Las Vegas Sun

November 14, 2009

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FluMist covered by insurance

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

Sierra Health Services Inc. now is covering the nasal spray FluMist vaccine to prevent influenza through March.

People on a Sierra Health insurance plan who are between the ages of 18 and 49 can obtain FluMist from Albertsons Inc. or Sav-on Drugs pharmacies without a prescription during their flu vaccination clinics, the company announced last week. Sierra Health insurance members between the ages of 5 and 17 must see their physicians for the nasal mist vaccine, which is consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Sierra Health Plan of Nevada and Sierra Health and Life plan members need to call the pharmacy or their doctors ahead of time to make sure they have the FluMist.

The cost to Sierra Health members for FluMist is considered a second-tier drug benefit and averages $20 depending on the insurance plan. It does not matter whether members obtain the drug from a pharmacy or a physician's office. Without insurance the drug averages $65.

Sierra officials said the nasal spray was being added to its approved-drug list to allow more people to obtain the influenza vaccination.

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