Vaccine situation will be complicated this year, experts warn

The ongoing drama in Washington over changes to national vaccine policy has many people wondering just how difficult and expensive it will be to get flu and coronavirus shots this fall. While experts say that the situation is still uncertain, the biggest changes are likely to impact healthy adults under age 65 who are covered by Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, the federal health coverage of last resort for more than 70 million Americans, nearly | million of whom live in San Diego County.

- Paul Sisson, Tribune News Service

Those who are covered by private health insurance plans from their employers or purchased through health insurance exchanges suchas Covered Californiaarelikely tosee significantly fewerimpacts, because mostcarriershave signaled that they intend to continue providing their members with COVID-I9 vaccines at no additional cost, even if anticipated changes at the federal level end up removing their obligation todo sounder the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

“Vaccination continues to be one of the safest and most effective ways to protect against ill ness and reduces the severity of your illness if you do get sick,” Kaiser Permanente said in a statement. “Vaccinations mean fewer sick days, hospital stays, emergency room visits and other health complications.

“Aspart of ourcommitmentto preventive care, Kaiser Permanente will continue to offer no-cost coverage for flu, COVID-I9, and RSV vaccines to ‘our members. This aligns with the latest evidence as wellas the actions of other leading health care organizations across the country, including AHIP and the American Medical Association.” Indeed, AHIP, a trade group that represents American health insurance companies, issued a statement on June 24indicating that its members “are com-mittedto ongoing coverage of vaccines to ensure access and affordability for this respiratory virus season.” But the situation is much less certain for Medi-Cal enrollees. The California Department of Health Care Services, which runs Medi-Cal, confirmed in an email last week that children and young adults are in the clear because the state’s vaccination rules are different from those that govern adults.