EASTERN KENTUCKY — Imagine earning $100 simply for getting the COVID-19 vaccine, well now you can! The Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP) is introducing a new phase in the organization's campaign to improve vaccine access and acceptance in Kentucky.

What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Association of Health Plans is giving away $100 visa gift cards to anyone who receives a COVID-19 shot

  • KAHP will be hosting vaccine clinics at five eastern Kentucky counties from June 14-18

  • "Vaccines for Visas” is part of KAHP’s campaign to improve vaccine access

  • The Kentucky Association of Health Plans to host another event to incentivize the COVID-19 vaccine with concert tickets.

 

The KAHP is made up of seven insurance and six managed care companies focused on the health of Kentucky residents. Executive director, Tom Stephens says KAHP just completed it’s five-stop “Shots Across the Bluegrass,” a pop-up vaccine tour with Kentucky Sports Radio to five other Kentucky counties that included London and Manchester. This third phase, “Vaccine for Visas” is targeted at rural communities who may not have access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“We have a huge invested interest in seeing Kentucky’s population get vaccinated, we want you to get the shot. So in addition to all the activities that the companies are doing in their individual capacity we are adding to that,” Stephens said.

One way KAHP is doing this is “Vaccines for Visas,” anyone who receives a COVID-19 vaccine will be rewarded with a $100 VISA gift card.

“It's interesting because if you compare like in the first two stops that we had, in the prior week those health departments had basically had no one come in to get vaccinated. So I mean it's pretty impressive that this has been able to motivate folks to come out,” Stephens said.

The “Vaccines for Visas” giveaway will focus on five counties in eastern Kentucky. From June 14 through the 18, KAHP will give away $100 VISA gift cards (while supplies last) everyday for those who receive the shot.

James Shepherd, Magoffin County public health director believes this will only help improve the vaccination numbers for their county.

“Magoffin County has done really well, we have a population of 12,000 and we vaccinated over 5,500 so almost half the population so I think that's been really good and I think it's really helped here. We haven't had any positive cases in the last week and a half.”

The money earned is not just an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine, for some it goes to pay for basic necessities.

“These people live from month to month on small paychecks and some of them qualify for welfare but it's not that much, it helps them. I know some of them have families, two of them have kids and I know they take good care of their kids so I know that money will be well spent,” Shepherd said.

The KAHP traveled to each of these health departments this week and plan to do more. 

  • June 14 at the Lee County Health Department
  • June 15 at the Owsley County Health Department
  • June 16 at the Breathitt County Health Department
  • June 17 at the Magoffin County Health Department 
  • June 18 at the Leslie County Health Department.

The Kentucky Association of Health Plans to host another event to incentivize the COVID-19 vaccine with concert tickets. For more information you can visit their website.

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