Pay for the vaccine at ANY of the pharmacies and local clinics. They might if you could go to a Medicaid-approved GP, but hearing the woman in front of me break down in tears, it seems that is a near impossibility as fewer physicians take medicaid patients. This poor woman nearly lost her sister to flu-related complications last year and was desperate to get vaccinated herself. The woman had been quoted a out-of-pocket cost of $68 at Walmart and Safeway was going to charge her nearly $50.

I took the woman aside and told her to find someone with a Costco membership as they only charge $19.99 out-of-pocket (for those under 65 yrs) and if she couldn't find anyone, to call me. She was very appreciative.

Damn, our health care sucks.

That might vary from state to state.

determine the scope of medicaid coverage, but I do believe the issue of recommended vaccines is supposed to be universal.

Medicare obviously is for those older than 65 and the disabled. I say this not to assume you don't know, Mineral Man, but for those who do not know the difference, which, it seems, includes some of our politicians.

apparently not everyone on Medicaid is eligible for free flu shots. That's weird, and the rules are very hard to interpret. I actually couldn't find a clear answer that applies everywhere. Medicaid is variously administered by different states, so it might be a state-by-state thing.

Not providing free flu shots for Medicaid recipients is really, really lame. If they get the flu and get seriously ill, it's going to cost a lot to provide care if hospitalization is required. I still can't find a clear answer, and the federal site says to consult your state's Medicaid office to find out if you can get a free flu shot.

Very weird!

And, yes, I do know the difference. In fact, I've had to correct a number of people who are confused about the difference.

Medicaid is administered by the states, so I don't understand why they wouldn't spend a few bucks of taxpayer money on a flu shot when they could avoid spending a thousand (or more) times that when their recipients come down with the actual flu.

The economic idiocy in that is mind-blowing.

But, then, we live in a country where the Earth is 6,000 years old, and climate change is a Chinese hoax.

I'm guessing the original poster lives in some retarded (and I use that in the dictionary "held back" sense) state. Like Idaho.

I contacted CDC's Flu Branch to inquire why this is happening. They've been trying to address it for years to gain widespread universal nationwide medicaid coverage but it remains covered only by medicaid providers, which excludes pharmacies and other public venues.

I did not know that they won't. That is an incredibly stupid decision, for all of the reasons that I cited.

A FEDERAL issue. STOP trying to make Colorado out to be some backwards outpost. This is not simply a Colorado issue. Medicaid does not pay for vaccines delivered at pharmacies and other public, readily available locales.

This woman was duly eligible but had no access to a Medicaid accepting physician provider who would vaccinate. That is a nationwide problem as more and more GPs do not accept medicaid patients and those who do, more and more do not provide vaccines. Yet, the readily available pharmacies can not bill to medicaid for vaccines.

Just not in this one.

or comprehending... Go read Mineral Man's response to me as well. He lays additional info out..

It's sad that you live in a relatively backwards state (Colorado), but apparently, you do. Other states have gotten hip to the idea that vaccination prevents disease.

I am sorry that I was so cold about this. Health care matters are a terrible thing to deal with. But I hope that you consider that your state Medicaid administrator is not doing you the best. There are other states doing better.

Take care. I hope the best for you.

Peace.

my sadness at the woman in front of me at Safeway pharmacy who couldn't get her vaccine paid for because she had medicaid.

I appreciate the apology, but intentional or not, you posts are just dripping with condescension and repetitive misunderstandings...

And NO, Colorado is NOT a backwards state but that is a very trollish thing to say. That you said it twice despite both me and Mineral Man making it clear this is a Federal Medicaid issue--not confined to Colorado-- makes me really wonder....

Jeez what a racket. I've seen signs around my town offering flu shots for $15, but the poor and elderly can't be drivi g all over.

they are free....if you have insurance funding, they will bill them.

Not any more. I just stopped in at the pharmacy at my supermarket, since I was going to be shopping anyhow. I'm an old fart, so I get the high-dose flu shot now. The young woman at the pharmacy counter who checked me in for the shot asked me, "Do you want the old-man jumbo shot?" She said that with a twinkle in her eye. She is also a lot better looking than my internist doc. So, there's that, too.

I got the "senior" vaccine even though I'm not 65 yet. I was in the hospital a few months ago with respiratory problems, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Since you can get all the common ones in multiple places now, there's no reason for the doctor to acquire, store and administer them. If you go to a multi-specialty clinic for primary care, you can get the vaccines there, but it's much faster to use a Minute Clinic or pharmacy for them.

Be on the lookout for:

1. "Well, you know, the flu shot doesn't really protect against the flu."

2. "I get the flu every time I get the vaccine. I'm never getting it again!"

3. "I never get the flu, so I don't need the shot."

4. "This is all just a Big Pharma scam to make billions of dollars on unnecessary vaccines."

5. "I know better than my doctors. I never listen to them."

6. "Getting the flu is better than getting the vaccine because it's a natural immunity!"

Add others as they appear.

It's like trying to eradicate crabgrass...

It's always interesting to see who does those things, I think.

As with most horribly destructive and counterintuitive ideas that seem to have captured the American fancy over the last few years.

Vladimir Putin wants to wreck the USA. The Internet provides a comparatively cheap and easy means to do that, if you know how to leverage it for capturing people's minds. And the Russians spent decades perfecting those techniques.

I've been on DU long enough to have to have this conversation many, many times with fellow DU-ers.

You're a healthcare professional. You know how important it is to be vaccinated. You probably tell that to every person you see in the clinic.

I believe that there is an orchestrated effort to ensure that Americans DON'T vaccinate--either themselves or their children. And I believe that Russian trolls foment that. The "eager and receptive audience" is exactly the group that they reach.

And I agree.

but I am allergic to something in the influenza vaccine, so I have to depend on, and appreciate, those who do get the vaccine, so I can take advantage of the herd immunity.

And I hope I am returning the favor when I get my DPT, Measles, and Shingles vaccines (which I am not allergic to).












* (As a former instructor for DEC, I have always had the problem with term Anti-Vax. The VAX was a helluva computer)

need to get immunized.

We get to be heroes...

I think I'll try to stop in at Walgreens and get mine tomorrow.

Our doctor is as big a nag about flu shots as I am, so nobody is allowed to forget.

PS: my blood work improved dramatically, so I am quite bouyed up.

when my Dad was 4 years old. My Grandma said he was a very strong healthy lean young man who came down with a cough and died 3 days later.

I do not need any convincing to get my flu shot. Knowing I'm in the gene pool of those that can die from the flu is all the impetus I need to get my shot...the double dose for over 70 types.

Get the flu shot!

of my maternal grandparents died during the flu epidemic of 1918. Healthy young adults dead from pneumonia as a result of flu.

were healthy young adults.

Influenza almost always carries off young children and the elderly the most.

That should save them the trouble of trying to think up their own idiocies.

It was 27 dollars and I got back a $5 coupon - not bad.

It's easier than taking time to go to the dr to get it for free.

I got so sick last year that I'm going to do my best to avoid it this year.

Covered by insurance, so free and they give you a 20% off coupon for shopping.

And also the senior double dose.

I got a coupon for a single scoop ice cream cone!

All of this at Rite Aid. Covered by Medicare.