Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Safeway=top 3 WA subsidized health care users

[uppityperson]

Washington's Basic Health Care Plan is subsidized, sliding fee for health care. Rates range from 0 to a couple hundred a month. No dental or vision is included unless you are under 19 in which case they give you the Medicaid extra. This is a very good program, has allowed a lot of people in WA to stay healthy.

Since last report in 2004, Wal-Mart's added 14, McDonalds added 108, Safeway has had 408 employees less on state subsidized health care. Good for Safeway, I wonder why. More fun with numbers, almost 20% of people working in Wal-Mart in WA, now 8% Safeway workers, are low income enough to get subsidized health care and/or cannot afford other non-subsidized health care.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003457972_walmart02m.html

State picking up $9 million tab to cover Wal-Mart workers

TACOMA — Wal-Mart again has been listed as having more workers on Medicaid and Washington's Basic Health Plan than any other private employer in the state.

According to a state compilation of enrollments in June, Wal-Mart had 3,194 employees in the two taxpayer-subsidized health-care programs out of 16,000 of its employees in the state, while McDonald's was second with 1,932 and Safeway — also with a work force of about 16,000 in Washington — was third with 1,302. By comparison, the figures in a confidential report for 2004 showed Wal-Mart with 3,180 workers in taxpayer-supported health-care programs, McDonald's with 1,824 and Safeway with 1,712.

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A bill that was enacted in Maryland was struck down in federal court this summer. A similar measure died in the Washington Legislature after House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, refused to advance it. The report presented to legislators Thursday estimated that assistance for Wal-Mart employees will cost the state around $9 million this year out of a total of $600 million for all workers in Washington who receive such aid.
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Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jennifer Holder questioned the latest figures. "I don't think it's an accurate picture of who is using the system most," Holder told The News Tribune on Thursday. She also said Wal-Mart hires many people who are on public health assistance and has found some are reluctant to switch health plans..(more@cuts)

I found this fun page about
McD's numbers. http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/--ID__10974--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml
Safeway http://www.hoovers.com/safeway/--ID__11308--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml
Wal-Mart http://www.hoovers.com/wal-mart/--ID__11600--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml