An Ohio man says he was turned away for a COVID-19 vaccine for not having health insurance. The man, who asked to only be identified by his first name Kyle, said he drove almost two hours to go to his vaccine appointment. Kyle is from the Columbus area. As a diabetic, he became eligible for vaccination last week but could not find any appointments near Columbus. He booked an appointment through Kroger's website for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Kroger in Piqua, near Dayton. He said he and his partner drove nearly two hours to the appointment where Kyle was directed inside to the Little Clinic. "She asked me for my insurance and my ID," Kyle said. "I was like, 'Well I have my ID, but I don't have insurance until April because I just started a new job.'"The insurance plan from his previous job had already expired. "I'm like ok, 'Well, how am I gonna get this shot?' And they're like, 'Well, we can't,'" he said. "I argued with them for a good 45 minutes before being sent home."Christa Hyson, the Assistant Director for Emergency Response and Public Information Officer for the Health Collaborative, said no one should be denied for a COVID-19 vaccine due to lack of insurance. The vaccine is free to everyone."It is taken care of through the federal government, so there should be no confusion whether you have insurance or not," Hyson said. "Some providers bill an administrative fee to your insurance. There is zero out-of-pocket cost to you."Vaccine fees for the uninsured are covered through federal relief bill funding. Hyson was not aware of any cases of people being denied a vaccine for lack of insurance in Cincinnati.If you are told you cannot be vaccinated due to insurance, she said to ask for the clinician or pharmacist in charge.Meanwhile, Kyle is looking for an apology. He said he was able to book an appointment through another provider for this upcoming Saturday. WLWT reached out to Kroger's corporate office Monday afternoon and is still waiting for a response.
An Ohio man says he was turned away for a COVID-19 vaccine for not having health insurance.
The man, who asked to only be identified by his first name Kyle, said he drove almost two hours to go to his vaccine appointment. Kyle is from the Columbus area. As a diabetic, he became eligible for vaccination last week but could not find any appointments near Columbus.
He booked an appointment through Kroger's website for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Kroger in Piqua, near Dayton. He said he and his partner drove nearly two hours to the appointment where Kyle was directed inside to the Little Clinic.
"She asked me for my insurance and my ID," Kyle said. "I was like, 'Well I have my ID, but I don't have insurance until April because I just started a new job.'"
The insurance plan from his previous job had already expired.
"I'm like ok, 'Well, how am I gonna get this shot?' And they're like, 'Well, we can't,'" he said. "I argued with them for a good 45 minutes before being sent home."
Christa Hyson, the Assistant Director for Emergency Response and Public Information Officer for the Health Collaborative, said no one should be denied for a COVID-19 vaccine due to lack of insurance.
The vaccine is free to everyone.
"It is taken care of through the federal government, so there should be no confusion whether you have insurance or not," Hyson said. "Some providers bill an administrative fee to your insurance. There is zero out-of-pocket cost to you."
Vaccine fees for the uninsured are covered through federal relief bill funding.
Hyson was not aware of any cases of people being denied a vaccine for lack of insurance in Cincinnati.
If you are told you cannot be vaccinated due to insurance, she said to ask for the clinician or pharmacist in charge.
Meanwhile, Kyle is looking for an apology. He said he was able to book an appointment through another provider for this upcoming Saturday.
WLWT reached out to Kroger's corporate office Monday afternoon and is still waiting for a response.
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