Walgreens ‘Free Healthcare For Unemployed’ Not Free at All
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I previously mentioned how Walgreens let 1,000 employees go, but announced they were planning to provide free healthcare to anybody unemployed. Well it turns out of course to be less than promised. Time is reporting that there are many catches to this so-called program that benefits the unemployed:
Restrictions apply, of course. For starters, wellness visits aren’t covered. But it’s a smart way to drum up business among the still employed. All a family has to do to be eligible for this safety-net program is to have used a Walgreens’ Take Care clinic since the in-store chain opened in 2005. Average out-of-pocket cost: $50 to $80.
That pretty much sums up what was only a publicity stunt in the first place, designed to position Walgreens as a company that cares in the minds of consumers.
4 Comments
Martin Kruse
April 16th, 2009
at 8:38pm
You get what you pay for. Of course, if they really wanted to offer free health care, i would stop shopping there. I’m not going to subsidize someone else’s freebies with higher prices.
Troy Banther
April 18th, 2009
at 6:07am
Let Walgreen’s do what it thinks is best for its corporate self. If it cannot compete then let it go bankrupt.
John Adams
April 18th, 2009
at 2:25pm
This article shows that the USA is still behind the times in terms of social care. Here in Great Britain we have enjoyed a state provided comprehensive social welfare system since 1946.
I believe that many European countries have similar systems.
Jaxtr Macro ~ Windows Fanatics
April 20th, 2009
at 9:33pm
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