(CN) — Tesla joined other major American companies in pledging to provide transportation costs for employees seeking medical care outside their home state, including abortion. The announcement was published in the company’s 2021 impact report and includes reimbursement for travel and accommodation for employees who need to "seek health care services that are unavailable in their home state."
The automaker has offered the program since last year, but the policy has drawn increasing attention after a draft ruling leaked from the U.S. Supreme Court indicated the conservative majority is set to allow states to set their own abortion-related policies after nearly a half-century of federal protections.
Tesla is headquartered in Texas, which has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, forbidding the procedure after six weeks — when most women don't even know they're pregnant.
States like California have made it clear they will offer sanctuary for women seeking safe and legal abortions.
Tesla joins a roster of companies that will offer to cover travel costs for employees needing to access out-of-state health care services that include abortion. Yelp, Citigroup, Apple and Match Group have all announced similar policies.
Amazon recently announced it would reimburse up to $4,000 in transportation costs for health care costs unavailable in employees’ home states. Salesforce said it would pay to relocate families who object to the state abortion law.
If the U.S. Supreme Court does reverse Roe v. Wade, 26 states could severely restrict or outright ban abortion almost immediately — several of which host large companies. Texas in particular is home to several tech companies, some of which relocated to the state during the pandemic.
Some Republican politicians have taken steps to pass legislation that would prohibit companies from reimbursing travel expenses related to abortion.
Tesla also offers reimbursement for costs related to in vitro fertilization and offers 16 weeks paid family leave.
Its CEO Elon Musk, who routinely weighs in on issues of the day on Twitter and elsewhere, has not commented specifically on abortion.
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