Protecting Free Vaccines Act

This bill mandates comprehensive coverage for specific immunizations across various health programs and plans, including group health plans , health insurance coverage , Medicare , Medicaid , and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) . A central provision requires these entities to cover immunizations that had an active recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as of October 25, 2024, without imposing any cost-sharing requirements . This ensures individuals can access these vaccines without financial barriers. The coverage mandate is effective for plan years occurring during or after the bill's enactment and extends until January 1, 2030 . Crucially, the legislation includes provisions to maintain coverage for these specific vaccines even if ACIP recommendations are later revoked or changed after the October 25, 2024, baseline date. This ensures continued access to these established vaccines for beneficiaries under programs like Medicare Part D and Medicaid. For Medicaid , the bill explicitly ensures coverage for pregnant individuals and pediatric vaccines, preventing states from removing these from benchmark benefit packages. Similarly, CHIP is required to cover these ACIP-recommended vaccines for targeted low-income children until December 31, 2029. The bill also clarifies that coverage does not apply if an immunization is administered outside of established minimum intervals.