Swine flu vaccine covered-no co-pays or deductibles
Aetna and United HealthCare are the first two insurance companies offering swine flu vaccines to its members—for no co-pay, co-insurance or deductible. Given the critical importance of curtailing the spread of this flu, other insurers are expected to soon follow suit. Both Aetna and United Healthcare will cover the administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine for all fully-insured medical plan members, including those whose plans either don’t offer or limit coverage for preventive care.

The federal government has purchased 200 million doses of the vaccine, which will be available as a nasal spray and as a traditional needle vaccination later in October.

Encourage workers to get vaccinesThe Stratford Financial Group urges all employers to let their workers know about this opportunity to avoid contracting the swine flu. It’s another way to help keep your workers healthy and reduce health care costs. Plus, it can enhance your reputation as an owner or executive who cares about the well-being of your people.

Swine flu vaccinations are most important for employees and family members who fall into any of these high-risk categories:

Children six months and older

Young adults up to age 24

Pregnant women

Those under 65 with health conditions that produce higher risks of complications from influenza

More information
For information on protecting against the swine flu, see the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. To find out how swine flu vaccinations and other preventive measures can help reduce your healthcare costs, call Stratford at 973.890.8830 www.stratfordlink.com.