Starbucks Will Cover Travel Costs for Employee Gender-Affirming Care, Abortions

As the fate of Roe v. Wade and abortion access continues to linger in limbo, alongside the plethora of anti-trans legislation sweeping the U.S., individuals and even some companies are attempting to fight back. Namely, Starbucks announced plans to cover travel costs for employees traveling more than 100 miles for access to gender-affirming care as a number of states consider criminalizing it. The coverage also extends to abortion.

Following the leaked Supreme Court’s draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a number of experts pointed to the dangerous precedent such a decision could set for other federal rights in the country, including same-gender marriage and even same-gender sexual activity. Recently, some lawmakers have even considered extending restrictive bans on gender-affirming care for minors to apply to young adults. Discussions in Missouri last month suggested extending a ban for gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 25.

“Partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare will be offered reimbursement for eligible travel expenses when accessing abortion or gender-affirming procedures when those services are not available within 100 miles of a partner’s home,” Starbucks says in a press release. “This benefit will also apply to a dependent of a partner enrolled in Starbucks medical insurance.”

A letter to Starbucks employees, written by Executive Vice President Sara Kelly, indicates that the company’s decision to increase healthcare benefits for U.S. employees came in response to the leaked Supreme Court decision.

“Like many of you, I’m deeply concerned by the draft Supreme Court opinion related to the constitutional right to abortion that was first established by Roe v. Wade,” Kelly writes. “I know this is weighing on many of you, so let me be clear up front—regardless of what the Supreme Court ends up deciding, we will always ensure our partners have access to quality healthcare.”

The company angered labor organizations earlier this month with an announcement that enhanced pay and benefits would only apply to non-union stores (CEO Howard Schultz said that Starbucks cannot legally offer benefits at union stores because they must negotiate their own contracts). Though, Starbucks says the newly announced travel benefit would be extended to all employees on the company’s healthcare plan, even if they work in stores that have voted to unionize.

There is still limited research on travel needs surrounding gender-affirming care in the U.S. However, one 2017 study found that, of the 256 surveyed individuals, 166 reported barriers to pursuing hormone therapy; 134 participants reported barriers for top surgery, and 85 participants reported barriers for bottom surgery. The study also says it was “common” for participants to travel to other cities, especially when it comes to top or bottom surgeries.

Amazon similarly announced it would cover up to $4,000 in travel and lodging expenses for employees seeking non-life threatening medical treatments, including abortions and gender-affirming procedures. Tesla also said earlier this month it would cover travel costs for employees seeking out-of-state abortions.