A ten minute office visit (six of which I waited...) for a tetanus shot: $307.44

[Earth_First]

Insurance covered $0.

Pardon me while I hop off the "USA!USA!USA!" train this upcoming weekend; 'cause this system is FU*KED!

[Mika]

1. This time it cost you $307.44 for your Freedom™. Remember, Freedom™ isn't free.

[MohRokTah]

14. It's also bullshit

Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis vaccines are one of the vaccines specifically mandated to be covered 100% free under Obamacare.

[eqfan592]

116. Unless the plan was grandfathered in.

Which is sadly the case for some, still.

[treestar]

128. Then that is because they wanted to keep it

The ACA could only be passed by reassuring the idiots who thought they had it made (with inferior policies).

[yeoman6987]

72. Why is your insurance paying 0 ?

I never heard of such a thing. You must have a really bad policy. When you can, get another policy.

[elleng]

2. Don't know about your situation, or insurance,

but tetanus shots are available at my grocery store/pharmacy.

[Hekate]

6. I know it's a huge shock when you think shot=doc=office visit=covered, but it pays to shop around

My Costco pharmacy has a sign up for some of its shots (flu, shingles), as does the CVS pharmacy.

A friend of mine needed a panel of shots before a trip to Africa, and was told it would need to be spread out over half a dozen office visits at $350 a pop. She said no thanks and found a place catering to international travelers that wrapped it up in a single visit. But then she is very used to shopping around because she had no health insurance for 15 years before Medicare finally kicked in for her.

I'm really sorry for the OP. You can't put off a tetanus shot if you've been injured, and what happened was just wrong.

[elleng]

8. Yes, it pays to shop around,

and sorry for the OP too. I've had good insurance for many years, and now it supplements Medicare.

[MohRokTah]

13. Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis vaccines are one of the vaccines specifically mandated to be covered.

Has to be 100% free under Obamacare.

The OP is blowing bullshit.

[Dorian Gray]

21. Perhaps

The shot was probably covered... but would the office visit not be?

[MohRokTah]

25. You can get the shot at any pharmacy and most groery stores

Why would you ever visit a doctor for one?

And if you did, office visits are mandated to be covered under Obamacare.

So more bullshit demonstrated in the OP.

[gvstn]

48. I think you may be oversimplifying things.

If I cut myself with a pair of wire-cutters and needed the wound cleaned (which I have done in the past) and went to my family doctor rather than an urgent care or emergency room you believe or perhaps know that that type of visit is fully covered? That isn't preventative medicine which are the type of doctor visits that are supposedly fully covered.

So I go to my doctor and he has to give me Novocaine or something to numb the wound so he can open it up. Get his gloves and some sterile pads for me to rest my hand on. Open up and clean my wound. Get some more sterile equipment to close things up with a few stitches. Dress the wound and give me a tetanus shot. Have a nurse clean up the room for the next patient. I don't think all that is covered the same as me making an appointment and asking to get a booster for tetanus vaccine because it has been 7-10 years since my last one.

Maybe I am wrong, and I hope I am. If I am wrong I hope someone can help me find a family doctor that does that type of care in the office.

BTW, I think it was $1100 at an ER but was workman's comp. so I didn't get to see the actual bill. I took out my own stitches. And the ER guy did a great job on the stitches--it was a really tricky spot on the palm of my hand and it healed perfectly and left virtually no scar.

[pnwmom]

62. Only the tetanus shot would be for free. The rest would depend on what your deductible and copay is.

[gvstn]

75. Thanks for confirming.

I was fairly sure that was the case. One of the main focuses on ACA is making preventative care affordable.

I don't think most doctors do sutures in the office anymore. I haven't had a long term family physician in years simply because I haven't found one I particularly like and don't go very often so wouldn't expect any favors.

****
Simply cleaning wounds has gotten outrageous. I was thinking back and the $1100 was for something else. It was $700 at an urgent care for a similar injury about 25 years ago. I have no idea what the ER cost but that was 5 or 10 years later and at an ER, probably a couple thousand (they charge you for everyone and every cubicle and every supply and every procedure during your 4 hours there).

[pnwmom]

77. Our insurance has a fee structure that rewards us for using urgent care.

We've had to spend very little for a few trips there in the last year. So for minor injuries, it's a good alternative.

[xmas74]

176. My physician does sutures in office

and he's relatively young-late 30's. He doesn't do them often, preferring staples, glue and butterfly but he does do them. (I took a friend last year and it was on the knuckle, so he did it.)

I didn't realize it was uncommon.

[Autumn]

99. A tetanus shot is often given when a person is injured. Can one get a wound

taken care of at any pharmacy and most grocery stores? Office visits are mandated to be covered under Obamacare but there are deductibles and co pays.

You are quick with the bullshit and no one yet knows the story behind the posters visit to the doctor. By the way my office visit last month for a half an hour was 289.00. Humana paid nothing. That deductible sucks.

[Hekate]

23. Thanks for this info -- perhaps there is more to the story...

...as so often happens here. >sigh<

[Hestia]

56. Aren't those specifically childhood/infant vaccines and not for adults? Your wording says yes.

[pnwmom]

63. Adults also get their own version, but it also covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

[eqfan592]

118. No, they aren't. Adults need to get a booster every 5 years or so if I recall correctly.

I had to get my Tdap booster last year just before the birth of my baby.

[csziggy]

96. If the doctor is "not in network" all bets are off

Two years ago when I went in for my annual physical (first I had had for years since I had been in so often for various illnesses/injuries) my doctor thought it would be fully covered - the ACA said it would.

$500+ later it turned out that if the doctor had been in network it would have been free but since his office had not signed their new contract with the insurer, it was not covered at all. Four months later, they were in network but I was SOL.

So the OP may not be "blowing bullshit" - they may be screwed by the system that is opaque even to the providers. To get it straight, the patient has to talk to the insurance clerk for their provider. The insurance company does not make it easy to know what is covered or for how much.

[eqfan592]

117. Before calling "bullshit" on somebody, get your facts straight.

Plans that existed prior to the effective date were grandfathered in and do not need to cover the shot.

[FarPoint]

45. yeap

[Louisiana1976]

3. That's awfully expensive for a 4-minute shot.

[MohRokTah]

12. It's also 100% BULLSHIT

Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis vaccines are one of the vaccines specifically mandated to be covered 100% free under Obamacare.

So either the doctor cheated the OP or the OP is lying his ever loving ass off.

One or the other, no in between.

[eqfan592]

119. Really, 3 different places in the same thread?

You should go through and delete these, given that you're wrong.

[reddread]

132. somebody else needs to see a doctor n/t

[Doctor_J]

178. ODDS

Obama Defenders Derangement Syndrome

I wonder if the vaccine for that is covered under the Bronze Plan

[Spaldeen]

4. Why did you need the shot, if I may ask?

Was it a booster or did you have an accident?

[Earth_First]

7. I had cut myself of scrap metal while working around the house.

Wife insisted that I go.

Also from what I gather there is a 60/40 consensus from MD's on whether or not they are even necessary any longer...

#grrrr

[Hekate]

31. What do you mean "there is a 60/40 consensus from MD's" on the necessity of Tetanus shots?

I try to keep up with these things, and I can tell you that parents neglecting to vaccinate their infants for DPT (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) has caused an epidemic of whooping cough (Pertussis) in these parts, and that's no joke. Some of those kids end up in the hospital and some of them will die.

Tetanus aka lockjaw is another known killer. There's a lovely 1809 medical painting at this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetanus
And this from the same link: Mortality rates reported vary from 48% to 73%. In recent years,[when?] approximately 11% of reported tetanus cases have been fatal. The highest mortality rates are in unvaccinated people, people over 60 years of age or newborns.

Again, I try to keep up, so if you would please provide me with a link for your claim I'd appreciate it.

[uppityperson]

53. CDC says tetanus vaccine is very necessary, don't know what MD would say it isn't

Unless you are talking about pertussis, which is often included with the tetanus vaccine (DTaP).

http://www.cdc.gov/Vaccines/vpd-vac/tetanus/default.htm
Vaccine Information
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccines
There are four combination vaccines used to prevent diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis: DTaP, Tdap, DT, and Td. Two of these (DTaP and DT) are given to children younger than 7 years of age, and two (Tdap and Td) are given to older children and adults.
Children should get 5 doses of DTaP, one dose at each of the following ages: 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months and 4-6 years. DT does not contain pertussis, and is used as a substitute for DTaP for children who cannot tolerate pertussis vaccine.
Td is a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine given to adolescents and adults as a booster shot every 10 years, or after an exposure to tetanus under some circumstances. Tdap is similar to Td but also containing protection against pertussis. Adolescents 11-18 years of age (preferably at age 11-12 years) and adults 19 and older should receive a single dose of Tdap. Women should receive Tdap during each of their pregnancies (preferably in the third trimester between the 27th and 36th week). Tdap should also be given to 7-10 year olds who are not fully immunized against pertussis. Tdap can be given no matter when Td was last received.
(Upper-case letters in these abbreviations denote full-strength doses of diphtheria (D) and tetanus (T) toxoids and pertussis (P) vaccine. Lower-case “d” and “p” denote reduced doses of diphtheria and pertussis used in the adolescent/adult-formulations. The “a” in DTaP and Tdap stands for “acellular,” meaning that the pertussis component contains only a part of the pertussis organism.)

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/tetanus/who-vacc.htm
Everyone needs protection from tetanus. If you have not had a booster shot in 10 years or more, you should receive a tetanus shot. However, you should get the Tdap vaccine (the tetanus booster that also protects against pertussis) as soon as possible if you have not yet received it. You can get Tdap no matter when you last got a Td booster shot. Expectant mothers should get Tdap during the third trimester. If you never had the initial childhood tetanus vaccines, you should receive a series of three tetanus shots.
See also:

[Trillo]

5. Aren't deductibles maddening?

In your case, they didn't prevent you from getting your shot, so it really didn't work as it's often said deductibles are intended.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

148. I hate deductibles

[MohRokTah]

9. Huh, I got mine for free at my local grocery store.

Fully covered 100% not a dime out of pocket.

So I ain't buyin' what you are sellin'.

[Earth_First]

10. Well I guess you get the MENSA award... nt

[MohRokTah]

11. I guess so.

No insurance, eh?

BTW, the really piss poor policies, you ahve to file a claim to get reimbursed. You might want to look into it if you actually have insurance.

OR did you get an HMO and go out of network?

PPO dude. Always go for the PPO. It may cost you ten bucks more per paycheck but it is so worth it.

Or you went into the exchange and took the cheapest policy. Dude, it's worth the pittance more you pay for the silver.

Psst... I know you're floating bullshit because Tetanus/Diphteria/Pertussis vaccines are one of the vaccines specifically mandated to be covered 100% free under Obamacare, so stop spreading ignorant bullshit.

[Earth_First]

18. Im not going to give you the time of day following this response...

I was billed for a tetanus shot recieved.

I am not creating this under whatever agenda you believe I am peddling.

Do me a favor.

Place me on ignore if you feel I'm disrupting things.

[uppityperson]

24. " I was billed for a tetanus shot recieved." Has it gone through your insurance company yet? It is

common to receive a notice of the charge before it goes through the insurance company. This does not mean you must pay that amount, but that is the charge. It gets sent to the insurance company, who tells the provider what they will pay. The provider can not bill you for more than what the insurance company says the charge SHOULD be at any rate.

1. Get the shot.
2. Receive the bill personally, they provider sends it to the ins company.
3. Ins co sends a notice to provider saying what reasonable and customary charges are, what they say it is worth, as well as what they will pay.
4. You get a notice from the ins co saying the sameinformation.
5. You get a bill, or not, from the provider saying what you owe, if any.

I hope this makes sense as being handed a large bill is really difficult. You need to wait for the charges to go through your ins company before paying.

It sounds like you had a treatment, cleaning of the wound also, which will add to the cost.

[MohRokTah]

27. Oh you are NEVER going on ignore

You obviously have an agenda and I'll be watching it.

Office visits are MANDATED to be covered under Obamacare.

The shot you recieved is MANDATED to be 100% FREE under Obamacare.

So, continue with the bullshit.

Please, proceed.

[forthemiddle]

114. You are very rude to this poster

I don't know if this is what happened, BUT, if the poster had the booster shot BECAUSE he had injured himself, it is no longer preventative. It is now a treatment, so it may not be covered.
It is dependent on how it is coded and billed.
The same goes for other "preventative mandates" that people post about here. For example, and mammogram is considered preventative, and screening if it is your annual mammogram, if however you get one for a lump you discovered, it is now considered diagnostic.
Same goes for cholesterol checks. It can be screening with an icd 9 code using V77.91 code, but if you are already have high cholesterol your icd 9 code is now 272.0 and not considered a screening.
Before people start calling out people as liars on Obamacare (which happens every single time someone complains about their individual experiences) they should get all the details.

[CountAllVotes]

126. Exactly

The OP is not on Obamacare.

I HAD to get a tetanus shot not that long ago. I had taken a bad fall and was taken to the ER. It had been 10 years since my last tetanus shot and I was told that I needed to get another one as being I had fallen and had multiple contusions I was told that I had to get a tetanus shot.

Luckily, my insurance (not Obamacare as Obamacare did not exist at the time of the fall) paid for the shot at the ER luckily but it is a pricey supplement to Medicare plan.

I do not doubt the OP.

[NCTraveler]

133. "You obviously have an agenda and I'll be watching it."

Keep me in the loop comrade. Need to know what these people are up to. Maybe we can share a file on our computer to keep track of these people. Spreadsheet maybe. Great job keeping track of duers for us.

[pnwmom]

73. If you have an insurance plan under the ACA, then dispute ANY charge for the tetanus shot.

It isn't allowed -- assuming you were using an in-network provider. (You should make sure you are, by the way.)

You will probably discover that you weren't charged for that part of the visit. But if you were, then write a letter disputing the charge. And send a copy to the state health commissioner.

http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/factsheets/2010/09/The-Affordable-Care-Act-and-Immunization.html

Immunization Services for Adults
Adults 19 years and older who are enrolled in new group or individual private health plans will be eligible to receive vaccines recommended by the ACIP prior to September 2009 without any cost-sharing requirements when provided by an in-network provider as of September 23, 2010.
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Herpes Zoster
• Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine for females
• Influenza
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
Varicella

[former9thward]

26. It is you that is spreading ignorant bullshit.

Besides a tetanus shot the OP was probably given an injection of tetanus immune globulin, which acts fast to prevent infection. That is not covered. There also may have been a charge for examination. Take your assumptions that everyone is lying somewhere else.

[MohRokTah]

28. One shot.

One shot only.

Nope, OP is full of BS.

[former9thward]

30. They are combined.

Take your ignorance to another board.

[MohRokTah]

32. Take yours to another board

I will not abide bullshit about the ACA.

Never.

[former9thward]

36. You have no idea what you are even talking about.

Tetanus immune globulin IS NOT COVERED. But that's right, everyone on the board is lying except you.

[MohRokTah]

38. You ahve no clue what you are talking about.

ACA covers it. IT is PREVENTATIVE CARE, thus it is MANDATED To be covered.

So yes, lots of bullshit being spewed in this thread.

The OP may *THINK* he owes that amount but the insurance WILL COVER IT.

Hell, about half the time I have to contact my insurer to make sure they pay the docs what they owe them as the docs finally get pissed and send me a bill for the full amount. Once I make the call, the docs get their money from Cigna.

[bobduca]

120. Cmon now, "abid[ing] bullshit" is where you excel!

[redwitch]

33. Please stop.

Just stop.

[MohRokTah]

35. Nope

When I see bullshit, I calls 'em on it.

[VanillaRhapsody]

86. With ya!.....

I calls em likes I sees em!

[bobduca]

108. Is anybody surprised? n/t

[VanillaRhapsody]

113. you would..

If it were about you!

[uppityperson]

54. TIG is given if they have tetanus or a large, unclean wound and uncertain vaccination history

Sounds like this injury does not fit that criteria so it is unlikely they would give it. It is not commonly given.


http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus.pdf

[former9thward]

65. Well neither of us were in the exam room, now were we?

Including the poster I was replying to who is accusing the OP and everyone else of lying. Do you know all the information about the case. Have you read the file?

[uppityperson]

67. I am trying to educate, not to snark. eom

[MohRokTah]

76. And the OP gave almost no information

So you believe the OP.

I do not because the claims of the OP are demonstrably false.

[former9thward]

79. And your knowledge of medicine is less than zero.

[MohRokTah]

82. IT's certainly far more than yours.

I'm not the one running around claiming the OP got a shot that is almost never given.

[morningfog]

97. Yet you have demonstrated nothing, except your rudeness.

If you are right, provide links.

[NCTraveler]

134. "And the OP gave almost no information"

Clearly gave enough info for you to go around spouting bullshit.

[H. Cromwell]

121. Thats a first..

for me. I've Never heard of getting any kind of shots at a grocery store. In PA the only place I know of to get a tetanus shot is at a medical office etc. Some drug stores offer a flu shot for a price that someone pays.

[MohRokTah]

125. Jewel has a pharmacy. eom

[B Calm]

15. Unbelievable what doctors charge these days. I met an elderly man at the

gas station the other day. He was driving a brand new BMW. I asked him what an automobile like that cost? He replied he had no idea. He then said his son buys him a new car every year for Christmas. Aghast, I asked what his son did for a living? Turns out his son is a doctor!

[pnwmom]

16. So they didn't clean the wound, bandage you, or do any lab test?

Hard to imagine . . . .

[Earth_First]

19. They did...consisted of an alcohol wash a coat of ointment and a bandaid.

With the shot.

Under five minutes.

What I find hard to imagine is that folks think Im making this up...

[woo me with science]

22. Nobody actually thinks you are making it up.

There are, however, some full-time posters here on hyperdefensive message control duty, who patrol the boards making sure that nobody ever reports anything less than an orgasmic medical experience while the ACA is in effect under a Democratic President.

[area51]

109. +1

Nailed it.

[Puzzledtraveller]

110. thank you Woo

I work in the "ACA" for a living as a Medicaid caseworker and these same people tell me I'm full of it also whenever I criticize it.

[bobduca]

115. team hyper-partisan attack squad is GO!

[treestar]

129. pot calls kettle black

there are a group of posters on hyper defensive message control duty that nothing about the ACA ever be seen to be good and that every complaint, even if debunked, be true.

[NCTraveler]

135. Exactly. nt.

[MohRokTah]

29. Office visits are MANDATED to be covered under Obamacare

Tetanus shots are MANDATED to be 100% free under Obamacare.

I ain't buyin' what you're sellin'.

[woo me with science]

46. To anyone reading, see post 26.

The PR machine is defensive and vehement, but not always accurate. Treatment for immediate injury/infection is different from a routine, scheduled tetanus shot.

[MohRokTah]

47. And insurane coverage may not be evident immediately

It can take several weeks some times to get the insurance comapnies to pay.

So that $307.44 in the OP?

It will NEVER be that after the insurance pays.

Coverage is MANDATED.

And calling me a part of some PR machine is a violation of TOS.

[woo me with science]

57. No, you are still falsely trying to imply

that the treatment described by the OP here would be fully covered by mandate. That doesn't appear to be the case at all.

Yes, Obamacare mandates coverage for *routine tetanus shots,* the kind that are scheduled as part of routine care. If the treatment described here included the typical tetanus shot that is routinely given as part of scheduled care, then *that shot* would be mandated to be covered.

However, as post 26 points out, someone in the OP's situation - with an injury/infection already present - typically requires more or different care than that routine shot. Those treatments would not be covered under the mandate you describe.

[morningfog]

98. LOL, you are now going to expound on the TOS. That's rich.

I do like how you are moving the goalposts, but maintaining your arrogance. Quite entertaining.

[uppityperson]

55. TIG is given only with large unclean wound and an unknown vx history. It is very rarely given and

not when the wound is minor or clean or the person has had a known tetanus vaccine.

Typically treatment for an injury involves cleaning it, dressing it as needed, and a tetanus vaccine, not TIG. And yes, I have worked emergency treatment situations, ER and clinics.

[woo me with science]

71. You are not the OP's physician, and neither am I,

so only the OP knows what treatment was required for this wound.

The important point is that false claims and implications are being made here, including

1) that full treatment for the injury the OP described was definitely covered by the ACA mandate

and

2) that therefore the bill described by the OP could not possibly have happened.

Both claims are demonstrably false.

[uppityperson]

143. I am saying the typical "tetanus shot" is covered and is different from atypical TIG shot

Of course, if they got their wound treated, cleaned, bandaged, that will raise the price quickly and may not be ACA covered in full. I am not saying that. I am saying a tetanus vaccine cost over $300 is wrong.

The regular tetanus vaccine IS covered by the ACA whether given during a routine scheduled physical exam or during an emergency visit.

Post quoting aca coverage of vaccines. And no, it doesn't matter if it was urgent or routine, it is covered.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5180627

Even if it were not, let's say someone who demanded to pay cash or was a foreigner, a tetanus vaccine would not, in and of itself, cost $307.44 but $25-60.
http://health.costhelper.com/td-vaccine.html

TIG would cost more, but is atypically given, only in rare cases and when the wound is large, dirty and there is no vaccination history.

[pnwmom]

64. Office visits are mandated SUBJECT TO deductible and copay.

But many preventative services, including tetanus vaccinations, are free no matter what.

[pnwmom]

61. I don't think you are making this up. But the charges probably covered

the office visit, rather than the tetanus shot.

And, yes, medical care is too expensive.

If you had cleaned the wound yourself, you could have gotten a tetanus shot at any pharmacy for free. I know because I got one a few months ago, and the pharmacist told me that because of the ACA, my insurance would now cover it.

[840high]

81. I don't think you're

making it up.

[VanillaRhapsody]

87. So that was emergency room treatment.....you understand how expensive ER treatment is right?

You are lucky that was ALL the bill was...frankly

[NCTraveler]

136. Unfortunatley you are exactly right.

We must often thank the gods of luck when it comes to our current healthcare system. Thank them for only killing us and putting us into bankruptcy. It could be worse.

[VanillaRhapsody]

137. WTF? and that has changed in the 26 states

That expanded Medicaid.....so you can peddle that bullshit elsewhere. With hospitald closing in NC.....because it didnt expand....as a Dem you should know better..

[NCTraveler]

138. I am a dem and that is why I know better.

I fully understand that the ACA has made some people become huge fans of the insurance industry. To the point of claiming that people don't needlessly die just because they are insured. Kind of a shocker that you think it is bullshit peddling to think that medical bankruptcy is happening in the 26 states who accepted the expansion. Really funny that you call the absolute truth bullshit. The truth is not your friend.

[VanillaRhapsody]

139. are you accusing me of that?

If so its ludicrous......move to a state WITH ACA and see if you still think that way.....no one in one of those states would exchange it for YOUR states system.....as a Dem you know that.

[NCTraveler]

140. Accusing you of what.

Your understanding of the ACA is so flawed that you think in 26 states that people aren't dying when necessary treatments are available. You are also claiming that medical bankruptcy has been put to bed in 26 states. Both of your stances here are patently false. If you agree that they are false, which they are, just say so. You are trying to make something that is factual into something that is personal. I'm not from NC by the way. Although that has zero bearing on this conversation. When one has a stand not based on the realities we are faced with they often resort to deflection. Please stick with facts.

[VanillaRhapsody]

141. it is not flawwed in my state...I love The ACA

And I just got off of a policy on the exchange....and my insurance premiums went up. You are talking out your ass sbout something you have zero experience with.

[NCTraveler]

142. You refuted not one of my points.

Because they are real.

"it is not flawwed in my state"

Healthcare utopia has been found. It is severely flawed in every state. I can't believe you actually think the healthcare system in your state is "not flawed".

"And I just got off of a policy on the exchange" Why when your state has hit perfection. Because it hasn't.

I don't think you are being real here. If you are, my heart goes out to you. Healthcare isn't flawed in your state. It is sad you think this.

Now, would you like to get back to the two points that started all of this out or will deflection continue to be the name of the game?

I will keep it very easy for you. Any medical bankruptcies in your state that has flawless healthcare?

So perfect you had to change policies. You can't make this stuff up. It would be comedic if lives weren't at stake. You should think about that.

[VanillaRhapsody]

144. there is nothing TO respond to....you dont hsve the vaguest

Idea what you are talking about.....meanwhile I HAVE. What I know is this....I was unemployed for the third time in 8 years in Feb. Only this time I had a Silver policy for $61 a month! This time being without work I wasnt stressed about my health. My first hand experience trumps your lack thereof. So anyone who knocks the ACA can bite me!

[NCTraveler]

145. In you mind, would medical bankruptcies take place in a state with flawless healthcare? nt.

[VanillaRhapsody]

146. in your mind would Silver Plan coverage for $61 be affordable?

How about a cap on max out of pocket?

That cap is about 10% of salary....so WTF are you talking about?

FYI it was the same company and nearly the same policy I had through my employer....nearly Identical in fact.

All of this while collecting unemployment....

[NCTraveler]

147. This is the question I started with.

Your refusal to answer is clear. I will ask again.

Are medical bankruptcies taking place in your state?

I have asked over and over again. In absolute avoidance, you have done nothing but deflect. I have been extremely consistent here. You, not so much. When one has to deflect over and over again their story gets wilder and wilder. Dirty Harry never hit the kind of wild you are here. lol.

Any medical bankruptcies taking place in your state that in your opinion has flawless healthcare?

Correct answers since you can't come up with them.

Yes, people are currently filing medical bankruptcies. Second, no state has flawless healthcare and anyone who says otherwise is not educated or simply blind. That is what is called common sense. That is what is called a direct answer to the question asked from the beginning. That is what it looks like when one wants to answer honestly. That is the opposite of ones deflection in order to continue living in an alternate reality.

[VanillaRhapsody]

149. how do you know what stste I live in?

Answer you dont. Again you dont know what you are talking about. Besides ACA didnt negate prviously incurred medical bills..

By the way....bankruptcies are down 10% each year for the past 3.

[NCTraveler]

150. Yet another deflection. The question is mind numbingly simple.

Well, I thought so anyway. Have a great day. I don't think you are being serious here in any way. Actually, I know you aren't. No one in this country could honestly take the stance you are taking here. Then again, that is the whole reason you are avoiding the points I have made. Your answer would completely shoot down your argument of living in a healthcare utopia. No one can believe what you are saying. Not even you. You are pranking.

[VanillaRhapsody]

151. bullshit .....you have NO first hand knowledge about

Me or the ACA. I just said bankruptcies in my state has gone down 10% EACH year for the past three....you are talking out your ass! And making yourself look like one.

By the way in Mass.after the passed the law this is modeled on.....theirs DID decline too...in 2007 it was 59%.....2 years later it was 52% and stilll in decline

[NCTraveler]

152. "I just said bankruptcies in my state has gone down 10% EACH year for the past three"

No you didn't. Not to me anyway. That is completely dishonest. Well, not really dishonest since you are pranking in the first place. Wow. Making stuff up now.

So, now that you answered the question. Bankruptcies are part of a flawless healthcare system? lol. No need for an answer. You clearly aren't being serious. Really sorry I wasted so much time on someone who gets their kicks being dishonest and punking people. Pretty shallow.

[VanillaRhapsody]

153. reread then

And I just said in Mass. It declined nearly 10% in the first 2 years....your premise is like a sieve....full of holes..

[NCTraveler]

154. Not to me you didn't.

More dishonesty. You are getting there though. Two posts in a row you have admitted flaws in the system you previously called flawless. That is progress towards the truth.

[VanillaRhapsody]

155. i just did....you are being dishonest AND

Are full of cow excrement

[NCTraveler]

157. I wish you nothing but the best.

Have a great day.

[VanillaRhapsody]

159. dont worry..

I will be going to NC to drive voters to the polls in North Carolina in Nov.

[NCTraveler]

160. Excellent. I plan on staying where I currently live to help GOTV.

Have a wonderful day.

[VanillaRhapsody]

156. did i use the word flawwless?

That would be you....besides nothing but diamonds are flawwess....this premise is stupid.

[NCTraveler]

158. You make it more and more clear you aren't for real here.

" it is not flawwed in my state...I love The ACA"

Your own words. I truly wish you the best. Have a great day.

[VanillaRhapsody]

161. i didnt say flawless i said its not flawwed in my. state

The flaw is that you dont get to experience it...

[NCTraveler]

162. "i didnt say flawless i said its not Flawwed..it works great in my state"

I really do appreciate this. At first I was a little frustrated at the deflection. Now I can't stop smiling. This is just too good and I now know it is a parody bit. Thanks for the smile. It was worth it.

"i didnt say flawless i said its not Flawwed"

Reminds me of the shrubs fool me once comment. Some things you just can't make up. Cheers.

[VanillaRhapsody]

164. of course an ideologue would pretend that...pretend you win

About something you have zero first hand experience.....dont let the good be the enemy of the perfect my friend..

[lunasun]

103. You made it sound like you went for a routine tetanus vaccination shot

You can get those at a grocery store for a lot less and the price you gave was way out of line
But you did not follow recommendations and did not keep up on booster shots
You were treated for an injury and the post was not clear about that
It is to be expected when the whole story is not presented and the statement seems outrageous
IE my tetanus shot cost $307!
My first thought was dude you got ripped off or you are full of it

[woo me with science]

20. Yes, it's out of control outrageous.

It's unconscionable that medical care costs so much in this country.
It's also unconscionable that someone in medical need should be lectured or required to "shop around" to avoid being gouged.

[avebury]

34. Next time, call your county health department

to see if they offer shots there. I got my last tetanus shot (and some other shots) at the local office for just the cost of the shots.

[Aerows]

39. They do not

and I can attest to this. Counties don't want the liability involved, but then the liability is put on the human beings that need the services.

[avebury]

50. I guess one of the few positives about Oklahoma is that you

can get Tetanus Shots, Hep A, Hep B and a few other shots at the County Health Departments. A lot of poor people use the County Health Department for school required immunizations.

[Hestia]

58. Arkansas does - last time I was there a tetanus booster was $2, I am sure it is more now

[Aerows]

37. Ask me how much they charged for a rabies shot

when I got bitten by a raccoon. I dare you.

[Earth_First]

41. I remember your ordeal...

Im actually not in as bad a position relative to your situation...

[Aerows]

43. Thank everything in the heavens then

I'm glad it isn't like that.

[pnwmom]

66. You might look for an urgent care place in your city, if there is one.

For your kind of injury, that's often the best alternative. They won't charge for the tetanus, because of the ACA; and their charges for everything else are often lower than a doctor's office.

[pinto]

40. Sorry to hear that. Other options would have been a local pharmacy ~ $25 - $60, total.

Or a local public health department, walk in clinic, etc.

Tdap vaccine. Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis.

[Earth_First]

42. Thanks...

Ill keep that in mind and definately try to shop around.

I figured our insurance would cover more than nothing...

[pinto]

44. I encourage folks to always call public health department for pointers / availability.

[pnwmom]

70. My local pharmacy charges NOTHING for tetanus vaccinations if you have insurance

because under the ACA, all insurance plans must cover them at no cost.

I know this because I've had vaccinations there both before and after the ACA went into effect.

[WillowTree]

49. How much is your deductible? Was it not payable because it was applied to that?

[vt_native]

51. Cat Bite/ ER trip

$730

[RKP5637]

52. At CVS, for example, it's $89. Just FYI ...

http://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/insurance-and-billing/price-lists

[pnwmom]

68. With insurance, it's ZERO at CVS and everywhere else.

The OP's charges were probably related to wound care and office visit, not the tetanus shot itself.

[RKP5637]

83. We used to use CVS for a number of things when we lived near a Minute Clinic. It was just easier

than making an appt. with our doctor, and insurance covered everything. Here, they just do flu shots at the regular CVS, which we do. I miss the CVS Minute Clinic, it was just so handy and the nurses were really nice.

[pnwmom]

85. There seem to be more and more urgent care clinics opening up in our metro area.

You might want to check around to see if there are more where you live, too.

I've found them very convenient for simple things like tetanus shots, UTI's, etc.

[RKP5637]

88. Thanks, great idea! n/t

[pnwmom]

90. Also, my insurer doesn't charge a copay when I use one.

It still saves them money.

[Doctor_J]

171. someone in need of a tetanus shot should not have to shop around

for chrissakes.

[RKP5637]

174. The healthcare system in this country is ridiculous. It's a cobbled together mess. n/t

[Uben]

59. Change your name to Bobby Lobby, Inc.

...and claim it's against your religion to pay for office visits. Should work, but may have to take to USSC.

[sendero]

60. Welcome to the..

.... Name Your Price health care system. Health care providers simply charge whatever they want, and you basically have no recourse.

Study after study shows there are no "market forces" at work in health care, the disparity between high cost providers and low cost providers is often 10 to one.

Nothing short of single payer is ever going to fix this.

[arthritisR_US]

69. I had to go to emergency at my local hospital a week and a half ago.

I was in triage within a minute, from triage to a bed in the emergency department right away. My vitals were taken again and an IV was started and within minutes was examined by the DR and he had me put on Morphine into the IV. Had blood work, Urine analysis, X-ray and a CT scan. Hours later was sent home with pain meds and my cost was zero. I live in Alberta, Canada and my monthly health premiums are zero because the province covers them for every citizen.

[RKP5637]

80. USA, Inc. would rather sit around and argue and run rip-shit over people for profit than

achieving a workable and fair solution benefiting all. For all of the expense in the US, the US does not even rate well in world health.

[arthritisR_US]

89. I really feel for you guys and I'm so fecking frustrated as well.

When I was 26 I got my first bout of cancer so you know after first surgery and rounds of chemo and radiation I would have been uninsurable had I been living in the US. In the intervening 31 years I have had three major surgeries for cancer, chemo and radiation and then open heart surgery... I look like a road map but the thing is none of this has cost me out of pocket at all. Treatments went on for months with emergency hospitalizations along the way. The surgeries were huge and post operatively I often did not leave the hospital for up to a month at a time. If I had been born an American living in the US I would no doubt be bankrupt or dead because I wouldn't have been able to afford the first event. I rally wanted single payer for you mates to the South but alas such was not to be, I keep on hoping.

[RKP5637]

94. I find it so absolutely bizarre in the US. Why in the world wouldn't all citizens want universal

health care. It simply shares the risk across a huge pool of people. I am constantly amazed at why some want to deny others health care, I guess it's a form of one-upmanship. And then we have quite a few Americans that just aren't very bright, so they are fodder to be run over by insurance racketeers.

You would not have made it in USA, Inc. Despite all of the fanfare about the US, there are some amazing shortcomings. I recall Stephen Hawking once lashing out at universal health care haters in the US. ... saying without the system in the UK he would not have made it as well as he has ... they were trying to use him as a poster child for how horrible government health care is, some rubbish like that.

One core problem in the US is there is far too much competition and a glaring lack of cooperation.

[arthritisR_US]

122. Competition, that's a good point when health care should be a human right.

You won't have cooperation as long as you have greed taking front seat. For too many their priorities are screwed and their selfish self interest rules. The insurance industry worships the god of money.

[blueamy66]

112. Sounds like my visit to the ER in Indiana last night.

If I was smart, I could have walked out after treatment without paying a red cent. But I stayed around and offered my info to make payments.

[arthritisR_US]

124. All my info had been collected at triage but I will not have any payments. When

they ask for the Alberta Health Care card it's for billing to the health care system. It also gives them my history, allergies to medications and previous surgeries and treatments which have to figured in for consideration.

What do you think all you went through last night will cost in total? How much will be covered by insurance? Are you ok now?

Went through so much last year with my husband before he passed. Many an EMT had to be called to our home, many emergency room visits - my daughter and I know every single hospital here in Calgary intimately. So many DR's, specialists, surgeons, drugs, home care people and then hospice...all wonderful people and all costs covered by our health care system...no bills were ever sent to us.

[blueamy66]

127. I asked for a ballpark figure. At least $400

BF came home from work and got 2 scripts...$5 each

I don't know if I'm ok. Have taken 2 Bactrim with no relief.

Thx for the kind words...

[arthritisR_US]

131. Did you have x-rays and CT? Did the morphine at the hospital

give you any relief ? Sorry you are in such discomfort

[blueamy66]

165. No X-rays or CT. Hmm...no insurance??!

Nurse offered morphine drip. I said no.

Feeling about 30% better.

[arthritisR_US]

166. You have no insurance? Wish I could make you feel 70% better :( nt

[blueamy66]

167. Nope. First time in my life. They didn't care.

Thx again

[arthritisR_US]

168. This really makes me mad, it should be a human right for everyone

to be covered, like breathing air. I'm sorry mate

[blueamy66]

169. It really is okay.

I was afraid that I wouldn't even be seen.

Thx....Amy

[littlemissmartypants]

74. Having never had tetanus

How bad is it?

[pnwmom]

78. The OP hasn't had it either. It's very bad but very uncommon since vaccinations

became widespread. And they can also be given for the first time after an injury, if need be.

[Hekate]

91. It's bad. Here's a handy link

Tetanus aka lockjaw is a known killer. There's a lovely 1809 medical painting at this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetanus
And this from the same link: Mortality rates reported vary from 48% to 73%. In recent years, approximately 11% of reported tetanus cases have been fatal. The highest mortality rates are in unvaccinated people, people over 60 years of age or newborns.

[Lex]

84. Insurance covered $0?

Sounds like you need to resubmit the claim or there was a screw-up somewhere.

[WillowTree]

92. My guess is that the OP has a high deductible. Not "not coveredd".......

.....but not payable because the charges were applied to that deductible.

Educated guess, but a guess all the same because they haven't addressed the matter of the deductible yet.

[Lex]

105. Even with high deductible plans, some things like this are covered because

I myself have a high deductible plan and I had a regular DPT a couple of years ago and it was billed at some low rate the insurance company had already negotiated for such things.

[WillowTree]

123. These weren't routine, preventive services.

They were treatment of an accident and would almost certainly be subject to whatever the deductible on the policy is.

[treestar]

130. At $307 the deductible could be $500

We don't know that. At any rate, at least the deductible is easy to reach, given the costs!

And that it did not take long seems to me a good thing, not bad.

[Indykatie]

93. This Shot is Covered 100% Under All Plans Now So Something is Awry Here

Poster should inquire with his insurance company before coming here screaming about how the system is FU*KED.

[Tetris_Iguana]

95. It's interesting what our private system covers and doesn't cover.

Example:

MS meds: $5000/mo completely covered.

MRI: $2500 completely covered.

Lab test associated with MRI: $42 not covered.

Wtf????



All in all, I can't really complain.

I feel bad for those who can, though.

[blueamy66]

100. I was just bitching....

but....got in to see an ER doc within 2 minutes...out within 15....didn't even care about payment. Holy cow balls!!!! I will make payments, but I am in awe.

[Llewlladdwr]

101. Amazing how many people don't understand the difference between preventive care...

and treatment of an injury.

A tetanus shot administered as part of a scheduled vaccination regimen is preventive care. 100% covered.

A tetanus shot administered in response to an injury is treating an injury. Not 100% covered.

[Lex]

106. But usually at a pre-negotiated rate

that the insurance has in place for coverage.

[Llewlladdwr]

107. Yes indeed.

But not free, as so many here seem to think.

[boston bean]

102. You probably could have walked into a pharmacy like CVS

and received the vaccination for like $30.

[JEB]

104. Covered or not, that is way too much fucking money. Criminals taling advantage

of someone in need.

[Puzzledtraveller]

111. k&r reality

[Lurks Often]

163. Not surprising

It is a function of how they (probably) billed the claim:

Billing code indicated that the purpose of the visit was non routine and do to an injury
They billed an office visit (probably an hour) around $120 or more
They billed for the TWO tetanus shots, not sure what the going rate for one or both of the tetanus shots.

It is possible that they did not bill for the tetanus vaccine, just for the other, non vaccine tetanus shot.

[Doctor_J]

170. welcome to the greatest piece of liberal legislation in US history!!!!!

That insurance company is now part of your life, forever.

[IronLionZion]

172. Where did you go? The ER?

Don't go to the ER for anything less than life threatening emergencies. Urgent care or your doctor's office is the first call and they can triage it and send you where you need to go if needed. I don't have a doctor, but I have been happy with the service and prices at my local urgent care clinic.

Why such high fees, such as $200 for a tetanus shot that you can get at Walgreens for less than $50? He said paying E.R. customers have to help foot the bills for patients who cant pay.

What you can do

So Rudnick said if it's minor, don't rush to the E.R.

First, he said, call your doctor or insurer's nurse hotline to ask what to do.

He said, "If you have a relationship with a primary care physician that is going to be your first primary contact."

That person may suggest you wait until morning (if it is a cold or an ankle sprain), then visit a local doctor if it has not improved.

Minor injury? He said go to an urgent care clinic, with fees a fraction of the E.R.

http://www.newsnet5.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/ouch-900-for-band-aid-and-tetanus-shot-wcpo

Sorry they screwed you over like that. That's too much for a tetanus shot to treat your cut. Try submitting the cost to your insurance anyway to see if they'll do something. And do you have a tax advantaged health savings account?

[leftyladyfrommo]

173. I ran into a situation like that.

It was too expensive at the doctor's office so I went up to the little Walgreen's clinic and got it there. I think it was about $60.

I also go there for my flu shot and I got a pneumonia shot. Next up is Shingles shot.

[frazzled]

175. Please identify and describe your insurance, before we can judge

Otherwise, this OP has zero to do with the ACA or related matters.

The nearest walk-in urgent care clinic near me charges $30 for a tetanus vaccine. My (employer) insurance would fully cover the shot, plus probably a $20 copay for a visit to my primary care physician. An emergency room visit would be $100 (plus I have no idea what for the vaccine—but whatever outrageously marked-up price it might be, the shot itself would have been covered by my insurance.)

My guess is that you have the most crappy insurance in the world.

[Doctor_J]

177. I am seeing a lot of victim-blaming in this thread

"You should have shopped around"

"You should have gotten better insurance"

"You should have gotten the provider to encode it differently so it would be covered"

"Call your insurance company and see if they'll change it"

"Show us your policy so we know if you're lying"

"Be sure to protest this with your insurer"

A serious question: What the hell are you thinking?