Wal-Mart to stop health care benefits for some part-time workers

(Reuters) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would no longer provide health benefits to some part-time workers in the United States due to ballooning health care costs.

The company said on Monday it would stop health benefits for part-time associates who work less than 30 hours. The move is expected to impact about 2% of the company's workforce, the company said in a blog post.

Wal-Mart cut its full-year profit forecast in August, citing higher employee benefit costs, among other things.

The company said then that it expected to spend $500 million on U.S. health care this year, up from $330 million estimated in February, as enrollments and medical costs rise.