Walmart to help customers sign up for healthcare

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Walmart plans to staff 2,700 of its stores with insurance agents to help customers sign up for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

"Healthcare Begins Here" will start Oct. 10, and agents will help anyone who goes to a Walmart store sign up for either Medicare or private insurance policies. Many are not surprised by this move, since Walmart already offers basic healthcare services in many of its stores.

Walmart could become the nation's largest retail healthcare provider with this move, according to Forbes. The company is partnering with DirectHealth.com to facilitate the program.

Medicare open enrollment begins next week. Since most Walmart shoppers and employees make less than $40,000 a year, it is likely many of them will be eligible for Medicare.