Unvaccinated Nevada state workers to pay insurance surcharge

Nevada will be the first state to charge state workers enrolled in public employee health insurance plans a surcharge if they aren't vaccinated.

The state Public Employees' Benefit Program (PEBP) Board voted on Thursday to charge unvaccinated workers up to $55 per month to offset the cost of testing that those who haven't gotten shots are required to undergo in certain workplaces.

"This pandemic has been shouldered on the burden of everyone. And now this particular burden — the testing — should be shouldered on the burden of those who refuse to (be vaccinated)," said DuAne Young, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's policy director.