Amazon will reimburse U.S. employees up to $4,000 annually for travel and lodging for medical treatments that are unavailable within 100 miles of an employee’s home or through virtual care, including abortions.
The new policy was announced to employees Monday in an email, Reuters reported. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the new policy.
Amazon’s announcement coincided with a story from Politico Monday that the U.S. Supreme Court is circulating a draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Other companies including Citigroup, Yelp, and Seattle startup Glowforge have implemented similar policies as more states pass laws curtailing access to abortions. If Roe v. Wade falls, many women will have to travel hundreds of miles to other states to access abortion care.
A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment when asked by GeekWire about any related reimbursement benefits for employees.
Amazon’s benefit is effective retroactively to Jan. 1 and is open to U.S. warehouse and corporate employees, or covered dependents, according to Reuters. The reimbursements are available for non-life threatening conditions under the company’s Premera and Aetna health plans, and build on a separate policy providing up to $10,000 in travel reimbursements for life-threatening conditions.
