Some New Yorkers reported being asked to pay approximately $120 upfront or reschedule their vaccination appointments.
New NY COVID vaccine rollout hit a snag recently, causing delays and confusion for eager residents looking to get vaccinated due to issues with health insurance coverage
Thankfully, CVS Health, in collaboration with select health plans, swiftly addressed this issue. Starting this week, the NY COVID vaccine rollout will be available at no out-of-pocket cost, and federal programs are stepping in to cover expenses for those without insurance.
In the past, NY COVID vaccine rollouts were provided free of charge to Americans, thanks to federal government funding. However, since the conclusion of the federal pandemic emergency declaration last spring, the responsibility for vaccine funding has shifted to health insurance companies and government health programs like Medicaid and Medicare. The New York Health Plan Association revealed that insurers recently obtained the necessary coding to update vaccine coverage, leading to some appointment rescheduling last Friday. Nevertheless, the association assured the public that future vaccinations would come with no cost-sharing requirements.
Representatives from Empire BlueCross BlueShield stated that the CDC had provided incorrect information to health plans regarding the vaccine’s availability timeline
Consequently, some members had their claims prematurely denied. While the CDC has yet to comment on these allegations, Empire is diligently reevaluating these claims to ensure that members receive their vaccines without any copay.
For New Yorkers interested in receiving the new booster shots, they can easily locate vaccine providers through vaccines.gov or the federal hotline. The NY COVID vaccine rollout is back on track, offering accessible and affordable vaccinations to all eligible residents.
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