Protecting Free Vaccines Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pallone
Introduced
Summary
Requires free coverage for ACIP-recommended vaccines across private plans and federal programs. This bill would require immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as of October 25, 2024, and FDA-approved updates to be covered without cost-sharing through plan years ending before January 1, 2030.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Medicaid and CHIP would cover vaccines and their administration through December 31, 2029. States could not remove pediatric vaccines that were on the recommended list on October 25, 2024.
- Workers and people with private insurance: Group health plans and individual market coverage would have to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines with no copays or deductibles during the enactment window. The cost-sharing ban would not apply if a vaccine is given within the minimum interval set by law.
- Seniors and Medicare enrollees: Medicare would preserve the most recent ACIP recommendation in effect before any later revocation so beneficiaries keep access during the same coverage window. States using benchmark or benchmark-like plans must include adult ACIP-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Free vaccines in Medicaid and CHIP
If enacted, Medicaid would cover ACIP‑recommended vaccines from October 25, 2024 and their administration from enactment through December 31, 2029. This would include vaccines for pregnant individuals and updated versions approved by FDA supplement. States using benchmark Medicaid plans would need to include adult vaccines and could not charge any cost sharing for them. CHIP would also need to cover these vaccines and their administration for targeted low‑income children through December 31, 2029. Medicaid could not treat a later removal of a child vaccine recommendation as ending coverage for vaccines that were recommended on October 25, 2024 during this period.
Medicare keeps vaccine coverage after changes
If enacted, Medicare drug coverage would keep using the last ACIP vaccine advice for coverage if that advice is later revoked on or after October 25, 2024. This would apply for plan years from enactment through before January 1, 2030. Updated vaccine versions approved by an FDA supplement would be included.
No-cost vaccines in private plans
If enacted, group and individual health plans would need to cover ACIP‑recommended vaccines from October 25, 2024 without cost sharing. This would also apply to updated versions of those vaccines if FDA approves a supplement to the vaccine’s license. The rule would run for plan years starting on or after enactment and before January 1, 2030. Marketplace plans would have to follow this rule too. The no‑cost rule would not apply if a dose is given sooner than the recommended minimum interval.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pallone
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 11/21/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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