Walmart will add more than 250 prescriptions to its employee benefits in 2027, including some insulin, inhalers and diabetes GLP-1 drugs at no cost. It is also widening specialist and parental leave benefits while keeping premium rises relatively small.
01Summary
- 01Walmart said it will cover more than 250 prescriptions, including some insulin, inhalers and GLP-1s for diabetes, at no cost to employees in 2027.
- 02The company will offer Novo's Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro without charge for people with Type 2 diabetes after a new prior authorisation.
- 03Walmart still does not cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, and other large employers have also limited or dropped such coverage.
- 04The retailer said it is raising the starting health plan premium by $1.50 per pay period to $39.80, which it said is a smaller rise than last year.
- 05It is also extending benefits for second opinions on rare conditions and adding 12 weeks of neonatal intensive care unit leave for parents.
02Why it matters
The changes affect one of the largest workforces in the United States, so they matter to a huge number of employees and their families. They also show how major employers are managing rising healthcare costs without cutting back benefits as sharply as some rivals.
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