Federal laws require most health insurers to cover booster shots at no cost to the patient, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.
“Vaccines, including additional doses and boosters, are an important tool to protect Michiganders from COVID-19, and the CARES Act allows consumers to get vaccinated without worrying about cost,” DIFS Director Anita Fox said in a release.
Additional doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are currently being administered to immunocompromised people across the country—with data on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to be expected soon.
The CDC has also announced a plan for booster vaccines to be administered to: people 65 and older in long term care settings at least six months after their primary dose, and people 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. In addition, people 18 to 49 with those same conditions may receive a booster.
Those medical conditions include, but are not limited to, cancer, chronic kidney disease, dementia, Down Syndrome, diabetes, heart conditions, HIV, pregnancy, obesity, or organ transplant survivors. See the full list here.
Under the CARES Act, all COVID-19 vaccines (including boosters) are to be provided without cost sharing or additional fees for most enrollees during the Public Health Emergency—currently set to expire October 19, 2021.
People under Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Programs also have access to COVID-19 boosters at no cost. This coverage is slated to be continue for a year after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends.
During that period, patients cannot be charged for the office visit or additional fees if the vaccine is the only medical service provided at the visit.
If individuals believe they were improperly charged for an office visit solely related to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, they can submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or visiting tips.hhs.gov.
For Michiganders who need health coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2022, Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment will begin on November 1. Michiganders can obtain coverage by visiting the Health Insurance Marketplace or by calling 800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
Consumers may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to obtain coverage now if they have experienced certain qualifying life changes. Additional information, including links to find free local help from navigators, is available on the DIFS website or by calling DIFS 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 877-999-6442.
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