Florida vaccine update: advocates fear coverage gaps, but insurers pledge payments will continue

With the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis moving to eliminate vaccine mandates from Florida statutes, rules, and regulations, some health care advocates worry that costs of vaccines won't be covered for patients.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health continues to keep quiet about whether it will hold a public hearing on a proposal to remove vaccination requirements for public and private school grades kindergarten through 12, day care centers, and adult education courses.

The issue of vaccines and insurance coverage was broached during a Florida Voices for Health statewide advocacy virtual meeting Wednesday. A coalition of community organizations, businesses, and individuals, Florida Voices for Health works to expand availability of health care services.

"What I am noticing as a consumer in both transgender prescriptions and in advocacy for people with disabilities, like, major life-preserving medications are being withheld just on the suggestion of executive orders," one participant said. "And the issue is insurance carriers. It doesn't even need to be in law for them to save money and not pay for things."

AHIP — the national health insurance industry trade association — though, says insurers won't halt payments for vaccinations any time soon.

"Health plans are committed to maintaining and ensuring affordable access to vaccines. Health plan coverage decisions for immunizations are grounded in each plan's ongoing, rigorous review of scientific and clinical evidence, and continual evaluation of multiple sources of data," the organization said in a written statement.

"Health plans will continue to cover all (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) ACIP-recommended immunizations that were recommended as of September 1, 2025, including updated formulations of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026.

"While health plans continue to operate in an environment shaped by federal and state laws, as well as program and customer requirements, the evidence-based approach to coverage of immunizations will remain consistent."

Disappearing mandate?

The DeSantis administration made national headlines earlier this month when state Surgeon General and Department of Health Secretary Joseph Ladapo said he'd like to eliminate all vaccine mandates from Florida statutes and rules, a move that could affect schoolchildren but also college students and even nursing home residents. Ladapo said at the time that mandates drip "with disdain and slavery."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website says that "vaccines can prevent infectious diseases that once killed or harmed many infants, children, and adults." It also says, "The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children. The only exceptions to this are cases in which a child has a serious chronic medical condition like cancer or a disease that weakens the immune system, or has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous vaccine dose."

The Florida Phoenix asked the DOH Tuesday whether it will hold a public meeting on its proposed rule change regarding vaccines. The DOH announced last week that it was updating its immunization requirements and forms for childcare and school admission, plus opt-out provisions, in the Florida Administrative Register.

The Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians have asked the DOH to hold a meeting on its proposed new rules but the department hasn't formally announced whether it intends to do so. Ladapo isn't required to hold a public meeting if he deems it unnecessary.

Regardless, the Florida Board of Pharmacy appears poised to tackle the issue. The nine-member board meets virtually next week to discuss its rules regarding COVID-19 and other vaccinations. The Board of Pharmacy is housed in the DOH, which Ladapo runs, and its members are appointed by the governor.

This article appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee.