US expects insurers to cover COVID vaccine without copays

 U.S. officials say y expect health insurance companies will cover vaccines for COVID-19 without charging copays, once those vaccines are developed and become available.

At a briefing for reporters Tuesday, a senior Trump ministration official said government has been talking with insurers about offering vaccines at cost to patients. industry earlier me a similar commitment to cover testing for coronavirus without charging copays.

White House has launched an initiative to quickly manufacture millions of doses of COVID vaccines, once Food and Drug ministration approves one or more formulations. Candidate vaccines are in early trials, and goal — considered ambitious — is to have 300 million doses by early next year.

Senior ministration officials provided an overview of that effort on Tuesday on condition that y t be publicly identified. White House initiative, dubbed Operation Warp Speed, is a joint project of Department of Health and Human Services and Pentagon, under overall direction of HHS.

Insurers generally have a strong financial interest in covering vaccines, seeing m as a win-win. Vaccination helps insurers' customers stay healthy, and preventing disease saves companies money.

In case of preventive services, it goes beyond financial incentives. Insurers are also required by Affordable Care Act to provide cover at charge to patients. A range of screening tests, immunizations and birth control for women are alrey covered under Obama-era law. President Donald Trump is still pressing to overturn “Obamacare” as unconstitutional.