California - Major health plans waive H1N1 vaccine copays

[AlaskaDenise]

Major health plans in California have taken steps to make it easy for members to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine and medications necessary to protect themselves from the virus, state regulators and the trade group that represents HMOs have announced.

Based on information made publicly available, it appears the top insurers in the state have agreed to waive copayments, deductibles and co-insurance for their members, officials from the state Department of Insurance, state Department of Managed Health Care and the California Association of Health Plans announced Tuesday.

?Health plans are committed to doing their part to protect the public in the face of this new flu pandemic and are making sure there is no cost to the insured to get vaccinated,? Patrick Johnston, president and chief executive officer at the California Association of Health Plans, said in a news release.

In order to minimize the impact of new virus and the seasonal flu, state regulators have urged health plans to:

? Ensure as many Californians as possible are vaccinated by H1N1 by waiving copayments and deductibles and appropriate reimbursement to providers so there are no barriers to care

? Ensure as many as possible Californians are vaccinated for seasonal flu

? Review and augment drug coverage related to antiviral medications that treat flu and

? Stay informed and collaborate with state regulators.

Sutter Health will offer vaccines to employees across its network, but will not mandate vaccination

http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/10/05/daily62.html

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: California - Major health plans waive H1N1 vaccine copays

Major California PPO plans agree to waive Swine flu co-pays, deductibles

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said Wednesday that the state?s six largest health insurers regulated by the commissioner have agreed to take ?extraordinary efforts? to make sure their enrollees can get the H1N1/swine flu vaccine by eliminating co-pays and deductible payments.

Poizner?s statement specifically mentions Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA, HealthNet and United HealthCare/Pacificare. Kaiser Permanente?s Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, the state?s largest with about 6.6 million enrollees, is not covered by the agreement, which affects only PPO health plans that are regulated by the Department of Insurance, said DOI spokesman Darrel Ng.

Poizner said he joined officials of the Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Public Health in sending a letter to every health insurer in California, outlining statewide goals for administration of the soon-to-be released vaccine. Because this year's H1N1 flu strain appears to be more contagious than typical varieties of influenza, it is important that the appropriate risk groups be vaccinated, the commissioner?s statement said.

?To make sure that happens,? Poizner announced that all six of California?s largest PPO plans have agreed to waive co-pays and deductibles so enrollees can get vaccinated without spending any out-of-pocket funds.

?I am pleased that Aetna, Anthem/Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CIGNA, HealthNet and United HealthCare/Pacificare have agreed to put the health of consumers first by waiving costs for the H1N1 flu vaccine during what we anticipate to be a tremendously difficult flu season,? Poizner said. ?Action taken by these insurers will help us prevent the spread of what is a potential flu epidemic. Now that the insurers are easing the way, I urge their members to take advantage and get immunized. Policyholders should pay special attention to communications from their insurer to understand exactly what they will need to do.?

HMO plans, like Kaiser's, are regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care. Many insurers offer both types of plans.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified key target groups for vaccination as including pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, children and young adults between the ages of six months and 24 years old, and people between 25 and 64 years old who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/10/05/daily48.html

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