Wal-Mart Bows to Public Pressure

I’m afraid that “this level of shame” may have to be
brought against Wal-Mart again the next time it
makes such a controversial, moral, ethical,
mistake.

“is a scorching symbol of Wal-Mart’s decision to insufficiently fund its health care plan for its 1.3 million U.S. workers.”

Here we see just another example of how WMW twists the truth!!  The fund was funded enough to pay ALL of Mrs. Shanks $470,000.00 medical bills, if it is now funded insufficently, we know why!!

“before it fixes its health care problem and does the right thing for its associates”

The plan had NO problem and DID do the right thing, but, now until the fund is replenished, other associates will suffer because of raised preimums!!

See, even when Wal-Mart does, what it is pressured to do, they still get ‘bit in the butt’, it’s no wonder they are reluctant to bend to pressure, they only get slammed again, when they do!!

Shut up RDS.

It’s been pointed out by others a couple of times.  Your use of double apostrophes is clearly annoying.  Do you think that adding that extra apostrophe makes you more credible? If so, I’ll see your 6 apostrophes and raise you 10.

You’re an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As if the poison toys, food, and God only knows what else. As if the fact that Walmart takes advantage of employees, government loop holes against people. As if the porn in cameras isn’t enough. As f sleeping with China isn’t enough, As if destroying local economies. Now this? I will not step foot again, and will make sure this gets around.

I’m really happy that this terrible situation, is just a lil bit better.

I am a Former Sam’s Club Employee

Good for the Shanks and glad WMT finally came to their senses.  However, WMW needs to stop twisting this into your victory.  Walmart paid for her insurance claims of $470k and then the family keeps their lawsuit.  Start beating down the lawyers door for their take from the Shanks.  That is the real crime.  Here is the financial summary:
Shanks Collect:  $470 (WMT insurance paid) +700k damages
WMT:  $0
Shank lawers:  $293.

When do we start the rally for the lawyers to pay the Shanks back?

Wow! Wow with one apostrophe! I don’t even know if your website will let me post the truth but I’ll give it a shot. I am a Wal-Mart associate of 7 years.  I had sinus surgery about 3 years ago and the docs had to remove bone, muscle, and cartilage from other parts of my body to reconstruct a MAJOR accident I had to my mouth, nose, and throat.  The cost would have been $65,000.00 without my insurance thru Wal-Mart.  I paid 1% out of pocket and now my life is 100% improved by having the insurance.  EVIL Wal-Mart?  I couldn’t even smell the rain since I was 5 years old.  Now all I smell are rats wanting to bash the company that has done a lot for me and my entire family.  Get you facts straight walmartwatch.

With all the walmart bashing I have yet to see walmartwatch attack the lawyers who sucked the Shranks out of half a million dollars.  Perhaps the same attorney who got 1/2 million from the Shranks is on the walmartwatch.com legal team.

There’s plenty of blame to go around, if that’s what some of you want to do.  While lawyers are indeed a low species, our system of so-called justice makes them necessary.  Here in Virginia you’re not even permitted to haggle with the state’s attorney in a damned driving ticket case, much less handle something like this alone.  Lawyers, alas, are a necessary evil.  So, Mr. and Mrs. Shank were David and Wal-Hartless was/is Goliath.  In our system of justice, just who were they SUPPOSED to pay to handle their case—a plumber?

Just read an updated article on cnbc.com which stated,
among other things, that “the negative publicity
around the case was beginning to draw the attention
of lawmakers who might want legislation to stop or
limit subrogation.”

I believe the only reason why Wal-mart reversed course on this was because of the un-wanted national press they received.  Perhaps if Wal-Mart received a similar level of press on all the nasty things they do to their employees, then maybe they really would change their practices.

One way Wal-mart keeps itself rich (and keep employees under their thumb) is to intimidate people who don’t have the resources to defend themselves.  Seems that they miscalculated with the Shanks and their lawyers.  Will it make them do the right thing in the future?  I doubt it.  Much like people hoped Watergate would make politicians more honest in their dealings, it has only served to make them more secretive in their illegal dealings.  Wal-mart will probably go the same way.

I’m surprised Sam Walton didn’t rise up out of his grave and smite his stockholders.

And for those of you who are defending WalMart’s position in its treatment of its own employees, you should remember that labor is a factor of production; it needs maintenance just like equipment, land, and capital. 

It’s good business, plain and simple, and it’s profitable.

Is there anyone here that is just happy for the Shank family?  Happy that they don’t have to go through this anymore and that they can use the money for what it was intended for?  Debbie Shank needs that money for her continued care in the nursing home and the family deserves to keep what they have.  I think there is something very wrong with those that cannot treat each situation with an open mind and an open heart.

Thanks everyone, you should feel great about pressuring WalMart to do the right thing.

BTW, Annoyed, I think you are talking about an exclamation point/mark, not apostrophe. I won’t call YOU an idiot, though.
Perhaps, you are the one who needs who needs to study.......

Even when Walmart gives in and does what you guys think they should you still find a way to bash them.  I’m sure you’ll be complaining more when Walmart raises insurance premiums a dollar or two next year because of this.  You just can’t please some people. 

“BTW, Annoyed, I think you are talking about an exclamation point/mark, not apostrophe.”

I was thinking the same thing.  ‘ ‘ ‘ There are some apostrophes for you, Annoyed.  It’s always good to know what you are talking about before you start bashing someone for something.

If you this is a Walmart issue, you’re in for a rude awakening.  Most insurance companies go after lawsuit settlements.  My insurance company claimed my entire award following a lawsuit against the local public transit system.  So get boycott petitions out and fire up the copy machines because you’ve got a lot of work to do...unless of course this is just some kind of pseudo anti-Walmart racisim thing…

I have not posted for a while but, do you read the letter?

The insurance was fine it paid what it should

Pat, why did you blame the insurance are you going to take the clause out were you can sue them? That is the problem.

This letter is a good stab at PR and nothing else.

Are you really going to bring in insurance were you lowest paid employee can afford it. Are were there is no deductible you do know some large Company do the employee savings plan out of that they pay, please tell us what you plan to do
I bet nothing this is just to stop the press from attacking them

Annoyed by RDS in defense of the basic rules of composition,

“Your use of double apostrophes is clearly annoying.  Do you think that adding that extra apostrophe makes you more credible? If so, I’ll see your 6 apostrophes and raise you 10. “

They are exclaimation points, not apostrophes!!  You are the idiot!!!!  Why does that bother you so much, when you don’t even know what they are called?

Joan,

“There’s plenty of blame to go around, if that’s what some of you want to do.”

Not according to WMW, they only blame Wal-Mart!!

“just who were they SUPPOSED to pay to handle their case”

But, weren’t the lawyers supposed to do their job correctly for that pay?

Donelle,

“Is there anyone here that is just happy for the Shank family?”

I’m happy for the Shanks, except for one thing, they don’t have any more now than when this suit was initiated, save for donations!!  They didn’t get money from Wal-Mart, they just didn’t have to pay them!!  That means, that in a couple of years, the Shanks will be ‘broke’, thanks to their inept lawyers!!  What will they do then?

wallstreet,

“Are you really going to bring in insurance were you lowest paid employee can afford it. Are were there is no deductible you do know some large Company do the employee savings plan out of that they pay,”

Will you clarify what you meant to say?

Can anyone understand this?

Two Words: Universal Healthcare.

Expand Medicare to provide a minimum level of eye, dental, and medical insurance funded by a universal sales tax. Everyone that spends money in the US (legal or not) will contribute and everyone will be covered. Contributions will depend on how much money you spend not on how much you make or have saved in a bank.

This fundamental “common good” issue should not be left to fiat or employer ability. Everybody needs health insurance and only a single-payer, government system will provide that. It will never be perfect, but making it exempt from most lawsuits will make sure that the money is only spent on providing services, not paying lawyers or medical malpractice insurance.

In Engineering, when you encounter an intractable sub-system, you design the problem out of existence in your next revision. We are approaching problems like Wal-mart from exactly the wrong perspective. Wal-mart is GREAT at business, but terrible with providing benefits. This is not a new phenomenon in the business world. If you eliminate the connection between employers and social benefits such as pension and healthcare, then what you have left is an environment where business can be gigantic or tiny and still thrive and compete.

Government is actually good at somethings. It may not be GREAT, but it’s hard to imagine how it could do worse that our current system. They still manage to deliver postal mail anywhere in the country for < $0.45. I highly recommend reading some of the American Progress Web site for more info on this subject: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/domestic/healthcare.

Regards,
Philozopher

RDS…

Don’t try to flatter yourself! (notice, only 1 exclaimation point)

I knew the difference between an apostrophe and an exclaimation point and how and when they are used by the time I was in the 3rd or 4th grade.  What’s your excuse?  Leave it to you to jump all over someone who has a temporary brain fart and uses the wrong term.

“weren’t the lawyers supposed to do their job correctly for that pay?”

You might want to address this same question to Lee Scott.

RDS

usually I do not answer your post,and this will be the last so call me any thing you want as I will not answer you I choose just to ignore you like many others but since you know nothing about the world out side of Arkansas, I will explain.

The Health savings Plan, Companies can put in also along with the Employee’s then the deductible is nothing are $5.00
thus the Companies are helping there Employee’s to off set out of pocket, also if Wal-Mart were not their own insurer and say Blue Cross or United etc were there insurer they would get a bigger break on their insurance also not have to pay employee’ to file the paper work would that not be savings,

Years ago this was stranded a lot of larger Companies were there on insurer ,but cost they have found is cheaper to let the insurance Company handle it.

Wal-Mart will not do this they want control this way they can decide what claims there will pay and which will not, In my opinion Wal-Mart is penny wise but pound foolish

Let me explain suborgatione.  Since I have not heard the term mentioned it should be noted what it means.  Most health insurance policies have that provision for several reasons.  The first is health insurance in this country is considered reimburement for medical expense (that’s why you don’t get a 1099 when claims are paid).  But when you sue for negligence and your awarded damages, the money paid on your behalf by the insurer was given back to you in the form of damages.  And since this is a reimbursement plan and not an income plan the money is owed to the insurer.  Some times the law and rules get in the way of our feelings.

My question to all of those lining up behind Wal-Mart is multi-pronged, first, who are you aligning yourself with and why? And why would you speak up for a company that doesn’t pay their employees a living wage? Can anyone raise a family on the income from Wal-Mart besides the executives? And are you expecting a thank-you note from the grave of Mr. Walton along with a check for your subservience? Lastly, with all of your assertions would you mind providing some proof for your staunch corporate support?

“If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.”
Henry David Thoreau

“The teachings of Politics is that the Government, which was set for the protection and comfort of all good citizens, becomes the principal obstruction and nuisance with which we have to contend.....The cheat and bully and malefactor we meet everywhere is the Government”

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

A reply to insurance man in Fla:

Of course insurers have every legal right to subrogate. I don’t think legal rights are the real issue here.  I see it as why senior management of a company as profitable as WMT, WOULD subrogate in a case where an employee was so profoundly and permanently injured. Mrs. Shank and her family will never be “made whole” by money, but it is the least WMT could do. And should have done from the first.

Perhaps you would like to join in my e-mail campaign to convince Mr Scott that senior management also needs to donate some of their huge bonuses to repay the Shank’s legal expenses. And if their “benefit fund” is low on money, then they can donate more of the bonuses to shore that up also!

Ginny: Are you sweetening the offer by reminding them that they can use these donations as tax write offs? One cannot overemphasize the importance of regularly reminding senior corporate management types that “Doing Good While Doing Well” is good business,indeed.

Ginny-I think a matching donation from Wal-Mart would be a great idea.  Even though the Shanks get to keep their trust fund, $400K is not a “lot” of money considering her age and condition.  Her husband needs everything he can get to keep the house and put their remaining son through college.  That is tough even under good conditions.  If Wal-Mart would match just one fund that has been set up for her this sad, twisted story could just end up with a beautiful ending for the family.

American Style Facsism,

“Can anyone raise a family on the income from Wal-Mart besides the executives?”

How about this, Can anyone raise a family on the income from:

Target
K-Mart
Taco Bell
McDonalds
Burger King
Lowes
Home Depot
Wendy’s
Convenience Stores
Dairy Queen
Denny’s
Big Lots
Family Dollar
Dollar General
Motel Maids
ETC., ETC., ETC.

“Living Wages for EVERYBODY, YEAH!!  Every job should pay ‘living wages’, right?  Why should ANYONE be left out of the ‘living wage’ craze?  And, while we’re at it, ‘GREAT Benefits’ for everyone too!!

If they all became a slumlord like you ,evicting people out because of too many kids,something bad is going to happen in your life ,just for treating people like dirt. What goes around comes around.

Wallstreet: “if Wal-Mart were not their own insurer and say Blue Cross or United etc were there insurer they would get a bigger break on their insurance also not have to pay employee’ to file the paper work would that not be savings,
“

Umm not to burst your bubble but Walmart does use Blue Cross for their insurance.  Perhaps you should research a little more before you post.

AA… I think what you’re talking about is called karma.

In the case of RDS, I just wish it was “instant karma.” For example, every time he makes one of his stupid posts in defense of Wal-Mart or treats another human being in his usual miserly way, I wish a pidgeon would just shit on his head to remind him how insignificant he is in the bigger scheme of things!

AA,

“If they all became a slumlord like you ,evicting people out because of too many kids,something bad is going to happen in your life ,just for treating people like dirt.”

Hey, idiot, I didn’t evict anybody for too many kids, THE CITY DID, under occupancy laws, 8 people in a 2 bedroom apartment, is against the law, the limit is 4!!  Besides, they left oweing over $1500.00 in back rent, which I didn’t even try to recover!!  Get your facts straight before you go shooting off your big mouth about things you know nothing about!!  You haven’t even seen my apartments, so how do you know I’m a slumlord, I on the other hand have seen your comments, so I do know that you are an IDIOT!!

You were going to sue them ,or did you forget.

Wallstreet: “if Wal-Mart were not their own insurer and say Blue Cross or United etc were there insurer they would get a bigger break on their insurance also not have to pay employee’ to file the paper work would that not be savings,
Umm not to burst your bubble but Walmart does use Blue Cross for their insurance.  Perhaps you should research a little more before you post

Wal-Mart can not sell insurance so they broker it through Blu Cross that is why you get the card from them,but Wal-Mart pays all claims out of there funds

Dave,

I hope that WallStreet, doesn’t work for a broker on WallStreet, at least not MY broker!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_insurance

RDS I really do no think you will understand this but its a start, reserach some more and maybe you will

WallStreet,

I do understand how self-insurance works, as I’m self-insured myself!!

From your noted article:

“Normally, catastrophic risks are not self-insured as they are highly unpredictable and high in loss-value. Catastrophic risks are normally underwritten by the re-insurance or wholesale insurance market.”

The Shanks case ($470,000.00), would fall under the ‘catastrophic’ catagory!!  Therefore, that would fall under the scope ‘underwritten by the re-insurance or wholeale insurance market’!!

A popular and cost-effective form of self-insurance can be found in various types of employee benefits insurance offered by corporations with many thousands of employees. Employee benefits self-insurance programmes are often underwritten by captive insurance companies formed, owned and managed by corporations in both on-shore and off-shore captive domiciles. The reason for this is that hundreds of thousands of employees constitute a large enough risk pool for the corporation to be able to predict and price the risk of losses from benefits offered to employees. In this way, corporations are able to manage their financial exposure to the self-insurance programme without buying commercial insurance

Sorry RDS you still do not get it,the catastrophic risk is earthquakes etc nothing to do with health

No the Shank Case does not fall under the catastrophic risk did you read all of the article are just pulled out what ever do make your point and adding more!!!!!!! does not make it true

I have tried can any one else explain this to RDS, he still does not get it

Wallstreet:He doesn’t want to “get it”. It is in his own interest NOT to do so.

Ron White - You Can’t Fix Stupid (2006)

You are not self insured!!!!!!!!!!!!!you self pay

I give up you win RDS, you can tell its a slow day leaving for Airport got to get out of dodge

WallStreet,

“You are not self insured!!!!!!!!!!!!!you self pay”

Semantics, if I self pay, then I become my own insurance, therefore, I am self insured!!

“No the Shank Case does not fall under the catastrophic risk”

Definition:

Catastrophic: Any final event; a fatal conclusion; great and sudden misfortune.

So, you don’t think this applies to the Shanks case, right?  Isn’t this a ‘sudden misfortune’ that could result in ‘a fatal conclusion’?

I just found this site is this sit what is wrong with RDS I would not want to answer some one that is not all together
is he allow here just for laughs?

Semantics, if I self pay, then I become my own insurance, therefore, I am self insured!!

I am sorry I was not going to answer,but this is to good to pass up, does this mean you pay all of your medial bills out of your pocket?

Sir may I ask what kind of Insurance License do you hold?
and how much do you have in reserve to cover any Catastrophic Claim

Hldms,

“does this mean you pay all of your medial bills out of your pocket?”

YES!!

“Sir may I ask what kind of Insurance License do you hold”

I do not need an Insurance Licence, as I am only insuring myself, not others outside my personal family!!

“how much do you have in reserve to cover any Catastrophic Claim”

$600,000.00 and growing!!

Does that mean you have no insurance like Blue Cross etc?

You do realize that one stay in the Hospital could wipe that out

hldms,

Correct, I have NO insurance like Blue Cross!!

First, it would have to be something VERY serious, to wipe out $600,000.00 and second, I have assets and income and credit, to handle anything above that amount!!  But, should I NOT be able to handle a bill above EVERYTHING I have, where would that make me any worse off, than someone who works at Wal-Mart and doesn’t have any insurance?  Besides, if I get wiped out, I can always go on government assistence, can’t I?  The odds are in my favor, that I won’t have a situation that wipes me out!!

RDS: If those tornadoes keep hiitting and pounding Arkansas ,as they’ve beeen doing relentlessly of late, you just may be required to reassess you arrogance...or is it ignorance?

A lot of union contracts have lifetime maximums for health care payments at around $1 million.  So his $600,000 is nearly as good as what they have, and if he has that much cash on hand I’m guessing he could find another $400,000 somewhere in his assets to get up to the million that the unions with such great insurance are covered for.

ddrb,

“If those tornadoes keep hiitting and pounding Arkansas ,as they’ve beeen doing relentlessly of late, you just may be required to reassess you arrogance...or is it ignorance?”

If my house were to be hit by a tornado, my home owners insurance would cover the first $100,000.00 (bodily injury)!!  Besides, in 9 months, I will be covered by medicare, and, as I have lived here 19 years now, and never had even minor damage from a tornado, I think the odds are in my favor that my house won’t be hit in the next 9 months, causing me bodily damage over $700,000.00!!  My alternative, is paying about $12,000.00 a year in medical insurance premiums, which is much more than the $264.00 a year a Wal-Mart employee pays!!  I’d rather put that $12,000.00 a year into what I call my “Medical Savings Account” and, if I don’t use it, it’s still MINE, not some insurance company’s!!  Last year, our medical expenses amounted to, about $1,500.00!!

RDS: “I think the odds are in my favor that my house won’t be hit in the next 9 months, causing me bodily damage over $700,000.00!! “ RDS-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RDS, you seem to think you are gambling with a stacked deck,against God. I will stay tuned to see if your prediction,or gambling prowess, turns out correct.I only hope that your son is covered for contingencies-for your grandchildrens’ sake.

RDS AS usual your #s are wrong.They pay alot more per year.Some Pay 190 per pay period x26 periods per year.

If someone pays $190 per pay period than they have a way too expensive plan.  I pay $5.70 a pay period for medical and $3 for dental.  I’m thinking about taking out a second mortgage to be able to afford the big $17 a month though.

ddrb,

“I only hope that your son is covered for contingencies-for your grandchildrens’ sake.”

I have no son, he was kiiled at age 8, by a drunken driver!!  My grandchildren are from my daughter, and they are ALL covered by insurance!!

JOE,

“RDS AS usual your #s are wrong.They pay alot more per year.Some Pay 190 per pay period x26 periods per year.”

Is that the cheapest plan or the highest plan? (I heard that they have 5 different levels of insurance)!! Even at that, it only equals $4,940.00 a year, which is less than the $12,000.00 I would have to pay!!  And, I don’t even have a job!!

RDS: My sincerest sympathies for your loss. I seem to recall you making a reference to your son driving trucks when I first began posting here. If I am in error,please forgive me. But I seem to recall you mentioning a son driving trucks for the union, and your admonitions to him about the union.

ddrb,

I had two children, a daughter and a son, my son was killed at age 8 (1974)!!  I was the one who drove a truck and was in the Teamsters union when I was young, back when Jimmy Hoffa was the president of the union, not my son!!  Also, my dad was a union truck driver all of his working years (47 years), until he retired!!

“Wal-Mart can not sell insurance so they broker it through Blu Cross that is why you get the card from them,but Wal-Mart pays all claims out of there funds “

The money does just cover Walmart associates, but that does not make them self-insured since the paper work goes through Blue Cross.  Also since Walmart doing the paper work was your orignal point in them being self-employed, you can use semantics all you want, but you are still wrong.