If the CDC implements its anticipated changes to vaccine recommendations, insurers may choose to no longer cover these vaccines. Insurers are required to make vaccines free if they are recommended by the CDC. Today, a major health insurer group, AHIP, pledged to continue coverage for vaccines through 2026 even if CDC recommendations change this month. AHIP is a trade group representing many of the country’s largest health insurance companies, including Aetna, Elevance, Centene, Humana, Molina, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna and more than a dozen Blues plans. Together these plans cover more than 200 million Americans. According to ACIP AHIP, their member plans will continue to provide coverage, with no cost to the patient, for all vaccines recommended by ACIP (the CDC’s independent vaccine advisory committee) as of September 1, 2025, through 2026.
UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the US, does not belong to AHIP. UnitedHealthcare “did not immediately respond when asked about its vaccine coverage plans” by STAT News.
