Louisiana’s largest health-care system is giving its employees a choice as it seeks to boost coronavirus vaccination numbers: ensure your spouse has received a shot or face higher health insurance costs.
Beginning next year, employees of Ochsner Health System will see a roughly $200-a-month surcharge if their spouse or domestic partner on the company health plan is not vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a letter sent to affected employees last week. The surcharge does not apply to child beneficiaries covered by the plan.
“This fee is similar to what’s been in place for tobacco users and is in line with the benefits offered by many health care organizations and companies,” Ochsner President and CEO Warner Thomas said in a statement. Thomas said the policy was not a “mandate” because non-employee spouses and partners can opt for health insurance outside the company’s plan.
Any RW who objects to this should consider that it would not arise if we had single-payer. Your income tax would be your health-insurance premium, and it would be no higher if you were unvaxxed, or a smoker.
