Wal-Mart trims health care coverage for some

by darthfader 6 Replies latest social current

  • darthfader
    darthfader

    Seems the cost of healthcare for it's employees is getting to be to much...

    http://news.yahoo.com/wal-mart-trims-health-care-coverage-225625971.html

    NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , the nation's largest private employer, is scaling back the eligibility of health care coverage offered to future part-timers and dramatically raising premiums for many of its full-time workers. Industry observers say the changes could have implications for millions of other workers, as more companies on the fence could replicate its moves.

    The discounter, which employs more than 1.4 million workers, said the changes were forced by rising health care costs. All future part-time employees working less than 24 hours a week, on average, will not be covered under the plan, starting next year.

    Premiums will rise for many existing workers, and the company will reduce by half the amount it contributes for each worker to help pay for health care expenses not covered under their plan. Tobacco users will be particularly hit hard, seeing premiums more than double compared with increases of as much as 41 percent for singles, according to Making Change at Wal-Mart, a group backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union , which has been pressuring Wal-Mart on worker rights.

  • William Penwell
    William Penwell

    This just goes to show you that when it comes too people over profits, the profits win. The Repubs fought Obamas health care bill. So who are the Repubs looking out for? The profits of the big corporations?

  • Berengaria
    Berengaria

    Good grief it was less than 10 years ago they succumbed to public (and political) pressure to provide decent health care plans at all. Local governments were angry at the number of Wal Mart employees that were getting public health care. Wal Mart, the largest employer in America. Used to be the auto industry.

  • darthfader
    darthfader

    Well.. I dont like Wal-Mart for many reasons.. and this is another reason to avoid shopping there.

  • NewChapter
    NewChapter

    Didn't their health care plan used to consist of handing out brochures that advised employees of what government health care programs they could qualify for?

    NC

  • Diest
    Diest

    Makes you think national healthcare is a good idea.

    The counter arguement to national healthcare is that I won't get to see the Aflack Duck as much.....Everytime I get to see him during the superbowl I think, "wow, that only took a few thousand premiums to pay for that." That is good use of our money.

  • darthfader
    darthfader

    Actually it may be better to get employers out of the health care business... Why do we have employers providing health care, yet we dont have them providing auto insurance or home owners insurance. Originally employers were in the game to get employees at a better overall cost -- so it was cheaper for them to provide "benefits" than to pay employees cash (especially with you consider the ~7.5% employment tax - employers share of the FICA/medicare tax).

    Also have you ever tried to compare insurance plans and rates between two companies? It's always apples vs oranges. One plan costs $750 a month and covers such and such and the other plan costs $795 a month and covers this N' that...

    Standardize the plans then people can compare rates.

    .02 worth...

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