Buzz
COVID vaccines are completely free in the U.S. Period. The CDC has been abundantly clear on this, yet there are still occasional reports of individuals receiving unexpected bills for the vaccine or being charged for the 'administration' of the vaccine. Both of these practices are illegal. You are not required to pay, and you can report the incident.
What does 'free' mean?
According to the CDC:
The federal government is offering the vaccine at no charge to all individuals residing in the United States, irrespective of their immigration status or health insurance coverage.
If you have health insurance, the vaccine provider will file a claim with your insurance company. This is why they may request your insurance card when you schedule your appointment. However, if you lack insurance, the provider can request reimbursement from the federal government. You, the patient, should never receive a bill for the vaccine itself. (In addition, COVID tests are typically covered in the same manner.)
Additional charges are also prohibited
While the vaccine itself is free, the provider might try to inform you of a charge for administering it, or that you need to pay for an office visit or facility fee. This practice is also strictly banned. The CDC has made it clear that providers cannot:
Charge you for the vaccine
You must not charge any fees for administrative tasks, co-pays, or coinsurance directly to the individual.
Refuse to administer vaccinations to individuals without health insurance, those who are underinsured, or those out of network.
If the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccine, no office visit fee or other charge can be applied to the recipient.
Do not require additional healthcare services for someone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, though extra services can be provided during the same visit and billed appropriately.
If you come solely for the vaccine, you should not be charged for the visit, even if the provider is out of network, and no copay should be required.
(By the way, most insurance plans cover all recommended vaccines at no cost to you, even if you haven’t met your deductible yet.)
What should you do if you receive a bill?
First, confirm whether the document you received is an actual bill or just an explanation of benefits (EOB). An EOB is a communication from your health insurer outlining what they have paid for, and it will typically include a statement like “This is not a bill.”
If you’re genuinely being charged for the vaccine (or for an inappropriate fee), get in touch with the provider. If necessary, remind them of the CDC’s guidelines, and they should resolve the issue promptly.
If you have insurance, you can forward the bill to your insurer for reimbursement. In most cases, you shouldn’t need to do this because the provider should handle billing them directly. Reach out to your insurer for details on how to file a claim.
If all else fails and the provider continues to refuse, you can file a complaint with the HHS Office of the Inspector General by visiting tips.hhs.gov or calling the hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
