Walmart says it's expanding abortion coverage for employees, including travel expenses

U.S. retailer Walmart has begun offering expanded abortion coverage to employees in the wake of Roe v. Wade's recent repeal at the Supreme Court, with the corporation also offering travel expenses related to procuring abortions. 

Company Chief People Officer Donna Morris said in a memo to all of the store's employees that the company was making "key changes" to several of its healthcare provisions, including abortion. "Effective immediately, the Walmart self-insured healthcare plans will cover abortion when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability," the memo reads.

Morris added that the retailer will also "expand [its] travel coverage" ostensibly so that employees can obtain abortions "when they are not available within 100 miles of their location." 

The company also said it is launching a new employee services initiative that is "focused on fertility and family support," including in vitro fertilization, egg freezing, "surrogacy support" and an additional $15,000 in "financial support for adoptions."

The Benton, Ar.-based retailer said it had made the changes after "listening to our associates about what's important to them."