Ohio’s Health Plans Encourage Medicaid Members to Get Boosted
Date: April 21, 2022
Ohio’s Health Plans Encourage Medicaid Members to Get Boosted
$100 Gift Cards Available for Those Who Receive Booster Shot
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Medicaid members who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 now have an opportunity to give their health and wallet a boost once again. Medicaid Managed Care members 12 and older who receive a COVID-19 booster between April 1 and June 30, 2022, will receive an additional $100 gift card. Now as COVID cases rise and new variants such as BA.2 emerge, Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care plans (MCPs) are encouraging their Medicaid members to get the extra protection a COVID-19 booster provides.
Eligibility for the booster is based on the date and type of the first vaccine so members will need to bring their vaccine card and member ID card to the vaccination site. Members under the age of 18 will need parental consent to get the booster.
“COVID-19 continues to be unpredictable, and research continues to show that the vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death,” said Kelly O’Reilly, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans. “That is why Ohio’s health plans are doing whatever it takes to encourage all Medicaid members to visit their provider, local pharmacy or health department to get that extra shot of protection.”
MCPs created a comprehensive Vax on the Spot campaign to improve the COVID-19 vaccination rate among Medicaid members. While it has risen significantly, it still lags the percentage of Ohioans overall who are fully vaccinated.
Now through June 30, 2022, Ohio Medicaid plans, including Buckeye Health Plan, CareSource, Molina Healthcare, Paramount Advantage and UnitedHealthcare, are encouraging vaccinated members 12 and up to get a booster, or third shot. For members who are 50 and older or who have health challenges, a fourth shot, or second booster, may be beneficial. Health plans are reaching members with these new vaccination opportunities through texts, calls, emails and social media. Transportation is also available for those in need. Local pharmacies, doctors’ offices and health departments are also partnering in this initiative. In addition, the plans still are giving $100 gift cards to any member 5 and up who receives the initial vaccine dose.
For more information on this campaign as well as vaccination events planned around Ohio, visit www.covidvaxonthespot.com.
Media Contact: Celina Fabrizio, email: cfabrizio@werthpr.com, mobile: 614-745-9462