Delta Airlines announced they had dropped a $200 per month surcharge on unvaccinated employees’ health insurance as the company moves to treat Covid-19 as seasonal virus, AP reported.
On Wednesday, CEO Ed Bastian announced this policy reversal on a call with experts and reporters.
“We have dropped as of this month the additional insurance surcharge given the fact that we really do believe that the pandemic has moved to a seasonal virus,” Bastian said.
“Any employees that haven’t been vaccinated will not be paying extra insurance costs going forward,” CEO Bastian announced. “Any employees that haven’t been vaccinated will not be paying extra insurance costs going forward.”
In an interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bastian said if the federal mask mandate for public transportation will be lifted, Delta will not require passengers or employees to wear masks.
When asked if he’s concerned about another surge, Bastian responded, “Not at all. We look at hospitalizations as the key measure.”
The healthcare surcharge will discontinue at the end of this month, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said. He also said if the federal mask mandate for air travel is discontinued, Delta will not require passengers or employees to wear masks. https://t.co/XOjbnaedb8
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) April 14, 2022
Back in August, Bastian announced that unvaccinated workers would pay monthly premiums on their health insurance because “it is not just costing lives, it is costing as financial resources as well.” The policy would also require them to get weekly Covid-19 tests.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian imposes an added “$200 monthly premium surcharge onto health insurance costs” for unvaccinated employees starting November 1st. pic.twitter.com/pYfUYGEzoq
— The Recount (@therecount) August 25, 2021
