Walmart quietly enters into health insurance business, including Medicare

Walmart will now sell health insurance policies directly to its customers, a spokesperson told Healthcare Dive, confirming speculation sparked by job postings from the retailer for Medicare sales managers and insurance agents, first reported by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Analysts with SVB Leerlink said the move underscores the attractiveness of this market and the likelihood of increased competition over time, while Walmart's reach across U.S. consumers — including seniors — has the potential to drive up volume for Medicare plans. Online price lists for basic healthcare services at Walmart Care Clinics show pricing at a 35% to 40% discount to rival CVS HealthHUBs on basic, identical health services, "an ominous sign" for CVS "given that it is still early days in the development of retail-based care delivery," according to SVB Leerink’s report.