Wal-Mart announced that it will offer part-time workers health insurance after one year of employment instead of the current requirement of two years, and children will be covered on the policies—a change that affects 150,000 Wal-Mart employees, reports an Associated Press story. The company says that most employees will probably sign up for a health plan with a $23 per month premium and an additional $15 per month to cover a worker’s children, and with a $1,000 deductible for individuals and $3,000 for families—coverage that is too expensive for many part-time workers, say critics. The plan does, however, exempt three doctor visits a year from the deductible and allows for three prescriptions to be filled with a $20 copay. Under fire to improve health benefits, Wal-Mart will also increase contributions to health savings accounts, offer more generic drugs in its plans’ formularies, and give employees a 10% discount on healthy foods.
