Walmart Expands Nationwide Health Care Coverage for Pregnant Employees Seeking Doula Services

Coverage beginning Nov. 1 aims to address racial health disparities and enhance access to maternal care, especially in areas with limited health services.

• Walmart is expanding national health care coverage for its employees who seek doula services during pregnancy with the rollout taken place on November 1.
• The program originated in Georgia in 2021 and extended to Louisiana, Indiana, and Illinois, with Hawaii as an exception due to a distinct set of health benefits.
• The initiative aims to address racial disparities in health care and improve maternal and infant health, particularly in regions with limited access to care, offering coverage of up to $1,000 per pregnancy for doula services.
• The move follows a series of reports by the March of Dimes revealing that more than 5.6 million women reside in counties with limited or no maternity care services, leading to increased need for alternative care options like doulas.
• Having a doula is reported to reduce cesarean sections by 50%, decrease labor time by 25%, and cut other medical interventions by over half, according to the National Black Doulas Association.
• Big corporations such as CVS Health and Microsoft are also offering partial or full doula services for their employees.

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