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"We worked closely with our associates to design an even more affordablehealth benefits package based on what they told us they wanted and needed,"said Linda Dillman, executive vice president of risk management, benefits andsustainability. "Ninety percent of our associates now have health insuranceand we want that number to increase. Our health coverage next year will beeven stronger, offer more options and give people more tools to help them savemoney and live better lives."
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"Wal-Mart has added benefits that associates value," said Helen Darling,president of the National Business Group on Health. "Their addition of such abroad $4 generic prescription plan will not only help their associates with avaluable benefit but will make the entire prescription drug industry moreaffordable and competitive."
Darling added, "Wal-Mart's benefits for part-timers are unusually good forthe retail industry -- in fact, for a number of industries."
In making the announcement, Dillman said that the company engagedassociates through a variety of methods, including focus groups, formalsurveys, 'town hall' meetings and informal conversations to determine what wasmost important to them.
Also this year, Wal-Mart is taking additional steps to help associates getinformation about the enrollment process and coverage options. "EnrollmentMade Easy," a DVD designed to walk associates through the enrollment process,will be mailed this month to the home of every Wal-Mart associate. The videoexplains the changes and enhancements to the benefits package, outlines stepsto personalizing medical choices and previews decision-support tools and howto use them.
Associates can also go online to access materials and enrollment forms,and use a specially designed web-based tool that helps them evaluate thecoverage that best fits their needs.
About Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters,Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club locations in the United States. TheCompany operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador,Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the UnitedKingdom. The Company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchangeunder the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visitinghttp://www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available athttp://www.walmart.com.Highlights in the new 2008 benefits package include: -- The company has expanded the number of different health care plans that associates can choose among. Associates will now have more than 50 ways of customizing their health care coverage options, which will allow them to select various deductibles, health care credits and premiums, depending on their needs. This is a substantial increase from last year, when most associates had only nine choices. -- Associates who enroll in the Value Plan -- which is becoming Wal-Mart's most popular plan -- will receive an annual pre-deductible health care credit for each covered family member. They will be able to choose a $100, $250 or $500 health care credit that can be used to pay for covered medical expenses before costs are applied to the annual deductible. Under this credit pr
