Walmart has announced that starting in 2027, it will cover more than 250 prescriptions, including insulin and GLP-1 medications like Novo's Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, at no cost to its employees. This move is part of a broader strategy to attract and retain workers, especially as many employers are raising healthcare costs or reducing benefits.
The announcement is timely, coming just before the open enrollment period for employees ends on November 6. Walmart, which employs approximately 2.1 million associates globally, is also minimizing premium increases for its health plans, raising the starting plan rate by only $1.50 per pay period to $39.80, a smaller increase than the previous year.
Additionally, the company is expanding benefits that allow employees to consult cancer specialists at top clinics and introducing new parental leave options. These changes reflect Walmart's ongoing efforts to improve employee compensation and benefits, addressing past criticisms regarding its healthcare offerings