The Coming Flu | Health Insurance Companies Ramp Up Inoculation
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-10-23 13:01:37 | Word Count: 469
Swine flu is one of the biggest medical concerns on the minds of many these days, and health insurance companies have been trying to explain to customers what inoculations and other services are available based on their plan's coverage.
Some, like AvMed based in Florida, are offering immunizations for all fully insured members, in spite of normal coverage issues that would include co-pays or deductibles. Many insurers are following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in distributing information about the H1N1 virus.
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Doctors and health insurance companies are focusing on several groups for the first rounds of administrations, chiefly pregnant women, people who provide care for young children, as well as health care and EMS personnel. After that, children and young adults up to age 24, and those who are at risk for complications from influenza, will be prioritized for one of the 150 million vaccinations available I n the U.S.
"AvMed is committed to the health and well-being of our members and we want to ensure that the H1N1 national emergency vaccination effort goes as smoothly as possible," adds Dr Kirk Cianciolo, AvMed senior vice president and chief medical officer.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is also following a similar plan, offering to cover administration costs for covered customers, as well. They are also working to develop channels with places where vaccinations are likely to be given, though, including pharmacies and public health clinics.
Health insurance companies don't always have relationships with so-called non-traditional providers, which could make payments for services provided at those locations more difficult to make.
"Our goal is to keep our members as healthy as possible. We are committed to working with the CDC and HHS on an information campaign to ensure that members and the public are vaccinated to prevent H1N1, and if they develop H1N1 flu, they are treated effectively and appropriately," says Dr Bob McCormack, BCBSGA medical director.
Other efforts include changing the formulary for prescription drugs, which assigns different co-pays to drugs based on their cost to purchase and the efficacy in treating a condition. Tamiflu and Relenza are being moved to more affordable tiers on BCBSGA's formulary for those who may contract the H1N1 virus.
