People hoping to get the new coronavirus vaccine are worried about unexpectedly high bills for the federally recommended vaccine.
Customers who booked their jab appointments this week at pharmacies across the country, including Walgreens and CVS, were shocked to learn they were set to feel the added pinch of triple-digit booster surcharges.
“Nightmare is the first word that comes to mind.” Glen Court, Acton, Massachusetts told WBZ-TV After learning that a new booster would cost $190.99, he said,
it is complaint Dozens of social media users react after pharmacy taints patients everywhere from between Newer boosters cost $125 to $200.
Some pharmacists contact customers to warn them about eye-popping charges and encourage them to reschedule their appointments.
Some of the unexpected out-of-pocket costs are due to pharmacies competing for market share of new vaccines. The Albany Times Union reported..
Chains like CVS and Walgreens rushed to order the latest jabs. approved It was announced by the Food and Drug Administration last week before some insurance plans updated their systems to match the billing codes for the new shots.
A CVS spokesperson told WBZ, “Some payers are still updating their systems and may not yet be set up to cover updated COVID-19 vaccines.” .
With the federal government’s declaration of a public health emergency for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that ended earlier this year, the coronavirus vaccine is now available to everyone for free. According to , commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid insurance plans must cover the cost of vaccination at no out-of-pocket cost to patients. KFF.
People without health insurance can receive a free coronavirus vaccination through their local health center. State, local, tribal, or territorial health departments. or a pharmacy participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bridge Access Program; According to the federal agency.
The latest COVID shots were developed to protect recipients from the XBB variant and have been shown to offer some protection against other new variants as well. Last week, the CDC recommended that people 6 months and older: receive a booster This fall.
As cooler weather arrives, coronavirus cases are increasing across the country.
of state health department The number of coronavirus cases has shown a slow but steady rise in the five boroughs over the past few months, with around 650 people in hospital as of Friday, 63 of them in intensive care. Is receiving. This is an increase from a low of 150 people hospitalized at the end of June.
Hospital admissions this year peaked in early January, with about 1,950 people receiving treatment as inpatients.
