Why in the hell would Wal-Mart be getting into the health care game for "every person in America" when its deplorable working environment and lack of decent health care coverage for ITS OWN WORKERS is clearly not a priority? This makes no sense to me. I worked for the company for 5 years and never broke $6.00 an hour, that was full time and the health care coverage they offered was a joke. I don't know why anyone would ever seek employment there and we need to avoid any help that WalMart would offer us as citizens because it will be completely politically and financially one sided for them as a company.
WalMart is definitely not the answer to our health care problems in America.

I think the point Wal-Mart is trying to make here is... "If we can get the Government to pick up the tab for universal health care coverage! Then the big box retailer won't have to pay any part of coverage for it's employee's" (formally known as AKA Associates) So they win and the american people pay Higher Taxes for everyone.

It's only a start, but it is a start: that Wal-Mart and unions can cooperate on common problems is a good sign for the country. Win or lose, it's worth the gamble that two such economic forces can come together with the potential to make great changes and for the better.

here we go again, bashing walmart...i have been an AKA ASSOCIATE for nine years now, and i like working and seeing the changes that walmart does every year...evidentally because WALMART doesn't spoon feed every associate they get bashed by people like you(who make the union reps smile) do i work for the number one retailer yes...do i expect them to give me everything..no...that is why i work, because i am a responsible adult who knows that i dont get thing for free i have to WORK for them. WALMART has a million workers do you know how hard it is to find a insurance company willing to insure that many people...just cause walmart is a multi-billion dollar company doesnt mean that MOST of the associate understand why and how come..why dont you go to a web site that explains to you what exactly walmart does, and quit hearing the things that they dont..
I AM PROUD TO WORK FOR WALMART...NOW MORE THAN EVER!and regard to 1 what did you make $3 when you started???? cause i make a pretty decent dollar, being we get raises every year, and it goes by HOW HARD YOU WORK!!!!!

everyone says walmart is so bad with wages and there insurence i want to let you know ive been there three years and im making a decent wage and also my wife just died of a battle with cancer for the last year and a half and there insurence paid out over 2 million dollars for my wifes treatments they had no limit like most companys thanks to walmart i was able to keep my wife a little longer
don

Wal-Mart wasn't the only company represented in the article. Insurance coverage is one thing; good insurance coverage is another. When medical coverage functions as coverage for practically catastrophic coverage only and hardly assists with routine medical expense, the actual value is diminished. Annual deductibles play a huge role in one's medical care as do payable benefits. When annual deductibles and co-pays equate to less than six months coverage through the year, paying less than 80% for limited benefits for that six month period, it hardly seems adequate. And these calculations do not include the 10% premium paid from net salary. Universal Health Care sounds like a good song - but, can those paying the price really afford the dance?