News from ACCG’s Health Program:

Blue Cross Blue Shield to Cover H1N1 Vaccine

ACCG’s health program partner, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGA), will add coverage of the H1N1 (swine flu) flu vaccine to those health plans that currently offer vaccine coverage. 

Vaccine benefits vary depending on the plan coverage selected by each county.  Policyholders can find out if they have benefits for vaccines by calling the toll-free telephone number on their insurance identification cards.

BCBSGA elected to cover H1N1 vaccines as a result of the formal recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to prioritize administering the vaccine to these groups:

·         pregnant women

·         people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age

·         health-care and emergency services personnel

·         children and young adults from 6 months old 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 advises that people should get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available. The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against novel H1N1 influenza.

Likewise, the H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.

The CDC expects the H1N1 vaccine to begin shipping to hospitals and doctor’s offices in mid-October and encourages people to watch for announcements of its availability.

If you have questions on the H1N1 swine flu vaccine, or the seasonal flu vaccine, you should call the toll-free Customer Service number on your BCBSG insurance card.

 

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