Bill locks in free vaccine coverage through 2029 under all major insurance types
In committeeH.R. 5448Latest action
Sponsor: Frank Pallone, Jr. · Representative · NJ
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Protecting Free Vaccines Act
119th Congress
Topics: Health care
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 5448 requires insurers to keep covering vaccines recommended as of Oct. 25, 2024 at no cost through Jan. 1, 2030.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 5448 requires health insurance plans to continue covering vaccines at no cost to patients through January 1, 2030. The bill locks in the vaccine recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as of October 25, 2024, meaning insurers cannot begin charging for those vaccines even if recommendations are later removed. The bill does not mandate vaccination and only governs what insurers must cover and what they may charge.
Who does it affect?
The bill affects nearly all Americans with health insurance, including children covered by the Children's Health Insurance Program, low-income adults on Medicaid, seniors on Medicare, and pregnant people on Medicaid. It applies to private insurance plans and employer-sponsored plans as well.
Why does it matter?
If federal health agencies remove vaccines from official recommended lists, insurers could under current law begin charging patients for those vaccines. This bill prevents that outcome for any vaccine that was covered free as of October 25, 2024, for the period through the end of 2029.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 18, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Sep 18, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.