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Wal-Mart rolls back health care benefits
msnbc ^ | 10/21/2011 | msnbc

Posted on 10/21/2011 9:12:04 AM PDT by tobyhill

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at bottomline.msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcare; obama; obamacare; singlepayer; walmart
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For employers like Walmart it would be easier and cheaper to just drop all coverage and pay the $2,000 fine and that's exactly what Walmart appears to be prepping for.
1 posted on 10/21/2011 9:12:08 AM PDT by tobyhill
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To: tobyhill

bump.


2 posted on 10/21/2011 9:14:43 AM PDT by ken21
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To: tobyhill

Obamacare in action!


3 posted on 10/21/2011 9:15:00 AM PDT by Rational Thought
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To: tobyhill

Boy, there are going to be some really pizzed, nastier then usual people working at Walmart.


4 posted on 10/21/2011 9:16:01 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (2012—They vote twice— we'll vote three times.)
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To: tobyhill

My understanding is that the benefit offered to part-timers would have to be dropped anyhow because the max payout is $5K or something that does not comply with the demands of Obamacare. (unless you have a waiver that is)


5 posted on 10/21/2011 9:16:31 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: tobyhill
New employees who work 24 to 33 hours per week would not be allowed to add a spouse to their coverage, either,

I think they mean they can't add a spouse if that spouse is eligible for their company's health plan, a lot of companies are starting to do this, or adding a surcharge if the employee covers a spouse, who is eligible for their own health plan.

6 posted on 10/21/2011 9:17:15 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: tobyhill

The downgrading of America continues. Thanks Obama for making health care more expensive.


7 posted on 10/21/2011 9:17:25 AM PDT by StolarStorm
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To: tobyhill
Yep, it's directly a result of 0bamaCare.

"You can keep the healthcare coverage you have. Until my plan runs it out of business." - 0baMugabe

8 posted on 10/21/2011 9:17:49 AM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: StolarStorm

I welcome the day that health care insurance won’t be coupled to employment. It’s one of the reasons there is widespread age discrimination.


9 posted on 10/21/2011 9:20:20 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: tobyhill

[ For employers like Walmart it would be easier and cheaper to just drop all coverage and pay the $2,000 fine and that’s exactly what Walmart appears to be prepping for. ]

Gee, they never figure or they always figure for unexpected consequences.


10 posted on 10/21/2011 9:21:03 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: tobyhill

Didn’t they get a waver from O-Care?


11 posted on 10/21/2011 9:23:26 AM PDT by marty60
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To: tobyhill

They saw what happened when other companies told the truth about the increases...

Wally World was smart enough not to say it was from Obamacare...

We know it is, though.


12 posted on 10/21/2011 9:24:07 AM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: TigersEye
It was said from the start that if a company had only 2 choices, buy healthcare for their employees at $5,000 a year per employee or pay a $2,000 fine per employee then most would just pay the fine (tax) and tell the employee “sorry, you cost too much”.

In this Obamacare, the employers actually have a 3rd option, don't hire in the first place.

13 posted on 10/21/2011 9:25:43 AM PDT by tobyhill (Obama, The Biggest Thief In American History)
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To: marty60
All the waivers will expire unless they are given another one but companies don't want to continue and rely on getting a waiver each year.
14 posted on 10/21/2011 9:29:35 AM PDT by tobyhill (Obama, The Biggest Thief In American History)
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To: tobyhill
"In this Obamacare, the employers actually have a 3rd option, don't hire in the first place.

And I think most employers are already choosing option 3. The country will continue to have high unemployment until Obamacare is repealed.

15 posted on 10/21/2011 9:32:50 AM PDT by In Maryland ("If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?" - Mark Twain)
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To: tobyhill

Or hire more employees and cut everyone’s hours until everyone is part time.


16 posted on 10/21/2011 9:34:09 AM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: dfwgator
re:age.....I'm in my upper upper 50's and I can tell you that I am rarely sick and can out work most of the younger workers...
17 posted on 10/21/2011 9:36:26 AM PDT by cherry
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To: tobyhill

Typical Zero bait and switch. Did they actually think O-Care was going to go unchallenged. Good Grief.


18 posted on 10/21/2011 9:36:26 AM PDT by marty60
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To: In Maryland
And to follow up ... once Obamacare is repealed, expect a period of run-away inflation as businesses compete for labor to fulfill deferred expansion plans. The pent up demand will be released suddenly, with severe consequences.

Obamacare will be the gift that keeps on giving even after it is repealed.

19 posted on 10/21/2011 9:36:26 AM PDT by In Maryland ("If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?" - Mark Twain)
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To: dfwgator

I welcome the day that health care insurance won’t be coupled to employment.


Do you know the history of why it is?


20 posted on 10/21/2011 9:38:01 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple ( getting closer to the truth.................)
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