Workers And Businesses Are Paying More To Get Unvaccinated In America Because Of Rising Costs
March 25, 2009 (Reuters) – A quarter of American adults are still not vaccinated nearly a year after COVID vaccines were made freely available in the U.S.A. This is a stark reminder of the economic costs of vaccine hesitancy. This shows the financial risk that individuals, businesses and public programs face.
Public health experts believe that vaccine hesitancy is already responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and preventable hospitalizations in the United States.
Individuals who choose to forgo vaccination run the risk of being laid off and ineligible to collect unemployment benefits, rising insurance premiums, increasing out-of-pocket costs, losing academic scholarships, or even losing their job.
Employers may find it difficult to hire the right people due to vaccine hesitancy. It could lead to a decrease in the funding of programs like Medicare that provide healthcare for seniors.
Employers may be looking to pass on a risk premium to workers who are not vaccinated, similar to how smokers might have to pay higher premiums for their health. Unvaccinated workers will be charged $200 more per month by one airline, according to reports.
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