NEWS: Disney to Cover Travel Costs for Access to Abortions Following Roe v. Wade Ruling

The Walt Disney Company has recently been in the news for how it responded to Florida’s HB 1557, also known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill.

The company failed to issue a statement on the bill one way or another at first, prompting protests from the LGBTQIA+ community which ultimately led to Disney issuing a statement condemning the bill and backlash from legislators. And now, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Disney has issued an internal statement to its employees about the landmark court case.

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that made access to abortion federally legal across the nation.

According to Variety, Disney sent an internal memo to its employees acknowledging the Court’s decision and its impact, stating that the company is “committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care” for all Disney employees and their families “no matter where they live.”

This means that Disney employees who are unable to access safe abortions in their home location can use a travel benefit which allows for “affordable coverage for receiving similar levels of care in another location.”

Disney is joined by Netflix, Comcast, Sony, Conde Nast, and Paramount in covering travel costs for their employees who do not have access to legal abortions. Netflix will cover travel reimbursement coverage to its “employees and their dependents who need to travel for cancer treatment, transplants, gender affirming care, or abortion – through our U.S. health plans.”

Comcast and Sony have similar travel benefits, allowing access to healthcare services and procedures covered by their health plans, which includes reproductive health.

Paramount CEO Bob Bakish and Chief People Officer Nancy Phillips issued a memo to employees that confirmed the company will cover travel for staff seeking abortions, and Conde Nast CEO Roger Lynch said in a statement that they have “made enhancements” to their health benefits in order to “assist covered employees and their covered dependents in obtaining access to reproductive care regardless of where they reside.”

We’ll continue to keep an eye on this news and update you if Disney makes any additional statements. For the latest news, don’t forget to stay tuned to AllEars.