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.

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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  • Women’s Experiences with Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the KFF Women’s Health Survey

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides new data from the KFF Women’s Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of 3,661 women and 1,144 men ages 18-64 that was conducted November 19, 2020 – December 17, 2020. In this brief, we document how experiences accessing health care during the COVID-19 pandemic have differed by gender, age, race/ethnicity, insurance coverage, and income and what this could mean moving forward.

  • Women, Work, and Family During COVID-19: Findings from the KFF Women’s Health Survey

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides new data from the KFF Women’s Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of 3,661 women and 1,144 men ages 18-64 conducted November 19, 2020 – December 17, 2020. In this brief, we highlight how experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic related to work, childcare, and caregiving differ by gender and among different subpopulations of women.

  • A New Analysis Takes a Closer Look at Online Contraception Platforms Amid the Pandemic

    News Release

    Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, hormonal contraception became more accessible to many outside of traditional clinical settings through websites or apps that offer contraception via telehealth. To better understand this emerging method of contraceptive access, a new KFF analysis provides a deeper look at telecontraception platforms, offering insights into the practices of 13 different companies based on information collected between November 2020 through January 2021. Key highlights from the report include: All of the…

  • Similar Shares of Republican, Democratic, and Independent Women (One in Seven) Report Having Had an Abortion

    News Release

    A new nationally representative KFF Women’s Health Survey, which explores the extensive implications of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court, reveals that one in seven (14%) women of reproductive age report having had an abortion at some point in their life. Across partisanship, similar shares of Republican women (12%), Democratic women (14%), and independents (15%) report having had an abortion. The survey uncovered concern over access to abortion services in emergencies. More…

  • Federal and State Standards for “Essential Community Providers” under the ACA and Implications for Women’s Health

    Issue Brief

    Safety net providers such as community health centers and family planning clinics have served a significant role in the provision of primary care and reproductive health care services to low-income and uninsured people, particularly women. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has a provision aimed at assuring that newly-insured individuals, as well as those without coverage, can continue seeing their trusted safety net providers, also called Essential Community Providers (ECPs). This brief reviews the definition of…

  • Coverage of Contraceptive Services: A Review of Health Insurance Plans in Five States

    Report

    The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most private plans to provide coverage for women’s preventive health care, including all prescribed FDA-approved contraceptive services, without cost sharing. To better understand how this provision is being implemented by health plans, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) staff, with the Lewin Group, reviewed the insurance plan coverage policies for 12 prescribed contraceptive methods (excluding oral contraceptives). This report presents information from 20 different insurance carriers in five…

  • 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. Minimum Contraceptive Coverage Requirements Clarified by HHS GuidanceContraceptive MethodProducts/OptionsMust CoverSurgical sterilizationAlso called tubal ligation√Implant sterilizationOnly Essure available√Implantable RodMultiple√ at least 1IUD - CopperOnly ParaGard available√IUD - ProgestinMultiple√ at least 1InjectionMultiple√ at…

  • Condom Ads on TV: Unwrapping the Controversy

    Poll Finding

    Ever seen a condom advertised on TV? Up until a few years ago, the answer was almost always "no." But condoms and other topics once considered "taboo" are beginning to make an appearance on the small screen. A number of leading broadcast networks, as well as cable channels have in recent years quietly let go of long-standing policies prohibiting contraceptive commercials. But several others still prohibit advertising for condoms - even though they accept ads…

  • Women’s Health Care Providers STD Counseling and Testing

    Poll Finding

    Many women rely on their physicians to help them assess whether they are at risk for STDs and to provide them with information about testing, treatment and how to protect themselves. To better understand how often they discuss and screen for STDs, including HIV, the Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed 767 physicians, including 566 obstetricians and gynecologists and 201 family practice practitioners, for the National Survey of Women's Health Care Providers on Reproductive Health. Toplines/Survey