Blue Cross says it will cover swine flu vaccine
Reported August 12, 2009
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia announced Monday that it will expand its flu vaccine coverage to include the novel H1N1 virus.
The insurer, which has 3 million members in Georgia, will cover clinicians fees and doctor visits for patients receiving the swine flu vaccine. Health officials hope the vaccine will be available in October.
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that these groups be first to get the vaccine: health care and emergency workers; pregnant women; healthy people between 6 months and 24 years old; people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old; and people ages 25 through 64 who are at higher risk because of chronic health disorders.
Those groups total about 159 million people nationwide.
Cheryl Monkhouse, a spokeswoman for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, said the vast majority of policyholders have vaccine coverage.
If policyholders are unsure of their coverage, she suggested that members call the toll-free number on their insurance cards.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield also will continue to cover seasonal flu vaccines.
There have been 43,771 lab-identified cases of the H1N1 virus, 302 deaths and more than 5,000 hospitalizations in the United States.
Although not all patients are being tested for swine flu, health officials estimate more than 1 million people were infected with swine flu between April and June.
A vaccine will not be available before most schools begin in metro Atlanta, which has caused concern among some parents.
Unlike the seasonal flu, swine flu hits young children, teens and young adults particularly hard.