Kalorama's conservative estimate of an ancillary services and products market assumes that most U.S. physicians saw at least one extra patient visit due to the vaccine availability. While most doctors depend on copay revenue to finance office operations, Kalorama notes that this does not mean doctors are profiting handsomely from vaccine copays.

"Doctor visits were down as a result of the recession, according to several surveys, and in general Americans do not follow the most advisable schedule of doctor visits, so if anything it is making up for unrealized revenue," said Carlson. "It's fair to say that anything that gets a patient into a doctor's office -- where there could be consultation about weight, blood sugar or other issues -- can be viewed as a good thing."

In addition to these ancillary revenues, a publicized health event such as the H1N1 vaccine offers an opportunity for insurance companies to develop an improved image. Wellpoint, Anthem Blue Health and many Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations nationwide are waiving copays for their insured members who receive the H1N1 vaccine. According to Kalorama, while waiving copays does not bring cash in the door, it does allow a major insurance company to build its image with its employer customers and also with the end-users at those companies in a way that would take a lot of advertising to accomplish.

SOURCE: Kalorama Information