Posted on October 24, 2022 by Larry Johnson
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Posted on October 24, 2022 by Larry Johnson
Medicare News: Medicare Now Provides No-Cost COVID-19 Vaccines for Omicron Variant
Want more info on the latest Medicare news regarding Omicron vaccine coverage? Give our licensed agents a call today at (800) 950-0608 to learn more about coverage options.
After a long two years, COVID-19 finally seems like less of a threat than ever. Cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities continue to drop on a daily basis. Thanks to preventive measures and advances in medical science, it would seem that the illness is slowly beginning to lose its bite.
Much of the positive effort to control the illness can be attributed to two things:
The COVID vaccine and the COVID booster, much like influenza vaccines, are going to be a very important part of life moving forward. Though the virus is largely controlled at this point, that makes it no less contagious or dangerous to sensitive populations. That includes senior citizens.
Part of what makes the virus so dangerous is the rise of different variants, including the most recent Omicron variant. A vaccine for the Omicron variant recently began making its way to providers, who deliver it as a COVID booster for patients who are already vaccinated against the virus. For low-income individuals, such as seniors on fixed incomes who are covered by Medicare, free COVID vaccines against the Omicron variant are available.
At MedicareInsurance.com, it’s our mission to keep you up-to-date on Medicare news. One of the most recent Medicare news headlines involves CMS’ decision to make updated COVID vaccines that protect against the Omicron variant available at no cost to Medicare beneficiaries. Let’s dive a little deeper into this new development.
As of the writing of this article, there have been no less than 5 COVID-19 variants that have made their way through the United States. Those variants include:
While Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta have largely come and gone, Omicron remains a variant of concern across the world. This is largely due to the fact that Omicron has yet to fade after originating in South Africa in November 2021. Each variant has had its own COVID booster to complement the COVID vaccine, save for Omicron.
That is, the COVID vaccine hasn’t provided adequate protection against the Omicron variant until now. Recent advancements in vaccine development have yielded a COVID vaccine and COVID booster that protects against the Omicron variant. As this vaccine makes its way to healthcare providers across the country, Americans, including those considered most vulnerable to the effects of the virus, are encouraged to get a dose of the updated COVID vaccine.
Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable to the most dangerous effects of the COVID-19 virus. That’s why it’s important for those of you who are seniors to get the most updated version of the COVID vaccine and COVID booster. One thing that may be holding you back is worrying about the potential cost.
In the recent past, the COVID vaccine has been available at no cost for anyone looking to get one. This includes senior citizens who are beneficiaries of Medicare plans. In fact, free COVID-19 vaccines are available for all for as long as the federal government continues to purchase and distribute them.
On September 12, CMS made Medicare news headlines by announcing that updated COVID vaccines protecting against the Omicron variant would continue to be available at no cost for Medicare beneficiaries. The length of the benefit is still contingent on the federal government purchasing and distributing the COVID vaccine and the COVID booster.
It’s very important for Medicare beneficiaries to keep up with the latest in Medicare news. Medicare is a program that’s constantly evolving, often for the better of beneficiaries. By keeping an eye on Medicare news regularly, you’ll be in the know when it comes to latest CMS developments, including today’s news on free COVID-19 vaccines.
You can follow the latest in Medicare news on a regular basis here on MedicareInsurance.com. Of course, if you have any questions regarding programs and benefits discussed in Medicare news articles, our licensed agents are here to help. Give them a call today at (800) 950-0608 with any questions you may have.
Larry Johnson
Larry is a content writer with several years of experience in creating informative content for a variety of industries on topics that matter. He is a 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.