Walmart dips its toe back into healthcare with new digital platform
Less than two years after closing its patient care clinics and selling its telehealth services, Walmart is re-entering the healthcare space.
In an announcement, the retail giant revealed that it’s launching a new digital health platform that will match patients to providers, with emphasis on those that offer virtual urgent care and behavioral health services.
The company said the simply named “Better Care Services” will give customers access to a “curated network of third-party providers” that also includes full access to LillyDirect, the platform used by drug manufacturer Eli Lilly to sell its popular weight loss drugs to patients.
While avoiding specifics, Walmart implied its virtual-care matching platform will cater to people without insurance—the number of whom are expected to spike in 2026, given the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies.
“We know that when healthcare feels hard, many people don’t get the care they need. We can fix that,” Kevin Host, senior vice president, health and wellness, pharmacy, said in a statement. “Better Care Services is about making wellness simple and affordable to fit into your life; we’re removing barriers so more people can get the care they deserve, right when they need it.”
To support this mission, Walmart said it will be offering a $15 discount on select telehealth services beginning on January 15, albeit for a limited time.
The list of telehealth providers partnering with the retailer includes Doctor on Demand, BetterHelp, Curai Health and Wheel Virtual Clinic, among others offering mental health and direct sick–patient care solutions.
The current partners would give patients access to prescriptions for antibiotics, GLP-1 drugs, and more—prescriptions that Walmart can then fill. When exiting healthcare in 2024, the company was sure to note that it would be keeping its pharmacy services, which include things like drug delivery.
While its past foray into the space included having its own staff providers—both in-person and virtually—Walmart is now working strictly with third parties for this initiative, which will drive prescriptions to its retail pharmacies.
The company said it will also be slashing prices on over-the-counter wellness products to further encourage customers to take control of their health.
The Better Care Services platform is now live.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.