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.

Stay informed.

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  • Medicaid and Managed Care: Implications for Low-income Women

    Report

    This commentary reviews Medicaid's role for low-income women and examines the implications Medicaid managed care on the delivery of health services to this vulnerable population. Today 40% of the Medicaid population, mostly poor women and their children, is enrolled in managed care. Medicaid agencies are hoping managed care will control spending and address longstanding problems with access to care. Low-income women have a number of characteristics that make them doubly vulnerable to have trouble accessing…

  • Health News Index – January/February, 2001

    Poll Finding

    Health News Index January/February, 2001 The January/February, 2001 edition of the Kaiser Family Foundation/HarvardSchool of Public Health, Health News Index includes questions about major health stories covered in the news, including questions about President Bush's executive order on U.S. funding of international family planning groups. The survey is based on a national random sample of 1,021 Americans conducted January 25-28, 2001, which measures public knowledge of health stories covered by news media during the previous…

  • Sexual Activity and Substance Use Among Youth

    Fact Sheet

    Teens and young adults face many pressures and decisions involving alcohol, drugs, and sexual activity decisions that often occur simultaneously. Almost one quarter of sexually active young people aged 15-24 report having sex without a condom because they were drinking or using drugs at the time. These findings are from a new national survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and released at a conference, Dangerous Liaisons: Substance Abuse and Sexual Behavior, sponsored by the…

  • Health News Index – November/December 2002

    Poll Finding

    Health News Index November/December, 2001 The Health News Index measures public attention to and knowledge about leading health stories covered in the news in October and November. The Health News Index is designed to help news media and people in the health field gain a better understanding of which health stories Americans are following and what they understand about those issues. Summary of Findings Topline/Survey

  • Teens on Sex: What They Say About the Media as an Information Source

    Other Post

    Teens on Sex: What They Say About the Media as an Information Source According to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a third (34%) of teens say some teens have sex because television and movies make it seem "normal" for teens to be sexually active. But, many teens also say that television and movies, after their teachers, parents, and friends, are important sources of information for them on pregnancy and birth control. Nearly…

  • Portraits of Women on Medicare: The Women of Friendship Terrace

    Event Date:
    Event

    This video features five older women who reside in an assisted living community in Washington, DC, as they share their experiences in the Medicare program and offer their insights on ways the program could be improved to better meet the health care needs of seniors. Please note: the video is no longer available.  If you have an urgent need for the video, you may contact us (choose “problem with video” on the form) and we…

  • Women’s Health Care Providers’ Experiences with Emergency Contraception

    Poll Finding

    Women's Health Care Providers' Experiences with Emergency Contraception This survey snapshot is an update on women's health care providers' experiences with emergency contraception (EC). It provides information on prescribing practices and counseling for EC and views on increasing access to EC. Survey Snapshot: Women's Health Care Providers' Experiences with Emergency Contraception

  • Sex in the 90s: 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health 2

    Other Post

    16. Do you think sex education courses should ONLY teach abstinence -- that is NOT having sex until marriage -- OR should courses teach about BOTH abstinence AND give teens enough information to help them prevent unplanned pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases if they DO decide to have sex? 18 Only abstinence 81 Both 8 Don't know/Refused 100 17. Do you think that HIGH SCHOOL health clinics should provide young people with…

  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases in America:  How Many and at What Cost? News Release

    Other Post

    New Estimate of Annual Cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in US: STD Epidemic Bigger Than Previously Thought, But Experts Say There Is "Good News" That Higher Estimate Result Of Improved Detection Two STDs -- HPV and Trichomoniasis -- Account for Two Thirds of New Cases; Cost to Treat Current Infections in U.S. Estimated at $8.4 Billion Per Year Embargoed For Release Until: 9:30 A.M. ET, Wednesday, December 2, 1998 New York, NY - A panel…