Commentary

Ad Groups Support Reproductive Healthcare Benefits And Travel Budgets Necessary To Receive Them

While the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark abortion decision Roe Vs Wade may soon be overturned, a poll of the major ad-marketing holding companies shows them to be firmly in the right-to-choose camp, if their health benefits are an indication.

WPP and IPG have indicated that they are updating benefit policies to include travel budgets for those in the U.S. who may need to travel in order to receive any and all reproductive healthcare services they seek, including abortion care.

The travel issue was put in the spotlight by last week’s news that the Court has drafted a decision to overturn Roe v Wade. If that decision is finalized as many believe it will be, it’s a sure bet some states will outlaw abortion. That will require out-of-state travel for affected citizens seeking abortion and related medical services. 

Dentsu and Omnicom Group have had such policies in place for a while, the latter since 2006. “We will continue to ensure our people have access to health services no matter where they live in the U.S.,” the company stated.

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A Dentsu spokesperson indicatedt the firm’s “current healthcare benefits include the reimbursement of travel (inclusive of transportation, lodging and meals) expenses for any medical care service, including abortion, that isn’t available within a 50-mile radius of where one lives.” 

“We are encouraged to see such robust industry support for consistent and equal access to women’s healthcare across the United States," the Dentsu spokesperson added. 

Publicis did not issue a statement,but it’s understood the firm has a similar policy supporting travel for healthcare in place, which was reconfirmed by senior executives last week.

Asked about Havas’ policy a Havas Creative spokesperson stated, “This important conversation and potentially historic decision is a critical topic of conversation for Havas creative leadership. While we don’t have details to share just yet, we’re discussing various ways to meaningfully support our employees.”

 

2 comments about "Ad Groups Support Reproductive Healthcare Benefits And Travel Budgets Necessary To Receive Them".
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  1. Marion Murphy from MZM Productions, Inc., May 11, 2022 at 9:16 a.m.

    While I applaud the agencies for taking this action - it should not be necessary.  We all know that the majority of Americans are in favor of choice.  We all know that there are members of SCOTUS who lied, yes, that's the word, lied, about their position on choice.  This has been a precedent for 50 years, if that does not make it the law of the land, what does???  Rather than ruling on Roe V Wade in this manner, we should be impeaching those members of SCOTUS for lying to the Judicial Committee.  We should be passing the ERA and giving women full rights.  We should be making the Autonomy of Choice an Amendment.  We should be expanding SCOTUS and applying Term Limits to SCOTUS. Making a decision to have an abortion is extremely personal and here you need to inform someone at your company that you need to travel, for this reason, in order to get reimbursed?  This is simply appalling.  This is a huge step backward for women's rights.  I would like to see agencies and their clients support women and stop funding conservative PACs and politicians.   THAT would be much more impactful.  You don't want an abortion?  Don't get one.  It is that simple.  Let me also add that the idea that those men accused of sexually harassing and/or sexually assaulting women taking away women's rights is beyond hypocritical.  We need to rid ourselves of gerrymandering and the Electoral College, and have a true majority in ruling this country.  

  2. John Grono from GAP Research, May 12, 2022 at 2:03 a.m.

    Bravo Marion.

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