Delta Air Lines hiking insurance premiums for unvaccinated workers
Delta Air Lines is raising the stakes in its bid to get as many workers vaccinated as possible.
It is increasing health care costs for employees who refuse to get jabbed.
From 1 November, unvaccinated staff will have to pay up to $200 a month more for their company health insurance.
Unvaccinated employees will also be subject to weekly Covid tests.
"While we can be proud of our 75% vaccination rate, the aggressiveness of the variant means we need to get many more of our people vaccinated, and as close to 100% as possible," said CEO Ed Bastian in an internal memo
Hospital treatment has been costing Delta $50,000 per person on average it says.
"This surcharge will be necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company."
All employee cases requiring treatment so far have been unvaccinated workers.
"This is not just costing lives, this is costing us financial resources as well," Bastain said on CNN.
From 12 September, US employees not fully vaccinated are required to take a weekly Covid test.
"In compliance with state and local laws, Covid pay protection will only be provided to fully vaccinated individuals who are experiencing a breakthrough infection," the memo says, referring to to 14 days of ‘Covid pay protection’ before workers have to use their standard company sick days.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt