A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protecting Free Vaccines Act of 2025" aims to ensure coverage for specific immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This requirement applies to group health plans, health insurance coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill mandates that these programs provide coverage without imposing cost-sharing requirements for vaccines recommended as of October 25, 2024. These protections are set to remain in effect until January 1, 2030. The legislation also includes provisions regarding updated or changed vaccines under specific supplemental applications.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
The bill guarantees vaccine coverage and administration through CHIP and Medicaid for pediatric vaccines.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill expands and protects vaccine coverage for those relying on Medicaid and CHIP.
- Scored +6
Would women be better off under this?
The bill explicitly includes coverage for vaccines and their administration for pregnant individuals under Medicaid.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Mandated Coverage without Cost Sharing: Group health plans and health insurance issuers must provide coverage for specific immunizations without imposing any cost-sharing requirements for plan years occurring through January 1, 2030 (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
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Protection Against Revoked Recommendations for Medicare: Medicare coverage will include vaccines even if a recommendation is revoked, provided the recommendation was in effect prior to the revocation (Section 2(b)).
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Expanded Coverage for Pregnant Individuals under Medicaid: Medicaid coverage will include medical assistance for specific vaccines and their administration for pregnant individuals (Section 2(c)(2)).
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Pediatric Vaccine Stability in Medicaid: The bill prevents providers and the Secretary from taking into account changes that remove a pediatric vaccine recommendation from the schedule if it was recommended as of October 25, 2024 (Section 2(c)(3)(A) and (B)).
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Guaranteed Coverage for CHIP: Child health assistance for targeted low-income children must include coverage for vaccines and their administration that were recommended as of October 25, 2024, through the end of 2029 (Section 2(d)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Time-Limited Coverage: The requirements for coverage without cost-sharing and the specific protections for various programs are scheduled to end on December 31, 2029, or January 1, 2030 (Sections 2(a)(1)(A), 2(c)(1)(A), 2(c)(3)(A), and 2(d)(1)).
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Exception for Minimum Intervals: The requirement for coverage without cost-sharing does not apply if the immunization is administered during the minimum interval established under section 2713(b) (Sections 2(a)(1)(B), 2(a)(2)(A), and 2(a)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill guarantees vaccine coverage and administration through CHIP and Medicaid for pediatric vaccines. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill expands and protects vaccine coverage for those relying on Medicaid and CHIP. Would women be better off under this? — The bill explicitly includes coverage for vaccines and their administration for pregnant individuals under Medicaid. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill provides stable vaccine coverage for individuals on Medicare. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill ensures Medicare coverage for recommended vaccines even if recommendations are revoked. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill reduces out-of-pocket costs for vaccines covered under group health plans.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill increases healthcare access by mandating coverage for specific vaccines across multiple insurance types. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill requires Medicaid to cover specific vaccines and their administration without cost-sharing through 2029. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill mandates Medicare coverage for specific vaccines without cost-sharing through 2029. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill eliminates cost-sharing for specific recommended immunizations. Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill ensures sustained access to vaccine recommendations to support public health stability. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill mandates coverage requirements for group health plans and individual health insurance coverage.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill reduces healthcare costs for low-income families through Medicaid and CHIP coverage.
- 4/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont