Wal-Mart Sponsors Universal Health Care
If the federal government won’t deal with universal health care, then leave it to Wal-Mart, according to the Washington Post. Well, not really, but after dismal publicity and outside pressure, the nation’s largest private employer has become a health care leader and is setting the stage for a national discussion about universal health care.
Only 5.5% of Wal-Mart employees lack health insurance, compared with a nationwide rate of 18%. Critics contend that a company with $400 billion in annual revenue can do more, but Wal-Mart is now receiving accolades for its advances.
Wal-Mart reduced the wait to enroll in its health plan for part-time employees from two years to one and to six months for full-time workers. It then combined its marketing and technology prowess to do sophisticated research on employee needs.
The company now offers a menu of deductibles, co-payments, and maximum out-of-pocket costs. It partnered with the Internet site WebMD to simplify enrollment, created electronic health records, and expanded its $4 generic drug plan from the 350 medications available to customers to over 2,000 for employees. To help with the low-premium, high-deductible plan chosen by many employees, the company offers an upfront $100-$500 credit for medical expenses.
Wal-Mart approached one aspect of health care in typical fashion. It contracted with the Mayo Clinic for all transplant services because it saves money by using an exemplary, single provider. The company has also begun preventive measures aimed at reducing an alarming rate of premature births, using a registered nurse to counsel pregnant employees about diet, stress and smoking and to provide lactation instruction and vaccinations for the child’s first year.
Wal-Mart’s size makes it unique, but it begins to show what the federal government could do, once it gets through bailing out Wall Street, banks and car manufacturers.
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About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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A company with such vast resources can and should do more. Walmart just recently started providing decent insurance coverage to employees because of the negative publicity they were receiving. I hope that the U.S. reforms health care universaly.
Thank goodness. With business on this we may just move forward toward universal health care.
The government (us) now pays, Medicare, Medical Assistance, Veterans, Federal, State, local employees & retiree coverage; covers health costs of government contractors through their pricing; does immense & vital (NOT FOR PROFIT)research at CDC and other places- The only thing the government doesn’t have is a real say in what insurance companies and hospitals will charge us!