On July 1, 2022, in the wake of the fall of Roe v. Wade, few were thinking about how putting abortion laws in the hands of the states would impact our national security. But overnight, the landscape changed for thousands of troops and their families who were stationed in states with regressive abortion laws and couldn’t just pick up and leave their duty station. With this one decision by the Supreme Court, women veterans who were also in those states couldn’t even turn to the VA if
they had a pregnancy crisis.
In the months following, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense
stepped in to help women veterans and members of the military get access
to greater reproductive care, but not without backlash. The backlash has persisted in Congress, but not because an overwhelming number of
veterans, members of the military and their families are asking for their elected leaders to fight the Administration on this policy change.
When IAVA veteran members were asked if they supported the VA and DoD stepping in to make sure troops, their families and veterans have access to the reproductive care that they need post-Dobbs decision, 68% said they did, while only 20% opposed. Similar to most Americans, IAVA veterans want women in America to have access to the reproductive care they need and deserve, including 60% of male veteran respondents in our most recent member survey.
We’ll continue to fight to protect the progress that’s been made since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, but there’s obviously more work to be done on behalf of our community and America.
As the 2024 Presidential Election heats up, IAVA’s survey reveals significant concerns among veterans regarding reproductive rights. An overwhelming 69% of IAVA veteran members support the Department of Defense and VA ensuring access to reproductive care following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, while 17.9% oppose. This reflects a strong push for maintaining and expanding reproductive health services for troops, veterans, and their families.
IAVA is advocating for expanded birth control access for veterans and military families. Currently, the military healthcare system, including TRICARE and the VA, does not fully cover all FDA-approved birth control methods, leading to financial barriers for many women. Despite ongoing legislative efforts, such as the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act and the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, progress has been slow. IAVA emphasizes that fixing these coverage gaps is essential for supporting female veterans and military families, highlighting the recent inclusion of a Tricare reform amendment in the FY24 NDAA as a step forward.
Struggling to access care or need guidance? IAVA’s veteran care partners are here to help women veterans get the services they need. Reach out today.
While the past few years have been encouraging, with growing interest in ensuring healthcare accessibility for women veterans at the VA, increasing support, and expanding services, there is still much work to be done. Women still report feeling stigmatized or unwelcome at the VA, and the Departmental motto itself is gender-exclusive. As a nation, we must recognize GI Jane as much as GI Joe. It’s past time for the military culture and our nation to embrace this and to recognize, celebrate, and support the service of all veterans.
We need to reach a point where women veterans are envisioned just as readily as men. Congress must act not only to bring equality to VA healthcare for women but also to provide sensible resources like childcare. “Access to Quality Care for Our Veterans” should be gender-blind, as supporting single parents impacts both men and women.
Beth Riesgraf, star of Paramount Network’s hit series 68 Whiskey, partnered with IAVA to shine a light on the unique issues women face during active duty and when transitioning back to civilian life. The goal of the film is to build meaningful support for the Deborah Sampson Act.
Veterans aren’t a charity. They’re an investment. Donate to help empower IAVA veterans and ensure their voices are heard.
Donate to IAVA
