Nevada's Public Employees' Benefits Program Board voted Thursday to charge workers enrolled in public employee health insurance plans a surcharge of up to $55 a month if they're not vaccinated against COVID-19, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Why it matters: Nevada is the first state to announce such a move, per AP.
The big picture: The surcharges for Nevada workers and adult dependents on the plans are due to take effect in July 2022.
- There will be exemptions to the surcharge for people with a legitimate health issue or religious reason, the Las Vegas Sun notes.
What they're saying: "This is pandemic has been shouldered on the burden of everyone," said DuAne Young, policy director for Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), in a statement to news outlets.
- "And now this particular burden — the testing — should be shouldered on the burden of those who refuse to [be vaccinated]."
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