Walmart sent a memo to its employees on Friday that any female employee covered by the company’s health care plan would be covered for abortion “when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability.”
Walmart will also reimburse employees for travel if they need to go to abortion clinics outside their localities, due to services not being offered within 100 miles of where they live.
Walmart is the nation’s largest employer and has not been outspoken about their opinion on the overturning of Roe v Wade. This is a surprise move by the company.
The major shopping retail store employs nearly 1.6 million people in the U.S. The company has home headquarters in Arkansas, where abortion is banned under all circumstances unless the life of the mother is at risk. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.
The change in the health care plan does not provide for elective abortions, but for reasons stated above.
The company’s benefit plan in the past covered abortions only in the event “that the health of the mother would be in danger if the fetus were carried to term, the fetus could not survive the birthing process, or death would be imminent after birth,” according to a copy of the policy that was reported by The Associated Press but was not confirmed by Walmart.
The new health care benefits are expanded.
Other companies, including Meta, Amex, and Bank of America have reported that they will also cover travel costs for employees that cannot find abortion services in their local areas due to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Many other high profile companies have refused to comment.
