Kennedy's reconstituted ACIP votes to shift COVID guidance and reworks child vaccine recommendations

Email Template: Contact Your Health Insurer About COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage

Subject: Inquiry About COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage Under New ACIP Shared Decision-Making Guidance

To: [Your health insurance company customer service] From: [Your name and member ID]

Email:

I am writing to inquire about how [Insurance Company Name] will handle COVID-19 vaccine coverage following the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vote on Sep. 18-19, 2025.

Background: The reconstituted ACIP voted unanimously to recommend COVID-19 vaccination be based on shared clinical decision-making for everyone six months and older, rather than a universal recommendation. The committee also voted to stop recommending the combined MMRV shot for children under 4.

Specific questions:

1. Will [Insurance Company Name] continue to cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to members under the new shared decision-making framework?
2. Will coverage continue through 2026 and beyond, or is there a planned end date?
3. How will the MMRV coverage change affect children under 4 who need measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines?
4. Will members need prior authorization for COVID-19 vaccines under the new guidance?

Why this matters: These changes could affect my family's access to vaccines and our out-of-pocket costs. I want to understand how [Insurance Company Name] will implement these ACIP recommendations.

Request: Please provide written confirmation of your COVID-19 vaccine coverage policy under the new ACIP guidance, including any changes to cost-sharing or prior authorization requirements.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[Your name] [Member ID] [Phone number]