He's thrilled. The employees are thrilled. The health-care center is happy.

It's our No. 1 issue. The cost of health insurance keeps on going up double digits every year.

Wal-Mart fails to address the key reasons more than half of its employees aren't covered under their health care plan _ ridiculously high deductible costs and overly strict eligibility requirements,

That's one of the benefits we give all our employees. They're in the (state) pension system, and they have health benefits ? they're in the state plan.

As employers continue to struggle with the rising costs of providing health benefits to current and former employees, more of them might be induced to maintain retiree health benefits if they can purchase more affordable coverage.

Many employers are going to be asking their employees to participate more in the decision-making process for their health care, and we see that as an opportunity to engage patients in discussions of what is really best for them and their families.