The insurance trade group made the announcement this week ahead of a federal vaccine policy committee meeting set to make recommendations about vaccines.
AHIP, a national trade association that represents approximately 1,300 members that provide health benefits to more than 200 million Americans, said that health plans will continue to cover all of the vaccine panel's recommended immunizations as of Sept. 1, 2025. The coverage includes updated formulations of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026.
“Health plans are committed to maintaining and ensuring affordable access to vaccines. Health plan coverage decisions for immunizations are grounded in each plan’s ongoing, rigorous review of scientific and clinical evidence and continual evaluation of multiple sources of data,” the organization said.
The announcement comes as new members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are set to meet today and on Friday and make recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the measles, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 vaccines.
The panel plays a key role in shaping U.S. vaccine policy, and most payers are required to cover recommended vaccines at no cost. Some public health experts are concerned about changes that the panel may make to the vaccine schedule without scientific evidence because most of the new members appointed to the panel are not experts in immunology and vaccinology. On Wednesday, former CDC director Susan Monarez, Ph.D., testified before a Senate panel that she was terminated from the position after refusing to preapprove vaccine recommendations made by the panel.
“While health plans continue to operate in an environment shaped by federal and state laws, as well as program and customer requirements, the evidence-based approach to coverage of immunizations will remain consistent,” AHIP said in a statement.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies also posted a statement that they will continue to cover vaccines at no cost through 2026 for immunizations that were recommended by ACIP on January 1. The companies are committed to ensuring access to vaccines that protect individuals and communities from serious illness, the statement said.
“The decision to receive a vaccine is made between patients and their health care providers, and we remain committed to maintaining rigorous, evidence-based processes to evaluate coverage policies,” Blue Cross and Blue Shield said.