Updated COVID-19 vaccines are coming this fall. Will insurance cover them?
Updated COVID-19 vaccines were approved by the FDA.
With cold and flu season approaching, public health specialists are warning that COVID-19 is still circulating.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday and are expected to become available across the U.S. this fall.
But with changes to vaccine recommendations and eligibility, questions remain about how the shots will be covered.
What are insurers saying?
Health insurance plans are expected to cover updated COVID-19 vaccines this season, according to AHIP, the trade association representing U.S. health insurance providers.
In a statement to ABC News, AHIP confirmed that its members plan to cover the vaccines for the 2026-27 season, in line with a commitment the group made last year.
In September 2025, AHIP said its member health plans would continue covering all vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with no cost-sharing through the end of 2027.
The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover vaccines recommended by ACIP, which votes on recommendations for how vaccines should be used after they are approved by the FDA, followed by sign-off from the CDC director.
The committee has undergone significant changes since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 of its previous members in June 2025 and replaced them with new appointees. Earlier this year, a federal judge stayed Kennedy's appointments to the panel.
AHIP said coverage decisions are also based on each health plan's review of scientific and clinical evidence, as well as federal and state laws.
What if you don't have insurance?
People without health insurance may still be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for free.
The HHS says uninsured adults may be able to find free COVID-19 vaccines through their state or local health departments.
For children, the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost to eligible children, including those who are uninsured or Medicaid-eligible.
The program automatically covers vaccines recommended by the ACIP and approved by the CDC.
What should you know before getting your COVID-19 vaccine?
Moderna and Pfizer received FDA approval for their updated mRNA vaccines on Thursday. Sanofi also received approval for a protein-based shot.
All the updated vaccines are approved for those aged 65 and older.
Moderna's Spikevax is approved for people ages 6 months through 64 who have an underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19.
Moderna's mNEXSPIKE is a newer mRNA vaccine that targets two specific parts of the spike protein, which the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 uses to attach and infect human cells.
It uses a lower dose of mRNA than Spikevax and is approved for people ages 12 through 64 who have an underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19.
Pfizer's Comirnaty is approved for people ages 5 through 64 with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19.
Sanofi's Nuvaxovid is approved for people ages 12 through 64 with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19.
Underlying conditions that contribute to higher risk of severe COVID-19 include but are not limited to cancer, asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart conditions, mental health conditions and pregnancy.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has issued its own recommendations amid changes to the federal vaccine recommendation process. AAFP recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all adults ages 19 and older.
The group notes vaccination is especially important for people ages 65 and older, those at increased risk for severe COVID-19 and those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.
The group also recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all children ages 6 months through 23 months and a risk-based approach for children and teens ages 2 through 18. COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended during any trimester of pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Other vaccines you may consider getting this season
In addition to updated COVID-19 vaccines, public health specialists are recommending people stay up to date on influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.
"Recommending and delivering all three seasonal vaccines early this fall remains our single most effective defense against preventable hospitalizations, critical illness, and death," said Dr. Ronald Nahas, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, during a briefing on Tuesday.
The AAFP recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. Adults ages 65 and older should preferably receive a flu vaccine designed to produce a stronger immune response, such as a high-dose or adjuvanted vaccine, when available.
For RSV, the CDC recommends a one-time vaccine for all adults ages 75 and older and adults ages 50 through 74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV illness.
Infants who are not protected through maternal vaccination are recommended by the CDC to receive a long-acting RSV antibody, nirsevimab or clesrovimab. Children ages 8 through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and are entering their second RSV season are recommended to receive nirsevimab.
Pregnant people are advised to receive Pfizer's RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy during September through January by the CDC. The AAFP recommends extending this window through March.