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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  • The Kaiser Survey About Public Knowledge and Attitudes About STDs Other Than AIDS

    Report

    A summary and toplines from a national survey conducted for the Foundation by Market Facts, Inc. of public knowledge about STDs overall and their attitudes towards policy options to confront the spread of STDs. This survey was released at a briefing on Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Exposing the Epidemic. SUMMARY REPORT Download TOPLINE Download

  • Measuring the Effects of Sexual Content in the Media:  A Report to the Kaiser Family Foundation – Report

    Report

    Measuring the Effects of Sexual Content in the Media: A Report to the Kaiser Family Foundation This Report is available in Adobe Acrobat Format Author: Drs. Aletha C. Huston, Ellen Wartella, and Edward Donnerstein Executive Summary The Kaiser Family Foundation has an ongoing interest in sexual health among young people and the potential contributions of mass media to sexual behavior. This report was prepared at the request of the Foundation to examine the methodological options…

  • Early Sexual Experiences: How Voluntary? How Violent?

    Report

    Edward Laumann, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, University of Chicago, shares findings from the 1994 National Health and Social Life Survey, which suggest that having a violent or coercive first sexual experience is not as rare an occurrence as had been previously believed. Seminar participants -- experts on sexuality and sexual relationships -- debate the prevalence and consequences of abusive and negative first sexual experiences. This publication was produced as part of an ongoing seminar series,…

  • Toplines/Survey: HTML format

    Other Post

    Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on Teens and Sex: What They Say Teens Today Need to Know, And Who They Listen To Final Topline: Teenager Interview June 24, 1996 Conducted for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundationby Princeton Survey Research Associates Number of Interviews: 1,510 teenagers age 12-18 Margin of Error: plus or minus 3 percentage points Dates of Interviewing: March 28 - May 5, 1996 Introduction: Hello, my name is __________ and I'm calling for…

  • National Survey of Women about Their Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Their Reproductive Health – Toplines/Survey

    Other Post

    The Kaiser Survey on Public Knowledge and Attitudes about STDs other than AIDS Questionnaire and Toplines November 20, 1996 Conducted for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation by Market Facts, Inc. Number of Interviews: 707 men and women ages 18-64 Margin of Error: plus or minus 4 percentage points Dates of Interviewing: November 8-10, 1996 1. Can you tell me the names of any sexually transmitted diseases or S.T.D.s, which also used to be called…

  • It’s Your (Sex) Life:  Your Guide to Safe and Responsible Sex

    Other Post

    Contraception 911 If a condom breaks, a diaphragm slips, or you realize after having sex that you forgot to take the pill for three days in a row, it can be enough to make the calmest person very upset! Fortunately, there is something you can do. If you act within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, two doses of a special combination of birth control pills, available by prescription, can prevent or delay ovulation and reduce…

  • Want to Learn About Women’s Health in your State? Check out KFF’s Updated Interactive Dashboard

    News Release

    KFF recently updated its interactive dashboard with national and state data on women’s health, as well as information about various policies that affect women’s health. The dashboard provides instant access the most up-to-date state level indicators of women’s health in the U.S. Many of the indicators also provide national and state-level information for women of different racial and ethnic groups. Dashboard topics include: Abortion availability, coverage, and use by race/ethnicity. Maternal and infant mortality, preterm…

  • Since Dobbs, Few Large Firms Have Changed Their Plan’s Abortion Coverage Policy

    News Release

    According to an analysis of responses to KFF’s Employer Health Benefits Survey in 2023, relatively few (8%) large firms (with 200 or more workers) offering health benefits report reducing or expanding coverage for abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling. Since Dobbs, 3% of these large firms reduced or eliminated coverage for abortion where it is legal. Meanwhile, 12% of large firms whose largest plan covers…

  • 3 Charts: The Cost and Coverage of Opill—the First FDA-approved Over-the-Counter Daily Oral Contraceptive Pill in the United States 

    News Release

    The first FDA-approved over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive pill in the United States— Perrigo’s Opill— is now available for pre-order at major online retailers and will soon be available in stores. Although the new over-the-counter pill could broaden access to contraceptive options in the United States, KFF research suggests consumers are likely to face some hurdles if they seek to have their plan cover the costs. For example, while federal policy requires most private health insurance…