COVID-19 vaccine cost $190 at pharmacy due to Medicaid changes, Wake grandmother says
A Wake County grandmother tried to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine for her grandchildren at a local pharmacy, but she couldn’t believe it when she was told she had to pay hundreds of dollars for them.
Medicaid paid for Twana Bannister’s grandsons to have their first COVID shots and a booster. However, in October, when she brought them to a CVS in Knightdale for their latest shot, she was told Medicaid isn’t paying for it.
“When we got to CVS, they turned us away and said that they were denied by insurance, and if I wanted to get them vaccinated, I would have to pay $190.99 [each]," Bannister said.
Bannister said both boys have Medicaid coverage. They are 6 and 9 years old.
"They said it was covered then but North Carolina [is] no longer paying for it and something about them having to be 19 and older,” Bannister said.
Last week, Bannister saw the reports about the surge of kids being hospitalized for respiratory viruses.
“The CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] was on there, and they were saying something about get your kids the COVID shots, get them the flu shots,” Bannister said.
The CDC recommends kids 6 months and older get vaccinated.
WRAL News reached out to CVS to ask about coverage and costs of the COVID vaccines.
“We follow NCDHHS [North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services] guidelines for the administration and billing of COVID-19 vaccines,” CVS wrote in a statement.
WRAL News also received a statement from the NCDHHS.
“Children with Medicaid can receive the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine … at any local health department or Vaccines for Children Program-enrolled providers who administer vaccines free of charge,” the NCDHHS wrote.
The NCDHHS said pharmacies are not currently providers in the Vaccines for Children Program.
Bannister said she just wants to keep her grandkids safe and healthy.
"Kids are in school, around other kids, and they need to be covered,” Bannister said. “Kids are our future."
