A store or clinic can charge for the cost of the vaccine and for giving it. If they charge you for it, they can't bill insurance for it also as this is insurance fraud. As with clinic visits, or anything related to health care, you will probably pay less than they charge and insurance co (or medicare) for. Finally, just because they charge insurance some amount does not mean they get paid that is most ins companies pay less.
The cost for the vaccine is in a link below, ranges about $8-13/dose just for the vaccine, then there is typically a $10-20 "cost of administering" it added on for the paperwork, time, syringe, staff, etc.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/imm/imm-flu-vaccorderform.pdfMedicare reimburses both for the cost of influenza and pneumococcal vaccine and for the cost
of administration. In addition, many health insurance companies cover influenza vaccine
administration, especially for high-risk patients. Consult the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services at 877-267-2323 or
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/, or the insurance agency for
current billing information.
Here is CDC influenza vx cost, for Adults it ranges $7.83-13.25 (injectable vx, mist costs more):
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/cdc-vac-price-list.htmNote The CDC Vaccine Price Lists posted on this website provide current vaccine contract prices and list the private sector vaccine prices for general information. Contract prices are those for CDC vaccine contracts that are established for the purchase of vaccines by immunization programs that receive CDC immunization grant funds (i.e., state health departments, certain large city immunization projects, and certain current and former U.S. territories). Private providers and private citizens cannot directly purchase vaccines through CDC contracts. Private sector prices are those reported by vaccine manufacturers annually to CDC. All questions regarding the private sector prices should be directed to the manufacturers.
"ALL THESE STORES ARE ADVERTISING AND THEY ARE PROBABLY ALL CHARGING $36 ADDTIONAL TO MEDICARE OR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANIES! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THE MEDICAL FIELD?" These stores cannot charge you AND insurance for the same shot and are not "the medical field". Not sure what the rant is about them being "medical field". They are dispensing flu vx to help take the pressure off "the medical field" since it can be a waste of time/resources to dispense routine vx's like this in a clinic.
My local clinics are happy to not have to spend time giving flu vx to most of the population as they are too busy dealing with other health issues. Oh yes, my local clinics do have flu vx, are doing shot clinics but also are very happy that local in-store pharmacies are picking up a bunch.
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