The airline company is imposing a surcharge of $200 per month on its health insurance premiums for employees who are unvaccinated. The reasoning behind the policy is legal and logistical. It will gradually phase in over the coming months. Employees who are not vaccinated will need to wear face masks indoors on company property and be tested for the influenza virus each week. They will be quarantined if positive. The new policy will take effect Nov. 1, 2014.
Unvaccinated employees will pay up to $200 a month more for health insurance
Delta Air Lines is one of the first companies to charge unvaccinated employees more for their health insurance premiums. The airline said that it is looking into charging people who aren’t vaccinated in order to combat rising healthcare costs. Other companies are considering charging unvaccinated employees more as well. The airline said that the policy is similar to the way that employers charge people who smoke for health insurance premiums.
While this new policy has some legal and logistical arguments, the airline insists on standing by its decision. The new policy will begin to phase in over the next few months. The airline says that employees who are unvaccinated will have to wear masks when on company property, test for the flu virus weekly, and will be isolated if positive.
This new policy is similar to one that United Airlines imposed on its employees in September. However, Delta says that the new policy is more aggressive in addressing the health risks that the vaccine poses to the company. While the airline will charge employees more for their health insurance premiums, it is still less onerous than the vaccine mandate imposed by United Airlines.
The new policy is likely to trigger a major wave of pro-vaccine policy changes. Many companies had feared that vaccination policies would lead to legal liabilities, but after the FDA’s approval, they are starting to reconsider. A recent survey conducted by Mercer showed that a large number of employers are now requiring vaccines for their employees.
Cost of COVID-19 vaccine
Delta airlines is now adding the cost of COVID-19 vaccine to its health insurance premiums. This move is a response to a recent surge in cases of the airline sickness. The airline has been forced to pay over $50,000 to treat an employee who has contracted the disease. In addition, it will charge employees who are not fully vaccinated an additional $200 per month for their health insurance premiums.
The Air Line Pilots Association at Delta does not oppose the policy. However, most of its pilots are not covered by the union-negotiated health insurance plan. This policy could increase costs for Delta and other employers. The policy will begin phasing in over the next few months. Unvaccinated employees will have to wear a face mask while on company property and be tested for the virus weekly. If they test positive, they will be isolated. The $200 monthly health insurance premium surcharge will take effect on Nov. 1.
In addition to covering the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine, Delta airlines health insurance premiums also cover the cost of other vaccinations. In addition, Centene has launched a nationwide member outreach campaign to encourage plan members to get the vaccine. This includes a call campaign and a public service announcement. The initiative is expected to reach more than 10 million members.
Cost of hospitalization
While Delta airlines does not mandate vaccination, they do tie vaccination status to employee health insurance premiums. Employees who are not vaccinated pose a health risk to others and a financial risk to the company’s health plan. For example, Delta estimates that a patient who contracted COVID-19 could end up in a hospital requiring $50,000 in care. This cost will have to be paid by the company.
Delta Air Lines’ CEO, Ed Bastian, has announced that the company will raise health insurance premiums by $200 a month for non-vaccinated employees. This increase is much less than United Airlines’ mandate that its workers be fully vaccinated. Employees who are not vaccinated are expected to undergo weekly COVID tests and must wear a face mask indoors.
The rise in cases of COVID-19 has caused a decrease in bookings. Airlines have been hit hardest by the disease. Some companies have raised their premiums to encourage vaccination, but it is a delicate ethical issue. In addition to Delta, other companies have made similar changes, like CVS and Chevron Corp. requiring their workers to get vaccinated against the deadly virus.
The cost of a COVID hospitalization is approximately $1,300 to $1,464 per person, depending on the severity of the disease. These costs are comparable to health plans’ deductibles, and can be much higher if an employee needs an intensive care unit or a ventilator.
Legality of vaccine mandates
While employers can legally levy a surcharge on health insurance premiums, there are several questions surrounding the legality of Delta airlines’ new vaccine mandate policy. The airline is planning to charge employees who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine a $200 monthly surcharge. Although this measure is intended to protect employees against the deadly COVID-19 strain, it could backfire by pricing unvaccinated workers out of their health plans and denying them access to a primary care provider.
First, employers must have a documented accommodation plan to allow those who are not vaccinated to work for them. Such accommodation may include limited work hours, masking, and telework. However, employers cannot require employees to receive a vaccine mandate if it is in violation of the ADA or GINA. Additionally, employers cannot impose vaccination mandates for employees with serious religious beliefs unless they obtain written permission from the union.
While it’s unclear if these vaccine mandates are legal, they have raised questions about the medical necessity and political wisdom of these programs. Employers should consider the political risks, as well as the potential for employee turnover. Many unvaccinated workers say they would quit if their employer mandated vaccination.
Furthermore, a vaccine mandate is more effective than a surcharge for non-vaccinated workers. Even though this measure is unlikely to affect health insurance premiums for many employees, it could potentially affect the health of many low-income Americans. Moreover, people without health insurance often don’t seek medical attention, so these charges may discourage them from consulting their primary care doctors. Public health officials and politicians have stressed the importance of educating people to consult their primary care physicians about vaccine questions.
Impact on customers
In a recent decision, Delta Air Lines announced that all new employees must be vaccinated against the coronavirus virus. If they do not, they will be subject to weekly testing and a $200 monthly health insurance surcharge. The move comes as more companies are implementing mandated vaccination policies. Companies like CVS Health, Deloitte, and Walt Disney have already adopted these requirements. Delta is the first domestic airline to do so.
While many employees are unhappy about the new policy, the airline has not yet canceled the policy. Delta’s recent actions have created confusion over vaccination mandates and surcharges. The new E-Alert offers some clarification and explains the legal basis for the surcharges.
The increase is meant to offset the costs of hospitalization and the costs of vaccination for unvaccinated Delta Air Lines employees. The airline is also requiring employees to undergo weekly Covid tests and limit sick days. In addition to this new policy, the company plans to increase health insurance premiums for its employees who are not vaccinated.
Delta also announced that employees who are not vaccinated will have to wear masks indoors. They will also be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing. While many experts support the policy, others have doubts. The company is likely to go ahead with it despite the controversy surrounding its costs.
Cost to company
The cost of Delta airlines health insurance premiums to the company is $200 per month per employee who is not fully vaccinated. The cost of this additional premium is less than the $100,000 per person vaccinated for the disease COVID-19, which is highly contagious. While the cost is high, it is still better than not getting vaccinated at all.
However, the cost of vaccinating all employees isn’t cheap. That’s why the airline has introduced a surcharge of $200 per month for those who are not vaccinated. This will help them cover the cost of hospitalizations for illnesses such as COVID-19, which can cost upwards of $40000 per person. The surcharge, which will kick in on Nov. 1, is meant to encourage employees to receive necessary vaccinations.
However, it is also possible that the $200 per month penalty for non-vaccination could be considered coercive and open Delta up to lawsuits. Mandates to receive vaccines have been in the news for a while, but their legality is still up for debate. However, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has recently received full approval by the FDA, making it easier for more employers to enforce these rules.
Although Delta is the first major airline to impose a charge on employees who aren’t vaccinated, other companies have started doing so as well. The cost to the company is usually $20 to $50 per month, and it is believed that this move is an attempt by the company to cover the increased costs of insuring unvaccinated workers. The increased cost is part of Delta’s efforts to fight the rising cost of healthcare.
