Just found out Walgreens turned away someone trying to get their vaccine.

[W_HAMILTON]

Last edited Mon Aug 2, 2021, 06:01 PM - Edit history (8)

I had been on this person to get their vaccine forever and they finally made an appointment to get their first shot; however, when they went to Walgreens, they were told that they didn't accept their insurance and could not give them a shot and they would have to go somewhere else. Nowhere in the appointment-making process did they notify this person that they did not accept their insurance or that insurance would even be required. Is what this Walgreens did customary or not?

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EDIT 1.0: Since I am getting a lot of replies that they think the person is lying, I will go ahead and edit my original post to explain that he is not. He sent me a screenshot of his appointment and a pic of the Walgreens he went into it. I called the Walgreens myself and asked the person that answered why she turned him away because I was very pissed. She said that they did not take his insurance and that he would have to go elsewhere because giving him the vaccine as an "uninsured" person would be committing insurance fraud.

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EDIT 2.0: And for those that would say "they can't talk about patient information with someone else, you must be lying!!1!" that is not the case either. When I called and angrily asked why someone would be turned away in such a situation, they actually thought I was the person that had just been turned away. I told them I was not and then they explained that it was their policy (see the first edit for their explanation why).

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EDIT 3.0: Some people helpfully recommended that I speak with my county's health department. I found that my city has its own health department, so I called them and spoke with someone that said -- and lord knows I'll be accused of lying yet again after this, but yet again, it most certainly happened -- that they also were turned away from Walgreens because they did not accept their insurance, but that they were upfront about it when she made the appointment. I told her that I understand her personal experience, but are they allowed to legally do what they did, and she said that the state does not handle stuff like that and instead I would need to go to a higher authority like the CDC...? That sounded a little suspicious, because you would think the state most certainly would have jurisdiction over pharmacies operating in their state.

I then called the CDC and spoke with a very helpful representative. She read to me the information provided at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/no-cost.html The seemingly relevant part to this particular situation is where it says that "COVID-19 vaccination providers cannot deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network." Judging by this guidance from the CDC, it does sound as if the Walgreens location was in the wrong. The CDC representative said that I cannot report an issue like this to them directly, but instead referred me to my state's department of health, which would then escalate it to the CDC if appropriate. I am off to call them next.

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EDIT 4.0: I called my state's department of health like the CDC representative suggested. It was a bit of a mess. The first phone number I was given, I was transferred several times and eventually told that this phone number was a "resources only" line and that I would need to call a different number. The second phone number I was given, they told me that they mainly scheduled appointments and did not handle complaints; they gave me a phone number, which ended up being the first phone number that I called. I called them back, they transferred me around for awhile, and then I eventually ended up at my state's board of pharmacy (?) where they said that they do take complaints, but the investigator that I should talk to was out for the day and that I should leave a message. I told him a little about my situation and asked him to call me back to see if the situation warrants filing an official complaint through them.

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EDIT 5.0: Per the advice given by some in this thread, I emailed a local news reporter about my situation and I'm awaiting a response. I also called another local Walgreens and they said that even if you are out-of-network, you should still be able to get your vaccine there. I then called the specific Walgreens in question to try and find out who was working the pharmacy when I called there last night. They told me it was "a floater" and that she did not normally work there; I asked them for her name, and they told me her name was Sandra. I asked if there were any other employees that would have been picking up the phone and they said no. I asked them if it was proper protocol for them to turn away the person from getting the vaccine and they said NO, IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE. Therefore, you can bet your ass I will be doing whatever possible to make sure this person is held accountable. Who knows how many other people she has turned away from getting the vaccine because she was either wrongly instructed or, worse, intentionally misleading people.

[onecaliberal]

1. The vaccines are free!

[Patterson]

38. They submit it to insurance and then it gets reversed.

[onecaliberal]

54. You do t have to have insurance to get the vaccine.

It is free.

[KewlKat]

66. We had our shots in Feb and Mar. We DID NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE INFO

At our first shot I made it clear we had insurance, but that the shot was advertised as free and I would, and did not, provide insurance info. i'd never been to that pharmacy before, ever. So nothing on file either.

[Captain Zero]

92. If they took your name you are in a state database

I know we are in Indiana.

[Jose Garcia]

148. Yes, but someone has to pay a healthcare professional to inject it

[obamanut2012]

168. But that isn't the patient -- the vax is free

Period.

[Deminpenn]

2. AFAIK, the covid19 shots are free to all

nt

[Grins]

79. The VACCINE is free. The complications from it are not.

You get a reaction to the vaccine that requires hospital care- that’s on you. I got my Pfizer shots via Fairfax County (Virginia) and INOVA. Page 1 of the application “Do you have insurance?”

I had Medicare and supplemental so I had no problem. I don’t know what they do if the response is “No.”

[cinematicdiversions]

95. If you say no they give you the shot anyway.

I said no because I couldn't really be bothered to pull out my insurance card and fill out forms. (Drive through shots) no one cared.

[obamanut2012]

169. If you say no, you get it

[Skittles]

3. is that what they told you?

sooo not true

[LisaL]

4. Is this person pulling your leg?

Vaccines should be free.

[W_HAMILTON]

17. See my response (#15). They were not pulling my leg.

[Dr. Strange]

5. Insurance isn't involved.

[Renew Deal]

9. I don't know if it is, but I was asked for an insurance card

At a state run site.

[Demobrat]

14. I was asked also.

I asked if insurance would be billed and they said no, it was for informational purposes only.

This was in CA.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. We Weren't In Illinois

All we needed was a copy of the 3D barcode assigned to us, and some legal form of ID. I gave them my driver license. Same with everybody I know.

[Texasgal]

70. So was I.

I provided my insurance info, got my shot and moved on outta there with no other issues.

[durablend]

56. Insurance most certainly is involved

And they get billed for it if you have it.

[KewlKat]

67. My carrier, nor my relatives in IL were not billed for the shots. I had Blue Cross and they have

medicare and some other company.

[durablend]

116. Highmark got charged $40 for mine

[Demovictory9]

94. i got shot at big vax site, recently got email from my insurance telling me a visit has been proces

processed. I call insurance, saying no recent medical visits... they told me that was my pfizer vax being processed through my insurance...

I don't recall giving anyone info on my insurance when making appt for the vax

[Dr. Strange]

98. I don't remember giving them any insurance information either.

[Maru Kitteh]

6. Your friend is taking you for a ride.

The vax is free.

Walgreens FAQ on the COVID vaccine.
https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ext=gooFY21_COVID+Vaccine_Brand_BMMCOVID_Brand_COVID+Vaccine_BMM_%2Bdoes%20%2Bwalgreens%20%2Bvaccine%20%2Bfor%20%2Bcovid&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=CjwKCAjwjJmIBhA4EiwAQdCbxnRNFmSjvAVr3NYxgTFW9tdyYI-SFlDToiYPoXyvYkWBzLnCLz1FpBoCHL0QAvD_BwE

[W_HAMILTON]

15. He's not taking me for a ride. He sent me a screenshot of the appointment and Walgreens.

And I called them myself to have them explain.

They said that they didn't accept his insurance and that he would have to go elsewhere and that they couldn't simply just give him one of the "free vaccines" because it would be committing insurance fraud if they marked him as no insurance when he had insurance.

My friend also said that the pharmacist was wearing her mask down below her nose, so I wouldn't be surprised if she was some Trumper just trying to discourage people from getting the vaccine.

Either way, I called corporate Walgreens and lodged a complaint. I will see what they say when they are supposed to email me back in 24-48 hours.

[Treefrog]

27. Got mine at CVS, but most of my friends got theirs at Walgreens.

No proof of insurance required.

[W_HAMILTON]

35. As a side note, the person went to a CVS afterwards...

...and was turned away their as well because they apparently do not accept walk-ins (once again, he sent a screenshot showing a banner hanging up in the store that said "APPOINTMENT REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS."

[LisaL]

40. So tell him to make an appointment at CVS.

NT

[W_HAMILTON]

42. My point was that CVS is another one that is doing some false advertising.

Their website and commercials say that walk-ins are accepted; they apparently are not, at least not at this location.

[Ms. Toad]

71. I got mine at CVS. It was by appointment only. n/t

The current CVS website has an asterisk by the walk-ins, which indicates walk-in appointments are subject to vaccine availability.

[W_HAMILTON]

78. This is a screenshot of the front page of www.cvs.com:

No such asterisk.

There may be one buried somewhere in there on another page, but that is what greets people looking for a vaccine: "COVID-19 services available: Vaccinations (walk in or schedule today)." No asterisk.

[Ms. Toad]

86. Not buried - it was on the first link I clicked on.

https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

Walk in or schedule your FREE COVID-19 vaccine today.*

There's an asterisk there attached to ; scroll down to the bottom of the page for the explanation - the second asterisk:

*FOR WALK-INS: Subject to vaccine availability.

[W_HAMILTON]

87. Which means the front page is inaccurate given that there is no asterisk...

...which was my point. Furthermore, the asterisk you are referring to isn't even applicable in this situation: the in-store location has a banner that says that they do not accept walk-ins PERIOD -- you have to make an appointment.

[Ms. Toad]

88. It may well be that there are not enough vaccinations on a daily basis

in that particular area to justify opening up a multi-vaccine vial.

In other words vaccine is only be available when there is a reasonable chance that the vial can be used fully used. In areas where there is a regular stream of walk-ins that may be on a daily basis. In areas where there are few walk-ins vaccine may not be available for walk-ins at all because of the need to use a full vial (rather than opening a vial for a single walk-in). If vaccines are scheduled for a specific narrow range of time, they can guarantee they are not throwing out vaccine. It would be perfectly reasonably to make vaccine available only in a way that they aren't wasting large quantities of it just to accommodate an occasional walk-in.

As for information about vaccines - I would expect it to be on the page dedicated to vaccines, not on the front page.

[W_HAMILTON]

89. That may be true, but once again, it's also unfortunate that...

...you can't simply "walk in and get your vaccine" as many of these national chains have happily claimed.

Never would I have thought at this point, with everyone claiming the vaccines are abundant and they are looking for arms to put them in, that someone I know would be turned away from TWO separate big chains on the same day once I finally got him to go and get his vaccine. That should not be happening. I was told that one of the reasons these national chains were used was because they would be better able to handle the logistics of these particular vaccinations -- apparently not, at least not around where I live.

I went to a doctors' office to get my vaccine and, boy, am I glad I did so after hearing about his experience with Walgreens and CVS.

[Ms. Toad]

110. Walgreens is odd.

The idea was that, when insurance was available, it would be billed (since the government should not be paying, when a private entity has an obligation to). When it isn't, the government would pay. Early on, most pharmacies asked for insurance, but didn't hassle you if you didn't have any, or didn't provide the info. Aside from the initial request for info, the insurance was invisible to the patient. (I didn't get an EOB for mine, for example.). Since it wasn't processed like a normal claim, that's why you are getting so many "insurance is not involved" responses. It's also why Walgreens response is absurd, since it should have been processed through whatever backdoor mechanism they are using for these.

CVS doesn't bother me. I would have gone to the vaccination-specific page to find the details, and then called to see if walk in was available. (Actually, I probably would have gone through their website to see if i could make a same-day appointment - since they have a pretty easy interface. My assumption is that walk-in is the exception, rather than the rule.

[BradAllison]

189. The CVS in my area has a sign saying no walk-ins

For either the vax or a test.

[Treefrog]

53. Nonsense.

Sorry, you can get a vaccine even at Walmart now.

[Zeitghost]

29. The pharmacy...

The pharmacy discussed this with you directly? That doesn't sound right. I can't imagine a pharmacy discussing the insurance status of a customer or details regarding who they have or have not given vaccines too and the reasons for doing so with a 3rd party.

[W_HAMILTON]

33. They actually thought I was the person in question.

I subsequently told them I was not.

Furthermore, I didn't ask for specific details, I just asked about their general policy as to why someone would be turned away in such a case.

Please, I know that there are a lot of people that lie on the internet, but this is not one of them. Everything I said is true and my friend did get turned away from getting the vaccine for the reasons I mentioned (I edited my original post to explain further). It would be much more helpful if someone could tell me if this was a legitimate reason to be turned away or if it was a specific problem at this store that I should pursue further and have them reprimanded for turning away someone genuinely wanting the vaccine.

[sarisataka]

34. Walgreens talked to you

About another person's medical insurance?

Apparently they don't accept HIPPA either

[W_HAMILTON]

39. It just happened so they actually thought I was the person they turned away at first.

I explained to them that I was not and I just wanted to know why exactly they would turn away someone given that they advertise free vaccines for the INSURED and uninsured.

[inthewind21]

112. No

I call BS. WAY too much of it to even be remotely believable.

[W_HAMILTON]

122. Why would I lie about it?

I was not on fucking TikTok trying to get views and get Walgreens boycotted and canceled. I was asking if this was a common experience and, if not, how I could go about reporting the situation so that this would not ever happen again to someone wanting to get their vaccination.

[tritsofme]

7. Walgreens didn't even ask for my insurance card

[Glorfindel]

8. Walgreen's billed Medicare for my vaccinations and

Medicare paid. I suppose it's customary to bill for the ADMINISTRATION of the vaccine, or Medicare wouldn't have paid.

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. They didn't ask for my Medicare card or anything.

But I got my shot at the county medical center, not a pharmacy. Maybe that makes a difference.

[Blue_true]

16. I set up an appointment with CVS and got both my shots for free.

That was during the vaccination push. People that have waited have allowed the facilities that were available then vanish.

[Klaralven]

48. My county's center asked for my Medicare info. It was on one of the many forms I filled out.

[Buns_of_Fire]

52. You're right. I'd forgotten about the forms I downloaded and filled out.

I'm sure it was on there somewhere.

[happybird]

11. Looked it up

https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp

From FAQ: Is the vaccine free?

“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
states that people without health insurance or whose insurance does not provide coverage of COVID-19 vaccines can get a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost with health plan or government program coverage.”



Because they do have insurance, but not a plan accepted by Walgreens, they may be telling the truth.

If they had no insurance it would be free.

[Blue_true]

19. I got my shots at CVS. No charge. nt

[obamanut2012]

100. No, it's free -- it literally says that in what you posted

[happybird]

111. If you read it very carefully, you'll see what I mean

If you don’t have insurance (this person does, but not one accepted by Walgreens) OR
If your plan does not provide for a covid vaccine (very highly unlikely)

Pharmacies aren’t doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, they want to be reimbursed for the time and staff they are putting into vaccinating people.

[Jilly_in_VA]

12. Walgreens could be doing that

for people under 65. Seriously.

[Blue_true]

13. Your friend should file a complaint against that particular Walgreens store.

My guess, the pharmacists were busy and just didn’t want to take the time to prepare the vaccine for use (let it thaw out properly).

The shot is supposed to be free. I have been in CVS and hear on the overhead that people can simply walk up to the Pharmacy counter and get a shot.

I need to get this off my chest. I don’t feel sorry for the person. The person could have gotten the shot when pharmacies were thawing out lots of doses and allocating people specifically to administer the shots. It was boneheaded to wait and such behavior always come with a price. To go know when pharmacies likely have pared down to their regular staff is likely why someone behind the counter told the person something that is in fact not the case.

The person should go to CVS, it seems to me that pharmacy is doing a better job accommodating stragglers.

[rustysgurl]

18. It's free.

I was just on hold with Walgreens and the message was playing over and over again. Come in. It's free. I think your friend is telling a story.

[W_HAMILTON]

28. He's not. See Response #15.

I called the Walgreens myself because I wanted to hear their explanation. They really did turn him away.

[JI7]

20. You should call or go to that Walgreens to see if that person

is telling the truth .

[emulatorloo]

21. Walgreen's vaccines are free n/t

[haele]

22. No. Soon to be ex son in Law went to Walgreens

With an expired drivers license and no insurance at all. They gave him his shot, so Walgreens handled him through Medi-Cal -which he also was not registered with, so they could get their pharmacist paid.

Vaccine is free, dedicated pharmacist giving the shot isn't.
And if Walgreens doesn't accept that insurance (or vice versa), they will not give the shot because "they aren't a charity".

So this sounds like either your friend is fibbing or the state he's in isn't covering uninsured or out of network like they should.

Haele

[Chainfire]

23. Where there is a Walgreens, there will be a CVS within a block.

I don't believe that your friend wanted the shot.

[W_HAMILTON]

30. Not true. See Response #15.

I called the Walgreens myself because I wanted to hear their explanation. They really did turn him away.

As a side note, he went to a CVS afterwards and they told him they didn't accept walk-ins.

[marie999]

107. We have many Walgreens around here and there isn't always a CVS within a block.

[boston bean]

24. They may have just said that as an excuse to you.

Didn’t want to tell you they didn’t get the shot for their own reasons.

[W_HAMILTON]

31. Not true. See Response #15.

I called the Walgreens myself because I wanted to hear their explanation. They really did turn him away.

[LanternWaste]

47. Response #15 does not satisfy the questions which have been raised.

Screen shots can be faked. Friends can lie. Things can happen.

I either do not believe your friend's narrative or yours. One (0or both) is inaccurate at best. False more likely.

[W_HAMILTON]

50. Then you are shitting on someone for telling the truth and trying to seek out help.

Would you like me to private message you the pharmacy phone number of the location in question so you can call and ask them yourself? Would that be sufficient for you to offer help in this situation instead of assuming someone is lying?

EDIT: I went ahead and PMed you the phone number anyway. Call them quick so maybe you can get the same woman that I talked to. I look forward to your apology for calling me and my friend a liar.

[USALiberal]

60. Why not post address here??????

[Treefrog]

74. Good question.

No answer forthcoming, right?

[W_HAMILTON]

76. Wrong, and it's sad to see some people on DU...

...question someone that has been a contributor here for almost two decades and assume they are lying -- and for what reason? What reason would I have to lie? All I asked for was whether what this Walgreens did was common practice and what I should do to remedy the situation if it was not, so that other potential vaccine recipients are not also turned away in the future.

And for your information, I also sent the person you responded to the location and phone number so they can verify for themselves what I said. I am not lying and I have no reason to hold this information back, but I also do not want to get doxxed by the known Trumpers that view this site nor do I want to kick off some viral social media mob to take action against this particular location -- I want actual corrective justice if that is what this situation calls for and I want to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else in the future.

[Treefrog]

119. Nowhere did I say you lied. Reading comprehension is key. Re-read my posts.

I said it sounded like your friend did.

At any rate, I’ve no idea why you think you could be doxxed by posting the location of the Walgreens. But whatever.

[W_HAMILTON]

121. Neither of us lied.

Last edited Mon Aug 2, 2021, 01:17 PM - Edit history (1)

And, yes, you insinuated *I* was lying as if I wouldn't respond to that person's post (because apparently this is all just a lie, right?) when I've been responding to most posts in this thread. My friend did not lie. I did not lie. I have provided the phone number and/or store location privately to the two posters that asked for it because I assume they are trustworthy given their long posting history.

And it's fine if you have no idea how I could be doxxed by posting the exact location of a Walgreens near me -- which, in conjunction with some other information available on this site, most certainly could be used to dox me -- but that doesn't change the fact that, yes, I could be doxxed and I would prefer for that not to happen.

[Treefrog]

142. Cool story.

Carry on.

[W_HAMILTON]

75. Because I don't want to get doxxed or turn this into some viral social media story.

I posted to see whether this was a common experience with other people and, if not, what I should do to make sure that the location in question is reprimanded and future action is corrected. I originally posted looking for help on what I should do in response.

I will PM you the phone number and location.

[Indykatie]

25. I Got My Vaccine at Walgreens for Free - Tell Your Friend to Go To Another Walgreens

[Treefrog]

26. Your friend is telling you a porkie-pie.

No proof of insurance is needed.

[W_HAMILTON]

32. Not true. See Response #15.

I called the Walgreens myself because I wanted to hear their explanation. They really did turn him away.

[AngryOldDem]

108. I don't think he is.

I registered for the vaccine through my state department of health and got both shots at a city-run facility. When I registered, I had to provide proof of insurance.

The vaccination needs to be given out, no questions asked.

[Faux pas]

36. ...

His insurance should have nothing to do with it, the vaccines are FREE.

[Effete Snob]

41. From the CDC

What is your friend’s insurance company”?


https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/retail-pharmacy-program/faqs.html

COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge for everyone. Participating pharmacies will bill private and public insurance for the vaccine administration fee. For uninsured patients, this fee will be reimbursed through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund. No one will receive a bill for a COVID-19 vaccine.

[W_HAMILTON]

43. I don't know, but apparently one that Walgreens does not accept.

For all the talk about how easy to get a vaccination is, it is disappointing to see someone get turned away from two different locations that advertise broadly about how easy it is to get a vaccination with them.

If Walgreens is not going to accept someone's insurance, they should ask for their insurance information before making an appointment rather than turn them away at the vaccination location when the person shows up for their appointment.

[Effete Snob]

46. I'm willing to bet

That what your friend claims is “insurance” is some sort of bullshit.

The ACA requires coverage of preventive care for real health insurance.

[W_HAMILTON]

49. He has insurance through Molina Healthcare.

I haven't heard of them before, but I have been turned away from Walgreens for other services because they did not accept my federal marketplace healthcare insurance plan, so, once again, I don't think your answer is the problem here.

[orleans]

90. i'm glad someone suggested you call the county and find out where your friend can get a shot

(i wonder if someone said they'd pay cash for the shot at that walgreens how much they would charge)

i digress.

the town i'm in offered free shots for residents (i'm in illinois) and when i got there i was asked for an insurance card. i told them i don't have insurance--they said that was okay. they copied my license and i got the vaccine.

so... i'm wondering if your friend just said they didn't have any insurance what would walgreens do?

when i pick up a script i think walgreens (who knows i'm not insured) scans in one of their goodRx cards for me and i get a bit of a discount. so i just googled to see if goodrx would pay for the shot.

take a look at their website--it's an older article but might be helpful
https://www.goodrx.com/covid-19/how-much-will-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-cost

also, could your friend go to their dr. for the vaccine?

i think it's terrible that someone who has finally decided to get vaccinated gets dicked around or turned away. i'm glad you're there for your friend and helping them out. don't let them get discouraged.

(if you continue to get screwed around about this then call the local news station and see if they can help find out something. one thing du has shown me over the years is that i'm not alone going through things; if your friend is getting the runaround because of wrong insurance they are not alone--this is happening to others)

[W_HAMILTON]

91. Thanks for your compassionate response!

[haele]

117. Ah. Walgreens has not accepted Molina since 2010. Nor do they take Good-RX for some scrips.

He needs to contact Molina to see where he can go. Some independent pharmacies take Molina, or he can go to a county vaccine site.
Getting a walk-in can be difficult, but if he calls in the late afternoon/evening, most pharmacies will have openings.

Haele

[W_HAMILTON]

126. Thank you for the advice.

He has already made an appointment at CVS for next Sunday; I would hope that he would know to call and check if they take his insurance, but I will ask him later and make sure he checks beforehand now that we know all the potential pitfalls in trying to get the vaccine.

[Effete Snob]

203. It's the other way around - Molina dumped Walgreens

https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/providers/mi/medicaid/Walgreens-FAQ-12-29-Pharmacy.pdf

Q. Where can my patients go for their pharmacy services? A. Molina’s Medicaid pharmacy network still includes many major and local pharmacies, able to meet all of your patient’s pharmacy needs. Below is a list of some of the participating pharmacies, however, for a complete list of Molina’s Medicaid pharmacy network, please visit our website at www.molinahealthcare.com.
The new network can be located under the “Find a Pharmacy” link at: http://www2.caremark.com/micro/asset/molina_mi_pharmloc.htm.


Costco Pharmacy Rite Aid Pharmacy CVS Pharmacy Sam’s Club Pharmacy Kroger Pharmacy Target Pharmacy Meijer Pharmacy Walmart Pharmacy

[fescuerescue]

114. That makes sense actually. perfect sense

Walgreens doesn't have a relationship with that insurer.

HHS will pay for the vaccine for anyone who is uninsured.

Walgreens can't use that persons insurance, and can't tell HHS that the person is uninsured.

ergo. That person can't get the vaccine at Walgreens.

[W_HAMILTON]

136. From the guidance I was provided by a CDC representative:

COVID-19 vaccination providers cannot:

- Charge you for a vaccine

- Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance

- Deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network

- Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination

- Require additional services in order for a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; however, additional healthcare services can be provided at the same time and billed as appropriate

Taken from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/no-cost.html

I know that the usual "we don't accept your insurance, therefore you should go somewhere else" can be expected with normal medical situation, but COVID is not a normal medical situation. Judging from the guidance that the CDC representative gave me, this person should NOT have been turned away from getting the vaccine just because his insurance was out-of-network.

[Shrike47]

44. I suggest you call the county health department and explain what happened, with specifics.

[W_HAMILTON]

45. This is the type of advice I was looking for. Thank you.

[mnhtnbb]

51. Absolutely call your county health department

I got both my shots at my county health department (Durham, NC) in February and March. They did not ask for any insurance or even my Medicare card.

[DemocraticPatriot]

103. Same here. I got vaccinated through my county health department in Michigan,

at a drive-thru vax site. I was never asked about insurance.

This is a pharmacy thing-- they are allowed to collect payments from insurance plans for administering the vaccination to those who have insurance.

[W_HAMILTON]

130. I just called my city health department...

...and spoke with someone that said -- and lord knows I'll be accused of lying yet again after this, but yet again, it most certainly happened -- that they also were turned away from Walgreens because they did not accept their insurance, but that they were upfront about it when she made the appointment. I told her that I understand her personal experience, but are they allowed to legally do what they did, and she said that the state does not handle stuff like that and instead I would need to go to a higher authority like the CDC...? That sounded a little suspicious, because you would think the state most certainly would have jurisdiction over pharmacies operating in their state. Oh well, next to try to find the CDC phone number and see if they have any better guidance...

[Meowmee]

55. He should make an appointment at cvs and

Ask about any insurance information etc. ahead of time. Good idea to ask the county health dept about this.

We had our vaccines at a pfizer pod at a uni. I may have given insurance data when filling out the forms online or on the phone, I can’t recall now. We were not billed.

[Tomconroy]

57. If you don't have insurance the government picks up the tab.

Walgreens needs to train their people better.
The shot is free. Insurance is billed for Walgreen administering the shot. No insurance: the government picks up the tab.

[pnwest]

58. How uninsured persons can get the vaccine...

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-care-uninsured-individuals/index.html

[W_HAMILTON]

93. But the problem here was apparently that he was insured...

...except he was insured through an insurance company that Walgreens apparently does not accept, which I think is bull crap. At nowhere during the appointment-making process did it notify him that this could even be an issue.

[USALiberal]

59. Send me the address of the Walgreens!!!!

[MustLoveBeagles]

61. That's terrible

I hope your friend doesn't give up on getting vaccinated. I've read the thread where some thought your friend or you were lying about this. I'm taking you at your word that you and your friend are telling the truth. I think it's possible that the people at that store are simply lazy and didn't want to bother with it or they don't know what the hell they're talking about and are giving out incorrect information. Either way they need to be reported.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

69. I don't think the friend

wants to be vaccinated.

[W_HAMILTON]

81. He does.

Read my response to the other person about some of the backstory and why he had put it off. Whether you agree with his actions or not, he was willing to get the vaccine today and went to two different locations and came away with no vaccine. That should not happen.

And he scheduled an appointment at CVS for his vaccine next Sunday.

[W_HAMILTON]

80. Thank you.

And he ended up making an appointment at CVS for next Sunday. I had been on this person and finally got him to register to vote recently and had been on him to vote in the last election and he did -- for Biden. I had been on him about getting the vaccine for awhile now, but he has anxieties -- social anxiety and anxiety about doctors -- and when myself and his mother were getting our vaccines, he was not eligible due to his age and no preexisting conditions at the time. This meant he basically had to get it on his own, which he had not done, in part due to the anxieties I mentioned and probably in part thinking to it was all dying down due to the recent low point in cases. Now that the Delta variant is raging and infections are becoming widespread again -- especially in the area where we live -- I had been leaning on him heavily to get his vaccine once again. I didn't even know he was going, he didn't tell me, but he sent me several texts after he did go to two separate locations today and still wasn't able to get his vaccine. He was upset that he finally put in the effort to get the vaccine and this was the result and I was especially angry that after all the work I had done to try and personally push him to get the vaccine that he was turned away from two national brands that heavily advertise how anyone can walk in and get their shot.

[dflprincess]

62. Just curious, where was this?

My nephew has no insurance but had no problem getting his shots at a Walgreen's here (Minneapolis).

Unless you're better off just telling them you have no insurance.

[W_HAMILTON]

82. In a much less vaccine friendly area than Minneapolis, Minnesota.

And the person, in reference, he HAS insurance, but apparently this Walgreens did not accept his insurance, so they turned him away and said they couldn't simply give him a vaccine as an uninsured patient because that would be committing insurance fraud and they wouldn't get reimbursed or something like that.

[KT2000]

63. I recall going to Walgreens for a flu shot

The declined to give me one because at the time I was on a state plan. They said it takes too long to be reimbursed so they would not give me the shot - not that they did not accept that plan. I think their employees play loose with their policies.

[Tink41]

64. ???

I don't recall showing any insurance card at Walgreens when I went for my shot. Drivers License that's it. Vaccine is free no questions asked . Something is hinky

[W_HAMILTON]

83. I know, and that's why I want to get to the bottom of it.

If this particular Walgreens is wrongly turning away people that are trying to get the vaccine, that pisses me off to no end and I want them held accountable.

[KewlKat]

65. If you want to take it to the next level, call Walgreens corporate office with the complaint and

tell them you're calling the media about this. Noone is supposed to be billed for the Covid 19 vaccine...so no insurance is required. We used Costco, but we didn't even give them insurance information for that reason, I didn't want my insurance to be billed.

I'd raise hell for sure.

[W_HAMILTON]

84. I called their corporate number, but I didn't mention about taking it to the media.

I am not a confrontational person at heart, but this has really pissed me off. If I don't get a satisfactory explanation in the email response that is supposed to come in 24 to 48 hours, I may take your advice.

[Treefrog]

120. Why are you doing all this work for your unvaxxed friend?

If this happened to me, I’d be handling it myself. Is he in some way not able to make phone calls?

Why did he wait so long anyway?

[W_HAMILTON]

123. I've explained this elsewhere.

As for why I am so invested, it's because I am extremely pissed that I had urged him to get the vaccine for so long and the day that the dam finally breaks and he goes to get it, he gets turned away from two national locations that readily advertise how easy it is to get the vaccine at their locations. I am pissed and I want to make sure they are held accountable if this particular was in the wrong so no other person that goes into their store looking to get their vaccine gets turned away ever again.

Now, since you have yet again insinuated that I am a liar, what the hell incentive would I have to lie about this?

[Treefrog]

143. You seem very sensitive. How did I insinuate you were a liar?

I asked why you were doing all the legwork. Perfectly legitimate question.

Obviously, many posters have questions here, and it appears we’ve hit a nerve.

Do keep us updated on this mystery, k?

[W_HAMILTON]

151. I plan to.

And I have answered every question posed to me. Are you saying that if someone was turned away from not one, but two locations after they tried to get their vaccine, it would not upset you? You would not want to correct the situation and have those that acted improperly held accountable so that no one is ever turned away again? Do you not want people to get vaccinated? Why would you be so skeptical of this? What do I have to gain? Have I posted a fucking GoFundMe or something? All I asked for was whether this was standard or not and if not, how I can go about reporting it so that it never happens again. That's it. And people like you dare to question the authenticity when I know it is true and have actually provided the fucking exact location to two posters already so that they can call the location themselves and ask whether it is their policy to turn away those whose insurance they do not accept, which, I have since found out, is against CDC protocols for those participating in the federal vaccination program, based on following through on the advice some actually HELPFUL people in this thread posted.

[Treefrog]

157. I do hope you're able to calm down. For your own sake.

Perhaps keep after the guilty Walgreens instead of spending so much time on this thread?

[W_HAMILTON]

160. I'm doing both.

I'm on hold with the state department of health right now, but thanks so much for your disingenuous concern.

[Treefrog]

164. Lol, I do hope your day improves, despite your personal attack on me.

Deep breaths.

And keep us updated! Stay healthy now.

[sinkingfeeling]

68. No one ever even asked me about my insurance.

[xmas74]

72. My cousin had it done at a local Walgreens

She doesn't use Walgreens because there isn't one in her town. She heard the vax was available at the one in my town and drove up. She's uninsured. She said they asked only for a state ID.

[KentuckyWoman]

73. Your friend is refusing to pay.

The drug is free. Walgreens charges a fee for the admin cost. That either goes to insurance or you pay it.

If the local Walgreens mishandled, then talk to the store manager or go to a different one. Easy peasy.

[W_HAMILTON]

85. He refused nothing.

He made an appointment, went to the appointment, was asked for his insurance, provided his insurance card, and was told that Walgreens did not accept his insurance and therefore he would need to go somewhere else to get the vaccine.

[obamanut2012]

101. No, you don't pay anything for this

Zilch. If insurance doesn't cover it, the Feds do. It is 100% free.

[KentuckyWoman]

113. Medicare was billed $74 and paid $22

For each of my 2 shots at Walgeens.

EVERYONE I know paid the admin fee unless it was a clinic sponsored by the State or County.

If you have no insurance the provider takes your info and bills your county.

[In It to Win It]

77. From my experience, I had my shots at Walgreens. They are completely free. You don't pay anything.

Walgreens should not charge anything. You don't need insurance (I don't have insurance).

The bill for administrative costs goes to the federal government.

[alphafemale]

96. Report them to corporate. COVID vaccine is given without insurance or ID

What is the store number?

Someone here will do it for you.

Sounds like an anti-vax store manager and they may deserve jail time and publicity

After I had the shot I contacted my insurance and they dropped $200 in my HSA.
But it is not a matte at all of needing insurance.

[Crunchy Frog]

97. I would absolutely go to the local media with this.

Unless their corporate headquarters really comes through.

This is ridiculous, insane, and absolutely unacceptable given the nature of the public health crisis and the desperate necessity to get as many people vaccinated as possible. They deserve to be publicly embarrassed, at the very least, for fucking around with matters of life and death.

And screw everyone who's called you a liar without actually reading your full account of what happened.

[Marrah_Goodman]

99. You don't need insurance to get the vax

Someone in this story is full of crap.

[obamanut2012]

102. 100% agree

This is not true, it is not factual at all.

[AngryOldDem]

109. Then why did I have to provide it when I registered?

If I had left that out on the state website, chances were my registration would have been flagged as being incomplete and wouldn’t have gone through. My daughter got vaxxed through her university, and she had to give insurance information as well.

The feds need to be handling this, or dictating to satellite sites exactly how to register people. It should not be this hard.

[Brother Buzz]

118. My county only wanted to know if I was insured through Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente was the ONLY query, and I have no clue why.

[yardwork]

104. The CDC website says the COVID vaccine is free, regardless of insurance.

If Walgeeens did this, report the store to headquarters.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/no-cost.html?s_cid=11398:how%20much%20does%20covid%20vaccine%20cost:sem.ga

[MineralMan]

105. The simplest explanation is that the Walgreen's employee was at fault.

That sort of thing happens all the time. Either the employee didn't know the rules or was deliberately refusing to vaccinate someone. There are people working almost everywhere who are anti-vaxxers, too.

There's no reason to question the OP's truthfulness, when there is such a simple explanation of how that could happen.

[W_HAMILTON]

124. That's my guess is what happened, and that's why I want to get to the truth.

If this person is turning away people from getting the vaccine -- either unintentionally and ESPECIALLY if done intentionally -- I want them held accountable and the situation fixed so that no one is ever turned away again.

[MineralMan]

129. Some folks are far too quick to blame the messenger here.

Accusing you of not telling the truth represents some of the worst of that.

[marie999]

106. Wow, so many DUs who just want to malign someone when they don't have any knowledge

of this one case of someone turned away. You want to call the poster a liar, prove it didn't happen.

[W_HAMILTON]

125. Thank you for your support.

I've been around DU for around 15 years -- I said around 20 years in another post, but I went and checked when I was originally registered, even though I think I had been browsing DU a bit before that (I first started when someone mentioned this site on C-SPAN) -- and have been a regular contributor and consistent contributor through the years (although I don't post nearly as much as some do). You would think I would be given the benefit of the doubt -- once again, what incentive do I have to lie about this? -- but apparently not. It is sad. I was looking for nothing from anyone other than the answer to whether this situation was common and, if not, what I could to go about reporting the situation so that it would never happen again.

[AngryOldDem]

180. I'm in your corner too.

I have no idea why insurance is an issue with a “free” vaccine, but it was for some of us. Just because it wasn’t for others doesn’t mean it wasn’t so. I even got an insurance statement showing I owed $0.00, and it puzzled me until I remembered my shots back in April.

You never know what kind of response you’ll get on these forums.

[fescuerescue]

115. I'm surprised that with so many DU experts on vaccines and insurance, that this is a mystery

It's really simple, although infuriating.

Fact 1) Walgreens doesn't have a relationship with that person's insurer.

Fact 2) HHS will pay for the vaccine for anyone who is uninsured.

Fact 3) Walgreens cannot use that person insurance.

Fact 4) HHS won't reimburse Walgreens, because that person has insurance.

Conclusion: That person cannot get the vaccine at Walgreens without lying about insurance status.


Fortunately, there are lots of other providers and that insurance plan will have a list.

[obamanut2012]

133. That is incorrect -- Walgreen's cannot turn anyone away because of their insurance

It is covered, period. If it happened exactly as OP said, Walgreen's was 100% wrong. No grey area.

[fescuerescue]

150. It's essentially a bad loophole in the system

They were turned away because they had insurance that Walgreens isn't affliated with.
HHS won't reimburse them because the customer had insurance.
The customers insurance won't reimburse Walgreens because they do not have a contract.

Walgreens only had two options

1) Give the vaccine away at a loss.
2) Turn the customer away.

You are correct. There is no grey area.

[Effete Snob]

204. You are misinformed

If you have health insurance, then your health insurance is charged.

If you do not have health insurance, it is subsidized by the government.

But it is fraud to charge it to the government if the patient has insurance.

In this instance, the patient has insurance which Walgreen's does not accept, because it is a cheap brand of insurance with a strict in-network policy:

https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/providers/mi/medicaid/Walgreens-FAQ-12-29-Pharmacy.pdf

Q. What is the effective date of the Medicaid pharmacy network change removing Walgreens?
A. This Medicaid pharmacy network change is effective January 1, 2017 for all counties excluding Genesee.

Q. What Lines of Business does the pharmacy network change impact?
A. Molina Medicaid is the only line of business impacted by this change. Molina Medicare, which includes MI Health Link and DSNP members, may continue to access Walgreens. Walgreens does not participate with Molina Marketplace pharmacy network.

-----------


Do you find it at all amazing that, for this fictional tale, the OP just happened to know that Molina was not accepted by Walgreens? Like, he did research before making it up?

[W_HAMILTON]

138. To echo what the other person that responded to you said:

I understand the in-network/out-of-network issues that arise during regular medical situations; however, needless to say, the COVID situation is apparently completely different and has outside-of-the-ordinary protocols involved here. I called the CDC and was given this guidance:

COVID-19 vaccination providers cannot:

- Charge you for a vaccine

- Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance

- Deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network

- Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination

- Require additional services in order for a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; however, additional healthcare services can be provided at the same time and billed as appropriate

Taken from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/no-cost.html

So, no, it looks Walgreens should NOT have turned this person away simply because his insurance was out-of-network. That goes against the federal protocols set for those providers who are participating in the COVID vaccination program.

[fescuerescue]

149. Ok your post reinforces mine.

Walgreens can't charge the customer.

Walgreens can't charge HHS because the customer has insurance.

Walgreens doesn't have a contract with the insurer. It's NOT a network issue. Network issues only arise when the provider has a contract with the insurer.

Walgreens only option was to provide the vaccine free of charge and NOT seek reimbursement.

For reasons that are private too walgreens. They choose to not give out the vaccine at a loss without reimbursement.

[W_HAMILTON]

153. Not from what I was told.

Walgreens is out-of-network for the person's insurance. Per the CDC protocols for those participating in the federal vaccination program, providers cannot turn away someone simply because their insurance is out-of-network. Does that mean that they list them as an uninsured patient and get reimbursed through the federal program instead? I do not know, but that is something Walgreens should know. Either way, rejecting someone looking to get the vaccine because they are out-of-network is against CDC protocols.

[fescuerescue]

158. Yet that's exactly what happened it seems

In this case it seems like it's beyond just network issues.

It's that Walgreens doesn't have a relationship at all with the insurance company. (remember, insurance company have multiple networks)

Walgreens can't go to HHS for reimbursement. They would have to lie about the person insurance status.

Also, I don't know if the CDC protocol has the force of law.

I mean - it is bad form and bad PR. But I don't think they broke any laws here.

I think it's just a gap in policy and law. Not that EVER happens in the US right?

[DFW]

127. I don't know why there are so many different scenarios portrayed here

I remember that my wife and I both had to fill out some kind of questionnaire

When we got to the pharmacy where we had an appointment (made by my office in Dallas), they asked if I had my Medicare card (I didn't), and they said they'd call Washington and get what they needed (done in less than 15 minutes). My wife is a German citizen, so no US health insurance. That made it easier (go figure), so they didn't even ask her for any paperwork beyond her driver's license, which was all in German, but they took it.

It sounds like there are different rules in force for every pharmacy chain, every State, and every other organization that administers vaccines. Predictable, but more than a little cumbersome.

[obamanut2012]

134. All the rules are the same

If this happened as the OP said, then there was a rogue Walgreen's and someone needs to call their HQ.

[DFW]

139. That would make more sense

I hope someone is able to find out.

[RobinA]

128. I'm Confused

about the issue here. Walgreens doesn't take his insurance. Walgreens doesn't take my insurance as I discovered the first time I went there to fill a prescription after getting my current job and they told me, "We don't take your insurance." You go somewhere else. It's a little disingenuous for all these places to say the vaccine is free when it clearly isn't if you read down below that insurance or the government will be billed. But Walgreens can't bill his insurance and they can't bill the government, so why would they provide the service for free?

[obamanut2012]

135. Because they do

They are part of the Federal program. Insurance has zero to do with anything. They must give the vax to anyone who meets age requirements.

[W_HAMILTON]

137. This was my understanding as well.

But then this Walgreens situation happened, and I wondered if I was wrong all this time; however, I called the CDC and a representative pointed me to the following guidance:

COVID-19 vaccination providers cannot:

- Charge you for a vaccine

- Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance

- Deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network

- Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination

- Require additional services in order for a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; however, additional healthcare services can be provided at the same time and billed as appropriate

Taken from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/no-cost.html

Based on this, it sure seems like this particular Walgreens was not following federal protocols that they agreed to by participating in the federal vaccination program. The person in question should NOT have been turned away simply because his insurance was out-of-network.

[fescuerescue]

154. And people on this site cannot believe that we have a GAP in our health system

Suddenly we have a perfect system?

[W_HAMILTON]

132. It most certainly did happen.

The only thing you should be sorry for is accusing him -- and by extension, me -- of lying. I am just trying to get someone vaccinated and looking for help so that no one has to go through the situation this person did and get turned away from being vaccinated and you say that it is just a lie. I have absolutely no incentive to lie here. What I said happened, did happen. I verified it myself by calling the Walgreens in question. In a subsequent call to report the matter to the local health department, the freaking person that answered my call said they had the exact same problem with Walgreens and had to go get their vaccination at another location. Claiming it is all just a lie rather than putting the onus on Walgreens to remedy the situation and stop denying people the vaccine -- which, per the CDC guidelines that I was provided when I called to report the incident, most certainly is breaking COVID vaccine provider protocol -- is you actively supporting those out there that are preventing more people from getting the vaccine. I would hope that as a DU member that would not be the case, but it is the end result of you calling the situation a lie.

[kcr]

141. I don't feel a bit sorry

He's not my friend so I'm not compelled to believe his entirely unbelievable story. I think your friend just wants you to get off his back. He doesn't want the vaccine and has no plans to get one.

[W_HAMILTON]

145. Did he get the Walgreens pharmacy worker in on it too?

The one that admitted that they do turn people away for the vaccine if they do not accept their insurance?

And he does have plans to get one: he made an appointment with CVS for next Sunday, and, yes, they do accept his insurance.

And nice compassion you have there. If you had no helpful advice for this situation, you could have simply chosen to not respond rather than be ill-informed and assume that it's all a lie when it most certainly is not.

[Kang Colby]

140. I'll take "stuff that never happened" for $400, Alex.....n/t

[W_HAMILTON]

147. It happened.

What I was never happened was your unhelpful contribution to this thread and the situation. You could have just as easily not commented.

[fescuerescue]

152. How bizzarre is it that there are people refusing to believe

That we have a gap in our health and insurance system?

On this site no less.

[W_HAMILTON]

155. I know.

What I wonder is what incentive do THEY have for calling me a liar? Do they think that I am somehow shitting on the federal vaccination program? BY WANTING TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED? I mean, what the hell? I know there are so many liars on the internet that people should be skeptical, but what do I get out of lying? Did I join this site ~15 years and be a contributing member in the mean time just so I can make up a vaccination story for...? For what? I didn't ask for donations. I didn't ask for freaking internet fame. All I did was ask whether this situation was normal and, if not, what I could do to make sure it gets fixed and never happens to anyone else ever again? What the hell is so nefarious about that?

[Crunchy Frog]

162. My impression is that many people on this site enjoy being self righteousness.

Accusing other posters of lying affords them a good opportunity to exercise that indulgence.

[Tomconroy]

165. At least they didn't try to get your post

Taken down by claiming it was a Republican talking point. Good luck. You are a good friend and you have a low tolerance for crap.

[W_HAMILTON]

167. Thank you for your kind words.

[obamanut2012]

173. There is no gap -- you do need not insurance or to be in network

IF that is a rogue Walgreen's, then the OP needs to call Walgreen HQ. US healthcare has a lot of issues, but thisn't one of them. The vax is free to everyone. Period.

[fescuerescue]

176. Yet. The person didn't get the vaccine from Walgreens

At all.

Period.

Which is more likely? That we have a gap in our insurance system. Or that Walgreens has gone rogue and has joined the ranks of the anti-vaxxers, while staying in the business of providing vaccinations?

[obamanut2012]

201. You are incorrect - there is zero gap here

I didn't say Walgreen's was rogue, I said a pharmacy employee there may be.

Either the OP is lying, his friend is lying, or there is a rogue Walgreen's.

Period.

You are 100% incorrect, and you're doubling down is weird. The vaccine is free, you don;t need insurance, you don't need to be in-network. Saying there is a gap doesn't make one appear.

You are not acting in good faith, so the dialogue is ending here.

[fescuerescue]

202. There is no bad guy here

Not everyone is out to get you. Not everyone is lying to you. Nor are rogue employees out kill off the world with Covid. Heck you are even accusing me as being part of your conspiracy!

Worst case is an employee made a mistake.

Most likely case, based on the CDC rules, insurance rules, insurance contracts is that there is a minor gap with insured people going facilities without a contract.

Heck that happens every single day in every single hospital in the US (the provider doesn't have a relationship with the insurer)

Your faith in the insurance system is a bit misplaced, and you have some serious trust issues.

So I'm happy to stop talking to you.

[Ace Rothstein]

144. Is there anywhere else local to you that your friend can go?

[W_HAMILTON]

146. He went to a nearby CVS and was turned away because they do not accept walk-ins.

He has since made an appointment at CVS for next Sunday and verified that they do take his insurance.

My issue with this situation is that it is unlikely that he is the only person that Walgreens has turned away, which means how many people have gone without the vaccine due to their policy, which, I have since learned, is most certainly against the federal COVID protocols for vaccination providers? I want this situation fixed so that no one else is turned away from getting the vaccine like he was ever again.

[Treefrog]

156. Except I've heard of no stories where this has happened anywhere else.

My friends, acquaintances, and I were all vaxxed at either Walgreens or CVS. No problems.

In my small red town, there are signs at EVERY pharmacy, including the private ones, that the jab is there for walk-ins. Walmart even has a banner up and signs inside the store as well. Harris Teeter and Publix have the vax, with signs up advertising the fact.

You’re getting so het up that people have problems with this tale, but the fact is we all have been through the vax process and have family, as well as friends, who have also.

Don’t take things so personally. Goodness gracious.

[W_HAMILTON]

159. I've heard two just in the past two days.

The person I called at my city health department also said that they were originally told that Walgreens did not accept their health insurance and that they would need to get their vaccination elsewhere. Just because you and the people you know haven't run into this problem doesn't mean that others haven't, so insinuating they are liars is rude and unhelpful.

And, yes, I will get heated up that people like yourself have provided absolutely no help in this matter whatsoever and have spent their entire time in this thread calling the entire situation a fabrication. It's not. Stop polluting this thread with YOUR lies. You are wrong, period, full stop. Could you even step back for a moment and think that you are in the wrong and maybe think of what advice you could offer if the situation is as I have said? Then what? Do you think it's right for them to turn away someone looking to get the vaccine because of bureaucratic insurance-related issues, which is apparently against CDC protocols for vaccination providers?

[Treefrog]

161. "Stop polluting the thread with my your lies!" Nice personal attack.

I never once have told a lie. Name one.

[W_HAMILTON]

163. Is it anymore a personal attack than you calling me a liar throughout this thread?

And you have told a lie: that I am lying when I am not.

[Treefrog]

166. Again, please reread my posts. I said I didn't believe your friend, as many did.

I never called you a liar. Please point out where I did.

You can’t.

When someone devolves into name-calling, as you have done with several of us on the thread, it becomes clear that’s all you have.

Again, deep breaths and hope your day improves!

[obamanut2012]

171. Whoa, the poster stated not ONE LIE

Name them, now. State what lien they told. They told NONE.

As my father says, you need to calm down and cool your jets.

[Treefrog]

175. Thank you.

This guy has a real bee in the bonnet with me. My comments are some of the milder ones I’ve seen in this thread lol.

[W_HAMILTON]

181. You did lie and continue to do so.

Reckless disregard for the truth is lying. I have answered all of your questions and have given absolutely no reason to lie about this. If a Republican were given the facts about something and continued to perpetuate misleading information about the subject, they would be telling LIES. You are doing the exact same here. The fact that I even genuinely asked you to stop for a second and assume that I was telling the truth and what that would mean not only in your inability to empathize with the situation, but what it could portend for others out there that have been turned away when trying to get the vaccine, and you just ignored the question completely. Someone is not acting in good faith here, but that someone is not me.

[Treefrog]

182. Dude, name ONE lie.

Give it up. This is pathetic.

[W_HAMILTON]

186. You've spent your entire time in this thread calling me a liar over telling my story.

I've answered every single one of your questions, including you telling me to take further steps because you think I am proving a lie, and yet you have now TWICE dodged my simple question: and what if I am telling the truth? How would you feel about your actions then?

I should put you on ignore, but I don't want to give you the satisfaction of being the first person I've ever had to ignore on this site.

[Treefrog]

190. Never called you a liar. And you've still not quoted one.

Wow, on the phone to the health department and the news station!

Go for it! Keep us updated!

[Treefrog]

183. We are waiting for you to let us know what news organizations you've contacted about this.

Waiting with bated breath.

You seem really concerned so please let the media know!

[W_HAMILTON]

185. I am actually emailing my local news station right now and will gladly post their reply.

I already have said that I am a private person and would not want to get doxxed because of this, I am not looking for fame, I an looking to have the Walgreens in question held accountable if what they did was wrong and to make sure that they don't do it to any other vaccine seekers.

[Treefrog]

191. Good you're not looking for fame.

Because no doubt this thread will make it it to a major news market.

Pretty sure they’ll try to verify and then kill it. Happy to apologize if I’m proven wrong. Please let me know.

[Treefrog]

192. So now you're contacting the news media, but didn't want to tell anyone here which Walgreens it was.

This gets more fascinating by the minute.

[W_HAMILTON]

195. Per your other advice, "they can disguise your voice and your identity," right?

I'll happily jump through all the hurdles you want me to just to prove you wrong and to get that apology that you said would be forthcoming -- or was that another of your lies?

[Treefrog]

197. Oh, sweetie, I'd be more than happy to apologize to you when you get this on the news ok?

Keep calling me a liar, though you’ve yet to cite a single one. Glad you’re involving the news media. We’ll all be waiting! I’ve not called you a name ever.

Very weak.you seem unable to stop with the personal attacks. Not able to post a single lie you claim I said.

I’ll ll disengage with you now, because I find people who resort to insults will only continue with same. Good luck, and we will all be watching for the Walgreens story about a man “turned away for a vax!”

Bookmarking this thread to wait for your follow ups. Good evening to you. All the best.

[W_HAMILTON]

198. And I have not called you any names either.

You seem to think that saying you are lying about me is unacceptable, but you calling my story a bunch of lies is somehow acceptable, even though it is the truth.

[Treefrog]

199. Oh dear.

Bye now.

[obamanut2012]

170. Then call Walgreen's Corporate

Not your local health department or CDC. Call HQ.

[W_HAMILTON]

172. That was the first thing that I did.

The representative said that she filed a complaint and that I should receive an email response in 24-48 hours.

I have not yet received that response.

[obamanut2012]

174. Then call your local paper or news station

Because, if this happened as your friend said, then there is a rogue antivaxxer pharmacist in charge there.

[Treefrog]

177. Excellent idea.

Most news stations would jump on a story like this.

If it can be verified, of course.

[obamanut2012]

178. Yup! Our local new stations, legit papers, and fishwrappers would love it

[Treefrog]

179. Absolutely! And the op would not have to worry about being "doxxed."

News stations are great about changing voices, hiding faces and so on.

I’d be on the line to one in a skinny minute!

[Treefrog]

184. I don't think he's done so yet.

Surely he’d let us know?

[ecstatic]

187. my worst pharmacy experiences have involved walgreens. smh.

A lot of the pharmacists have their own agenda and their own fake rules that aren't documented anywhere. You won't encounter that side of them unless you're getting something "controversial" like Plan B or something (the vaccine?). These days I deal with Kroger or CVS. Mostly Kroger. Drama free each time.

[BradAllison]

188. I got mine at a state run center

I was asked via email to submit my insurance but never actually did as was never asked in person. Got the shots no problem.

[Tomconroy]

193. I think that those claiming this OP isn't true should offer

A small iota of evidence to support their claim.

[Moosepoop]

194. Got mine at Waglreens in April

At that time, one still had to "sign up" online for an appointment, which was only possible when one's age group/health status group became eligible, and even then only when the local pharmacy actually had vaccines available.

My opportunity arose (I was checking the site every day until it did), and I booked the online appointment for the next day. Meanwhile, they had an online information form, which I printed out blank and filled in by hand. I left the info boxes about insurance blank, as i wasn't sure what to put.

The company I work for has insurance that is "grandfathered" out of having to comply with the ACA. It does not cover any vaccines -- not for flu, not for pneumonia, nothing. I was fairly certain that they wouldn't cover Covid vaccines, either.

When I got to the pharmacy for my appointment (it was the J&J shot), I told the tech at the counter why I'd left the insurance info blank. I had insurance, but it would not cover the shot. Should I still put that insurance info down?

She said that in that situation, they consider the person uninsured (for the shot, at least) and put me in the system for the government coverage.

The "out of network" situation with your friend should, I believe, have been handled the same way. Out of network simply means that the provider (Walgreens, in this case) does not contract with the insurer in question. In which case, the patient is uninsured for the shot at Walgreens under that insurance, and should have been put into the system for the government coverage.

That's just my experience with the vaccine at Walgreens, and my opinion. I don't claim to know the actual legalities involved.

[W_HAMILTON]

196. This is what I would have expected to happen as well.

Whether it is being reimbursed by the federal government to private insurance and then to the provider, or to the provider directly, the federal government is still footing the bill regardless. Per the CDC guidelines that I was directed to, no one is supposed to be turned away from getting the vaccine because they are out-of-network. From everything I've been able to tell, the person should have been able to get the vaccine and the bureaucracy of it all should be on Walgreens to figure out.

[Effete Snob]

205. Yep, it's not like anyone checks

Can you imagine the government office where they are going to be hunting down pharmacies that gave shots to people who actually had a health insurance policy?

[Xolodno]

200. That's fucked up.

What else can be said? Obviously the individual was greatly misinformed and/or grossly negligent....or worse.

The health insurance I have from the company I work for requires you to do your prescriptions by mail or at Walgreens. I got my jab at Costco and they covered it.

Only reason I went there, it was March and every pharmacy was fully booked, I live in a "purple" area. So I told myself that Republican areas probably have plenty availability. I was right. Booked the closest pharmacy there and drove 40 minutes.

Before the vaccine, I got an email from Quest Diagnostics that they do COVID testing. Went to the site and found out they were going to charge me $200. Went to Rite Aid as they were doing it for free (had a nasty flu...thought it would be prudent to find out if I got it...nope, just the flu). Again, no charge.