Immunizations and Insurance

There are many clincs around that dont charge that much. I live in the suburbs and there places like Access Health Care, Township clinics charge one set price. Also, maybe your friend went outside of here physcian group network, because I have blue cross blue shield PPO and my 5mo olds shots were covered at 80%. M.

Check your insurance plan, if it covers immunizations, then you wont get billed, also make sure it covers well baby visits, otherwise those fees will add up. If it does not there are immunization clinics that are low cost,you can also get insurance through the state soon with Blagoivich's new plan, all kids will be covered adnd that will include immunizations. I went through Unicare and got a basic plan that cost 50 dollars a month, but it covered the shots and well baby visits, so I just paid the copay. There are many options, but just make sure whatever plan you have covers immunizations and well baby and hten you wont be billed. Call you insurance company, they can tell you what is covered. That is the safest way to go.
I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old and their shot s and visits are covered, they even covered the flu shot.

A.,

I also have BCBS PPO, and have never paid more than the standard office co-pay for basic immunizations (in my case $10). Now immunizations from a specialist (e.g., allergist) will cost more than those from a general practitioner, but that's pretty much the nature of the beast. With regard to your friend's who received an $800 bill, I would say that the person who billed BCBS on their behalf didn't use the correct billing codes; and they should definitely ask to have this re-billed.

Best of luck to you in your final weeks of pregnancy!

Happy Holidays!
E.

Hi,
I had Blue Cross PPO and they cover 100% of immunizations as long as you are in-network. Sometimes pediatrician's offices send a bill to the family before the insurance co. can get back to them with the payment. I would make sure about this. Right now I have the state Cigna insurance which is actually much worse than Blue Cross and they still cover immunizations.

M.

I have Humana and NO Well-Baby Care which means that I would also have to pay for shots and my Dr. said a round would indeed be about $800. They told us to go to the Department of Health. You can call 311 to find your local Health Clinic. Shots are free. You can also go to WIC for free shots. The one near our home has walk-in shots every Thursday. Lastly, there are vans that are in a different place (but not always the best neighborhoods) everyday giving shots. I think you may be able to go on to the City of Chicago website to see where they are on a given day. All of these places are free and obviously save alot of $ but I am warning you ahead of time that the people who go to these places are not the classiest. I hope this helps. You should call your insurance company and ask if shots are covered, every plan is different even though you have the same company. Good luck with the delivery.

we have a BCBS ppo and we don't pay anything for vaccinations - it is considered well child care and is covered by our plan at 100%.

Hi A.,
We had the same problem-- what happens is your employer dictates the coverage for well-baby care. Call Blue Cross and find out what yours is set at-- ours is a measly $500 per year, which only got us through the first three months of our baby's life! Yours may be more, eliminating the problem-- but if it is low as well, contact your pediatrician and tell them. The state of IL has a program that will cover the cost of immunizations for underinsured. The pediatrican has a simple form to fill out and the state then covers the rest of the fees when your insurance runs out.

I felt kind of weird doing it as my husband and I both work full-time and we could pay it if we had to, but my pediatrician is the one who recommended it and it saved us tons of money. I'm all for that!

Good luck!
S.
DD Sydney 10-5-01
DD Devon 1-3-05