This page is no longer updated and will be removed in June 2023. For updated COVID-19 information and health materials, please go to our COVID-19 Vaccine page.
If you get other services while you are at your provider to get vaccinated, you may get a bill for an office visit. To prevent this, you can ask your provider beforehand about cost.
What to Do If You Were Charged or Received a Bill for the COVID-19 Vaccine
If you have health insurance, contact your insurance plan first. If this doesn't address the issue, you can also file a complaint with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
If you do not have health insurance, providers may not charge you for the vaccine and may be violating the requirements of the COVID-19 vaccine program. Please email covid.vaccine@doh.wa.gov if you get charged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Costs
- Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to get the vaccine?
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No, you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to get the vaccine. That means you do not need a social security number, or other documents with your immigration status, to get the vaccine. Some vaccine providers might ask for a social security number, but you do not have to give one.
The Department of Health recommends that all people ages 12 and older get vaccinated.
- What is a vaccine administration fee?
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The vaccine administration fee is the fee a health care provider charges to give you the vaccine. This is separate from the cost of the vaccine itself.
- Who pays for the vaccine administration fee?
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The federal government will pay for the full cost of the vaccine. If you have public or private health insurance, your vaccine provider may bill them to get reimbursed for the vaccine administration fee. If you do not have insurance, the federal government offers a program that will pay the provider to administer your vaccination.
You should not be charged out of pocket costs or receive a bill from your provider for the COVID-19 vaccine administration fee. This applies to people who have private insurance, have Apple Health (Medicaid), have Medicare, or are uninsured.
- Why am I being asked to show my insurance card?
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When you get the vaccine, your vaccine provider may ask if you have an insurance card. This is so they can get reimbursed for giving you the vaccine (vaccine administration fee). Let your provider know if you do not have insurance. You will still be able to get the vaccine at no-cost.
- What if I don't have an insurance card?
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If you do not have insurance coverage, tell your provider. You will still get the vaccine at no-cost. The federal government has a program that will pay the provider to administer your vaccination.