Identification and insurance for COVID-19 vaccine

Legal IDs, proof of citizenship, and insurance are not required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. However, we are encouraging patients to bring their ID and insurance to the vaccination appointment if they have them.

Providers should ask for a full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and gender so that the dose can be reported to the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) appropriately. Providers should never ask about immigration status when administering the COVID-19 vaccine.

If a patient is wondering why you are asking them for their insurance information, you can explain to them that this allows you to charge their insurance for the administration fee. Let them know that they will not receive a bill. And if they do, they do not need to pay it. If someone does not have insurance, you must still administer the COVID-19 vaccine. If they want to learn more, direct them to About COVID-19 Vaccine.

It is optimal, but not necessary, to have an ID from the patient for reimbursement from a third party or the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program. Do not turn away patients that do not have state-issued identification.

If you are collecting information at the time a person makes an appointment online, please make it clear that they can get vaccinated without insurance or an ID. Give clear instructions on how to make an appointment without these items.

COVID-19 vaccine is free for recipients

The federal government is providing the vaccine 100% free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.

There should not be a perceived requirement for insurance. All organizations and providers participating in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program:

• Must administer COVID-19 vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost to the recipient.

• May notdeny anyone vaccination based on the vaccine recipient’s coverage status or network status.

• May notcharge an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the sole medical service provided.

• May not require additional medical services to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

• May seek appropriate reimbursement from a program or plan that covers COVID-19 vaccine administration fees for the vaccine recipient, such as:

  • Vaccine recipient’s private insurance company.

  • Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.

  • Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program at COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured for noninsured vaccine recipients.

• May not seek any reimbursement, including through balance billing, from the vaccine recipient.

Any potential violations of these requirements will be reported to the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or at Submit a Hotline Complaint.

Medicare COVID-19 vaccine payment

On March 15, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Medicare payment rates for administering COVID-19 vaccination. Medicare will pay approximately $40 for each dose of COVID-19 vaccine; effective for services that occurred on or after March 15, 2021. For more information, refer to CMS: Medicare COVID-19 Vaccine Shot Payment. For additional information regarding vaccination program provider requirements and reimbursement for the uninsured, refer to CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Support.