My flu shot was covered by my insurance today for the first time.

[Quixote1818]

My job provides pretty lousy medical insurance under Rocky Mountain HMO. In years passed I always had to pay the $30 for my flu shot but today it was covered. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this is because of the Affordable Care Act requiring all companies to cover preventative care. Correct?


On Edit I found this: http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/05/13/obamacare-healthcare-freebies

Snip> There’s still no such thing as a free lunch, but would you settle for a flu shot with a price tag of $0.00, or gratis medication to help you stop smoking? Those freebies—and others—will be coming your way, regardless of what health insurance plan you choose for coverage starting in January 2014, when some of the biggest changes under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) kick in.

[pnwmom]

1. You are right. The ACA is why. I got one for free this fall, because our insurer

just decided to go ahead. But the pharmacist said they'd all be doing it for free in January.

[laundry_queen]

2. That just seems like a no-brainer to me

even before the ACA why wouldn't insurance companies want to cover that? $30 instead of a $5000 ER visit later? Gee, I can't figure out which one would be better....

I live in Canada (Alberta) and our flu shots are free for everyone. You can get them at your doctor's, at the local public health unit or at pretty much any pharmacy. They estimate it saves the system a lot of money...far fewer people in the ER. Currently we are the hotspot in the world for H1N1 so there was recently an aggressive campaign for the flu shot. Lots of line ups.

I used to 'not believe' in flu shots (I'm young, healthy, it's only the flu, etc) until I ended up with borderline pneumonia after a bout with the seasonal flu that resulted in an ER visit because none of my asthma meds were working and I couldn't breathe at all. Scary stuff. It took me months to get over that illness and of course, the next winter was the H1N1 pandemic...I was thus considered high risk and got my vaccine and have gone nearly every year ever since...except for 2 years ago when I caught the flu in September before the vaccine was even available in our area (got it from a friend of my daughter's who had been travelling overseas), and I was very sick for 2-3 months after that...borderline pneumonia again/bronchitis...so sick I wasn't prepared to get the flu shot while that ill. Then by the time I felt well enough, there was no more vaccine available. So I went without that year...this year the same thing happened but I managed to secure a vaccine for myself at a local pharmacy around Christmas after my coughing attacks had ceased.

One thing I've noticed - the years I get the flu vaccine I don't get sick. I mean, I don't even get colds. It's great. I will continue to get them every year (so long as I don't get sick in September again, geez what is UP with that?).

[pnwmom]

3. I've had the same experience. For at least six months after the flu shot,

I don't even get a cold. Sometime in the summer I might end up with one. But the flu shot seems to rev up my whole system, though they don't make that claim for it.

[Cha]

4. Worth a big K&R!

[SheilaT]

5. Probably.

I'm one of those annoyingly healthy persons who almost never needs any sort of medical care, but recently my high blood pressure caught up with me. The details don't matter, but I did get a refund for one of the copays for doctors visits.

Also, I got a shingles vaccination last month because I'm over 60. I'd expected to have a significant copay, but there was none at all. I'm guessing that it was thanks to the ACA.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Those shingle shots are very expensive

I am glad your insurance paid for them.
and you will be glad you got the shot...trust me on that.
btw...the vaccine is only good for a couple of years...you might want to check with our doc about frequency of shots.

[SheilaT]

9. I was under the impression that it was a once in a lifetime shot.

I'll find out, and re-vaccinate if I need to.

My younger son got shingles at the tender age of 20. He's 26 now, hasn't had a recurrence, but what is completely unclear to me is whether or not someone that young should or can get the shot. I got mine at a pharmacy, and because I'm over 60 I didn't need a scrip for it. Perhaps a younger person needs it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. I had no idea you could get it without a script.

Mr. Dixie's dr. gave him a script.
The deal was, he had to go to pharmacy, get the drug, go to Dr. office to get the drug injected, all within a brief period of time.
Our expereince was 2 years ago.
Maybe our living in a small town had something to do with that process, no one trained to give injections at the pharmacy....
I had just gotten over a VERY bad shingles attack, so Mr. Dixie was concerned enough to check out the vaciccine.
At that time, the info was that the shot only lasted a few years, it prevents only about 50% of the cases, and it costs around 150.00.
BUT..here is some info. I found on the webjust today:
The vaccine is recommend to people 60 or older because it may prevent shingles, but if it doesn't, the incidence of post shingle neuropathy is greatly diminshed.
Apparently post pain is worse as you get oloder.
THAT is not to be sneezed at. I had enough post pain, even a year later, that I was very uncomfortable.
My brother came down with shingles , he was only 53, and his outbreak was in the exaxt same area as mine was, which was half his torso from top of rib case to hip, front and back...BAD case.
He is not complaining of post shingle pain.

The vaccine was developed in 2006, it is new, information keeps changing, including cost and how to get the shot.

Best thing is to do a search for "Shingles vaccine".

I would recommend it, knowing what I know.

[SheilaT]

14. The need for script may vary from state to state.

Since I'm well over 60 I didn't need it.

As for how long it lasts, it looks as if there's a bit of uncertainty. One source says one dose is all that's needed, another says they're not certain if it lasts longer than four years. Presumably in the next four years or so that will be figured out.

I also see that it's no being recommended for those over 50.

[madrchsod]

6. pay for a shot or pay for the cost of the illness?

that`s why medicare pays for all my shots...it`s cheaper than paying the cost of treatment especially people over 65.

[Uben]

8. I used my new ACA insurance for the first time....

...yesterday. It was for the only prescription drug I take, a statin. And, for the first time, it was no cost to me!
I pay $775/mo for the insurance and it covers me and my daughter. I make way too much for a subsidy, but the policy is cheaper than what I had, and it is much better! I have always been healthy as an ox, as has my daughter, but you never know when disaster will strike.

[FreeState]

10. Is this for every policy or just the ones on the exchange?

Will my pre-existing employer paid insurance cover these things too?

[Quixote1818]

13. It's for every policy. Isn't that cool! :)

This video explains changes to existing policies near the beginning:

[Zorra]

11. Got my ACA free wellness exam and free full lab blood workups last week.

Everything is normal or better!