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 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.

An Update on Medicaid, Title X and Planned Parenthood

This brief provides an update on Planned Parenthood clinic closures and participation in the Title X program amid substantial policy changes resulting in funding reductions. These changes include the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the withholding of federal Title X funding to Planned Parenthood clinics.

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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581 - 590 of 875 Results

  • Infographic: The Availability and Use of Medication Abortion Care

    Other Post

    This infographic highlights data and policies regarding the availability and effectiveness of medication abortion in the United States. Medication abortion accounts for more than half (54%) of all abortions before nine weeks gestation in the U.S.  

  • Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health: State Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade

    News Release

    On December 1, the Supreme Court will hear their first abortion case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, with a solid conservative majority. The case, Thomas E. Dobbs, State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, involves a Mississippi law banning nearly all abortions over 15 weeks gestational age. Mississippi is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, and therefore overturn the constitutional right to abortion that…

  • Universal Paid Family and Medical Leave Under Consideration in Congress

    Policy Watch

    The House of Representatives is considering a provision of the Build Back Better Act that would create a universal paid family and medical leave program. This post takes a look at this proposal, key policy questions, and what it could mean for women and families.

  • Medicaid and Family Planning: Background and Implications of the ACA

    Issue Brief

    This brief reviews the role of Medicaid in financing and enabling access to family planning services for low-income women; discusses how states have expanded access to these services with Medicaid; and highlights future programmatic challenges in the context of the health care delivery and coverage reforms resulting from the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

  • Abortion Coverage in Marketplace Plans, 2015

    Issue Brief

    This brief analyzes state policies and insurer coverage decisions affecting the availability of abortion coverage in 2015 insurance plans offered through the Marketplaces. It finds that abortion coverage is unavailable in a total of 31 states, 24 of which have enacted laws that ban or restrict abortion coverage in plans sold through their Marketplaces and 7 of which have no abortion coverage restrictions but also have no Marketplace plans offering it.

  • Briefing Resource List-20000418-briefingresourcesapril_-doc

    Other Post

    Briefing Resource List The Gender of Politics:How (and How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?Tuesday, April 18, 2000Briefing ParticipantsOther ResourcesAnalysts and ResearchersPollstersWomen's Political OrganizationsVoter Education/InformationAdditional Voter Education WebsitesNational Political PartiesPolitical Analysts/StrategistsEmerging Issues in Reproductive Health, Program Contacts Briefing Participants Mollyann Brodie, PhD, Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Media ResearchTina Hoff, Director, Public Health Information and CommunicationsHenry J. Kaiser Family Foundation2400 Sand Hill RoadMenlo Park, CA 94025Press contact: Amy WeitzTel. 650.854.9400Fax. 650.854.7465E-mail: aweitz@kff.orgWebsite:…

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

    Other Post

    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…

  • Sex in the 90s: 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health 1

    Other Post

    30. Are you currently involved in a sexual relationship? Based on those not currently married or living as married; n=479 38 Yes 60 No 2 Don't know/Refused 100 CURRENT RELATIONSHIP STATUS (Q29, Q30):60 Married/Living as 15 Unmarried and involved 24 Unmarried and not involved 1 Don't know/Refused 100 31. How long have you (been married /been together with this person)? Based on those married, living as married, or involved in a sexual relationship; n=916 20…

  • National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: The More You Know About Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign Information

    Other Post

    The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation When are teens most likely to get pregnant? Pregnancy risk is high right from the beginning of sexual activity: half of all first teen pregnancies occur in the first six months after sexual activity begins. What are the outcomes of most teen pregnancies?Half (54%) of pregnancies among teen girls, 15-19 years old, end in birth. A third of teen pregnancies end in abortion (32%) and 14 percent end in…