September 28, 2023 – Technical issues that led to denials of coverage for the updated COVID-19 vaccines have been “largely, if not completely, resolved,” the country's largest health insurers told federal regulators on Wednesday.
“We promise you that health insurers will fully cover the new COVID-19 vaccinations as required, with no cost-sharing, when consumers get them through an in-network provider or get them through an out-of-network provider when in-network options are not available,” an industry group said in a letter to the US Department of Health.
On Sept. 12, the CDC advisable the brand new vaccine for everybody 6 months and older, and manufacturers said the vaccines were in stock. But there have been quite a few reports of vaccines not reaching pharmacies, and insurers sometimes refused to cover them, regardless that the federal government required them to cover all the cost. Before this round of vaccinations, all vaccinations were paid for by the federal government, although people without insurance can still get a free shot through medical insurance. Federal program.
Federal officials met virtually with insurance company executives on Wednesday to debate what the Health Department called “recent technical issues” related to access to the vaccines. Insurers represented on the decision included Blue Cross Blue Shield, CVS Health, Humana, Cigna, Anthem, Kaiser and United Healthcare.
So far, 2 million people within the US have received the brand new booster vaccination, in line with HHS.
After a summer-long surge in COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths, most indicators are trending downward. In the week ending Sept. 16, 12.5% of all reported tests were positive, COVID-19 accounted for 1.9% of emergency department visits and there have been 19,674 hospitalizations attributable to severe illness, in line with the CDC. Deaths attributable to COVID have increased, accounting for two.7% of all U.S. deaths within the week ending September 16, with large increases reported in Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi and Georgia.