SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc , the world's largest retailer, said on Tuesday that it supports President Barack Obama's push to require large employers to offer health insurance to workers.
"We are for an employer mandate which is fair and broad in its coverage," stated a letter addressed to Obama and signed by Mike Duke, the chief executive of Wal-Mart; Andy Stern, the president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and John Podesta, the CEO of the Center for American Progress.
Wal-Mart's public statement of support for employer mandated coverage comes as Obama pushes for an overhaul of the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system. He has made a healthcare plan that reins in costs and covers most of the roughly 46 million uninsured Americans one of his top priorities.
While the president has left much of the details of health reform to Congress, he has told U.S. lawmakers he is open to requiring larger companies to provide coverage for employees but exempting smaller businesses.
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10 comments:
And Walgreens will make a killin.
5:18 --
Don't count on that!
correct Walgreens will go the route of Rite Aide probably. I believe that Wal-Mart has figured out something as they are the only folks who have probably read the bill.
Even in workplaces WITH employee coverage,some people just cannot afford the premiums.The days of %100 employer paid coverage are over.
This is the same Wal-Mart that hands out applications for public assistance along with the job application ? That fights disability claims to employees injured on the job?
...and if it becomes a law that everyone must have insurance - what happens to those who can't afford it - a new form of debtors prison or concentration camp ??
Let the Walmart employees unionize and see Walmart go out of business.
Walmart is only a giant Chinese mall anyway. Bring back more locally owned businesses here so most of the money stays here.
Any business whose majority of employees have to seek social programs is not taxpayer friendly.
The prices on the shelf may look cheap but your paying for it in the way of welfare subsidies. Oh yes, you are are probably paying more for their products.
I work in the healthcare field. I have seen Walmart Health Ins plans. They have large deductibles ($1000 to $1500)before the insurance kicks in, then only covers 80% or 75%. I am sure the employees have to chose these large deductibles and co-ins just to keep the premium low that is coming out of their paycheck. If they have a family, the children are usually on public assistance healthcare because is cost prohibitive to pay for the family plan. The retail industry is not usually know for get health insurance coverage. There are very few full time jobs is retail with benefits. I am not defending Walmart.
As many people as Walmart has employeed, what other company could get a better insurance package with a group that big?
Also insurance has noting to do with a livable wage.
9:27
You brought up an excellent point about the deductibles.
We pay about $90 a week for medical BUT we also have a $2000 deductible we must meet before coverage kicks in,then we still have to cough up 20-25% of the costs thereafter.That may not sound like alot to some people but that is alot of money to pony up with the economy like it is.
Walmart and also Obama support of employer for health care system and the Americans one of the most priority.
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