Walmart to offer over 250 free medications including GLP-1s and insulin to employees

Walmart announced plans on October 13, 2026, to expand healthcare benefits for its 1.6 million U.S. workers in 2027. The retail giant will offer over 250 free prescription drugs, including insulin, inhalers, and GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, while continuing to exclude weight-loss coverage. Additional benefits include no-cost specialist access for rare diseases like ALS and MS, 12 weeks of paid NICU leave, and a modest premium increase of $1.50 per pay period.

2027 plan details and enrollment

• ▪Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris stated in an October 13, 2026 memo that the retailer is adding more ways to provide comprehensive and affordable healthcare and benefits to employees.
• ▪Walmart is raising its starting health insurance premiums by $1.50 per biweekly pay period, bringing the starting rate to $39.80 for 2027.
• ▪Walmart announced on October 13, 2026, that it will expand healthcare benefits for its approximately 1.6 million U.S. workers during its annual enrollment season ending November 6.
• ▪Walmart full-time and part-time U.S. employees who average more than 30 hours per week are eligible to enroll in the company's 2027 healthcare plan.

Prescription drug and GLP-1 coverage

• ▪Walmart will cover GLP-1 medications, including Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, at no cost for employees with type 2 diabetes under a new prior authorization.
• ▪Walmart does not cover GLP-1 medications when prescribed for the purpose of weight loss or obesity treatment.
• ▪Walmart will offer health plan participants more than 250 prescription drugs at no cost starting in 2027, including select insulin, inhalers, hemophilia medications, and a multiple sclerosis drug that typically cost thousands of dollars per month.

Specialist care for rare conditions

• ▪Walmart is expanding its healthcare coverage to provide no-cost specialist evaluation and treatment review for rare conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• ▪Walmart is expanding an existing benefit covering cancer specialist care at providers such as Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic to allow employees under most plans to receive second opinions for rare conditions.

Paid NICU leave benefit

• ▪Walmart is introducing 12 weeks of paid neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) leave for parents starting in November 2026.
• ▪Walmart's new 12-week NICU leave can be combined with up to 16 weeks of existing paid maternity and parental leave available to frontline workers.

Debatable claims

• ▪Walmart's health benefit expansion justifies its biweekly premium increase
• ▪Walmart's combined 28-week paid parental and NICU leave package sets an adequate standard for frontline labor
• ▪Walmart should cover GLP-1 medications prescribed for employee weight loss