Sep. 24, 2009 (Business Wire) -- HealthSpring will cover the costs of administering the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccination to its members as the vaccine becomes available.

“We are fully supporting all government efforts for managing the H1N1 virus,” HealthSpring Chief Medical Officer Dirk Wales said. “That includes covering the administrative costs for the vaccine for providers who treat HealthSpring members.”

The federal government has said it will provide the H1N1 vaccine at no cost to at-risk groups and is asking insurers to cover the administration costs.

The vaccine is being prioritized first for pregnant women, caregivers of children under six months, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, children and young adults six months to 24 years, and persons 25 to 64 who have health conditions that might increase their risk for flu complications. Other individuals will then receive the H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available.

HealthSpring members with questions about swine flu or the vaccine should talk to their doctors. For questions about HealthSpring benefits or coverage, visit the HealthSpring web site at www.healthspring.com.

HealthSpring (NYSE:HS) is based in Nashville, Tenn., and is one of the country’s largest Medicare Advantage coordinated care plans. HealthSpring currently owns and operates Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas and also offers a national stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan. For more information, visit www.healthspring.com. Media information is available at HealthSpring’s press site: http://press.healthspring.com.