May 18, 2021
In some regions, America is reaching the COVID-19 vaccine wall as supply outpaces demand. So health insurance providers are helping improve vaccine uptake, according to a survey by America's Health Insurance Plans. Here’s how insurance providers have gotten involved:
- 98% have trained their care and disease managers to answer questions on vaccine availability, rules, and locations while 96% have trained customer service representatives
- 88% cover the full cost of vaccine administration
- 85% are working with state and local government leaders to ensure equity in vaccine strategies
- 83% are addressing vaccine hesitancy among their members
- 77% have provided transportation for members to get a vaccine when needed
- 77% are engaging with leaders in communities of color
- 73% have partnered with other stakeholders to optimize vaccine distribution. Stakeholders most frequently include state and local governments, community health centers, pharmacies, hospitals, and health systems
Seventy-nine percent of health insurance providers say phone calls have been most effective in engaging people 65 and over. Other effective tactics include community partnerships (48%), social media posts (42%), and email (33%)
Insurance providers say they face the following challenges:
- 85% addressing vaccine hesitancy
- 75% accessing scheduling systems
- 65% getting accurate information on which members have been vaccinated
- 63% getting information from the state government to support vaccination efforts