Starbucks has announced that they will be covering "eligible" travel costs for employees and their family members to get abortions or gender change treatments if the services are not available within 100 miles of where they live.
To qualify, the employees must be enrolled in Starbucks' health care plan.
"In 2018, Starbucks broadened its health insurance options for transgender partners to not only include gender reassignment surgery (which had been covered since 2013), but also a host of procedures that were previously considered cosmetic, such as breast reduction or augmentation surgery, facial feminization, hair transplants and more," the company said in a press release on Monday.
The announcement continued, "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. This benefit will also apply to a dependent of a partner enrolled in Starbucks medical insurance."
Starbucks also provides all employees and eligible family members with free therapy.
"Starbucks provides all U.S. partners (employees) and eligible family members access to 20 sessions a year with a mental health therapist or coach through Lyra Health, all at no cost. In addition, all partners are eligible for free access to Headspace upon hire," the company noted.
In a letter to Starbucks employees, Sara Kelly, the company's acting executive vice president of partner resources, said that she is “deeply concerned” about the draft Supreme Court opinion regarded Roe v. Wade, which she referred to as a "constitutional right."
"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. 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. And when actions impact your access to healthcare, we will work on a way to make sure you feel supported," Kelly wrote.
"Today I’m announcing that we are expanding our U.S. healthcare benefit to further protect your personal health decisions. Regardless of where you live or what you believe, partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare will now 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. This benefit will also apply to dependents of partners enrolled in Starbucks healthcare," the letter continued.
Starbucks joins other companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla that have also vowed to cover abortion travel for those in states with restrictions.
