Most Wal-Mart Associates Now Have Health Coverage
By: Web Producer
Updated: January 22, 2008
92.7 Percent of Wal-Mart Associates Now Have Health Coverage
(Bentonville, AR) Wal-Mart announced today that the number of associates who now have health care coverage through its new associate-tailored plans for 2008 - or another source - has increased from 90.4 percent to 92.7 percent. The number of uninsured associates decreased by more than 20 percent, compared to one year ago. According to a survey during the fall 2007 open enrollment period, more than 30,000 associates who chose Wal-Mart's coverage for the first time reported being previously uninsured. During the past year, the percentage of associates who reported having no coverage declined from 9.6 percent to 7.3 percent - a figure significantly lower than the 17.7 percent uninsured rate nationwide for U.S. employed workers that was recently reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Wal-Mart also announced that the company will commission a study to better understand why some workers declined coverage and what can be done to encourage them to accept health care coverage in the future. Wal-Mart's open enrollment survey, with 802,091 participants, indicated that as of November 9, 2007, 92.7 percent of associates have health care coverage, including the 50.2 percent of associates who have coverage through Wal-Mart's plan. Associates surveyed cited the following sources for their health care coverage: In the recent open enrollment period, 1,086,881 full-time and part-time associates were eligible for health benefits, representing 79 percent of the workforce. Recent changes in Wal-Mart's benefit plans may be key factors in increasing enrollment rates. The company added more personalized choices, lower deductibles, pre-deductible health care credits and a $4 co-pay for more than 2,000 covered generic prescriptions, among other changes. (Copyright 2007 Newsroom Solutions, LLC) Delivered by Newsroom Solutions RNS-01-22-08 0929CST
(Bentonville, AR) Wal-Mart announced today that the number of associates who now have health care coverage through its new associate-tailored plans for 2008 - or another source - has increased from 90.4 percent to 92.7 percent. The number of uninsured associates decreased by more than 20 percent, compared to one year ago. According to a survey during the fall 2007 open enrollment period, more than 30,000 associates who chose Wal-Mart's coverage for the first time reported being previously uninsured. During the past year, the percentage of associates who reported having no coverage declined from 9.6 percent to 7.3 percent - a figure significantly lower than the 17.7 percent uninsured rate nationwide for U.S. employed workers that was recently reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Wal-Mart also announced that the company will commission a study to better understand why some workers declined coverage and what can be done to encourage them to accept health care coverage in the future. Wal-Mart's open enrollment survey, with 802,091 participants, indicated that as of November 9, 2007, 92.7 percent of associates have health care coverage, including the 50.2 percent of associates who have coverage through Wal-Mart's plan. Associates surveyed cited the following sources for their health care coverage: In the recent open enrollment period, 1,086,881 full-time and part-time associates were eligible for health benefits, representing 79 percent of the workforce. Recent changes in Wal-Mart's benefit plans may be key factors in increasing enrollment rates. The company added more personalized choices, lower deductibles, pre-deductible health care credits and a $4 co-pay for more than 2,000 covered generic prescriptions, among other changes. (Copyright 2007 Newsroom Solutions, LLC) Delivered by Newsroom Solutions RNS-01-22-08 0929CST
