Has anyone else seen what their insurance paid vs what they were billed for Covid vaccines?

[herding cats]

I'm just curious.

My insurance was billed $119 for my first shot. They were allowed $17.58. Zero was paid because they took too long to claim. This came post my second shot "explainer of benefits"

The second shot was whopping $199 charge, they filed in time and were paid $29.45.

The site I went to was staffed by medical volunteers. Was the venue charging these prices? I know they had to hire people to direct traffic and get us all through the que.

Both vaccines were at the same mass vaccination site. Not that it matters, I paid nothing I get that, but dang it feels odd what they charged, vs what was paid and my knowing it was all volunteer staff. Were they being charged that much for us to drive like lemmings through the venues parking lot for 4 hours? Maybe it was the traffic people?

Editing to add: My husband was vaccinated before me at another mass vaccination site in a different county. They never filed with our insurance and they had all the info as well before vaccination. I'm just curious of others experience with this. I'm not angry or being salty in any way.

[elleng]

1. Nope, but I'm on Medicare.

No paper work at all, and received thru County where I live, NOT my 'official' home county.

[herding cats]

3. Exactly like my own mom.

She has no clue as to the billing, which is why I asked here.

[elleng]

5. Feeling well, I assume.

I'm hoping to hear something/sometime about a third shot.

[herding cats]

6. I'm hiding at home, fully vaccinated and hopefully waiting for my booster.

I am fine! I hope you are as well! ❤️

[elleng]

8. Fine, and as home is rather isolated,

no need to hide! DO grocery store, outdoor restaurants, and doctor and dental offices as needed.

[herding cats]

15. I did do all of those and am caught up on my medical.

I'm in a low vaccination county. Even masked I worry. No one here wears masks and it's unnerving. Cases have basically went verticals and I'm immunocompromised. So, I'm extra careful. I still order from an amazing restaurant we have here who has a drive through. And enjoy delivery.

I'm living my life as best as I can until I get my booster. ❤️

[elleng]

23. Good luck.

Luckily I don't have your 'issues,' not immunocompromised, pretty hi-vax county and state, and folks @ grocery store returning to masks; impressed me.

[herding cats]

29. Enjoy and be safe.

My heart is happy for you! ❤️

[elleng]

31. Thanks, h-cats.

[OAITW r.2.0]

11. me, too....

painless - jab and financial/paperwork wise.

[elleng]

13. Right!

[GulfCoast66]

2. I got mine at a Federal FEMA site. No insurance info was requested.

Soldiers from the 101st airborne ran the site and gave me my shots.

[herding cats]

4. My sister went to one run by the National Guard and it was the same.

I'm asking here because I don't have a reference point.

I'm not being salty at all, I'm just curious.

[sheshe2]

34. For me it was CVS both times.

Asked info when I made my appointment and that was it. The vax as stated was free.

When our mask mandate lifted a few weeks ago, few wore masks. Now a few weeks later CVS employees are all wearing masks and the sign on the door said masks, vaxed or not were highly recommended.

I never stopped wearing mine.

Stay safe my friend.

[herding cats]

36. My vax was free as well.

I don't think I made that point clear in my OP.

I was an early round vaccination due to my medical issues. I went to one of those mass vaccination hubs, where literally 1,000's+ a day we're being vaccinated. So did my husband, but his never filed with our insurance.

I was just curious if anyone else saw silly overcharges, of course not paid, by their insurance.

I've never unmasked. I've reconciled myself to the fact I may never be able to again, which sucks but that's life. Right now I can't even go into a store with a mask per my doctor and be safe. So, yeah, that's where I am. Curbside and delivery for me again. Boo! I'm so over this.

[Hoyt]

7. Me too, although it was State FEMA and Nat'l Guard in the mountains.

We really enjoyed the drive and they had the process down like Chick-fil-A. Ready to go back for a booster.

[GulfCoast66]

30. Your not kidding about having the process down.

There were maybe 200 in front of me in line. Thought I was there for hours.

One of the guys in front of me commented they were National Guard. But as we quickly got closer I saw the screaming Eagle on their sleeve and told him there were not NG but the 101st.

I was out, including my 15 minute wait time in 50 minutes. Best run operation I’ve ever seen. I’m good at organizing people but that was amazing. I guess it’s what they do.

I asked they young man giving me the shot where they were sleeping. Said since so many hotels in Orlando were empty he was in the nicest hotel he had ever stayed in.

[dflprincess]

9. I got my shots at a pharmacy & did give my insurance info

My insurance company was billed $80 for the first shot & it paid $40. Second shot was $51 & they paid $22.

My out of pocket for both shots was $0.

[herding cats]

16. Thank you.

This is what I was curious about. I appreciate the answer!

[lpbk2713]

10. Neither of my visits to Sam's Club didn't cost a dime.

I found out later my insurance paid $17 each.

[Sympthsical]

12. The place I went didn't ask for insurance

They just gave people the shot.

[Midnight Writer]

37. Same here. National Guard administrating the site and no mention of insurance.

[BigmanPigman]

38. Ditto.

I think my state paid for it (CA).

[Hortensis]

40. Same. Big FEMA drive-through.

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. I think you got scammed....no way should the vax have cost you out of pocket. nt

[herding cats]

17. It didn't cost me a penny.

I was asking about what they charged my insurance was all. In total my insurance only paid $24.94 due to their messing up and not filing the first shot in time.

I was just curious if anyone else had mass vaccination sites trying to gouge.

[OAITW r.2.0]

32. I haven't seen any costs or paperwork regarding the cost of the 2 vacs.

Maybe others have?

[FBaggins]

18. "Volunteer" doesn't necessarily mean "unpaid". Nt

[herding cats]

21. True, but I knew, personally the staff working there.

Everyone I knew of (which was more than two handfuls) were all unpaid. Perhaps others weren't? I'm not sure. They've said the traffic control was paid, though. That could be pricey id think?

[hibbing]

19. I'm actually shocked people have paid

I lined up with a few thousand of my closest friends at a local high school and got the one shot. Was not asked about insurance nor had to provide any insurance information.


Peace

[herding cats]

24. It was free to me.

I'm asking what people's insurance was charged and subsequently paid. I guess I wasn't clear there.

[hibbing]

25. Got it n/t

[underpants]

20. The best I've been able to find is about $30 to administer the shots

That’s what pharmacies are being paid. I’d been wondering about goal cost. I think it’s all paid by the Feds and it’s $0 for the individual.

[herding cats]

26. Yes, that's what I've found as well.

Thank you for your information! This is what I was seeking validation on.

Also, I paid zero. Just to make that clear again. I was just curious if anyone else who visited early on mass vaccination sites saw such as well.

[Hortensis]

41. Yes, and thanks to you also for the info and discussion.

[FreeState]

22. I declined to use insurance

They gave me the option and it was easier to not provide my insurance information.

[Hoyt]

27. Honestly, medical providers usually charge multiples of what they expect to

get. With insured patients, providers are required to write off a chunk of their charge and not bill you. Theoretically, they could go after uninsured patients, but they likely don’t have the money to pay.

Believe it or not, when Medicare was enacted, what providers charged say two years ago, determined how much they got paid in current year. Quickly, providers learned to Jack up their charges.

Anyway, today Medicare and each private insurer have a fixed amount they allow and “participating” providers have to accept that amount.

Point is, charge portion just doesn’t mean much anymore. They could put $1 Million as charge, and all they could get, without trouble, is somewhere between $17 and $30.

This kind of craziness has driven me nuts.

[herding cats]

33. This, right here, is what I was suspecting.

Thank you for your reply. It's exactly what I was suspicious of but wasn't sure... it's what I was asking about. Their prices claimed, vs expenses seemed off to me.

Don't get me wrong, the place was staffed by amazing volunteers! My heart goes out to all of them and they have my deepest appreciation! They're hero's and I know how exhausted they all were at the end of the day! I'm in no way denigrating those amazing men and women. They're forever in my heart!

I was just curious and asking here about others experience with such.

[marie999]

47. I don't know but what I think is they charge Medicare or VA or insurance a higher amount

then they know they will get because if they charge what Medicare will pay they might not be able to charge uninsured more than that. Does anyone know if this is correct? I was in the ER and had a brain scan, blood work, and urinalysis. They billed the VA over $5,000 and received $800 not including the doctors. I was not charged anything. They might have a problem billing uninsured people $5,000 if they only billed insured $800.

[Xolodno]

28. Yeah, company I works for requires a mail order pharmacy or Walgreens.

I live in a purple area and trying to get an appointment was near impossible. Then I realized there was GOP area about 40 minutes from me. Booked for Costco. They billed the insurance like $80 but dropped (master ledger bullshit, no doubt) it down to $20 and patient responsibility was $0. Fully covered. Think it was because the company said they would cover the cost of the vaccine out of its own pocket if need be.

[Deuxcents]

35. Been 2x vaxxed

I showed my drivers license and that was it. I haven’t really looked at my insurance papers I get every month. Never thought of it but interesting to know. Insurance is a legit racket. .imo

[Hortensis]

42. Wouldn't be if people acted as if it was their money.

Last edited Sat Aug 7, 2021, 08:07 AM - Edit history (1)

Which in the end at least some part of excess charges will be, through premiums.

Underregulated business is always a racket. But you know that as modern medicine developed, health insurance became a critical means of making it available not just to those who paid for it but for the many who can't, or just don't. A big part of the redistributive economy. Property and liability insurance are also lesser but significant ways those who have help pay healthcare costs for those who don't. One way or another nothing's free and we pay.

[viva la]

39. Got the first in March at a county site, no insurance card

Second time thet stressed it was free, but please show insurance if you had it. No one actually took the card or billed. I assumed the government was paying. Funny I've never seen an article about how it's all paid for, especially now when the pharmacy is doing shots.

[leftyladyfrommo]

43. I wasn't charged at all. I went to a big vaccine facility

at Cerner. Lots and lots of people. No one even asked about payment.

[JoanofArgh]

44. Vaccinations are free. Never had to provide

proof of insurance.

[Piasladic]

45. 40 each for Pfizer

at a CVS in Florida. Didn't have to pay a dime.

Odd thing though when hubby got his at different CVS (we took first vac. apt. available).
40 for his first and they never filed for the second.

edited to add: Filled out my insurance info. when I made the appointment online. 40 is what they charged and 40 is what they were paid.

[ms liberty]

46. My company arranged and paid for our shots

Beginning when they became available. It was probably sumitted to one of our insurance carriers but the cost to us the employees was zero. They're still offering them, at no cost, and paying people for their time doing it.
Editing to add that I assume the company paid for whatever the charges were, but I dont work in HR (I work in Accounting) so I don't actually know. I was on medical leave when they started the program.

[AngryOldDem]

48. I wasn't charged.

A few months after I got my shots I got an insurance statement showing a balance of $0. I was confused for a minute until it dawned on me that it was the vaccine.

These shots should be free. Insurance does not have to be involved in every damn thing medical. No wonder, then, that some aren’t getting it.

[sir pball]

49. $0, New York State doesn't charge

I did have to show my paperwork to prove I was a kitchen worker, but this was back in March. Other than that, no insurance information was asked for. City-run vax site in Harlem.

[GoCubsGo]

50. I got mine at a mass-vax site sponsored by the local hospital and the CDC.

Nobody asked for insurance information. I'm not sure who ran the clinic you went to, but something stinks there. From what I understand, the federal government paid for these vaccines, and they are not asking the insurance companies to reimburse them.

[lark]

51. I am on Medicare and Walmart billed mine.

I hate Walmart but it was the first place I could get in to get the vaccine back in Feb. They did bill Medicare, don't remember the exact amount on the EOB but it was around the amounts you mentioned. They did the job when other places wouldn't, so I am totally ok with them being paid. Hubs got his at Walgreens and they didn't bill his insurance. The large state places did bill Medicare for my sisters' vaccinations, so there's a lot of variability.

[NurseJackie]

52. I also attended a mass "drive-through" vaccination event. No insurance necessary.

It was free.

[alphafemale]

53. I think if any place is charging anyone or any insurance for this?

They are running a scam and committing fraud and they should be reported.

[LeftInTX]

54. Although the vaccines are free, the govt will bill insurance to defray the cost.

I submitted my insurance info..

[Tink41]

55. Not sure what State you live in

I've never heard of such a thing. Walgreens, no insurance, no charge no nothing. Walk in at appt time get stuck, go home. My entire family, extended family vaccinated. No one has ever mentioned bills, charges etc. I'm in Illinois. I need to add, some family in Wisconsin, and I believe we all got vaccinated in different facilities, grocery stores, state run sites, pharmacies, etc

[JCMach1]

56. Free here in TX

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Zero

It never showed up as a claim on my health insurance.
I was vaxxed at a state run mass vaccination site, so maybe that's why.
I gave no insurance info, and it was never asked for.
My monthly statement showed nothing other than my normal prescriptions since I got the shot, 5 to 6 months ago.