Charles-McClintock Wilson/NurPhoto via Getty Images
- Walmart plans to expand health benefits available to its 1.6 million employees.
- Eligible plan participants will have coverage for insulin, inhalers, and other medications.
- The company is also covering specialized care for rare conditions and premature births.
Walmart, America's largest private employer, said it will expand the health benefit options for its 1.6 million-strong workforce.
The retail giant said Tuesday that health plan participants will have several new benefits starting in 2027, including about 250 prescription drugs at no cost, including some insulin and inhalers.
A spokesperson also told Business Insider that associates with type 2 diabetes and new prior authorization will have coverage for GLP-1 medications.
That policy is similar to Starbucks, which recently cut back its coverage of the medications when they are prescribed for weight loss, though they may still be covered for other conditions. GLP-1 drugs have become highly sought-after treatments for obesity, but soaring costs are prompting some employers to limit eligibility.
Walmart's list of covered drugs also includes hemophilia medications and a multiple sclerosis drug, each of which can cost thousands of dollars per month, the spokesperson said.
In addition to the prescription benefits, Walmart is expanding its coverage of rare conditions to include no-cost access to specialists for evaluation and treatment review of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
And starting next month, Walmart employees will have access to 12 weeks of paid leave if their newborn needs admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. That NICU leave can be combined with up to 16 weeks of existing paid maternity and parental leave available to frontline workers.
Walmart's 2027 health plans start at $39.80 per pay period, a $1.50 increase from 2026, the spokesperson said. Full-time and part-time workers who average more than 30 hours per week are eligible to enroll.