Valuing Private Reproductive Healthcare Policies

Abstract

Several employers have introduced healthcare policies providing reimbursement for abortion-related travel in abortion-restricted states. This paper evaluates an employee’s willingness to pay (WTP) to work for a job with policies that support abortion access. Preferences are elicited via a paired conjoint survey with forced choice. Respondents are shown a series of hypothetical job offers with varying job traits and asked to identify a wage differential between two jobs. The reimbursement policy is an important signaling mechanism, with left-leaning respondents demonstrating a similar nonzero WTP of 1-2% (as a share of income) for jobs with either a reimbursement policy or management donations to support abortion access. For left-leaning women, there is additional 2-3% of value associated with the reimbursement policy. Right-leaning respondents demonstrate a nonzero WTP of 1-3% to avoid jobs with abortion-related attributes, expressing a stronger dislike for management donations to support abortion access.