The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced that due to budgetary concerns, the eligible population for the Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program will restricted effective January 1, 2013.
Underinsured children will no longer be allowed to get VFC immunizations at a private provider office. These children will need to get VFC immunizations from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), a Rural Health Center (RHC) or a local health department.
An underinsured client is a child who has commercial (private) insurance, but the insurance plan does not cover immunizations; a child whose insurance plan only covers certain immunizations (VFC eligible only for non-covered immunizations); or, a child whose insurance caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount.
These children have been VFC eligible through the VFC Plus Program. However, funds are not sufficient to support the Plus Program. This change is effective statewide and includes providers who participate in the VFC Chicago Program.
Children with All Kids coverage from Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), the un-insured (self pay) and Native Americans will continue to be eligible to receive all VFC immunizations at private provider offices.
