Giant Eagle to pay employee out-of-state travel costs for abortions

Giant Eagle Supermarkets said Tuesday it will reimburse expenses for insured employees and family members who have to travel between states for comprehensive healthcare, including access to reproductive care.

The move by the O’Hara-based supermarket chain mirrors policies announced by other corporations since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week overturned the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade, a decision that leaves abortion rights up to individual states.

Sporting goods company Dicks Sporting Goods announced on June 24, the day the decision was handed down, that it would cover travel expenses for employees who have to go out-of-state for an abortion. Among other national corporations that agreed to reimburse travel expenses for those traveling out of state for an abortion are Disney and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Citigroup and Starbucks.

Giant Eagle’s statement does not mean abortion, but does state it is being done to provide to access family planning services.

The company said it will share specific details related to this offering with its employees in the near future.

In addition to Pennsylvania, Giant Eagle has stores in Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana, which have varying regulations concerning abortion.

While abortion remains legal in Pennsylvania under state law, abortion is legal in Ohio only up until about six weeks into the pregnancy.

Gov. Tom Wolf has supported pro-choice, as has Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro.

The Republican candidate for governor, Doug Mastriano, has pledged to ban any abortion if elected.

In Indiana, abortion clinics are continuing to operate, but the state’s current law has restrictions on the procedure. Abortion is illegal after 22 weeks of pregnancy, although there are exceptions for medical emergencies. A waiting period also is required. Legislation is pending in that state to ban abortions.

West Virginia’s lone abortion clinic closed once the Supreme Court issues its ruling.