Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to waive co-pays for swine flu vaccine
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to waive co-pays for swine flu vaccine
Friday, 25 September 2009
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will waive co-pays and deductibles for the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine.
“Because the H1N1 virus is expected to be a serious threat this flu season, we want to be proactive in encouraging our members to protect themselves as early as possible,” said Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, vice president and chief medical officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
The federal government is providing the H1N1 vaccine for free to health providers, but those providers may charge fees for its administration. As a result, BCBSTX will pay the administration fee at no cost to its fully-insured health plan members. The insurer will also cover costs for members of self-funded administrative services-only groups unless their group chooses not to provide the special coverage.
Because of a limited supply of the vaccine, CDC is recommending the vaccine for people in high risk groups. Members who fit into one of these groups should contact their doctor:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
- Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years
- People ages 25 through 64 years who have chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
To benefit from this coverage, a member must receive the vaccination from a provider in the BCBSTX network. Coverage for other vaccines will be in accordance with the individual’s plan.
For more information, visit www.bcbstx.com.
