On getting a flu shot and a pneumonia shot yesterday.

[MineralMan]

On my way to the supermarket yesterday, I stopped in at a CVS drugstore and went to the Minute Clinic there to get my flu shot for the year and my first pneumonia vaccination. I turned 65 this summer and now am on Medicare. Medicare pays for both shots, so I was in and out of the clinic in about ten minutes, protected against both of these illnesses, and without taking money from my wallet.

Both influenza and pneumonia cause huge numbers of hospitalizations every year, and a large number of unnecessary deaths. For many, the flu shot costs about $30, and the Pneumovax shot is over $70. For the uninsured (and for many who are insured), that's $100 or so out of pocket. Those prices are simply too steep for the uninsured. When an uninsured person who can't afford these vaccinations ends up in the hospital, we all pay for that hospitalization in higher costs for our own health insurance.

My personal preference would be for a single-payer medical system in the USA for everyone, patterned after the Medicare I now qualify for. The Medicare and a supplement from a private insurer costs me $200/month. The providers in this area are quite happy to take the payments made by those and actively seek out Medicare patients. We should have that same system across the board.

But we don't, and I don't see it happening anytime soon. Can we not, however, make vaccinations free of charge, paid for by our own government for the welfare of our citizens? Shouldn't everyone be able to walk into the local Health Department office or a local clinic and get vaccinated? Prevention of preventable illnesses, at least, should be something to which every US citizen is entitled. Every person who avoids a hospitalization or worse from a preventable illness saves us all money.

But money shouldn't even be the issue. Shouldn't the common good require our system of government to make such preventive care available to every citizen? Shouldn't we be willing to pay for such vaccinations for everyone? And I'm not just talking about the flu shot, but every immunization, including those childhood immunizations that have virtually eradicated the old childhood diseases that caused so many deaths and hospitalizations in the past.

[still_one]

1. We should, but it won't happen. Last weekend I got a flu shot at Walgreens. When I tried

to get reimbursement from united health care, they wouldn't do it because they said I should have gone to my primary care

[MineralMan]

2. Any excuse not to pay. Typical for insurance companies.

My old health insurance, at almost $800/mo., wouldn't pay for flu shots, either. Unbelievable.

[still_one]

8. It is pennywise pound foolish /nt

[MineralMan]

10. Oh, they've done the calculations. They've got teams of highly-paid

actuaries crunching the numbers on this stuff. They're wrong, of course, but the health insurance industry is all about number-crunching...not about health.

[Sal Minella]

13. And they can afford to hire rooms full of people to sit

at desks and deny claims that are legitimate by any realistic standard.

[sharp_stick]

5. Appeal it

I've found with United (also my insurance carrier) that the bastards will often deny something and then change their mind on appeal. They may be more asshole like than usual if you are part of an HMO but my PPP usually accepts appeals.

They just hope that enough people won't bother that they'll be able to increase bonuses to the executive wing.

[still_one]

11. I have a PPO with UHC. The vaccine was 25 dollars, and to go through the appeal process is a drag

but maybe on principle I will do it

[Better Today]

3. Just so you know

Your flu shot may or may not protect you from getting the flu, since it cannot address all the possible strains that might kick up this year. Apparently you have a false belief that it somehow assures you will not get the flu at all, and that's just not correct.

[MineralMan]

4. You know, I actually knew that. However, it will protect me from

the most common strains. That's the point, you see. Why would I not get an immunization that will probably keep me from getting the flu? Because it doesn't protect against all strains? What a strange idea!

I don't have any false beliefs. Since the last time I got the flu, some 20 years ago, and almost ended up in the hospital, I've gotten the flu shot every year, and haven't had the flu since. That works out well for me by any calculation.

Sometimes, a guy works with the odds, you see. But, you're welcome to skip the flu shot. It doesn't matter to me, and that's not the subject of this thread anyhow.

[Better Today]

16. Fair enough, it's just that your OP statement was a bit strong, I wasn't sure you knew.

[WolverineDG]

22. So every personal statement should carry a disclaimer to appease the nitpickers?

:eyes:

dg

[emilyg]

19. I'm getting my flu shot today.

At 72 I feel any protection is better than none.

[girl gone mad]

25. It seems like you do have some false beliefs..

since studies have consistently shown that flu vaccine provides clear benefits only to younger populations (school children and perhaps their parents).

[sharp_stick]

6. But if you don't get the shot

you're pretty certain not to be protected from any strain of the flu.

[MineralMan]

7. That's a pretty simple calculation, isn't it?

The WHO and CDC do a pretty darned good job of predicting which flu strains will be most active every year. Each year's vaccine is generally a good match to the strains that are circulating. We have winter in the Southern Hemisphere to thank for that, since it's possible to track the strains as they move north.

But, the anti-vaxxers don't typically use logic a lot in their arguments. Besides, this thread is about who pays for these vaccinations, not whether they're good or not. Oh, well...

[classof56]

9. I'm with you on all counts!

Single payer, free immunizations and vaccinations for all--yes, yes, yes. It should happen, starting now. However, those that would cry socialism will of course be against this. Never mind the human and financial toll caused by lack of resources on the part of those who need these life-and-health-saving shots. As an aside, I'm appalled that there are those who seem to think my Social Security and Medicare are "entitlements" for which I'm somehow not worthy. Better not get started on that! But I will mention that when my two kids were infants, 40 or so years ago, I went to county health clinics for their immunizations. We were poor and uninsured and I was grateful for those free clinics. I also lived in a place where, when my kids started school, the school district provided a free clinic where students received required physicals, and if necessary, immunizations. Funny--the word socialism never occurred to me then. I more than appreciated the school district offering that free service. Later on, once we were "back on our feet" and employer insured, a huge burden was lifted, but I shall never forget the gratitude I felt upon receiving the medical care we could not afford.

Why anyone would be against free health care for children especially is beyond me. As you said, the common good should indeed be reason enough. How sad for all of us there are so many in this nation who would deny that right to those most in need.

[MineralMan]

12. Thanks. I'm thinking back to the polio vaccine. Back when it

was first available, free polio vaccine clinics were held at the school I attended. We all got the shots. Polio was virtually eradicated by mass vaccination of children. Everyone saw the benefit of the government paying for that in those days. There was no argument about it. We lined up, got stuck, and that was that.

Earlier, the same applied to the smallpox vaccination. Today, there's no need to vaccinate against smallpox. Both polio and smallpox have been eradicated through universal immunization. What a great thing we got from the science behind that!

[classof56]

20. Yes, great points!

I too recall the advent of the polio vaccines, and standing in line for the free shots. And I still have the scar from the smallpox vaccination I got when I was too young to remember. By the time my youngest daughter was two or so, they would not give her the vaccination, saying the disease had been eradicated in this country and pretty much around the world. I'm wondering how the teapartiers might feel about going back to the "good old days" if they included dying of preventible and curable diseases, those free immunizations being socialist, after all. Sheesh...

Just read your "Mosque/Strawman" post by the way. Good job!

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

:thumbsup:

[MineralMan]

15. Thanks for the kick!

[DURHAM D]

17. I also turned 65 a few months back.

Went to the doctor for the first time in 12-13 years. Since the first of August I have had two mammograms(the equipment malfunctioned), a full physical, a bone density test, two pap smears (the first one was not a good sample), every blood test you can think of, a flu shot, a tetanus shot, pneumonia shot, an all over body check for skin cancer, a colonoscopy is scheduled and a Orthopedic appointment to check out a 40 year old knee injury is scheduled.

I have no idea how much money has been spent. I understand I will get a report from Medicare after the end of the year. If they billed Medicare for two mammograms I will have a cow because the equipment for the first one looked like it was from WWII.

I have paid nothing out of my pocket because of my private supplemental insurance. I believe the doctors/hospitals see new medicare enrollees as a cash cow. After my baseline is fully established I will start pushing back on unnecessary tests.

I have absolutely nothing wrong and don't need any medication but when you get your baseline after turning 65 (and have not been to the doctor for awhile) they put you through the works. My advice, if you are turning 65 be sure to have a private supplemental policy in place for that first year at least.

One other thing - I have a script for a shingles shot. They are expensive. I think it is covered under Part D. Anyway, I have not been able to get the shot because everyone is out of the vaccine. I was told the manufacturer ran out and it will be December at the earliest before it is available. I had to ask for the shingles shot - the doctor did not volunteer the script but because I have had two family members suffer with shingles I want it as soon as possible. Did you ask for a shingles shot?


Let me end by saying - SINGLE PAYER FOR EVERYONE.

Note: I wrote a paper as an undergrad political science major back in the 60s making an argument that health care was a right and that the brand new Medicare program should be extended to everyone. I came across it recently. Made me cry. Oh, and it was not particularly well written.

[MineralMan]

18. Thanks for your insights. I haven't done the

"Welcome to Medicare" physical yet, but will schedule it for next month. It will be good to get a baseline, I guess, although I'm feeling pretty good these days, too.

I don't know why a single payer system cannot get through our government. If they follow the Medicare concept, the insurance companies can sell those supplemental policies to everyone to pay deductibles and copays. They sure seem to love selling them to Medicare recipients, so they must be profitable. Maybe more profitable than regular health insurance. I don't know. I just know that I got at least 20 offers for that coverage from insurers, so it's obviously not a liability for them.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

21. Pneumonia vaccine only every 10 years

Keep track, if you go into CVS they wont know if you have already had it. (Too lazy to look up actual facts, but that is my understanding)

[WolverineDG]

23. Good for you!

I get a flu shot every year (now under doctor's orders, though). I was flattened by the flu in the 90s. Took me weeks to get over it & during the worst of it, all I wanted to do was sleep. Since getting the flu shot, if I have caught a flu strain, I haven't gotten as sick as that. Maybe sick enough to stay home for a couple of days, but that's it.

dg

[old mark]

24. My flu shot -also at a CVS-last week did cost me about $30 with insurance.

I got it anyway, but I KNOW there are many who could not afford to pay for it.

I agree we need a single payer form of insurance, Medicare for everyone would be OK with me, but I think the pols will be scared to do anything major for some years to come...some of teh "moderate" republicans lost their jobs in the primaries after voting for a Democratic bill.O think that unless we Democrats establish ourselves more strongly in congress we will see total deadlock and nothing at all coming from congress for the next few years.

The party who really needs to take back control of Congress is US!!!
VOTE!!!
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