Associated Press June 17, 2020
WASHINGTON
(AP) — U.S. officials say they expect health insurance companies will cover
vaccines for COVID-19 without charging copays, once those vaccines are
developed and become available.
At a
briefing for reporters Tuesday, a senior Trump administration official said the
government has been talking with insurers about offering vaccines at no cost to
patients. The industry earlier made a similar commitment to cover testing for
the coronavirus without charging copays.
The
White House has launched an initiative to quickly manufacture millions of doses
of COVID vaccines, once the Food and Drug Administration approves one or more
formulations. Candidate vaccines are in early trials, and the goal — considered
ambitious — is to have 300 million doses by early next year.
Senior
administration officials provided an overview of that effort on Tuesday on
condition that they not be publicly identified. The White House initiative,
dubbed Operation Warp Speed, is a joint project of the Department of Health and
Human Services and the Pentagon, under the overall direction of HHS.
Insurers
generally have a strong financial interest in covering vaccines, seeing them as
a win-win. Vaccination helps the insurers' customers stay healthy, and
preventing disease saves the companies money.
In the
case of preventive services, it goes beyond financial incentives. Insurers are
also required by the Affordable Care Act to provide coverage at no charge to
patients. A range of screening tests, immunizations and birth control for women
are already covered under the Obama-era law. President Donald Trump is still
pressing to overturn “Obamacare” as unconstitutional.
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