In a 6–3 decision released on June 24, 2022, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court majority overturned Roe v. Wade, holding that the authority to regulate abortion belongs to the states and not the federal government.
The Court majority found that obtaining an abortion is not a fundamental right protected by the Constitution.
According to the New York Times, abortion is now banned in at least nine states, as laws restricting the procedure (called “trigger laws”) take effect following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs.
What does this mean for you? First, the Trustees want you to know that the reproductive health benefits that the UFCW National Fund offers are not changing, and are all still in place.
How is that possible? The UFCW National Fund is governed by a federal law known as ERISA. Generally, ERISA has priority over state laws that relate to an employee benefit plan. This means that self-insured group health plans, such as the UFCW National Fund, can continue to provide benefits without complying with state insurance law.
The Trustees, our benefit consultants and legal counsel are working with our health and prescription drug coverage providers to monitor the situation and court cases that are likely to challenge these new laws.
Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your health coverage, please contact the Fund Office during normal business hours at 1-888-773-8329 or 1-800-821-1222.