In December 2019, the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was observed in Wuhan, China. Since then, the virus has spread across the world and claimed many lives. It also promptly shut down many operations globally.
While things seemed bleak initially, scientists were soon on a mission to create a vaccine to reduce the drastic symptoms people got when they would contract the virus. After months of research and testing, multiple vaccines became available for the public, with vaccine drives in full swing.
However, COVID-19 vaccines have been met by much skepticism. Here are some common questions that we frequently get asked about the vaccine.
Will The COVID-19 Vaccine Be Covered By Medicare?
The short answer to this is: yes. Medicare covers your COVID-19 vaccination, and any provider who accepts Medicare will administer the vaccine to you with no fees incurred.
The Cares Act passed in 2020 by Congress requires Medicare to cover any FDA-Approved COVID-19 vaccinations currently being administered in the US. This means whether you have regular Medicare or are availing a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’re eligible for a free vaccination. In fact, you won’t even be charged out-of-network fees from a non-network provider.
What Kind Of Insurance Covers Vaccine?
Right now, the goal is to get as many people vaccinated against the COVID-19 as possible. The CARES Act ensures that the government provides free vaccinations to everyone, regardless of their insurance status.
If you’re part of the Medicare Trust Fund or availing Medicaid, or Medicare, then your vaccination is 100% covered, and you have to pay no fees before or after your shot. However, it’s important to note that people without insurance are also eligible for a free vaccination.
I Was Billed For My COVID-19 Vaccine. What Do I Do?
As previously established, you should not have to pay for any part of your COVID-19 vaccination. However, people still mention getting billed. So, how does that work?
More often than not, the patient gets billed for a service they acquired while getting a vaccination. You might have complained about a headache or weakness, which prompts your healthcare provider to change your medication, and that’s what you get billed for. However, due to it happening at the same time as the vaccine, you may assume you got billed for the vaccination.
If you’re absolutely certain that you didn’t get additional services and were billed after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, you can get in touch with our customer service team. We would gladly review your Medicare summary notice for you.
Have more questions about COVID-19 vaccinations and your insurance plan? Or simply want to avail insurance plans for seniors in MT? Get in touch with us at Just Ask Wendy and have all your queries answered!
