How this reproductive healthcare company supports employees and patients with abortion care

At sexual and reproductive care provider Wisp, employee benefits mirror the same dedication to wellness it offers its patients. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, they saw it as an opportunity to double down on their commitment to women's health and haven't looked back.

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In 2022, Wisp began offering medication abortion services in nine of the states that currently allow it, so that women less than 10 weeks pregnant could seek guidance and medicine to terminate a pregnancy without going to a clinic. The cost is $200 — about $300 less than a medication abortion done at a facility. The platform also offers same-day online consultations and 24/7 follow-up communication with a licensed medical provider, as well as prescription medications and wellness products for a variety of sexual and reproductive health needs. Services are currently on an individual, cash-only basis.

It's an issue more employers are grappling with: According to research by Employee Benefit News, 20% of employers think reproductive rights in the wake of Roe v. Wade is the most urgent issue for the next administration and Congress to address. Additionally, 14% of employers provided travel stipends for employees, and 13% increased access to fertility benefits. At Wisp, the demand for telehealth care is evident: Since launching in 2018, the platform has served close to one million patients and is growing at a rate of 30,000 new patients per month.  

"We are looking to expand our coverage area to additional states where medication abortion is legal," says Monica Cepak, Wisp's acting CEO. "Right now we have a two-pill regimen, which is both mifepristone with misoprostol, and in the unlikely event that mifepristone is taken off the market, we are also prepared to shift our protocol to misoprostol only."

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For its employees, Wisp has the same level of commitment to health and well-being: When the Supreme Court revoked women's constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, the platform put a rush on offering abortion services as a benefit, including unlimited PTO afterward and paying for travel expenses for employees who live in states where abortions are now illegal. Communication with HR to access these benefits is completely confidential.

"We accelerated the launch to be able to meet the moment and help as many many women as possible across the country in a critical moment of need," says Cepak. "Abortion access is healthcare access, and as a brand that's what we stand for. A woman [deserves] the option to have an abortion as needed and the time and space she needs to come back to work on her own terms."

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Other benefits offered by the company include three months of maternity and paternity leave, fertility services, fully-remote work and pay above industry standards. Cepak credits a portion of the company's success to its prioritization of employee well-being.

"As a leader in women's health, we take a lot of pride in reflecting that value internally," she says. "It's part of how we attract and retain talent, and it's how we have such an engaged employee base who are passionate about women's health. We are relatively small — around 50 full-time employees — generating significant top-line revenue and profit. That's a direct reflection of the team."