[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69629-69630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24314]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Revised Amount of 
the Average Cost of a Health Insurance Policy

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is publishing an updated monetary amount of the average 
cost of a health insurance policy as it relates to the National Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamara Overby, Acting Director, 
Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Healthcare Systems Bureau, 
HRSA, HHS by mail at 5600 Fishers Lane, 08N186B, Rockville, Maryland 
20857; or call (301) 443-9350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 100.2 of VICP's implementing 
regulation (42 CFR part 100) states that the revised amount of an 
average cost of a health insurance policy, as determined by the 
Secretary of HHS (the Secretary), is effective upon its delivery by the

[[Page 69630]]

Secretary to the United States Court of Federal Claims (the Court), and 
will be published periodically in a notice in the Federal Register. The 
Secretary delegated this responsibility to the HRSA Administrator. This 
figure is calculated using the most recent Medical Expenditure Panel 
Survey-Insurance Component data available as the baseline for the 
average monthly cost of a health insurance policy. This baseline is 
adjusted by the annual percentage increase/decrease obtained from the 
most recent annual Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits 
Survey or other authoritative source that may be more accurate or 
appropriate.
    In 2020, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Insurance Component, 
available at www.meps.ahrq.gov, published the annual 2019 average total 
single premium per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments 
that provide health insurance. The figure published was $6,972. This 
figure is divided by 12 to determine the cost per month of $581. The 
$581 figure is increased or decreased by the percentage change reported 
by the most recent Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits 
Survey, available at www.kff.org. The increase from 2019 to 2020 was 
4.0 percent. By adding this percentage increase, the calculated average 
monthly cost of a health insurance policy for a 12-month period is 
$604.24.
    Therefore, the Secretary announces that the revised average cost of 
a health insurance policy under the VICP is $604.24 per month. In 
accordance with Sec.  100.2, the revised amount was effective upon its 
delivery by the Secretary to the Court. Such notice was delivered to 
the Court on October 29, 2020.

Thomas J. Engels,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-24314 Filed 11-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P