Updated covid vaccines can be covered for uninsured by federal Bridge program

Uninsured individuals can get an updated covid vaccine at no cost through a new federal program.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bridge Access Program, a new public-private partnership, works to maintain access by providing free covid vaccines to adults who are underinsured or uninsured.

Covid vaccines were free to all during the public health emergency, but as of Sept. 21, the U.S. government no longer purchases covid vaccines, and updated 2023–24 covid vaccines are now available for private purchase in the commercial marketplace.

Most private insurance companies, along with Medicare and Medicaid, will now cover the cost of getting the shot. For people without insurance or whose insurance does not cover all covid vaccine costs, the Bridge program provides a route to protection.

The program was initially announced in April. In a statement, the CDC explained the more than $1 billion program will provide coverage for an estimated 25 million to 30 million adults who would have otherwise lost free access to the vaccine.

Many children who lack insurance also can access vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. According to the CDC, eligible kids must be younger than 19 years of age, and either Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native to participate in the program. The Vaccines for Children program has existed since 1994.

“We have more tools than ever to protect against serious covid disease and death, but we must make sure everyone has equitable access to those tools,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement. “(The Bridge Access Program) provides free covid vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults at pharmacies, health centers and health departments around the country.”

How to access the program

The Bridge Access Program is valid until December 2024, according to the CDC. A longer-term solution, the Vaccines for Adults program, was proposed by the Biden administration but has not been enacted into law.

People seeking covid vaccines who don’t have insurance can go to vaccines.gov and use the online tool to search for covid-19 vaccine providers that accept the Bridge program.

In Western Pennsylvania, those locations include CVS and Walgreens pharmacies, two of the companies working with the federal government to help facilitate the Bridge program.

A CVS spokesperson confirmed that all of the chain’s more than 9,000 pharmacy locations are participating in the program.

“Uninsured patients don’t need to do anything, other than make an appointment or walk in and request a vaccination,” said CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault. “The pharmacy team will confirm they are eligible based on their insurance status.”

Scheduling for vaccine appointments may vary based on which pharmacy locations have vaccines available, she noted.

“We’re receiving updated covid-19 vaccines from suppliers on a rolling basis and most of our locations can honor scheduled appointments. However, due to delivery delays, some appointments may be rescheduled,” Thibault said. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and will continue to offer additional appointments at those locations as supply is received.”

A CDC page confirms there is no enrollment process for the program.

“The burden of patient eligibility verification will be on our health care systems, not on patients,” the CDC says. “There is no enrollment process for eligible adults to get no-cost covid-19 vaccines through the Bridge Access Program. Providers will ask patients whether they have health insurance at the point of care to determine eligibility.”

Getting an updated covid vaccine can help protect from serious disease, hospitalization and death, especially from newer variants. While two additional spinoffs of the omicron variant — BA.2.86 and EG.5 — are spreading in the U.S., the FDA notes the new vaccines “are expected to provide good protection against covid-19 from the currently circulating variants.”

A Pennsylvania Department of Health spokesperson noted that the vaccine is available from local providers, select pharmacies, local health departments, state health centers and federally qualified health centers.

The Allegheny County Health Department is participating in the Bridge Program, said Patrick Dowd, acting director of the Allegheny County Health Department, in a statement. The clinic is on the fourth floor of 425 First Ave with an entrance on Cherry Way, and appointments can be made by calling 412-578-8062 once the vaccine is available.

“The ACHD clinic anticipates receiving and administering the vaccine to those with and without insurance beginning in early October, and will publicly announce when those vaccines are available,” he said.