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.

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.

Stay informed.

Stay informed.

Filter

251-260 of 880 results

  • Emergency Contraception: All Talk and No Action?

    Other Post

    The Entertainment Media as "Sex Educators?" And, Other Ways Teens Learn About Sex, Contraception, STDs, and AIDS June 24, 1996 What Sources Do Teenagers Rely on for Information About Sex and Birth Control? According to a 1996 Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of teens, teens say they currently get information about sex and birth control from a variety of sources including: their parents (72%); teachers, school nurses, or sex education classes (69%); their friends (other than…

  • National Council of Jewish Women features article on “Diagnosing Women’s Health Care”

    Other Post

    National Council of Jewish Women features article on “Diagnosing Women’s Health Care” Kaiser Vice President and Director of Women's Health Policy, Alina Salganicoff, authored an article titled "Diagnosing Women’s Health Care" featured in the National Council of Jewish Women's magazine, NCJW Journal, volume 29. The article highlights the special challenges that many women face in affording and accessing comprehensive health care in the U.S. It discusses the state of women's health coverage, emerging issues for…

  • COVID-19 Puts Medication Abortion in the Spotlight

    News Release

    A new Coronavirus Policy Watch post from KFF explores how state responses to limit abortion access during the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn renewed attention to the provision of medication abortion using telemedicine approaches.  Medication abortion via telemedicine is a method that can be used to safely provide women with access to abortion care while social distancing, preserving personal protective equipment, and limiting risk of exposure to coronavirus. A new telemedicine protocol --“no-test” medication abortions-- has…

  • Survey on Public Knowledge and Attitudes on Contraception and Unplanned Pregnancy in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands

    Poll Finding

    The three separate random-sample telephone surveys of adults ages 18 and older living in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, designed by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in association with Louis Harris and Associates, Inc and conducted in 1995. The surveys were conducted to assess differences in public knowledge, opinions, and practices related to pregnancy and birth control, hoping to help explain some of the variation in unplanned pregnancy rates between the U.S.…

  • Gender Differences in Health Care, Status, and Use: Spotlight on Men’s Health

    Fact Sheet

    This slideshow presents findings from the 2013 Kaiser Men's and Women's Health Survey on men's health care, access and coverage, and draws comparisons to women's health care. The slideshow also presents findings for low-income and uninsured men, including financial barriers to care, frequency of clinician visits, use of prescription drugs, and the likelihood of getting counseling and screenings, such as HIV tests.

  • Coverage and Use of Fertility Services in the U.S.

    Issue Brief

    This brief examines how access to fertility services, both diagnostic and treatment, varies across the U.S., based on state regulations, insurance type, income level and patient demographics.

  • Most New Cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections Occur in Youth and Young Adults

    Feature

    Most New Cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections Occur in Youth and Young Adults Download Source CDC, STD Trends in the United States: 2011 National Data for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis, 2012. HIV Surveillance Report, Supplemental Report: Estimated HIV Incidence in the United States, 2007-2010, 2012