Above The Borderline: The Spirit of Prosperity

12/28/2005

The Spirit of Prosperity

If it weren't for State Provided Health Insurance Programs what would these working poor families do? Most of us are one pink slip and a major health issue away from financial ruin. This is what the ownership society is bringing your way. Prosperity for the few, and catastrophe for many. Compare the 2 articles below:

The 400 Richest Americans

Rank	Name	Net Worth ($mil)	Age	Residence	Source
1	Gates, William Henry III	51,000	49	Medina, WA	Microsoft
2	Buffett, Warren Edward	40,000	75	Omaha, NE	Berkshire Hathaway
3	Allen, Paul Gardner	22,500	52	Seattle, WA	Microsoft, investments
4	Dell, Michael	18,000	40	Austin, TX	Dell
5	Ellison, Lawrence Joseph	17,000	61	Silicon Valley, CA	Oracle
6	Walton, Christy	15,700	50	Jackson, WY	Wal-Mart inheritance
6	Walton, Jim C	15,700	57	Bentonville, AR	Wal-Mart
8	Walton, S Robson	15,600	61	Bentonville, AR	Wal-Mart
9	Walton, Alice L	15,500	56	Fort Worth, TX	Wal-Mart
10	Walton, Helen R	15,400	86	Bentonville, AR	Wal-Mart

Some of the people on the list above can't seem to afford to provide adaquate health insurance coverage for their emplyees, and guess who pays for what they refuse to?

Wal-Mart Admits Public Health Care Assistance is a “Better Value”

Despite $10 billion in profits, President and CEO Lee Scott said, "In some of our states, the public program may actually be a better value - with relatively high income limits to qualify, and low premiums." (Transcript Lee Scott Speech 4/5/05)

Wal-Mart’s Most Affordable Health Plan is Costly

According to Wal-Mart, “We insure more than 500,000 associates, including many family members, who pay as little as $17.50 for individual coverage and $70.50 for family coverage bi-weekly.”
Wal-Mart’s most affordable plan includes a $1,000 deductible for single coverage and a $3,000 deductible for family coverage ($1,000 deductible per person covered up to $3,000). An average full-time worker earns $17,114 a year.
If a full-time Wal-Mart hourly employee elects for single coverage, the employee would have to spend on average 9% of their earnings before the health insurance provided any reimbursement.
If a full-time employee elected for family coverage, an average employee would have to spend 27% of their average earnings before the health insurance covered any costs. (Wal-Mart 2004 Associate Guide and UFCW Analysis).

Reprinted from:Wakeupwalmart.com

Major Users of State Provided Health Insurance Programs

Nationally

Over the last two years, 13 states have disclosed employers that are major users of state provided health insurance programs which are aimed at low-income families. Wal-Mart has topped the list in all the states, except Massachusetts where it was second and Wisconsin, which did not disclose the usage of employers other than Wal-Mart.

Combined, the 13 states disclose that at least 55,000* Wal-Mart employees, children, and spouses are covered by state health insurance programs. A total of 480,000 Wal-Mart employees work in these 12 states, meaning that on average for every nine Wal-Mart employees, at least one Wal-Mart family member is getting state-provided health care.

A total of approximately 505,000 Wal-Mart employees work in these 13 states.

*The figure for Arkansas include forms of public aid other than health care, however Medicaid makes up the primary component.

State By State

CLICK EACH STATE NAME TO DOWNLOAD A FACT SHEET IN PDF FORMAT

Alabama: Wal-Mart is the largest user of the state Medicaid program with 3,864 children of employees receiving coverage with an estimated annual state cost of between $5.8 million and $8.2 million a year. Wal-Mart has 37,026 employees in Alabama.

Source: John Davis and Jannell McGrew, “Health Plans Not Family Friendly,” Montgomery Advertiser, February 22, 2005, p.B6; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Arizona: Wal-Mart is the largest user of KidsCare, a state public health care program for low-income families, with 450 employees and their families enrolled. Wal-Mart has 25,647 employees in Arizona.

Source: Jonathan Higuera, “Working Poor Swell AHCCCS Rolls,” The Arizona Republic, January 1, 2005, A17; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Arkansas: Wal-Mart is the largest recipient of employee public assistance in Arkansas. A study done by the Arkansas Department of Human Services showed that 3,971 Wal-Mart employees received some sort of state public assistance, primarily Medicaid. Wal-Mart has 44,401 employees in Arkansas.

Source: Brian Baskin, "Top 9 Employers in State have 9,698 Getting Public Aid," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, March 17, 2005; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Connecticut: Wal-Mart is the largest user of Connecticut programs for children’s health insurance with 903 children of employees enrolled in the states’ Medicaid and Children’s Health insurance Program. Wal-Mart has 9,082 employees in Connecticut.

Source: Robin K. Cohen, HUSKY A and B—Enrollment and Employer Data, Connecticut Office of Legislative Research Report 2005-R-0017, January 10, 2005; available online at www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0017.htm; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Florida: Wal-Mart is the largest user of Florida Medicaid and state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with 12,300 employees or children of employees enrolled. In addition Wal-Mart accounted for 1,375 employee children enrolled in Kidcare, an additional state-funded children’s health insurance program, bringing the total of disclosed participants to 13,675 employees and dependents. Wal-Mart has 89,109 employees in Florida.

Source: Sydney P. Freedberg and Connie Humburg, "Lured Employers Now Tax Medicaid," St. Petersburg Times, March 25, 2005 and Good Jobs First http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/gjfhealthcaredisclosure.htm; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Georgia: Wal-Mart is the largest user of PeachCare for Kids, Georgia’s children’s health insurance program, with 10,261 children of employees. Wal-Mart has 49,600 employees in Florida.

Source: Andy Miller, Wal-Mart Stands Out on Rolls of PeachCare,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 27, 2004, p.1B. state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Iowa: Wal-Mart is the largest user of Iowa’s Medicaid program with 845 employees enrolled. Wal-Mart has 17,249 employees in Iowa.

Source: Ryan Foley, "IA Medicaid Employers," Associated Press, March 4, 2005; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Massachusetts: Wal-Mart is the second largest user of Massachusetts’ public healthcare program with 2,081 employees and children of employees enrolled in MassHealth and Uncompensated Care Pool. Wal-Mart has 11,625 employees in Massachusetts.

Sources: Massachusetts, Division of Health Care Finance and Policy- www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/pdf/50+_ees_ph_assist.pdf and the accompanying spreadsheet at www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/pdf/50+_ees_ph_assist_ss.pdf; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Tennessee: Wal-Mart is the largest user of the state’s health plan for the poor- TennCare, with 9,617 employees enrolled in the plan. Wal-Mart has 38,621 employees in Tennessee.

Sources: Rebecca Ferrar, “Big Companies Have a Large Number of Workers in Program,” Knoxville News-Sentinel, January 30, 2005, p.C1; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Texas: Wal-Mart is the largest user of the state Children’s Health Insurance program with 4,363 children of employees enrolled. Wal-Mart has 134,042 employees in Texas.

Source: Data obtained by the Center for Public Policy Priorities (www.cppp.org) and provided to Good Jobs First http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/texaschip.pdf; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Washington: In March 2003, Wal-Mart was reported as the largest user of one of the state’s family health care plans—Basic Health Plan – with 281 enrolled employees. Wal-Mart has 14,676 employees in Washington.

Sources: Andrew Garber, “Enrollments in State’s Health Plan Questioned,” Seattle Times, February 3, 2004; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

West Virginia: Wal-Mart is the largest user of the state’s Children’s Health Insurance program with 452 children of employees participating in the program. Wal-Mart has 11,790 total employees in West Virginia.

Source: John Heys and Paul Wilson, “Wal-Mart Culture: Wal-Mart Tops State CHIP List,” Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail, December 26, 2004, p.1A.; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.

Wisconsin: In Wisconsin, 3,765 Wal-Mart employees, children, and spouses participate in BadgerCare, the state’s health insurance program for low-income working families. The annual cost to taxpayers of this BadgerCare coverage was estimated at $4.75 million, with the state covering $1.8 million of that amount. Wal-Mart employs 26,248 employees in Wisconsin.Source: Anita Weier, “Wal-Mart Workers Need State Health Aid,” The Capital Times (Madison, WI), November 4, 2004, p.1A; state employee figures from www.walmartfacts.com.