Dobbs and the abortion ban: the benefits world scrambles to deal with a new reality

On June 24, the Supreme Court handed down one of the most momentous decisions in modern history, when it ruled on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, effectively ending the constitutionally protected right to an abortion in the U.S.

The decision overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling that held the right to an abortion exists under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The ruling has been opposed for many years, mainly by conservatives, who have argued that life begins at conception. The Right to Life movement succeeded in limiting abortion in many states over time, and with the Supreme Court’s swing to the right during the Trump administration, some predicted that court would eventually overturn or further limit Roe v. Wade.

That prediction came true this year, as an early release of the draft of the ruling sparked protest and outrage, followed by the final ruling, which closely followed the wording of the draft.