Hartford, CT. Walmart Tops List of Medicaid Recipients Again

[bighart]

"Once again, Walmart stores in Connecticut have the largest number of employees and dependents on Medicaid. According to a July 22, 2011 report from the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, Walmart ranked number 1 as the company with the most workers receiving HUSKY health insurance benefits, as Medicaid is known in Connecticut."
"Walmart was not alone on the list for national chain stores. Home Depot, Macy’s, CVS, Walgreens, Kohl’s and JC Penney also made it to the top 25 list of Medicaid employees. The 25 employers total more than 25,000 HUSKY recipients."

How do we solve this problem? It seems like this is becoming more and more common, large corporations earning billions with massive numbers of employees below the poverty level.

[bighart]

1. Until we make it more expensive for a company to pay someone

poverty level wages than it is to pay them a living wage, this will never go away.

[Ilsa]

2. Either that, or completely undo the ties between employment and healthcare by

Making healthcare universal and easily available and affordable. Just socialize most of it. Tax the profitable companies to pay for it.

[bighart]

3. I think that needs to happen as well,

but still feel companies should be FORCED to pay a living wage. If you can't live on what you make, access to health care is still a secondary issue. After all if I am hungry every day and also need to have some medical tests run, my first concern is probably going to be finding a way to eat.

[DCKit]

6. +1. Exactly.

Even those who do work for (shitty) companies who offer health insurance are, in too many cases, tied to their jobs just for the health coverage.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. +1 nt

[nc4bo]

4. Wrote to ask them why Walmart isn't a strong public advocate for single payer/public option

still waiting for response.

[bighart]

7. How long ago did you ask?

[nc4bo]

8. About 3-4 weeks. They probably sent it to the round file.

Guess I should do a mail letter bomb, eh? Just send off a ream of paper addressed to every member of the Walmart board? That's be expensive though.....

Now what?

Edit to fix subj line typo.

[bighart]

9. Call their customer service line and ask the question directly

Number is 800-925-6878, and keep calling until you get an answer. I am going to start asking today and call back every day until they respond.

[nc4bo]

10. Thanks for the number bighart, will do! nt

[nc4bo]

11. Done. Left name and number. Had to explain to the agent what single payer/public option

was and how it would not only benefit Walmart employees but every American.

I think what I will do is start bookmarking every article regarding Walmart employees and Medicaid, this way I can refer them directly to the links of information.

Anyway - that's my report, for now.