WellPoint to cover H1N1 vaccine in health plans

INDIANAPOLIS A health insurance company plans to cover administration of the A(H1N1) swine flu vaccine once it becomes available.

WellPoint announced that its affiliated health plans would cover the administration of the vaccine without deductibles or co-pays for all health plan members, and plans are encouraging self-insured employers to cover the cost of the vaccination for their employees.

“At WellPoint, our priority is to ensure that our actions and communications support public health,” chief medical officer Sam Nussbaum said in a statement. “Our goal is to keep our plan members as health as possible.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending the vaccine for certain populations. Populatiosn expected to receive priority include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months, children and adults aged 6 months to 24 years old and adults aged 25 and older who have certain chronic medical conditions.