Did Wal-Mart just move us closer to single-payer health care?

[unhappycamper]

http://www.salon.com/2014/10/08/did_wal_mart_just_move_us_closer_to_single_payer_health_care/



Wal-Mart is cutting insurance for 30,000 workers and raising premiums. The move may have unexpected consequences

Did Wal-Mart just move us closer to single-payer health care?
Luke Brinker
Wednesday, Oct 8, 2014 02:11 PM EST

Retail giant Wal-Mart announced Tuesday that it will end health insurance coverage for 30,000 part-time workers, while the company plans to increase premiums for other workers, citing the Affordable Care Act. The announcement could actually be a boon to even more progressive health reform efforts.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Wal-Mart is blaming rising costs for the moves, stating that the company’s insurance costs are expected to increase $500 million more than it had forecast for the year ending January 31. In response, the company plans to drop coverage for employees who work less than 30 hours per week and will raise premiums for all other workers by 20 percent beginning January 1. A Wal-Mart benefits executive would not tell the Journal how much the company expected to save as a result of the changes.

Starting in 2015, the Affordable Care Act will require employers to offer health coverage to employees working at least 30 hours a week or pay a penalty, so the move won’t generate any fees for the company under the employer mandate.

As the paper noted, this isn’t the first time Wal-Mart has pared back health benefits in recent years. Prior to 2011, the company offered health insurance coverage to part-timers who worked at least 24 hours per week. In 2012, the company stopped offering health coverage to new workers who worked less than 30 hours a week; the policy change announced this week ends coverage for those working 30 hours or less even if they were already employed by the company in 2012.

[mikeysnot]

1. why does anyone shop there?

[peace13]

2. WalMart shoppers are the mother of all deniers!

They refuse to understand that while it appears that it is cheaper to shop there the cost to each community/ shopper negates any savings. This article is a prime example. Add low wages with short hours and you have workers that are eligible for just about every public assistance and tax credit program.

So in answer to your question I would say....denial and stupidity with a splash of greed in thinking that they will save while others pay!

[mikeysnot]

3. What really sucks

is by our farm that is all there is pretty much to shop at, since they put all the smaller mom and pops, and small groceries out of business.

[peace13]

4. That is a problem.

I notice that Dollar Stores / Dollar General is all about rural America as well.

The small grocery with real food is a thing of the past.

The problem started when people turned their backs on the local retailer to chase what looked like a better deal.

Best case now is to buy as little as necessary at the offenders. Actually...buy as little as possible .

[yeoman6987]

5. I thought in 2015 many companies

Are going to drop medical insurance and have emoyees go on ACA. That is why we have it. Walmart is the first of hundreds of companies to begin this. That is how it was designed.