WellPoint, the largest health insurance company in the U.S. in terms of membership, says it will cover the administration of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine when it becomes commercially available to the general public.

WellPoint operates as Anthem Blue Cross in Virginia, outside of Northern Virginia, and as Empire Blue Cross in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties, as well as in several upstate counties in New York.

The vaccine administration will be covered for members whose benefit plans provide coverage for vaccines. WellPoint also said it will continue coverage of seasonal flu vaccine administration for those whose health plans offer vaccine coverage.

Health experts are predicting widespread H1N1 outbreaks this fall, building on what began in the spring.

WellPoint’s move is likely to force other, smaller health insurers to provide coverage for the vaccine.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine. Seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines may be administered on the same day, according to the CDC.

The decision to cover the H1N1 vaccine administration is based on formal recommendations announced this week by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. ACIP recommended initial prioritization for those administering the vaccine for five key populations, including pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health care and emergency services personnel, children and young adults from 6 months old to 24 years old and people from 25 through 64 years old if they have chronic medical conditions that increase their risk of complications from influenza infection.

In addition to New York and Virginia, WellPoint, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin; and through UniCare.