COVID-19 Vaccine Information Relating to Employee Benefits

The FDA’s Approval Of Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine On December 11 Will Prompt The First Wave Of Expedited Dose Distribution To The Nation’s Most Vulnerable Populations.

How This Information Will Relate to Local Allocation & Employee Benefits

Which individuals will receive the vaccine first in Missouri and Illinois?

Phase 1

Healthcare Workers, Essential Workers and High Risk Populations

Phase 2

Non-vaccinated individuals in Phase 1 following some Missouri and Illinois Residents

Phase 3

Mass availability to all Missouri and Illinois Residents (2021)

More detailed information about the phases in Missouri and facts about the vaccine can be found here

More detailed information about the phases in Illinois and facts about the vaccine can be found here

Who will cover the cost when the vaccine becomes widely available?

Since the government purchased the vaccine, there should be no cost to the vaccine itself. However, an employer’s health insurance plan will be responsible for covering any fees associated with administering the vaccine. Under provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, members of employer-sponsored health plans will not be subject to any cost share associated with receiving the vaccine. This provision is only applicable after the The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expedited 15 day minimum “interval period”, a time frame usually lasting one year.

Can employees who waived coverage in 2020 and or 2021 receive the vaccine at no cost?

Uninsured employees cannot be covered under health insurance they’ve previously waived, but will not be charged for the vaccine due to government funding. The government has also stated that uninsured individuals will not be subject to fees associated with administering the vaccine, but that will depend on where they seek the vaccine and the state of the Provider Relief Fund.

More detailed information on the Provider Relief Fund can be found here

Updates on where Missouri and Illinois residents should go to receive the vaccine will be relayed when that information becomes available.