Wal Mart Health Insurance

Although Wal Mart Health Insurance is not a health insurance provider, Walmart does offer health insurance benefits to its employees and offers health savings to its customers. Wal Mart Health Insurance is available for full time and part time associates. While customers cannot benefit from the Wal Mart Health Insurance, they can receive health care benefits through the prescription drug plan, the Vision Centers, and through the walk-in clinics. Read through this Wal Mart Health Insurance review, take a look at the customer reviews of Wal Mart health insurance left at the bottom of this page, and then be sure and enter your zip into the box on the side of this page to find and compare quotes from many different health care insurance providers.

Walmart was founded in Arkansas in 1962 and incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1969. While Wal-Mart is the legal name, Walmart is the trademark name. Walmart quickly expanded as a savings store and in 1983 it opened its first Sam’s Club warehouse, which is a members-only store associated with affordable bulk buys. In 1988 the first Walmart Supercenter was opened introducing groceries into its traditional setting. Walmart went international when Sam’s Club opened in Mexico in 1991. The 2000s have been filled with Walmart’s interest and determination to provide health care assistance to its customers.

60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll named Walmart as the “Business that Best Symbolizes U.S.” and in February Walmart partnered with several organizations in the launch of its “Better Health Care Together” campaign. The campaign’s initiative is along the lines of Universal Health Care, making quality health care coverage affordable to every American by the year 2012.

Health Care for Wal Mart Associates

More than one half of Walmart’s employees receive health care insurance for themselves and or their families through Walmart, amounting to over one million people. Almost 95% of their entire staff has coverage through some provider, either through Walmart or another source. According to the US Census, almost 17% of the employed United States population is unemployed, so Walmart’s 5% rate is well below the national average.

Depending on the state, individual coverage is available for as little as eleven dollars a month and children can be covered for both full time and part time associates for only fifty cents per day. The eligibility waiting time is cut in half for part time associates. All health insurance plans come with a confidential nurse line that is available through the Mayo Clinic 24/7 at no additional charge. The hotline can be used to address questions and concerns for illnesses and injuries as well as for wellness coaching. Members who enroll in the “Value” plan or the “Freedom” plan are given preventative care services that can be used prior to the deductible having to be met. These care services include screenings such as colonoscopies and mammograms as well as flu shots and well-child visits.

The $4 Prescription Plan & More

In 2006, Walmart made headlines by introducing the availability of numerous generic prescription drugs for only $4, saving customers millions of dollars every year nationwide. Walmart has also recently introduced a new program that started in Michigan for mail order drugs. More than 350 generic drugs can be purchased for a 90 day recurring supply for only $10 with free delivery. These prescription programs are available to everyone: associates and customers, the insured and the uninsured. Additionally, “over the counter” (OTC) medications are a large part of Walmart’s Rollback program, and many of these drugs can be purchased for $4 or less.

Several other low cost medical supply programs are also in place. For $9, asthma sufferers can purchase a ReliOn Ventolin HFA Inhaler. $9 will also purchase a diabetic kit that includes ReliOn’s blood glucose meter and testing strips, and for the same price women can purchase generic birth control or fertility drugs. Smokers who want to quite their addiction can purchase a Smoking Cessation Rx Starter Pack for only $9 as well.

Walk On In

Starting in 2005, select Walmart locations introduced walk-in medical clinics that are independently operated and provide “Get Well” and “Stay Well” services by licensed health care practitioners. A schedule of fees is posted so that you know the charges ahead of time. For approximately $50 to $65 you can get diagnosed, treated, and given a prescription if medically necessary. Everyone over the age of two is welcome, whether insured or not, although 55% or customers that have used the walk-in clinics do not have health insurance. The clinics are open seven days a week and include evening hours with an overall satisfaction rate of 90%.

To See Or Not To See

Statistics have shown that one out of four seniors may develop a vision problem and out of more than 2 million Americans that are affected by Glaucoma; approximately 1.5 million people don’t know they have this condition which can lead to blindness if left untreated. On the other end of the age spectrum, one out of four children may have a vision problem. Testing for vision conditions as well as eye disease is a crucial component of everyone health care regime, yet it is often disregarded because many health care plans do not offer vision services.

Walmart has 2,500 independent optometrists in addition to their own optometrists working at Walmart Vision Centers and Sam’s Club Optical Centers. They see over six million patients every year in more than 3,000 locations throughout forty-seven states and are the second leading provider of eyeglasses and contacts. They offer savings by selling contacts for post-rebate prices and children can get eyewear for as little as $39 for the frames and the lenses, which come with a one year replacement guarantee at no additional charge.

In addition to providing its associates with health care, Walmart has made great strides to introduce low cost assistance for certain health care services. If you don’t have health insurance these programs can provide some needed cost relief, and even if you have health insurance you can receive financial benefits from these services.

Looking for Wal Mart Health Insurance Quotes?

While you can’t compare Wal Mart health insurance quotes online you can get quotes from other top companies. Whether you have health insurance and are looking for a different carrier or if you are in need or health insurance, you can compare various insurance quotes on line for free by typing your zip code into the above quote tool. Get started finding the best health insurance provider today!