In 2008, Janet Wright and her husband, Chuck, found themselves in the middle of a major health care crisis. Chuck was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and needed a procedure that cost a quarter of a million dollars.
Luckily, Janet and Chuck weren’t alone in their dilemma. Since Janet worked at Walmart, she had a health care plan that fully covered the procedure at Mayo Clinic, allowing Chuck to overcome the disease. Ask Chuck and he’ll tell you, “If it weren’t for Walmart, I might not be carrying on.”
73% of Walmart's store management team started as hourly associates
Surprising? It shouldn’t be. As reported by The Washington Post in April, 2009, “…the world’s largest company has become an unlikely leader in the effort to provide affordable care without bankrupting employers, their workers or taxpayers in the process. From its headquarters in Bentonville Ark., the retailer is doing in the real world what many in Washington are only beginning to talk about.” 1
1 Corporate Facts: Corporate Fact Sheet, p. 2
2 Health and Wellness, p. 1
And Walmart’s commitment to affordable care doesn’t end there. In 2004, Walmart changed the pharmacy landscape by launching a $4 prescription program for everyone. This program now covers more than 300 prescriptions and has saved customers more than $2 billion.2
Walmart is also a leader in helping to reduce errors and costs by working with physicians to increase the number of electronic prescriptions. And Walmart is helping employers save money by streamlining how they process and pay for prescription drugs.
For associates and customers alike, Walmart is working every day to offer affordable health care that helps people live better. And there’s no doubt that it's working. Just ask Janet and Chuck. To learn more, visit Walmartcommunity.com.
