Republican gubernatorial candidate and radio host Bill Spadea is under fire after a resurfaced video on X showed him advocating for increased health insurance premiums for New Jersey residents who forgo annual flu shots.

Spadea’s remarks have made vaccine policy a campaign flashpoint, though he has remained vague on whether his proposal would extend beyond the flu shot.

While opposing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the past, his new suggestion introduces ambiguity around his broader stance. The New Jersey Department of Health currently promotes but does not require flu shots, and insurers do not adjust premiums based on vaccination status. Spadea’s plan would signal a sharp departure from current practices, though he has not provided further details or responded to the online backlash.

TRENTON, N.J. — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea is drawing fire after a video of him calling for a vaccine tax on his radio show resurfaced on X.

Spadea said New Jersey residents who decline annual flu vaccinations should face higher health insurance premiums.

Key Points

Bill Spadea proposed charging unvaccinated individuals more for health insurance during his NJ 101.5 radio show.
He compared the policy idea to existing penalties for smokers.
The statement has prompted backlash from conservatives and sparked debate on social media.

Flu shot stance ignites debate

Speaking on his weekday program on NJ 101.5, Spadea, who is also a longtime radio personality, referenced his own commitment to getting a yearly flu shot and argued that others who refuse it should bear financial consequences.

“I get the flu shot every year. If you don’t, you should pay more for health insurance — same as smokers,” Spadea said.

The remarks quickly drew responses from co-hosts and callers, many of whom expressed skepticism or opposition to flu vaccinations. One caller said, “All right, so I don’t get the flu shot. You know why? A few years ago, I did. I got sick.”

Vaccines become campaign flashpoint

“Get your flu shot. That’s right. For years, I have avoided getting the flu shot. I had every excuse in the book, and I finally got convinced. I talked to a doc in New York, and he said, Look, it is important not only for us to embrace new technology, but medical changes that are coming that can actually make the population safer, but it doesn’t work as effectively if everybody’s not doing it.

So the question I posed today on the radio was, if we’ve driven behavior before through cost, meaning I don’t smoke cigarettes any longer. Now, I haven’t smoked a cigarette in more than 20 years.

But one of the reasons that I stopped is I thought it would be cost prohibitive to provide life insurance for my family’s security if I remained a smoker.

It became a no-brainer. I think the same thing could be done with flu shots.
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If we’ve got behavior that the medical community believes is important for our safety and our health, why are the insurance companies not adding a premium to those folks that say, I want to opt out, I don’t want to get the flu shot, I don’t believe in vaccinations?”

Spadea’s comment has become a polarizing issue as he prepares for the 2025 gubernatorial race. The former TV host and conservative commentator has not yet clarified whether his insurance proposal would apply to other vaccines or how it would be implemented, such as COVID-19.

Spadea has been an opponent of mandatory COVID-19 vaccines, but his stance on flu shots leaves his overall stance on vaccinations murky.

You can be left to your own devices if that’s the way you choose. But maybe there should be that reverse incentive, or maybe there’s a financial incentive to say, Hey, we’ll cut you a health break on your premiums if you do all the things that the medical community recommends.

The gubernatorial hopeful has not issued any follow-up statement on the controversy, ignoring the topic on X after it was brought up.

Spadea’s stance adds fuel to vaccine policy debates

The New Jersey Department of Health currently encourages flu vaccinations but does not mandate them for adults.

Insurance companies are not required to adjust premiums based on vaccination status. Spadea’s proposal would mark a major shift in how health behaviors are treated in the insurance market if ever enacted.

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