Women's Health Policy

CONTRACEPTIve care IN THE U.S.

New and noteworthy

Kennedy v. Braidwood and Preventive Services

On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the ACA requirement that most private insurers and Medicaid expansion programs cover preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with no cost-sharing is constitutional.

5 Key Facts About Medicaid and Pregnancy

As a primary payer for maternity care in the U.S., Medicaid is an integral component of maternal and infant health in the country. This brief examines Medicaid’s pregnancy and postpartum coverage and its support for strengthening and improving maternal health outcomes.

Medicaid Work Requirements and Women’s Coverage

This data note documents differences by sex in the work status of adult Medicaid enrollees ages 19-64 who were not receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and were not dually eligible for Medicare in 2023, and highlights differences by parental status.

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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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  • Summary of HHS’s Final Rule on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities

    Issue Brief

    On May 18, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a final rule to implement Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibits discrimination in health coverage and care based on race, color, national origin, age or disability, and, for the first time sex. This Issue Brief provides a technical summary of Section 1557 and the final rule and highlights new protections and provisions included in the law and rule. Notably, Section 1557 is the first federal civil rights law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in health care. Moreover, the proposed rule extends the definition of sex discrimination to include discrimination on the basis of gender identity. In addition, the final rule establishes regulations related to the provision of language assistance services based on long-standing HHS policy guidance.

  • How Does Where You Work Affect Your Contraceptive Coverage?

    Interactive

    The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most private health insurance plans to provide coverage for a broad range of preventive services including FDA approved prescription contraceptives and services for women. Legal challenges and recently issued rules have affected contraceptive coverage for many women.

  • Minimum Contraceptive Coverage Requirements Clarified by HHS Guidance

    Issue Brief

    New HHS clarification on ACA contraceptive coverage requirement specifies that insurance plans must cover at no cost to women all of the 18 contraceptive methods approved by the FDA.  If a provider recommends a specific option or product, plans must cover it at no cost as well.

  • 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.

  • Kaiser Health Tracking Poll — May 2012

    Feature

    The May Health Tracking Poll focuses on the public's perceptions and reactions to women's reproductive health reemerging as a heated issue in policy debates and news and its potential impact on the upcoming presidential election.