Health Care Marketplace | Wal-Mart Revises Employee Health Benefits, Will Offer Lower-Cost Plan, HSA's:
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[March 7, 2006] It seems that media appetite for Walmart is insatiable when it comes to the subject of employee health insurance. Probably, for good reason. However, could it be that Walmart has become the scapegoat for health insurance "ills" of America? Just who can afford proper health care coverage? For years, state labor laws have refused to address issues involving those big companies that have flown under the health insurance radar using questionable hiring/staffing loopholes. We guess, federal and state legistlatures will now be prompted to address the health care crisis in America because career politians now have a major name brand coattail to ride into the media spotlight. Thanks, Walmart.
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Kaisernetwork.org: Daily Health Policy Report


Health Care Marketplace | Wal-Mart Revises Employee Health Benefits, Will Offer Lower-Cost Plan, HSAs


[Oct 24, 2005] Wal-Mart is introducing a new employee health plan, called Value Plan, that will have lower premiums and health savings accounts, the New York Times reports (Barbaro, New York Times, 10/24). The company has been "frequently criticized" for offering low wages and "inadequate" benefits, the Wall Street Journal reports. Fewer than half of its 1.2 million U.S. employees are enrolled in its health plan, and some workers have public health insurance.

Fewer than half of its 1.2 million U.S. employees are enrolled in its health plan, and some workers have public health insurance. Wal-Mart currently offers 18 health plans to employees, with the lowest premium for a single individual costing $37 monthly (Wall Street Journal, 10/24). Under the new plan, which has not yet been formally announced, monthly premiums would cost 40% to 60% less than those of current plans. On average, premiums would be lower than $25 for an individual, $37 for a single parent and $65 for a family. For employees in select areas, the premium will be as low as $11, according to Wal-Mart spokesperson Dan Fogleman (New York Times, 10/24).


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