Today, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is announcing that the HRSA COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured (Uninsured Program) has paid over 5 million claims to health care providers for administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured individuals.
"We know that Black, Latino, and Native American people are more likely to be uninsured. The Uninsured Program is a key tool for ensuring everyone has access to COVID-19 vaccines and that cost is not a barrier for individuals or health care providers," said Acting HRSA Administrator Diana Espinosa. "Regardless of insurance or citizenship status, we want everyone living in the United States to be able to get vaccinated as soon as possible so we can defeat this pandemic."
This important milestone reflects the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. There are approximately 29 million uninsured individuals living in the United States. Communities of color have been especially hard-hit by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic downturn.
The Uninsured Program allows anyone without health insurance, no matter their immigration status, to receive their COVID-19 vaccines for free by reimbursing providers for the cost of administering the vaccine. The program also covers COVID-19 testing and treatment claims for individuals without health insurance. HRSA also recently launched the COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund, which covers the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to underinsured patients – those enrolled in health plans that either do not cover vaccination fees or cover them with patient cost-sharing.
Learn more about the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program.