America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the largest trade group representing the U.S. health insurers, has announced that its member organizations will continue to cover vaccines, including those targeting COVID and flu, according to CDC recommendations as of Sept. 1.
AHIP’s announcement came just days before the CDC’s reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is set to meet later this week to discuss, among other things, eligibility requirements for new COVID boosters.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 ACIP members in June, citing conflicts of interest and other concerns, and later handpicked 12 new members, many of whom have shown vaccine skepticism.
While the CDC advisory committees issue non-binding recommendations, the agency generally follows their input in issuing final healthcare guidelines, a major factor determining health insurers’ coverage decisions.
The FDA approved the vaccines developed by Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)/BioNTech (BNTX), Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), and Novavax (NVAX) last month for adults aged 65 and older and for at-risk individuals aged 6 months to 64 years, placing severe restrictions on who can get them.
“Health plans are committed to maintaining and ensuring affordable access to vaccines,” AHIP said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Health plans will continue to cover all ACIP-recommended immunizations that were recommended as of September 1, 2025, including updated formulations of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026,” the group added.
AHIP members include Humana (HUM), CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), Cigna (CI), Clover Health (CLOV), Alignment Healthcare (ALHC) , Centene (CNC), Molina Healthcare (MOH), Elevance Health (ELV) and Oscar Health (OSCR). UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH), the biggest health insurer in the U.S. is not a member of AHIP.