Cigna to give employees $200, paid time off to get COVID-19 vaccinations

Health insurance giant Cigna plans to pay U.S. employees $200 for getting the COVID-19 vaccine and allow them to take paid time off to get the shots.

The company called the $200 an “incentive award” in an announcement on Thursday. It also said it will provide benefit-eligible employees with up to 10 days of paid “emergency time” off that they can use for getting the vaccine, as well as for dependent care or a mental health day. 

President Biden on Wednesday called for employers to give workers paid leave to get the COVID-19 vaccination and unveiled a program to address the issue of American workers feeling that they can’t afford to take the time off to get vaccinated. 

Biden also said employers should give employees time off to recover if they are feeling under the weather after receiving their vaccine shots. 

For its customers, Cigna is providing no-cost transportation to and from vaccination sites for Medicare Advantage customers and is conducting outreach to vulnerable seniors to encourage them to get the vaccine. 

Other major companies are offering cash for the vaccine to encourage workers to get it.

Biden, in his announcement on Wednesday, mentioned that grocery store chain Kroger is offering workers $100 to get vaccinated. He said that offer pushed the vaccination rate among its associates from 50 percent to 75 percent.