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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  • Health and the 2016 Election: Implications for Women

    Perspective

    The leading US presidential candidates and their parties’ platforms offer distinct and often opposing policy proposals on issues that affect women’s health. In the Women’s Health Issues journal, the Kaiser Family Foundation's Caroline Rosenzweig, Usha Ranji, and Alina Salganicoff present their analysis of the differences between the Democratic and Republican parties on range of women’s health policy issues – including the Affordable Care Act, reproductive health, older women’s health, and violence prevention.

  • Web Briefing for Journalists – Potential Changes to Health Care Access and Coverage: What’s at Stake for Women?

    Event Date:
    Event

    House Republicans’ American Health Care Act and other actions under discussion by President Donald Trump’s administration and the new Congress could profoundly affect access to health care for many women. Repeal of the Affordable Care Act, changes to its birth control coverage provision, and new state and federal abortion restrictions, along with potential funding cuts and restrictions for family planning providers, including Planned Parenthood, would significantly impact the availability and cost of women’s health care,…

  • Paid Leave in the U.S.

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet summarizes federal, state, and local policies on paid family and medical leave and paid sick leave and presents data from KFF Employer Health Benefits Surveys on the share of firms that offer workers these benefits.

  • Visualizing Health Policy: Preventive Services for Women and the Affordable Care Act

    News Release

    This month’s Visualizing Health Policy infographic takes a look at preventive health services for women, including missed opportunities for preventive counseling on risk factors (such as smoking or alcohol) and sexual health issues (such as contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and domestic violence), the effects of lack of insurance on rates of mammograms and other screening tests for women, and how costs are a barrier that cause some women to postpone preventive services or skip a…

  • Women's Health Coverage promo

    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.

  • Interactive Map Shows Recent Evolution of State Policies Shaping Access to Abortion Coverage in Medicaid and Private Insurance

    News Release

    A new interactive map from the Kaiser Family Foundation provides a broad look at states’ laws shaping access to coverage for abortion in Medicaid and private insurance. The map includes the ability to view snapshots showing the extent of such limitations in states across the nation for the years 2000, 2010 and 2014. Taken together, the maps chart the increase in such limitations over that time period. State and federal attempts to limit private insurance…