Sam's Club To Sell Health Plans

[Kadie]

Sam's Club To Sell Health Plans
New Plan Available On Wednesday

POSTED: 10:52 am PST December 30, 2005
UPDATED: 10:58 am PST December 30, 2005


DALLAS -- Sam's Club plans to unveil a new health-insurance offering for some of its customers on Wednesday, making such a service available nationally for the first time.

Friday's Wall Street Journal reported that the membership-warehouse division of Wal-Mart will let small-business owners with Sam's Club memberships buy health-insurance plans for their employees through Extend Benefits Group, an insurance broker.

While the coverage is available elsewhere, Extend Benefits will charge Sam's Club members lower administrative fees.

It'll cost $150 to establish an account instead of $500, with a monthly administration fee of $4 rather than $5.

more...
http://www.kcra.com/money/5735551/detail.html




SAM'S CLUB Introduces Affordable Health Insurance Solution Nationwide


BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National
Federation of Independent Business the high cost of health insurance continues
to be the #1 issue facing business owners. However, thanks to a number of
recent legislative changes affordable health care solutions are now available.

Effective January 4, 2006, SAM'S CLUB and Extend Benefits Group LLC will
join forces to offer a new and innovative health insurance program for
businesses. The ExtendChoice(TM) for SAM'S CLUB program leverages new
employee benefit tax rules and the growing popularity and affordability of
individual health insurance plans to provide employers and their employees
with a broad choice of affordable individual health insurance plans from major
carriers in all 50 states. Extend Benefits assists each employee in making
the most effective use of this allowance to pay for an individual plan that
best fits his needs and budget.

more...
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-30-2005/0004240710&EDATE=

[KamaAina]

1. Do their employees get them, too?

That's what I thought. :sarcasm:

[tularetom]

2. Gee, I wonder if Sam's Club employees

will be eligible for these plans. Or if they'll still have the same old shitty expensive insurance they've had in the past?

[gizmo1979]

3. Maybe they should start

by giving their own employees health insurance.Man I can't believe they would even bring the subject up.

[displacedtexan]

4. They're just trying to keep up w/ Costco.

http://www.costco.com/Service/FeaturePage.aspx?ProductNo=10166086

Costco also offers health insurance to customers in CA.

http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2005/08/24/costco-selling-health-insurance-in-california/

[OKNancy]

6. Too bad it's only in five states

I'd sure take a look at them if I could.

[OKNancy]

5. I suggest employers go look at this

I only have three adult employees, but this could be a really good deal for me and them.

[OneBlueSky]

7. speaks to just how much profit there is in the health care industry . . .

because you can be damn well sure that the Walton's wouldn't be getting into it if they didn't think they could make out like the bandits they are . . . when the profit motive is taken out of US healthcare, then there MIGHT be a chance of creating a system that actually works for the American people . . . ALL of us, not just affluent and the influential . . .