Millions of Americans rely on Walmart for most of their shopping needs.
Whether it be food or prescriptions, clothes or personal care items, household necessities or fun things like toys or sporting goods, Walmart had it all and at a variety of popular price points.
Walmart is also big in automotive care and personal finance. And now the company is undertaking a major expansion in health care.
Since 2019, Walmart has opened 48 clinics beside it's supercenters in Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Illinois and Missouri, offering primary care, dental, lab facilities, x-rays, telemedicine and more. Now Walmart Health has announced it's opening 18 more locations this year in Texas along with four in the Kansas City area.
The company plans to have 75 locations by early next year. And no doubt many, many more will follow.
Walmart Health says it's committed to offering fast, affordable care with flexible options and transparent pricing, with a particular focus on senior citizens.
And no doubt it will deliver just that.
We have already seen the impact Walmart has had on small businesses in communities across the country. Another giant, online retailer Amazon, has had a big impact on local retailers as well. Too often, the small players just can't compete and go out of business.
Walmart Health, like the company's retail stores, will ease the financial burden of medical care for many folks. It's hard to argue against that.
But with more expansion and consolidation of goods and services by a few giant companies means less choice overall for consumers.
Maybe it's an overreaction, but we must admit that makes us a bit uneasy. Is it worth it in the long run? Just how much are we willing to give up in the name of low prices?
And how long before federal regulators decide enough is enough?