Sunday, December 2, 2012

Walmart Drops Health Coverage for Certain Part Time Employees


The slow shedding of employer health coverage inched forward, according to HuffPo:

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, plans to begin denying health insurance to newly hired employees who work fewer than 30 hours a week, according to a copy of the company’s policy obtained by The Huffington Post.

Under the policy, slated to take effect in January, Walmart also reserves the right to eliminate health care coverage for certain workers if their average workweek dips below 30 hours -- something that happens with regularity and at the direction of company managers.

Walmart declined to disclose how many of its roughly 1.4 million U.S. workers are vulnerable to losing medical insurance under its new policy. In an emailed statement, company spokesman David Tovar said Walmart had “made a business decision” not to respond to questions.

The light at the end of the PPACA tunnel is a train.  The race to the lowest global common denominator continues on worker pay/benefits.  With employers doing less and Uncle Sam tapped out, a much greater burden is headed your way.   You may be on your own for health care and retirement.

Update 2-17-13:  Many on their own for retirement are not prepared.