Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s took a hit from the Affordable Care Act during the second-quarter. […] Much of that was due to fewer customers paying for drugs with cash, which has higher margins, said Greg Foran, head of Wal-Mart’s sprawling U.S. operations. Fewer cash payments reflect “a marketplace shift in which more customers are now benefitting from greater drug insurance coverage,” he said, during a pre-recorded earnings conference call.

While Walmart will probably find some way to recoup the losses that ends up punishing their employees, this is still kind of gratifying That's because one of the things that has to be included in policies now as a result of the law is prescription drug coverage. It's one of the ten essential health benefits that plans on the exchange, small group plans, and Medicaid and Medicare had to offer beginning January 1, 2014. Most employer-based insurance plans already provide it. People aren't having to fork over as much cash for their prescriptions now that they have insurance to help pay for them, and Walmart is feeling the pinch.