Lyndsay Kash works at the clothing shop Marine Layer in the 12 South shopping district. When she saw the news that Roe v. Wade was overturned, she was shocked.
“I mean I was here, when I was reading the news about all this,” Kash says. “Our entire reaction, everyone was kind of just like stunned, that we had to just keep going with our day like nothing happened, just keep working.”
Kash says she and her coworkers were messaging about what would happen next, and if their company would respond.
Soon, they had their answer. The San Francisco-based chain announced it would reimburse up to $5,000 for employees who have to travel out of state for an abortion. The money could also cover travel for a support person.
And, the company’s health plan is open to an often left-out group.
“We actually, as a company, allow that for part-time workers. I feel like that’s not usually how it goes,” Kash says. “Even I am available for that, even if I’m only working 20 hours a week.”
Kash says she’s not enrolled in the health plan yet, but this has made her consider getting set up.
Marine Layer is one of several national companies, including Amazon and Starbucks, announcing similar types of support. Even Nashville’s Metro Council has voted in favor of offering this kind of benefit.
How are local businesses responding?
WPLN News emailed Nashville’s top 10 private employers to take stock of how businesses are reacting locally.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the biggest private employer, says its legal team is still evaluating its response in light of all the potential legal issues. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt University has convened a task force to come up with action steps, but those have yet to be announced.
The rest of the employers we messaged are staying pretty mum on the issue. Companies like HCA, Asurion, Nissan and GM either didn’t comment, or reiterated their existing health coverage, without addressing whether abortion and associated travel may be covered.
One other thing to keep in mind: Abortion care, travel and lodging may be reimbursable if you have something like a health savings account. The IRS does consider these qualified medical expenses, but that doesn’t guarantee your plan or HSA will necessarily cover it.
Reimbursement is still a barrier for many
Briana Perry with Healthy & Free Tennessee says even a reimbursement program presents problems. The cost of the procedure, travel and bringing a support person can cost thousands of dollars that most people don’t have just lying around.
“That’s why it’s like helpful for there to be a policy on the front end, coverage on the front end,” Perry says. “People often don’t have the resources just to like do it and then get reimbursed.”
And Perry says relying on employers to cover abortions could make access disparities even worse. That’s because Black and brown folks are disproportionately affected by abortion bans, and also less likely to be insured.
Perry also worries about privacy issues if workers have to disclose medical info to their job. She’s concerned that could open people up to legal action, as states continue to criminalize abortion.
Anti-abortion group Tennessee Right to Life has hinted it may lobby next session against crossing state lines for the procedure.
Workers are reconsidering where they call home
It’s this environment that has Ariel, a hospitality worker, looking to leave Tennessee altogether. She asked us to use just her first name to protect her medical privacy.
She was born and raised in Tennessee, but she’s considering transferring her job to another state.
“That’s not an easy decision to make, I don’t think, for anyone,” she says.
Not only would getting pregnant be financially catastrophic for her. She says she’s worried she could inherit a heart defect from her mother. If it’s detected, she would be advised to never have children.
“I have a life. I have, you know, parents and siblings that love me. I have nine nieces and one nephew. And if it comes down to my life, I’m going to choose me,” she says tearfully. “That’s what I have to do.”
Ariel says she’s looking to leave Tennessee within the next year. Maybe for another state, or even for another country. It’s a heart-wrenching decision.
“I’ve lived other places, and enjoyed it. I know that I can live anywhere, but this has always been home to me,” she says. “But, at the end of the day, home is where we’re safe. And, that can be anywhere.”
While people like Ariel are preparing to leave the state, many others will not have the means to travel — or move — to where abortion is legal.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM