[Vision2020] Wal-Mart and the health care burden

[Janesta Carcich]

Mr. Harkins,

Would you be so kind as to inform us how many are paid
for by Wal-Mart, and of those that aren't, how much
the policies cost?

Thank you,

Janesta Carcich



--- Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com> wrote:

> What a surprise - a local business owner doesn't
> want enhanced 
> competition.  It has been many years now, but as I
> recall, Mr. 
> Connelly did not want a WalMart store here initially
> either.
> 
> Many of us wane (no wax) over the loss of Schweitzer
> Eng to Pullman.
> 
> The health care/insurance issue is a very complex
> issue.  First, the 
> question of benefits offered by WalMart.  Here is an
> excerpt from 
> their employment op page:
> 
> 
> Our health care benefits offer associates peace of
> mind and the 
> ability to care for themselves and their families.
> Associates' Medical Plan
>     * Protection from the unexpected-that's the goal
> of the 
> Associates' Medical Plan. If a major or unexpected
> medical event 
> occurs, the coverage is there to help associates.
> The Associates' 
> Medical Plan is designed to protect associates from
> catastrophic loss 
> and financial ruin.
> Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
>     * In addition to the Associates' Medical Plan,
> HMO plans are 
> offered in some facilities.
> STARBRIDGE
>     * STARBRIDGE, a limited medical plan, is
> available to associates 
> and their families during an eligibility waiting
> period and to 
> temporary associates.
> Aflac Cancer Insurance
>     * This supplemental insurance plan helps reduce
> financial worries 
> if cancer strikes Associates or their family.
> Dental
>     * A bright smile is one of associates' greatest
> assets. The 
> Dental Plan provides associates with a way to keep
> it looking great. 
> Under this Plan, associates have access to a network
> of general 
> dentists and specialists who have agreed to provide
> dental care at 
> discounted fees.
> Life Insurance
>     * We want our associates to be prepared. Life
> insurance offers 
> financial protection for associates and their
> families in case of 
> death.   Full-time eligible associates receive
> Company-Paid Life 
> Insurance. Associates also may apply for additional
> coverage for 
> themselves, their spouse, or their dependent
> children.
> Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
>     * AD&D insurance plans offer financial
> protection for associates 
> and their families in case the associate or a
> dependent suffers a 
> serious injury or death.
> Business Travel Accident Insurance
>     * We offer associates even more protection when
> they travel on 
> company business by providing Business Travel
> Accident Insurance.
> Disability Plans
>     * It is important for associates to think about
> protecting their 
> families. Both Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
> Insurance can help 
> protect an associate's family should the associate
> become suddenly 
> ill or injured.
> This plan compares favorably with many US plans, but
> most 
> importantly, it compares rather well with the plan
> offered by our 
> largest employer, UI.  Frankly, I am puzzled by the
> lack of righteous 
> indignation over the cuts and changes to the UI
> Health Coverage - 
> especially  the changes that impacted part-time and
> retired employees.
> 
> But the essence of understanding the health
> insurance issue is to 
> decide who should pay the cost of health benefits.
> Classically, the 
> issue has been sorted out by one's perspective of
> our social 
> system.  Those with a foot or two into the "everyone
> is entitled to 
> basic health care" camp would usually advocate that
> the government 
> provide for basic health care.  Thus the US taxpayer
> foots the bill.
> 
> Others argue that (in some form or other) employers
> should foot the 
> bill because ... well, it is not clear to me how
> they argue this.
> 
> What my background and experience have taught me is
> that employers 
> will offer various benefit packages in order to
> attract the folks 
> they want to attract to their firm. As far as I can
> tell, no business 
> as yet (in our country) owes anyone a job - jobs are
> opportunities 
> offered to folks - the folks can decide if they want
> the job or 
> not.   In past decades, employers offered rather
> rigid plans, without 
> much in the way of choice to employees, ie, the one
> size fits all 
> model.  Recent advances in benefit plans have
> offered employees 
> choices (major med, dental, eye, HMO, etc) through
> various types of 
> "cafeteria" plans.  People can tailor their benefit
> package to fit 
> their particular need.
> 
> Of particular interest to some of you (many
> professional-type 
> positions) is that many firms are experimenting with
> providing higher 
> pay and offering no additional benefits.  This
> provides those 
> employees with enough resources to make their own
> choices about how 
> to provide health insurance, etc.
> 
> But here is the bottom line - who should pay (is
> responsible for) the 
> cost of health (and other) benefits.
> 
> Should taxpayers be responsible for the cost, should
> employers (and 
> hence consumers) be responsible, should the
> individual be 
> responsible?  This is the discussion that needs to
> take 
> place.  Arguing about whether WalMart or any other
> individual 
> employer offers too little, too much or whatever is
> a ruse - not a 
> useful discussion.
> 
> The cites regarding health insurance coverage
> provided by Ms. Opyr 
> demonstrates my point quite clearly.  Here are the
> exact cites for 
> Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Vermont (I
> added the bold, 
> colored italicized text):
> 
> Montana
> 
> In June 2005 the Great Falls Tribune examined
> records for the state's 
> CHIP program and found that the private employer
> with the largest 
> number of workers with dependents receiving the
> health insurance was 
> Wal-Mart. Its 193 employees using CHIP represented
> about 4 percent of 
> the company's workforce in the state. Other
> companies high on the 
> list were McDonald's, Pizza Hut, NAPA Auto Parts and
> Subway.
> 
> Source: Mike Dennison, "State Insurance for Kids
> Going to Employees 
> You Might Not Expect," Great Falls Tribune, June 26,
> 2005, p.16A.
> 
> Nebraska
> 
> In October 2005 the Nebraska Health and Human
> Services System 
> reported that an estimated 9,369 workers and an
> unknown number of 
> their dependents were receiving benefits through the
> state's Medicaid 
> program. Leading the list was Wal-Mart with 654
> workers and Tyson with 548.
> 
> Source: Paul Hammel, "Thousands with Jobs are on
> Medicaid 
=== message truncated ===>
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