WellPoint's Health Plans to Provide First Dollar Coverage of H1N1 Vaccine for All Members
24 Septiembre 2009 - 3:54PM
PR Newswire (US)
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, influenza causes
illness, hospitalizations and deaths, and severely strains the
health care delivery system. This year, seasonal flu is complicated
by the emergence and rapid spread of the H1N1 virus. In an effort
to ensure that individuals and their families can take the
appropriate actions to help protect themselves against the H1N1
virus, WellPoint's affiliated health plans will cover the
administration of the H1N1 vaccine without co-pay or deductible for
all health plan members. Plans also 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," said Dr. Sam Nussbaum,
WellPoint's chief medical officer. "Our goal is to keep our plan
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." Since a
significant proportion of the vaccine is likely to be administered
through non-traditional providers such as pharmacies, retail
clinics and public health clinics, WellPoint's health plans are
currently working to complete agreements with these providers to
increase access to the H1N1 vaccine. In addition, the antiviral
medications Tamiflu and Relenza will move to an economical tier in
plan formularies. The CDC has recommended that certain populations
receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. Initial
prioritization includes pregnant women, people who live with or
care for children younger than six months of age, children and
young adults from 6 months to 24 years old, and people from 25
through 64 years old if they have chronic medical conditions that
increase their risk of complications from influenza infection. The
CDC also recommends people take common-sense steps like washing
your hands frequently; covering your mouth with your arm when you
cough and sneeze; and staying home when you are sick to help
protect others from the flu. The U.S. health care system has a
responsibility to achieve maximal vaccination and effective
treatment of H1N1 flu and its emerging risks, and we are eager to
do our part to be sure that populations at high risk are immunized
against this virus. About WellPoint, Inc. WellPoint works to
simplify the connection between Health, Care and Value. We help to
improve the health of our communities, deliver better care to
members, and provide greater value to our customers and
shareholders. WellPoint is the nation's largest health benefits
company, with more than 34 million members in its affiliated health
plans. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee
for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for
Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri
(excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New
Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10
New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue
Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate
counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia
suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare.
Additional information about WellPoint is available at
http://www.wellpoint.com/. DATASOURCE: WellPoint, Inc. CONTACT:
Media, Jill Becher, +1-262-523-4764, or Investor Relations, Michael
Kleinman, +1-317-488-6713 Web Site: http://www.wellpoint.com/
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