Wesleyan University to cover costs of abortions, emergency contraception for all students

The Wesleyan Democratic Socialists said Friday that they obtained a commitment from Wesleyan University to cover costs of reproductive health care services for all students, whether or not they have insurance coverage.

The Wesleyan Democratic Socialists, or WesDS, said that, in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, they did an outreach campaign last fall that was part of the Young Democratic Socialists of America’s national campaign for Abortion, Bodily Autonomy and Trans Socialism. A petition that was part of the campaign garnered more than 700 signatures, the group said.

WesDS said in a statement that cost is a “significant barrier to meeting the needs of all students” and through research, and in coordination with the Davison Health Center and student groups, it developed “a set of demands,” and “a community of concern to ensure Wesleyan implements and continues to develop their new policy.”

It is part of a “movement for reproductive justice nationwide,” the WesDS said in the statement. “Wesleyan now plays a pioneering role in reproductive healthcare among private liberal arts colleges by committing to cover the entire cost of abortion after insurance for all students.”

A Wesleyan spokesman confirmed Friday that the agreement was reached.

“With the start of (the) fall semester, Wesleyan will ensure that there is no financial cost borne by students to access abortion by covering all medical costs after insurance, paying for transportation to and from the clinic and providing appropriate pain-relief medication after the procedure,” the WesDS statement said. “Additionally, they have agreed to provide emergency contraceptives (Plan B and Ella) to all students on campus, free at the point of service.”

The WesDS is a chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, the youth and student section of the Democratic Socialists of America.

The WesDS statement said its campaign was supported by Wesleyan Reproductive Advocacy and Legislation, Wesleyan Doula Project, Adolescent Sexual Health and Awareness, the Wesleyan Student Assembly and its associated Student Health Committee.