Vaccine Cost

Public health clinics that operate by, or on behalf of, a state or local health jurisdiction and that receive special funding from the federal government
- may not charge patients for the H1N1 flu vaccine itself, and
- may not charge patients a co-pay or other out-of-pocket charge.
Private providers may collect copayments and other charges from patients who are insured in order to cover the costs of administering the vaccine.
Private providers who receive special federal funding should not charge uninsured or under-insured patients a vaccine administration fee.
Private providers who receive special federal funding and that are operating on behalf of a state or local health jurisdiction, are not allowed to collect copayments or other out-of-pocket charges from any patients, whether or not they are insured.

For this upcoming flu season, Medicare will reimburse Medicare beneficiaries, up to the fee schedule amount, for the administration of H1N1 influenza vaccine when furnished by a provider not enrolled in Medicare.
Beneficiaries must submit a Form CMS-1490S to their local Medicare contractor. Medicare will reimburse beneficiaries for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine, but not the H1N1 vaccine itself because the H1N1 vaccine will be furnished at no cost to all providers. Medicare beneficiaries may not be charged any amount for the H1N1 vaccine itself.
Medicare will pay for seasonal flu vaccinations even if the vaccinations are rendered earlier in the year than normal.

Medicaid and CHIP will cover both a single dose of the seasonal flu vaccine and one or more doses of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, if more than one dose is needed. Talk to your doctor to find out how many doses you will need.
Children and pregnant women will get the vaccine free of charge. Adults are covered if they get the vaccine at a public health department, physician office, Federally-qualified health center, or rural health clinic, but they may have to pay a small copayment.