Walmart confirmed on Tuesday that Walmart plans to cover more than 250 prescriptions at no cost to employees in 2027. The coverage includes some insulin, inhalers and GLP-1s for diabetes. Walmart will offer Novo Nordisk's diabetes injection Ozempic and Eli Lilly's rival injection Mounjaro without charge for people with Type 2 diabetes after a new prior authorization. However, Walmart still does not cover GLP-1s from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for weight loss. Other large employers similarly exclude these obesity treatments or have recently dropped coverage to reduce healthcare costs.
Walmart is expanding existing benefits and adding new benefits to attract and retain workers. Many other employers are responding to rising healthcare costs with higher prices and reduced plan benefits. The announcement comes weeks before open enrollment for Walmart employees closes on Nov. 6.
Walmart said the company is minimizing employee premium increases, raising the starting plan's rate by $1.50 per pay period to $39.80. Walmart said the increase is smaller than last year's increase. Walmart said years of planning and testing new approaches are allowing meaningful benefit improvements without cutting benefits or significantly raising premiums.
A Tuesday letter from Walmart chief people officer Donna Morris said Walmart is expanding an existing benefit that pays for employees to see cancer specialists at the Mayo Clinic or the Cleveland Clinic. The letter said employees under most plans can use the benefit starting next year to obtain specialist second opinions for rare conditions. Those conditions include ALS, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's. The letter also announced 12 weeks of neonatal intensive care unit leave for parents. Parents can add that leave to regular parental and maternity leave.
The benefit changes build on Walmart's years-long effort to improve employee compensation after criticism of Walmart's healthcare benefits and wages. Walmart is the largest private employer in the U.S. Walmart employed roughly 2.1 million associates worldwide at the end of fiscal year 2026. About 1.6 million of those workers were based in the U.S.
Walmart to Cover Some GLP-1s, Inhalers, and Insulin for Employees at No Cost in 2027
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Summary
Walmart announced on October 14, 2026, it will cover over 250 prescriptions at no cost to employees in 2027, including some insulin, inhalers, and GLP-1 diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. The move excludes weight-loss-related GLP-1 treatments and requires prior authorization. The update comes as the fear and greed index shows mixed signals in the market. Walmart is also adjusting premiums and adding new leave policies to retain staff. Altcoins to watch may react to broader economic shifts as corporate benefits expand.
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