Walmart is reviving a popular service it once dropped

One of the most convenient parts of living in the 21st century is how easy things now seem to be at the touch of a button.

Everything from food deliveries, groceries, recipes, flights, pet supplies, sports gear and fashion is now accessible with just a few quick mouse (or cell phone) maneuvers.

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In fact, it’s a wonder some of us still venture out to do a few errands. Retail giants with robust online processing capabilities that have grown especially during and after the Covid pandemic have made our lives so easy that a grocery run or a trip to the mall is often no longer necessary.

One such retailer is Walmart (WMT) which rapidly expanded its online presence in the early 2020s as more of us preferred to get our essentials (and non-essentials, to pass the time) without stepping into a brick-and-mortar location.

Thanks to Walmart’s prolific presence across the country, the retailer has been able to rapidly increase online orders. With at least one location within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population, the stores quickly became drop-off locations, making last-mile shipping much easier—and cheaper—than it would have been to start from scratch with just a deposit or two. .

Employees and shoppers are seen inside a Walmart store.

Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

Walmart’s physical presence is its strength

For many retailers who have struggled during the pandemic, having lots of brick-and-mortar stores can be considered a liability. But this actually turned out to be Walmart’s strength.

As soon as the world started to reopen, more people started looking for deals from brands they trusted. Walmart’s public campaign to lower prices to pre-inflation levels, particularly on pricier staples like groceries and back-to-school items, has grown in appeal and led to some bumper gains.

Additionally, many people have become more interested in healthy living and preventative care post-Covid. So Walmart began rolling out a number of healthcare services at its locations for customers.

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The super-retailer already operates 4,600 pharmacies inside its stores, but has sought to expand its interactions with potential patients with the launch of its Walmart Health Centers.

At its peak, Walmart operated approximately 50 health center locations with the following care options:

• Same day primary care
• Primary programming assistance
• DENTAL
• Behavioral health
• laboratory
• X rays
• Community health
• Remote medical services

Walmart closes health centers, then reopens

But after waning interest and rising operating costs, Walmart quickly shed its health care division.

“We have determined that there is no sustainable business model for us to continue,” Walmart said in a statement in spring 2024.

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It announced in late April that it would close all 51 health centers and shut down its entire health division.

But that seemed to have only lasted a few short months. Walmart has since changed its tune, saying it will reopen its healthcare services — to a select group of customers.

Walmart has announced that it will bring back health care services to senior citizens only through a partnership with CenterWell, the health care unit of Humana.

The services will be available at 23 Walmart locations in Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas in spaces previously designated for Walmart Health. It is expected to start operations in the first half of 2025.

“These nearly two dozen primary care centers are designed specifically for seniors, and the design of each location, including dedicated entrances and easy parking, gives patients the access they’ve come to expect at our clinics across the country,” said Sanjay Shetty , MD, president of CenterWell. “We are eager to expand our mission to help patients lead happier and healthier lives.”

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