[UCRDBR] UC Health Plans Response to COVID-19 Vaccinations

[Departmental Benefits Representatives]

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January 6, 2021

To:          Department Benefits Representatives (DBRs)
From:      HR Benefits Office
Re:          UC Health Plans Response to COVID-19 Vaccinations
Because of at least two vaccines that have been granted emergency approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), questions have arisen about the cost, safety and availability of vaccinations. The following UC Health Plan providers have provided responses to some of those questions:

Anthem

The following information is available to its members on the Anthem Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center webpage<https://www.anthem.com/coronavirus/>:


*       Anthem members will receive the COVID-19 vaccination at no cost - Anthem will cover the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine. Anthem members will not have out-of-pocket costs for the vaccine during this national public health emergency. This applies to all members, regardless of the type of health plan they have, or which doctor or healthcare professional they choose to visit for a COVID-19 vaccination.

*       The vaccine will be safe and effective - The FDA only approves vaccines that are safe and effective. The FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and vaccine manufacturers continuously monitor vaccine safety and quality.

*       Distribution will take time - Currently the CDC recommends that healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes and long-term-care facilities be the first Americans to receive the vaccine. Vaccination should be more widely available in mid-2021. Anthem will keep its members updated.

Health Net

Health Net continues to provide updates on all Health Net websites with a "Coronavirus Alerts for Members" section<https://uc.healthnetcalifornia.com/important-updates.html>.

Kaiser Permanente

The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Pfizer, allowing distribution of its new vaccine for COVID-19. When a COVID-19 vaccine receives an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, that vaccine will also be released with safety and efficacy data that will be closely reviewed by Kaiser Permanente's infectious disease and other clinical experts, along with state and federal public health officials.

What comes next

*       States will receive limited quantities of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and will make them available to approved vaccine providers.

*       Kaiser Permanente has been approved as a vaccine provider in every market where they operate. COVID-19 vaccines will be arriving in the next few days at multiple Kaiser Permanente locations.

*       As an approved provider, Kaiser Permanente will administer initial vaccines to the populations prioritized by state health departments and CDC guidance, regardless of health plan membership.

*       Federal officials have announced that health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities should be prioritized for the first vaccinations.

*       There will be a limited supply available when the first vaccine is approved. Kaiser Permanente will offer it to those who meet the criteria in each phase of the prioritization process.

*       Kaiser Permanente will not charge members for the vaccine. Vaccine doses purchased with taxpayer dollars are required by the federal government to be given at no cost.

*       Vaccine supply will increase over time, and all adults should be able to be vaccinated later in 2021.

*       Updates are available on kp.org<https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/front-door> and other communication channels with information about how members can receive a vaccination as it becomes available.

Vaccine distribution prioritization approach

*       Vaccine distribution will be conducted in a phased approach given the limited supply. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released an interim recommendation<https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6949e1.htm> for the highest priority group (Phase 1a) to include health care workers and long-term care residents though state governments are issuing final recommendations. To determine which members are included in Phase 1a, please see the California<https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/CDPH-Allocation-Guidelines-for-COVID-19-Vaccine-During-Phase-1A-Recommendations.aspx> guidelines.

*       Employees in Phase 1a can get the vaccine from any facility that has been approved as a COVID-19 vaccine provider by its state department of health. Specific locations will be available on vaccinefinder.org<https://vaccinefinder.org/> as the information is known.

Answers to your COVID-19 vaccine questions

To hear the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines, in English and Spanish, call (855) 550-0951 (TTY 711), anytime, day or night. You can also visit their FAQ page on kp.org<https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/covid-vaccine>.

Employees are encouraged to register with their medical plan online as this is where they will find the latest COVID-19 information. The following links will direct employees to the registration websites of the UC medical plans:


*       Anthem Blue Cross: https://www.anthem.com/ca/register/

*       Health Net: https://www.healthnet.com/hnsecurity/member/regForm.ndo

*       Kaiser Permanente: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/register


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