Bill Overview
Title: Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act
Description: This bill establishes leave policies for the military departments regarding abortion care for members of the Armed Forces, including policy elements related to privacy. Additionally, the bill requires the military departments to reimburse members for travel costs incurred if a member must travel to a different jurisdiction for an abortion. Under the bill, no member may be subject to any adverse action for requesting or taking leave in relation to abortion care.
Sponsors: Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Target Audience
Population: Members of Armed Forces worldwide
Estimated Size: 200000
- The bill is targeted towards members of the Armed Forces, specifically addressing their access to reproductive healthcare services such as abortion.
- Within the global population, not all countries have large standing military forces; the focus here is primarily on countries with notable military personnel.
- Globally, the number of active duty military personnel is estimated to exceed 20 million individuals working across various armed forces.
- The bill concerns reproductive healthcare, which is relevant to military personnel of childbearing age, primarily focusing on female service members.
Reasoning
- The policy is aimed at active duty service members in the U.S., particularly those who are women, as it addresses reproductive health care.
- Given the U.S. Department of Defense statistics, the target demographic is around 200,000 service women, however, the impact will vary based on personal circumstances.
- The budget constraint of $100,000,000 in the first year means not all members can be reimbursed for travel or leave, thus selective impact based on need is likely.
- The policy should show varying levels of impact depending on the individual’s existing access to abortion care and financial circumstances, among other personal factors.
- Interviews should reflect a range of individuals from those impacted directly to those who may feel no impact at all.
- Consider influences such as duty location, rank, and personal circumstances when estimating the self-reported wellbeing scores.
Simulated Interviews
Navy Petty Officer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the policy because it ensures privacy and financial support if I need to travel for care.
- The lack of adverse actions is reassuring as military culture can often stigmatize personal health decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Army Sergeant (Killeen, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a relief. My postings in restrictive states have made healthcare access difficult.
- Reimbursement for travel means I won't have to bear additional financial burdens during an already stressful time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Marine Corporal (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know that there are no negative repercussions for taking leave for abortion care.
- I'm still learning about these policies, but having travel costs covered could be important in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Army Major (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to see formalized policies protecting privacy related to reproductive health.
- I likely won't need it personally, but it addresses a critical gap for younger service members.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Air Force Staff Sergeant (Okinawa, Japan)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Travel reimbursement is crucial for those of us stationed abroad where there's limited access.
- This adds a layer of safety and support that was missing before.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Space Force Operator (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the policy but personally have not faced barriers at my current base.
- It's a critical support for other women who may not be as fortunate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
National Guard Specialist (Nashville, TN)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Protection from adverse action is crucial even for periodically active roles.
- Reimbursement support adds peace of mind though I am currently in a supportive state.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Coast Guard Commander (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it doesn't affect me personally, ensuring access and privacy is crucial for overall force readiness.
- Supportive policies show a respect for women's autonomy which is important to me as a leader.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Army Specialist (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It gives me peace of mind knowing these options are legally protected in case I need them.
- The travel and privacy components of the policy are especially comforting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Air National Guard Major (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen the struggles younger women face, and the policy fills a crucial gap in coverage.
- For future generations, this proactive measure is invaluable for service members’ health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $130000000)
Year 2: $102000000 (Low: $71400000, High: $132600000)
Year 3: $104040000 (Low: $72828000, High: $135252000)
Year 5: $108243048 (Low: $75770136, High: $140715960)
Year 10: $119505008 (Low: $83653506, High: $155356510)
Year 100: $193364659 (Low: $135355261, High: $251374058)
Key Considerations
- Privacy concerns for servicewomen and ensuring confidentiality in reproductive healthcare are paramount.
- The potential legal changes across jurisdictions regarding abortion services could influence when and how reimbursements are processed.
- Defense department policies and healthcare providers' ability to adjust to changes will determine administrative burden and impact.