Wal-Mart and healthcare
Tags: walmart – healthcare – walkin clinic – health insurance – uninsured
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) is a controversial company and that is no surprise considering how big it is. It has changed the world of retailing and even a “small” step by this giant can send shockwaves throughout the world (particularly China). It does not mean that the company does not do stupid things, but I also admire the fact that the company also seeks out growth opportunities that others are afraid of. The latest example is its plan to provide some healthcare services in its stores. According to the company, it may open as many as 2,000 in-store health clinics over the next five to seven years. The services will generally include preventive and routine care for conditions such as allergies and sinus infections, as well as basic services such as cholesterol screenings and school physicals at affordable prices. They will be staffed by either certified nurse practitioners or physicians.
As I have written before, most of the uninsured Americans are not poor – they just don’t have the means to pay ridiculously high insurance premiums. Several small companies have tried to tap into this pool of some 50 to 60 million people. Tell A Doc provides medical services by phone and Indus Health ships patients to India.
What Walmart is going to do is to provide a place where the uninsured can go, be assured of good medical services, and not be afraid of being ripped off by so many other crooks that target the uninsured.
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