Sept. 28, 2023 — Technical issues that led to denials of coverage for the updated COVID-19 vaccines have been “largely, if not completely, resolved,” the nation's largest health insurers told federal officials Wednesday.
“You have our commitment that health insurers will fully cover the new COVID-19 vaccinations as needed, without cost sharing, when consumers access them through an in-network provider or receive them through an out-of-network provider when in-network options are available.” an industry group said in a single letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
On September 12, the CDC advisable the brand new vaccine for all people 6 months and older, and manufacturers said supplies of the vaccines were ready. But there have been widespread reports of vaccinations failing to succeed in pharmacies, and insurers sometimes denied coverage despite being federally required 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 vaccine through a Federal program.
Federal officials met virtually Wednesday with insurance company executives to debate what HHS said were “current technical issues” in accessing the vaccines. Insurers represented on the decision included Blue Cross Blue Shield, CVS Health, Humana, Cigna, Anthem, Kaiser and United Healthcare.
According to the knowledge, 2 million people within the USA have received the brand new booster vaccination to this point this autumn HHS.
After a summer 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, 1.9% of emergency room visits were attributable to COVID-19 and there have been 19,674 hospitalizations attributable to serious illness, the study found CDC. Deaths attributable to COVID are increasing, accounting for two.7% of all U.S. deaths within the week ending Sept. 16, with sharp increases reported in Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi and Georgia.