My husband is an employee of the "family-friendly" Walmart Corp.
I am a dependent on his health insurance plan through Walmart and I have multiple sclerosis requiring MRI scans frequently to monitor the disease progression. These tests average cost is $1500 which Walmart refuses to pay every time citing that MRI are usually required due to an accidental injury which they hope will exempt them from paying for it.
Every time, I have to answer multiple questions from their claim investigators. They do not keep this information in their claims history files so I have to appeal their initial disallowance of the claim until the company that does the MRI contacts me that I am responsible for the entire cost since Walmart will not pay — then I have to call Bentonville to begin the process all over again.
I also have a medical condition in that my body cannot absorb B12 from foods or oral medication and I must have B12 injections monthly at a cost of $30. Walmart will not pay since this is a "nutritional supplement" not covered by their plan. This is not a "supplement" to me - when I quit taking the injections because Walmart would not pay, I became unable to use the muscle in my legs and arms withou severe pain.
My neurologist told me that it would cause permanent loss of mobility within 6 - 12 months if I did not resume the injections as well as loss of mental function. Yet Walmart does not consider this to be medically necessary. I know $30 per month is not a great amount but consider the number of Walmart employees that are being ripped off for $30 per month and you can see how Walmart is one of the most profitable companies in the world. Not only do they make money from their customers they also make it from their employees since we pay extra premiums for family coverage.
Their prescription insurance is a joke also - Instead of a flat copay for prescriptions like it used to be ($10 for name brands and $5 for generic), it is now $20 for name brand and $% for generic OR 20% of the retail price of the prescription - whichever is greater. They do not cover all drugs either.
I am on an anit-depressent called Wellbutrin that they will not pay for at all. It costs $60 a month. Walmart is now saving $90 per month while taking my money for insurance premiums. YEAH - Walmart - it's such a family-friendly, employee-oriented company - NOT!!!
Karen
Springfield, Missouri
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