For Washington residents who have made it through the hurdle of COVID-19 vaccine prioritization, there may be another question looming: what will it cost? The good news is that under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the CARES Act, and related federal guidance, the vaccine should be available at no charge to all Washington residents. More specifically: 

• The federal government has purchased and is working through states to distribute hundreds of millions of vaccines to providers at no cost. 
• In turn, providers may not charge patients for the vaccine. While providers may charge for the cost of administering the vaccine, federal guidance requires private insurers and public plans to cover administration costs during the federally-declared public health emergency. 
• Similarly, uninsured residents should not be charged for the vaccine or administration because providers can submit for reimbursement through the Provider Relief Fund. 

Despite these strong cost-sharing protections, NoHLA will monitor for limitations and gaps in the protections that may need to be addressed in the state’s vaccine distribution planning. For example, we are concerned that Washington residents may receive inappropriate vaccine-related bills if: (1) providers attempt to charge a facility fee in addition to the administration fee, (2) providers engage in other medical care during the course of the vaccine visit, (3) residents have plans that are not subject to regulations, or (4) the vaccine administration stretches past the Public Health Emergency. Please contact emily@nohla.org if you are aware of such concerns.

–Emily Brice, NoHLA Senior Attorney & Policy Advisor