Hello ladies,
On January 2nd we took our then 4 month old daughter to our pediatrician for her check up/vaccines. Incredibly, about two weeks later we received a bill stating that our insurance has reached the maximum benefits for our well visits. My husband, through his company, pays out $1300/month for our insurance (BCBS PPO) and we reached our maximum benefits within the first two days of the year?! I find this completely outrageous and we are now shopping for new insurance. In the meantime however, she's due for her six month check up/vaccines. My doctors office suggested taking her to the County health department. Which we may have to. But I was hoping someone may know of something else (closer) that offers these check ups. Someone told me that they thought CVS now offers this kind of service? I've also been told that some pediatricians offer county vaccines at their offices? As much as I love our pediatrician, we just simply cannot afford to pay for all of her vaccines and check ups for the year. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much.
J.
Hi J.~
Find a pediatrician who has Health Dept. vaccines available at their office. They are MUCH less expensive and should be offered to you if you don't have vaccine coverage. I wouldn't take my kids to the Health Dept directly, I just don't think they are staffed the same as my loving pediatrician's office!!
~L.
Most plans max out at $500 per child for well baby and immunizations (preventative care). Your Dr. should have warned you...mine did. In Oakland County the vaccines are free at the Health Dept. and in Macomb County they are around $15 each. There are only 1 or 2 producers of the vaccines so you aren't getting an inferior product at the health dept. And while I don't particulary like going there- the nurses are nice and caring.
J.-
We ran into the same problem this fall with our son. Our pediatrician used to offer Health Dept vaccines, but stopped last year. Some offices do still offer them, just check with your physician. I ended up taking him to the Oakland County office in Pontiac. I felt totally comfortable there, the process was just as fast as waiting in the pediatrician's office, the nurses were great, and I got a up-to-date, computer printed immunization record from them each time we went. All recommended vaccines are free after you have reached your max (need to show your insurance card to them). I wouldn't hesitate to go to the Health Dept for vaccines. I can't speak to check-ups as we only went for vaccines. I felt it was worth it to spend the $$ on office visit co-pays for consistency of care & save $$ with vaccines.
--A.
J.,
We have the same problem with our insurance. They only cover a certain amount of well visits. It is about $100 per shot at my pediatriction, compared to about $8 per shot at the health department. I don't know what County you are in, but in Macomb County, there are a few different locations you can go for the vaccines. I have gone to the one in St. Clair Shores and my experience has been wonderful. The nurses there do a great job. My sons (18 and 7 months) barely even cry when they get them now.
Yup, I have the same insurance and the same problem. Found that out with my first daughter. And check this out. My second daughter was born in Sept, we reached our max prev care by Nov. With one set of shots and couple well visits. Its crazy isn't it. My amt is $500. Yours may be the same or I know sometimes its only $250.
But to answer your question. Yes, you have to go to the health dept as far as I know. I do not know of any CVS or any place like that, that does them. However, that being said, my pediatrician's office does give the county shots after the amt has been met for just the admin charge, just like the health dept. So yes, some pediatricians do that. It is nice, because waiting at the health dept can take a couple hours. The first year is the tough one, but usually after the first year, you are fine. My oldest is 2 1/2 and we never meet hers now.
I dislike it very much too, but I have to admit besides this one problem, my insurance is wonderful! It even covered my IUD. So I can't complain.
From what I know of Shiawassee County - of you are uninsured or what they call under-insured (no coverage for vaccines) it is $12 for all the shots at any one visit.
I don't personally vax yet - as I am doing delayed vax scheduling - but I looked into it (as we are approaching beginning the delayed vax start-up. When I called teh Dr I found out it wasn't covered for us & would cost me over $700 to have it done at the Drs!!! So when we do go - we will be going to the health dept.
I have a 4 year old daughter and we have always taken her to the health department for shots. We do have insurance but the coverage is ridiculous on shots so I decided early on to go there instead of doing it through the doctors office. I figure I pay taxes why shouldn't I be able to get the shots. The nurses who give the shots are warm and helpful to the children to make it so that they feel comfortable. The other good thing about the health department is it is easy to get the records to you when you need them and they send updates when you need to get your shots.
We really like our doctors it is definately not about that at all I had just made a decision early on to not have to pay extra for something I felt like the insurance should have covered.
I definatley recommend going to the health department.
Hope this helps:)
I have taken my child to the Health Dept for shots. It is really no big deal. It sounds scary and unclean etc. but it really was fine. I also learned that they will only do immunizations if you don't have insurance or if you insurance won't cover it.
