The COVID-19 vaccine is free, but Cedar Valley medical providers might still ask for health insurance cards Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA) Feb. 17—WATERLOO — Residents won't have to pay out of pocket for the COVID-19 vaccine, but area health care providers often ask people for their health insurance. Three of four major health care systems — including MercyOne, UnityPoint and Waverly Health Center — said they ask people to provide their private insurance or Medicare or Medicaid coverage. The systems said they charge insurance agencies for administration fees, which cover the cost of staff doing vaccinations. But people without health insurance can still get the vaccine for free, the providers said. They will not get billed administration fees.