Wal-Mart Dials Back Health Care Benefits for Scores of Workers
- Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:00pm by
Becket Adams
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Claiming that it is too expensive, Wal-Mart has announced it is rescinding health coverage for part-time workers and drastically raising premiums for much of its full time staff, reports Business Insider.
The country’s largest private employer (2.1 million employees) told every employee who works less than 24 hours a week that they will no longer qualify for insurance. Additionally, anyone working up to 33 hours a week may no longer include a spouse on their plan, reports The New York Times.
“Over the last few years, we’ve all seen our health care rates increase and it’s probably not a surprise that this year will be no different,” Mr. Rossiter, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said in the Times report.
“We made the difficult decision to raise rates that will affect our associates’ medical costs. The decisions made were not easy, but they strike a balance between managing costs and providing quality care and coverage,” he added.
Rates are expected to climb by more than 40 percent for some employees, according to Business Insider. Employees are complaining that their health care will now eat up to 20 percent of their annual pay due to the high deductible fees.
Obviously, Wal-Mart employees are unhappy with the move.
Tammy Yancey, a $9.50-an-hour gas attendant at a Sam’s Club in Pinellas Park , Fla., complained to the Times that she won’t be able to afford health insurance from the company.
Another employee, Ms. Yancey, a smoker, said her premiums would jump to $127.90 every two weeks — or $3,325 a year — up from $53.80 at present, when she earns $12,000 a year from her job, according to the report.
“I won’t be able to afford the insurance,” she Yancey. “And I really can’t go without insurance because I have a heart problem.”
Barbara Collins, a sales associate at the Wal-Mart in Placerville, Calif., told the New York Times that the premiums for the H.M.O. plan for herself and her 5-year-old son would rise to $18 every two weeks from $10.
Her big concern, she said, was that her deductible would jump to $5,000 a year, from $1,000. This may become an unsupportable situation considering she earns $19,000 a year. “I don’t know how I’ll be able to afford it if I go to a doctor or to physical therapy,” she said.
Wal-Mart refused Thursday to disclose the number of workers employed less than 24 hours a week, saying only the decision was reached due to rising health care costs.
Dan Schlademan, director of Making Change at Walmart, a union-supported organization, has obviously come out against the proposed changes.
“No wonder people are protesting in the streets,” he said in the Times article.
“This is another example of corporations putting profits ahead of what’s good for everyday Americans. It’s outrageous and damaging to many hard-working families that the biggest corporation in America is increasing health care costs for many employees by 40 percent,” he added.
What has been causing such an increase in health care rates that Wal-Mart had to take these actions?
(H/T Business Insider)
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Comments (146)
dylan
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:10amSorry Wal-Mart, I really am. Wait for ‘Obamacare the wonderful”. Personally I am going to get all I need doing in that area BEFORE ‘the wonderful’ kicks in. It’s madness now. Just wait and see what madness ensues.
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:51amBlue light special here. Get your O’Bozo care or pay a $800 fine. I so luv what this country has turned into. Jerk Politicians.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:07amJoin the crowd Walmart employees. We have Tricare Prime (government healthcare) and our prescription drugs went up 60% for generic and 75% for non-generic. (Their’s was a 55% increase. Our yearly premium hasn’t gone up for us, but new people coming in are paying about 60-70% more for the same service.
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:09amGut it out!! won‘t be long and it will be ’FREE”…….‘happy daze will be here again’!!
demint.disciple
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:14amThe decision was reached due to rising health care costs. Hmmm, I thought with obamacare costs would go down.. lol Poor people.. The funny thing is that most all of them voted for obama and will continue the madness with a vote for him in 2012.. Poor sheeple.. They will never get it..
Report Post »Veritas vos liberabit
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:23amI really hate that their rates are going up, but when I see that someone is only paying $40 and $260 a month for health care, I can’t cry too much. We are self employed and our family plan costs $1300 a month. It goes up every year without fail even before obamacare.
Report Post »xpilotah1s
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:02pm@Lorianne12, I also have TriCare, your percentage rate reference my be correct, but when you pay no more than 27.00 for full retail type drugs it is not much of an argument vs the standard rates people with out TriCare pay. Still the rates went up a couple of dollars but you and I are not in the ugly rate brackets and can still afford to get scripts filled……………
Report Post »weeblewacker1
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:29pmreally? sorry for walmart? a 40% increase when health costs have only gone up around 4-5% ya,now that makes sense,and record profits for walmart? talk about corporate greed!! this is only being done to boost there profits even more! how much do they want? i bet theres more than one person on here that works for wally-world or has someone close to them that does,and this affects them. this is exactly why unions are needed in some case’s. just think,if we deregulate even more, maybe wally-world can get away with 70-80 hour work weeks with no overtime payed!! wouldn’t that be great? makes me happy as hell that my town is fighting wally-world from them putting one of there capitalist sweat-shops in.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:04pmthe sheeple are ready to stampeed……
Report Post »snooop1e
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 4:09pmWow Obama’s policies are really working out and improving things for middle class working Americans. Obama promised “If you like your current health care plan you can keep it” WHat he didn‘t tell people is that employers aren’t going to continue to offer the plans or they are going to increse the cost of the plans to offest the increased cost of offering the plans. Did anyone really think that large companies were going to absorb the increased cost by taking it out of their profits? This is the problem with Ideologues, they ignore basic economic facts. Since when did a company ever absorb increased operating costs? Companies ALWAYS pass on increased costs to the customers, that’s just common $en$e. Obama and his administration epitomize the definition of insanity, (doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome) Obama and the Libs truly believe that the reason Socialism has never worked in the past is because they weren’t the ones doing it. They truly believe they are elightened and only THEY can unlock the secrets to functioning Socialism. It pretty much comes down to arrogance. They truly believe that they are smarter than everyone else who has come before them and they will be the ones to usher in the Socialist utopia, Heaven on Earth where everyone has a nice car, a big house, a college degree, a 72 inch plasma, broadband Internet, an IPOD and the best healthcare in the world……
Report Post »Amos37
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:11pmsnoopie is right on. the only question i have is: why aren’t the churches in America doing anything for these people. Instead of building their walls larger, and their statues bigger, putting more decorations on their christmas trees, and filling the pockets of their leaders, they need to do be doing something every day for the community. Think of how much someone would praise God if they had breast cancer, yet no way to pay for it. then God gave a church some money from the people and they truly used it to glorify Him and help someone else. Can you imagine how many people would truly see the light of God? Too bad we know that that isn’t going to happen since all we have in this world is a false church until Jesus returns.
Report Post »homer0049
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:01pmI believe that every company has a right to make a profit, But what Walmart is doing is Crazy, my Mother and Daughter both work for Walmart. As of today, My wife and I will no longer shop at Walmart When CEOs and Senior Board Members make millions of dollars and have great benefit packages, their store employees can not afford Health Insurance. Something has got to give. I encourge everyone to boycott Walmart.
Report Post »FNTM
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:06pmMake sure we get Obama. He is the 666……………………………
Report Post »proud2bmom
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:10pm@AMOS37
There are communities where churches are doing that. I happen to live in one of them.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:50pmI Think Obama‘s 6 6 6 plan is much worse than Cain’s 9 9 9 plan.
Report Post »Ordie69
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 11:57pmIt sucks for the folks that work for Walmart that are going to be impacted. However, it is a job, not a nursery. Since when has the primary “responsibility” of a company been to provide health care? It is a benefit of the job. Being a benefit, it can be altered due to the needs of the company. If the terms of employment are no longer acceptable, get a new job or start your own company and become successful so the dregs of society can bad mouth you because you have “too much.”
Now the reality of Obama Care is going to be seen. Good luck.
Report Post »dave88
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:03amI bet this is related to Obamacare.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:44amYou bet it. The local Dollar General just did the same thing. The mandates kicking in making insurance, no longer insurance. Insurance has always been a gamble game, but Obamcare changes the game. I guess this is where the healthcare comes from instead of health insurance. The health system as been it’s own worst enemy in all this. As idiots like Obama force compliance and forced funds into health care, more and more methods, techniques, medications, and so on and so on, come into play.. Trying to grad every last penny they can. This is a reflection of the Intellect’s having full power in society. They present knowledge, run constant research determining constant problems that are only partially proven. This then leads to a solution, costly most times, coming to the table and insurance having to pay the balance. It almost seems as if us humans are so much more concerned about living forever and not focused on living a quality life. I guess since what determines a quality life is becoming an umbrella or net of sorts, being a catch all since these lefty’s want everything and anything to be accepted except conservation. That is, unless we are applying the term to the environment, then it is the other way around. These people want to live unsustainable life styles, yet, limit our resources at every turn. Impossible a situation it is. Greece is the shining example.. Sheesh !!
Report Post »Loki
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 8:04pmNope… walmart are cheap greedy bastards..
Report Post »When workers get injured while working, they try to convince the workers to not file workers comp claims, then refuse to pay any of the medical bills even after ordered to pay by the court..
force coworkers to lie on the stand in court, pay off doctors and lawyers of the injured to lie against the injured in court
they ruin peoples lives…
i hope sam walton is rotting in hell….
Redsfanforever
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:53amSpeaking from experience Wal Marts insurance has always suck for hourly employees even hourly management. I was an employee for 9 1/2 years 8 1/2 as a Dept Mgr. always treated well and paid Ok before leaving I was doing well as for pay but the benefits have always sucked. For this once great retailer to say they can’t afford to provide insurance for part timers is one thing but doing the full time people like this with huge above normal rate increases is bull**** this company is doing just fine and is going to lose good people. They have turned liberal over the years anyway starting with the decision to cave on gun sales at most all of there stores this was not a good decision has anybody seen how god awful the sporting goods dept. has became PC gone amuck eat it Wal Mart you now get to sleep in the bed you made. Sam and Bud Walton would be ashamed of what you have became.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:18amSince when did 33 hours become “full time” ?? I always worked 40 , you mean I should have gotten over time for 7 hours a week ? Man, I was had..
Report Post »midnightvelvet
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:09pmI am currently working for Walmart. Parttime. The insurance wasn’t great, but it was more than good enough for me. I’m really going to miss it. A full timer at Walmart is only guaranteed 36 hrs, I believe. Sometimes full timers don’t get this anyway. Then your paycheck is smaller than you would like it to be. People would like to work more hours, but you’re often stuck with what they give you. Also, Walmart is completely rabid about overtime. Just ONE MINUTE of overtime will get you called into the asst mgr’s office for “counseling.” People juggle hours to work off anything extra before the end of the week to avoid the dreaded overtime. The way Walmart works is sometimes really screwy. Also, getting fulltime is a bear. I tried for a year before I gave up on it.
Report Post »xpilotah1s
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:10pmHey free it’s market and if you do not like it, then DO NOT buy or work at Walmarts. Take your dollars and work aother job elseware. Or maybe suck up to the liberal Progressive Union Democratic Socialist and Marxist bloodsuckers for a job. Oh I forgot do not worry we will all be socialists without religion real soon anyway because of all the splineless moaning (get some) mental cases crying about everything instead of doing something about it………..
Report Post »midnightvelvet
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:49pmBelieve me…I’m working on finding something better than Walmart. I reread my post and see where it could be interpreted as “whining”. I actually find the way Walmart works to be endlessly fascinating. I’m not trapped there by lack of skills, fortunately.
Report Post »snooop1e
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 4:27pmRedsfanforever – All companies will be doing the same thing as time goes on, they are anticipating the increased operating costs of Obamacare and they are taking steps now to push the increased cost to their customers. Obama knew this would happen, remember when he said “under my plan energy costs would necessarily sky rocket” The way to get your plan implemented is to make the other plan(s) unaffordable. If the cost of the current plans “sky rocket” people will have no choice but to accept your plan. It’s like asking people “do you want me to cut two fingers off or just one” They don’t want any fingers cutoff but they will definitely opt for just one, it’s less painful than two. Obama and his administration could care less about hard working middleclass Americans, what they truly care about is having things their way. They believe that their ideas are superior and everyone should just shut up, toe the line and be thankful that they are in charge. There is a reason Obama and those like him have never had a real middle class job, they can’t stand to not get their way, they can’t stand anyone else being in charge. Winning an election is a 50/50 shot, one of 2 people is going to win and it just might be you, it’s not like competing against a large group of very qualified people and having to excel above the rest to succeed. You have a 50/50 shot of winning. Obama is 4 for 4 and here now he’s the POTUS, but he has no experience.
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:30pmmidnightvelvet-It didn’t sound like whining at all. In fact, it was quite nice and as objective as most likely possible. You laid out facts. It sounds like you don’t take your job for granted, which many people could learn a lesson from you in that regard…
Report Post »lbk
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:25amHey Walmart—you went along with Obummacare. It was great! remember? A big business like you got sucked into bs. Besides, WHAT BENEFITS do the part time employess get? If I remember correctly, if you work 24 hrs or less a weeek, there are NO benefits.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:59amFor most places, I believe benefits start at 35 hrs/wk. Some at 32hrs/wk. and then it only partial.
Report Post »db321
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 1:36amSorry Walmart Employees – you know times have been tough for the 8 or so Owners of Walmart – Their Billions just do go as far today.
Report Post »florida123
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:24amWell Walmart Employees call the WH and thank them for ObummerCare which is the cause for this increase in insurance rates. Thanks you Commander and Chief…………….NOT
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:23amIf I was the CEO of the largest private employer in America and had to make a choice of cutting back employee work hours and healthcare or reducing the cooperation, guess what, I‘d follow in Walmart’s footsteps.
That’s exactly what thousands of American businesses are going to do before 2014 and reduce their workforce as well. If we think 9.0 % unemployment is high now, just wait until the full force of Obamacare gos into affect in 2014.
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:14amWhat’s happening at Walmart can be placed in the laps of the liberal democratic congessmen/women and Senators who forced OBAMACARE onto the American people.
This is just the beginning of the repercussions of Obama’s socialized medicine in America. Don’t blame Walmart, blame Obama and the liberal congress and senate that voted in Obamacare.
Report Post »endgamer
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:06amWhen this comes to a head, they will force people into a single payer system. This is the Obama Plan, Make the private sector so expensive no one can afford it and the government is the only choice.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 7:27amEXACTLY! Wasn’t Walmart one of the first to obtain a waiver to Obamacare? If Walmart kept their previous coverage, they’d be forced to raise prices throughout their stores (which they do anyway) to pay for it.
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:22pmYes, Yes they were along with a bunch of huge corporations that just happen to be working with the BO teams agendas in one way or another. Walmart’s thing is happens to be the whole m. obama and the food desert crap.
Report Post »Patriot Huntress
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 6:37amWe are small business owners and do not hire employees precisely because of this situation. We didn’t start our business to provide jobs but instead to better our way of life. While my husband runs our business I work for a large corporation for benefits. As a responsible employee I help my company keep costs down. For a trip out of town I look for the best price on a hotel with free breakfast, instead of room service find an inexpensive meal close by. By the way I took a $20,000 per year pay cut 2 years ago. Something everyone seems to forget is the shareholders of Wal-Mart are people just like you and I. Yes some stock holders rake in a lot but they put their necks on the line to do so.
To remain in business and keep a company healthy you must save some of your profits to cover unexpected expenses that may come, spend some for continued growth and pay dividends to your investors. Those investors are people like my aunt who is middle income but subsidizes her SSI with stocks and bonds left by her husband to make sure she was taken care of.
When I didn’t have medical insurance I found a job that provided them. I do all I can to do a good job and keep my position. My income is around $40,000 per year and I do pay for a portion of my medical. In the bad economy our business is down. My husband has health issues which is why he is self-employed so he can work around it. If he took disability that would limit our possibilities for making more money. No th
Report Post »TemayElbor
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 6:26amIt seems that Walmart has decided that the majority of its employees should be “24 hour/weekly employees” so it doesn’t have to give insurance benefits to part-timers. I think, this is an alarming trend on the part of employers in this country.
If a Walmart employee is paid $10. an hour. that poor employee would have to work 2 hours to by one “$16. muffin”…and his whole day’s work would only allow him to buy four “$16. muffins.”..for the money he pays for the muffins comes from his net pay and not from gross pay.
It seems there is a certain evil force in this country to enslave ordinary Americans.
Bad times are not coming to this country, they are here. And I predict, before the 2011 is over the situation will worsen. President Obama, do something.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:03amHasn’t he done enough already??
Report Post »Redsfanforever
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:10amYou are correct 70% of the people working at Wal Mart during prime business hours are part time. Only Dept. Mgrs, CSMs, Zone Mgrs, and a select few cashiers and other who have been there a long time sad situation
Report Post »ddajs
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:47amTemayelbor I agree. There is something evil in this country. The president has his share of the blame, but I think that business owners are taking full advantage of the situation also. I have been unemployed for one year. I go on job interviews about every week, while I am going to school to learn a new skill in a new field. My situation is I am 60 years old, and no one will give me a job. The jobs that are there are not at the pay scale they should be. This is the fault of the business owner trying to pay less that they should. There is a place for these kind of people.
Report Post »PFN
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 6:22am“Dan Schlademan, director of Making Change at Walmart, a union-supported organization, has obviously come out against the proposed changes….. “This is another example of corporations putting profits ahead of what’s good for everyday Americans. It’s outrageous and damaging to many hard-working families that the biggest corporation in America is increasing health care costs for many employees by 40 percent,” he added.
What has been causing such an increase in health care rates that Wal-Mart had to take these actions?”
Uhhh… let me guess… Obamacare? Stupid libs! They cry and whine for healthcare and then cry and whine from the effects of what they asked for. Time to buck up and grow a set libs; this is just the beginning! Apparently you never heard the old saying “be careful what you wish for; you just might get it!”
Well here you go.
Report Post »smalldog
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:48am@JZS – Who got richer as a result of the Obama’s Solyndra deal? Taxpayers? Obama donors? Crony capitalism? Immoral but not illegal?
Report Post »orionreplay6607
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:42amI’m sorry. When I was younger, you worked part time at a company or business, building a reputation so one might one day be invited to become full time (hourly) or a salary employee. Once full time, I would provided benefits like healthcare. But as a part time worker, you never expected the bennies a full time worker was provided. You strove to better yourself and go full time.
I don’t understand why someone working part time at my business expects all the bennies of a full time or salaried employee.
As for the increase, we’re all feeling that pinch these days. My rates nearly doubled. Why is Walmart slammed for raising rates? Oh, I forgot. They are Walmart. They are evil.
Report Post »Anne G
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:22amI may be seeing this all wrong, but I think Obama is dancing over this news. These poor people will be screaming for his $700 a year Obamacare! Walmart may just be doing the president’s bidding. I’m just sayin.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:33amObamacare is starting to “reap” rewards … Walmart didn’t get a waiver and neither did I .. my insurance which is just major medical just increased to $344. per month .. and that doesn’t cover anything unless I am REALLY sick!
Where’s my waiver???
TEA!
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:18amSo you could ask the question …What would Sam do?..O..I forgot that was a different world…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:36am“What has been causing such an increase in health care rates that Wal-Mart had to take these actions?”
REALLY YOU HAVE TO ASK ??? OBAMACARE > Walmart (and I) did not get a waiver like the FRIENDS OF OBAMA!
TEA!
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:16amthis is the republicans fault??? that’s insanity dude or dudette.. what crap have you been listening to?? who had the pres, senate and house for 2 1/2 years.. what have they done for anyone except for fat cats.. the dems are the corruptocrats… pure and simple.. dumbarse..
Report Post »jzs
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:04amWalmart posted a profit of 5.7% in the second quarter. Their quarterly profit was $3.4 billion, or 97 cents a share, up from $3.3 billion, or 87 cents a share, a year earlier.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/business/18shop.html
Here is another reason for OWS. Walmart’s job is to make money for their investors. That’s good, that’s capitalism. That is their one and only goal, to make money for investors.
But ever read “The Grapes of Wrath” by Steinbeck? When there are no jobs to speak of, employeers can reduce wages and benefits to whatever they want, because people will take any job rather than have no income at all. If Walmart employees don’t like it they can take a hike, because there are plenty of unemployeed people in the US who would take anything rather than nothing. The employeer hold all the cards. The relatively small number of big stock owners benefit, and the very large number of Walmart employees, that’s millions of poor people, get poorer.
Go ahead, be smug that your benefits aren’t being lowered, although, in real dollars, your income is declining if you are like the average American.
That’s what the Republican party wants, and they are getting it. The rich get richer, and the middle and lower class (that’s you and me) get poorer. Republicans don’t get campaign contributions from poor people.
Report Post »douglassoileau
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:23amIt’s called, Obama Care,,,,,,,,,,idiot
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:24amUm, you do know that “The Grapes of Wrath” is fiction, right? It was written from a very slanted point of view and chronicled an unfortunate time in our history. By cutting the healthcare benefits for part-timers, Walmart is not really getting richer. In this economic climate, all they are doing is trying to keep from getting poorer….or at least trying to stay at the same level for their shareholders and employees. It may well be that they will have more money to save jobs by cutting part-time perks.
Report Post »douglassoileau
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:26amHow much risk, did you take creating millions of jobs.?..??? >> I thought so,,,,,,,none…..so quit crying dud
Report Post »jzs
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 4:08amrestorehope, sure I know that the Grapes of Wrath was fiction. Stienbeck is a favorite of mine. I think the only nonfiction book he wrote was “Travels with Charlie” but I could be wrong about that.
Sure it was written from a “slanted point of view.” It described the life of migrant farm workers, and didn’t show much sympathy for the incredibly wealthy plantation owner “job creators.” True. Do you doubt the descriptions of the “company store?” Do you doubt the description of the union busting activities and their brutal nature? Do you doubt that workers were paid the absolute minimum that would the wealthy plantation owners could pay and still get somebody to work for them?
Yeah, it was slanted alright, because it told the story of American workers, and not the story of the wealthy job owners who lacked for nothing, and who paid no heed to the suffering of their fellow Americans. They wanted to maximize their profit, regardless of the effect on the human beings who worked for them. Americans worked for a smaller wage than they could use to buy food to replace the calories they burned from working. Owners brutally beat down any resistance to their absolute power over the poor and helpless.
Restorehope, I’m impressed that anyone here as read Steinbeck, and sincerly appreciate your post. Yes, the novel was fiction. I’d like to hear your defence of the plantation owners.
Report Post »Bill Burns
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 4:36amJZS: You voted Oborrow in (O agrees with the whining freeloader position which is most of his base.) …Now you must reap your harvest; Obamacare. I‘m retired on a fixed income making less than you I suspect but I can see what O’s socialistic agenda has done to our children and grandchildren. JZS your plight will be seen as the gravy train good ‘ol days. Obamacare has introduced us to 30M new non paying patients, $500B heisted from Medicare then double-counted, the infamous $247B “Doc fix” scam, 1,700 entities and corporations already “exempt” from Ocare, and now a corner stone of what the Wall Street Journal called, “The Worst Bill Ever” is defunct. (Not enough money for Kennedy’s Long Term Care Provision, CLASS)
>>>>And above all else a wonderland of bogus math and shameless self-serving “projections.”<<<<
Report Post »That’s why O is ONE and DONE.
smalldog
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:47am$3.4 billion (profit) divided by 2.1 million employees = $1,619 ANNUAL profit per employee.
Is the $1,619 annual profit per employee enough to cover the rising cost of medical insurance?
How much are the insurance premiums rising per year? “…Ms. Yancey, a smoker, said her premiums would jump to $127.90 every two weeks — or $3,325 a year — up from $53.80 at present…”
Hmmm…lnsurance increase for EMPLOYEE of $3,325 per year, profit $1,619…
How much is Walmart absorbing? Seems like Walmart might not have any profit if they didn’t charge employees more…
Report Post »Misty Williams
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 10:58amWalmart is a corporation. They have stock holders. You make note of this fact in your comment. What you did NOT mention, is that Walmart has a legal, contractual responsibility to increase the value of their stock, & their profits, to improve the value of the stock for their stock holders. If they do not, the stock holders have the legal right to sue Walmart, and/or sue to lockout and change the line up of their board. So, in your remarks, you first point out that Walmart is a corporation, whose obligation is to make as much profit as they can, & then turn about and condemn them for doing just that. If the Wallies big wigs started behaving as though it were a charitable organization instead of a corporation, then they are not preforming their function as a corporation, which opens them up to all sorts of liability, which would, in turn, reach out to further lessen the benefits employees receive and in the end, raise prices–which would hurt the corporation further, thus lessening the benefits employees receive… See how that goes? It‘s hardly corporate Walmart’s fault that the cost of health care & insurance has become ridiculous in the extreme. They’re simply feeling the crunch, just like everyone else, and making a choice about healthcare costs, the same as everyone else. Now tell me, what other company ever offered health insurance to employees that worked less than 40 hours a week, much less those who worked only 24? Thank goodness they held out as long as they did.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:09pmLet me guess…your degree does not have “Kelly School of Business” printed anywhere on it…..
Report Post »Misty Williams
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:14pmOne more thing to add to this…
Report Post »You are aware the most state run Medicaid programs require that if you have insurance available through your job, you buy it, no matter the cost, right?? So a person working only 24 hours a week, HAS to pay premiums, where they qualify for their children to be on Medicaid if they didn’t have insurance availble through their employer. I don’t object to helping even through medicaid, those workers who are unable to have medical insurance–as long as they are working. So, now that they are no longer eligible for insurance through their job, they and their families are eligible for Medicaid in most states, and under the new federal regulations. Its back handed, but now those people/families do not have to pay premiums, and do not have to pay co-pays, and get even more coverage for medical, dental, optical, hospitalization… So are they really that much worse off?? Taking government charity hurts the pride a heck of a lot more than it does the pocket book. I don’t mean at all to criticize those who are not able to earn more, NOT AT ALL, I have been in that place! If anything we rotten conservative, capitalist types should be angry with Wallies for freeing up thousands of employees to now get Medicaid. Funny… but I’m not.
Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 2:53amOf course Wal-Mart cut it’s health insurance. Wal-Mart forces its employees into a corner, forces them, if they want to make basic ends meet, to collect a welfare check, etc. Now they cut out medical.. because guess what folks…. Wal-Mart knows that it can stuff more money in their coffers, and have us, the tax payers, pay for their employees’ health care costs via ObamaCare.
Walmart has been doing this in states that already have low-income state-ran health care plans, such as what Washington State used to have.
All the while, the rake in record profits. Walmart is the worlds largest and richest company. They can provide health care for their own damn employees. Not stick it to us tax payers.
One of the reasons, among many, why I never, ever shop Wal-Mart.
Report Post »UrbanCombatSurvivor
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:08amI shop there whenever it meets my needs. Businesses are there to make a profit, and Walmart does a DAMN good job of giving me items for less than I can get them elsewhere.
If you want better health insurance, take your lazy ass to SCHOOL and EARN more money, rather than sitting in a ZERO SKILL job at Walmart and ******* and moaning that Mommy Walmart isn’t giving you enough.
Socialism doesn’t work.
Report Post »It has never worked.
It never will work.
Take some responsibility for your own situation and your life improves almost immediately thereafter.
douglassoileau
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:25amThat‘s why we have choices and don’t have to shop at wal mart…….are didn‘t someone tell you it’s o.k. to shop elswhere….you didn’t get your government notice.??
Report Post »douglassoileau
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:30amexactly…….choice is the key………
Report Post »symphonic
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:40amHey URBAN COMBAT whatever, what has your shopping at Walmart and getting good deals have to do with anything? Fact is, billionaires own the place and they can afford to share a bit more and not do this to people who can’t afford it. They are oppressing the hireling in their wages, something the Bible does condemn. Making billions in profit each year and not sharing that? Seems wrong.
Oh, and socialism is PUBLIC SCHOOL too. So unless you are against Public School please don‘t harp on Obama’s plan. Be consistent. So MUCH money is wasted on the school systems, with the many drop outs and all. Plus it is just plain sharing the wealth by taxation.
Report Post »gobnait
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 6:26amSYMPHONIC: Socialism: a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. A public school education is provided by the states as mandated by the Constitution. It is MOST assuredly NOT a measure of socialism in this country.
Report Post »Ordie69
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 12:13am@Symphonic – Let me first say that you strike me as a decent enough person, but from your rambling I must assume that you are either insane, or just a moron. No matter. You said:
“Fact is, billionaires own the place and they can afford to share a bit more and not do this to people who can’t afford it. They are oppressing the hireling in their wages, something the Bible does condemn. Making billions in profit each year and not sharing that? Seems wrong.”
The FACT IS, these billionaires are providing jobs for millions of people. I think that is sharing quite a bit. Also, these people are not being oppressed. They can leave any time they feel like it. It isn’t like they are under a contract, or are serving a jail term. They applied for the jobs they have. Lastly, I am sure the folks that run Walmart are making a nice wage, and they also provide a good product. If it wasn’t good, people wouldn’t shop there and the company would fail. Since when in America was it bad to be successful? If you don’t have the things in your life that you need to be happy, it isn’t Walmart, the Republicans, your neighbors, or anyone else’s fault but your own. Sorry to tell you, but freedom requires responsibility. You have the freedom to succeed, or fail; the choice is yours. There is nothing stopping you from getting off your duff and becoming as successful as you want to be, except you. Stop being envious and self-righteous and do something worth while.
Report Post »POdVet
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 2:27amThis is a direct result of Obamacare being written by insurance company lobbyists. They know it will be found unconstitutional. But in the mean time the insurance companies justify raising rates because of it, but when it is stricken down, the rates will not go back down to pre-Obamacare levels. This is what you Obamaton morons signed up for, not single payer health care, but a gift to the insurance companies for the price of one of Obama’s backroom deals for secret donations.
Report Post »symphonic
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:41amNo, it is a direct result of GREEDY corporate owners. End of story.
Report Post »Ordie69
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 12:19amSymphonic – Really… that is the best you’ve got? It seems you have never been to this little place I like to call, “reality.” You should visit it some time. Great beaches.
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:55amWell lets see you unions all wanted Obama care, well here you go all the company’s are going to drop their health care plans so everyone will be pushed into Obama care, so welcome to managed care aint it great.
Report Post »Prezzuhdint_Mohammad_Ovomit
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 2:12amWalmart should be praised for hiring the retardeds and overpaying them.
Report Post »Samurai007_
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:51amRight now, companies need to have received a waver from Obama, or else they will almost all be doing this. The company I work for does not even offer health insurance, full or part time doesn’t matter. And I can’t afford to buy it on my own. Obamacare does nothing to help me… in fact, it going to cost me $750 more per year to pay the “penalty” for not being able to afford to buy insurance! I think many, MANY people will be joining me in the same situation.
Report Post »asalwas
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 11:46amMy question to the government has always been, “If I cannot afford to buy health insurance, what makes you think I can afford to pay a fine?”
Report Post »My question to some of you posters is, “Why would any company faced with having to spend millions of dollars to provide health insurance for its employees not take advantage of the provisions of Obamacare and stop providing it entirely, paying the fine (which would be a few hundred thousand at best) instead? Any CFO who did not take advantage of the savings would lose his/her job.
banjarmon
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:50amKeep the union OUT!!!!!
Report Post »Sodalis
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:46amHealthcare – not a right.
What is the personal spending habit of each of these individuals? Have they saved for potential medical expenses? Do they belong to a church?
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:56amMany companies do not offer health insurance to part-timers, so these Walmart part-timers are not receiving cruel and unusual punishment. The rest of us have faced that obstacle for years. Get over it. The woman who is complaining about her insurance coverage has heart problems, yet she admits to being a smoker…..duh! She will not get my sympathy vote until she gives up her health-endangering addiction.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:23amI guess when they came out in support of ObamaCare… was only for the Governmental Public only Option… where the Tax Payers share the Costs!
Report Post »easyed598
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 9:09amI`m retired.My wife and I are on Social Security. Our monthly premiums for medicare ,medicare supplement and medicare part D are over $600/month. Our premiums have increase dramatically since Obamacare was approved. Social Security cola will be increase 3.6% in January but we are being told that Medicare premium increase will probably take most of that. I should have kept working until I was 90.
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