Saturday, October 22, 2011

Wal-Mart rolls back health care benefits

Prices aren't the only thing being slashed at Wal-Mart.

Amid rising costs, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer and?the nation's largest private employer, said Friday that it is cutting health benefits?for part-time workers and raising premiums for many of?its full-time staff.

The news was first reported in The New York Times.

New part-time employees who work less than 24 hours per week on average will not be eligible for any of the company's health insurance plans. New employees who work 24 to 33 hours per week would not be allowed to add a?spouse to their coverage,?either, although children would still be?covered.

The changes take effect in January, Reuters reported.

The company cited rising health care costs, which have forced it to alter its insurance plans, the newspaper said. It said Wal-Mart noted that the change was not the result of the new federal health care law.??

?Over the last few years, we?ve all seen our health care rates increase and it?s probably not a surprise that this year will be no different,? Wal-Mart spokesman?Greg Rossiter told The New York Times. ?We made the difficult decision to raise rates that will affect our associates? medical costs. The decisions made were not easy, but they strike a balance between managing costs and providing quality care and coverage.?


Wal-Mart defines a full time employee as anyone who works more than 34 hours, The Associated Press reported. The news agency?added that Wal-Mart employees who smoke will see their premiums rise too.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/21/8428252-nyt-wal-mart-rolls-back-some-health-care-benefits

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