Walmart changes its healthcare terms for employees

Walmart today announced that it would be making significant changes to the availabilty of healthcare for its employees.

These changes include reduction in the waiting period for company health insurance from two years of employment to one year, providing part time employees with the ability to cover their children; offering a policy option for as little as $11 per month; and expanding the pharmaceuticals available under a $3 co-pay arrangement. The company will also offer employees a discount on healthy foods sold at company stores.

The health coverage available for part-time employees is the same coverage that is offered to full-time employees, including the company's executives. Also, the amount of a part-time employee's health insurance policy that is paid for by the company is the same amount that is paid by the company for full-time employees and executives. There is no minimum number of hours a part-time employee must work to be eligible for health coverage, and there is no lifetime cap on an employee's claims.