Florida Insurance Commissioner Encourages Health Insurers To Provide Free Swine Flu Vaccine Coverage
Oct 15, 2009
In a letter sent to the State’s health insurers, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has encourage them to provide their policyholders with free coverage of the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine, partially because of prior funding by the Federal Government that will otherwise cover the cost.
To view a copy of Commissioner McCarty’s letter to health insurers, click here.
A related press release from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is reprinted below.
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Florida Insurance Commissioner Announces Letter to Health Insurers and HMO’s Requesting Swine Flu Vaccine be Administered at No Charge
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today announced that he has issued a letter to health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMO’s) encouraging carriers to provide the H1N1 Swine flu vaccine free to its policyholders.
Additionally, the letter requests the companies’ assistance in helping the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and all other involved state and local agencies to protect our school children and Floridians of all ages from contracting the H1N1 Swine flu.
“I felt compelled to send this letter to the health insurers and HMO’s licensed to conduct business in Florida,” said Commissioner McCarty. “I am urging those companies to educate their policyholders on the symptoms of Swine flu, to offer toll-free Swine flu hotlines and to post Web site bulletins to educate their policyholders about this easily transmitted virus.”
Florida Statutes require coverage for child health supervision services and require that the services covered be exempt from any policy deductibles. The letter requests that the companies advise their agents, claim staff and consumer service staff of this required coverage when processing claims or responding to policyholder inquiries.
The FDOH provides updates and other information regarding the Swine flu on its Web site: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DEMO/php/FluInfo.htm.
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