness and has been used by more than 5 million people in the United States. In the most…

  • New KFF Trackers Document State and Federal Reproductive Rights Litigation Across the Country

    News Release

    KFF has created two new trackers to follow swift-moving reproductive rights litigation in the state and federal courts. The tools, which are currently tracking the status of 21 state cases in 15 states and eight federal cases, will be updated regularly as the litigation proceeds. Major cases pending in federal and state courts could impact access to abortion and contraceptive care for millions across the US. In fact, a federal district court is considering a…