"Meat Giant JBS Cuts Health Insurance Costs for Workers' Covid-19 Treatment", 20 Nov 2020

The American division of the world’s largest meatpacker is eliminating the amount its workers have to pay out of pocket for care if they’ve contracted Covid-19. 

There are 90,000 workers and dependents enrolled in JBS’ health care plan, covering 80% of U.S. workers. If they contract the coronavirus, they will now not have to pay any deductible or co-insurance, and health reimbursement account funds will not have to be used to cover any of the costs. Previously, workers had to meet deductibles before the health plan paid 80% of the costs, and, after reaching the out-of-pocket maximum, costs were paid at 100%. JBS said it was still determining the number of employees who would need reimbursements...

The decision comes as an outbreak of at least 20 workers has flared up at its beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, per government data released this week. The ranchland-heavy state’s positivity rate has been inching up to 11% amid the nation’s most recent coronavirus surge. It’s the same plant where more than 300 workers got sick and 6 died this past spring...