Stand up for seniors’ vaccine access

No one should go without a vaccine because of cost, especially seniors.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made all too clear, seniors are vulnerable when they are not fully vaccinated.

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases estimates that even before the pandemic, more than 50,000 adults died annually from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Older adults and people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases are most at risk and critically need access to life-saving vaccines.

The problem

Medicare Part B covers some vaccines for seniors at no cost, like for the flu and pneumonia. However, other essential vaccines that prevent diseases like shingles, tetanus and other are covered under the prescription drug benefit known as Medicare Part D.

In Medicare Part D, patients often face out-of-pocket costs for their deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance to access recommended vaccines. The higher the out-of-pocket cost, the more likely a person will go without their vaccinations.

Too many seniors are forgoing the protection of vaccines because of this financial barrier. For many, vaccine out-of-pocket costs are simply unaffordable.

That’s why the PAN Foundation supports the bipartisan Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021 (H.R. 1978/S. 912). The bill will also improves education and access to recommended vaccines for Medicare beneficiaries and increase vaccination rates.

Use our form to let your members of Congress know that vaccine affordability is important to you and to support this critical legislation.

Policy solutions

Access to vaccines is critical for the 46 million people who rely on Medicare Part D for their health coverage. The PAN Foundation supports the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021 (H.R. 1978/S. 912) to:

Eliminate cost-sharing for vaccines covered by Medicare Part D to ensure equitable access to these life-saving preventive treatments.
Launch an educational campaign to inform seniors about their vaccine coverage.

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