The new policy (retroactively made effective Jan 1, 2022) will cover the expenses of non-life-threatening treatments if they are not available within 100 miles of the employee's home and telemedicine is not possible. The inclusion of abortion as a "treatment," along with the timing of this announcement, makes it clear that the policy is primarily intended to flout pro-life state laws such as the Texas Heartbeat Act.
Amazon follows in the footsteps of other companies such as Citigroup, Uber, Lyft, Match, and Yelp. Companies could offer women life-affirming benefits allowing women to care for both their families and further their careers. $4,000 per year to pay for benefits such as maternity leave or child care reimbursement could help do this. Instead, rather than valuing women and their families, Amazon is encouraging women to choose abortion.
