<p>Getting the flu shot will not necessarily prevent a person from getting flu but it may make it a less severe case. My very elderly mother had a flu shot but just got out of the hospital after being there for four days- the diagnosis was influenza B. In her case, she had severe confusion, garbled speech and fatigue. The hospital said their ER was very busy with flu cases but only a few were admitted.</p>
<p>The shot is covered by all insurance plans except HMO-type plans. But those with HMOs can most likely get their shot at their HMO facility. Without insurance, CVS charges $31.</p>
<p>The dose for the elderly is stronger than the regular dose, so if you’re 65+ you may want to ask for the senior dose.</p>
<p>H and I got the flu shot back in late September. He works at a hospital which requires all people who work there to get a shot, and they provide it free. I got mine at Costco, for about $16.</p>
<p>D3 is a needle-phobe and wouldn’t get it. She came down with the flu about a week before Thanksgiving. Many other people around here (outside DC) had it then too, at least in our immediate community. H and I probably came down with a very mild version - a day or two of low grade fever, a little coughing - nothing much. I almost never get sick, but I’m really glad I got that vaccine this year! </p>
<p>D3 went to H’s ER one night for a “breathing treatment” while she was ill and there were several other patients there for the same reason. I’ll have to ask if it’s gotten worse since then. </p>
<p>Trying to get D1 and D2 to get the shots. It may be too late since they’re not effective right away. D2 gets sick easily. Last year she had that awful norovirus that was running around. Ugh. D1 just started a nursing program. Hopefully they made all the students get vaccinated. They were quite insistent about all the other vaccines, especially the TB test.</p>
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<p>Yeah. No problem. You got a few extra grand laying around that you can give me so I can get it? :rolleyes:
Trust me, I would LOVE health insurance. I am terrified every day of my life about getting sick. </p>
<p>I called last night and Meijer does it for $25. We’ll be going today.</p>
<p>Many people cannot afford health insurance out of their own pocket. </p>
<p>Their employer doesn’t offer it or perhaps the person is underemployed; wants full time work but cannot get full time work, so is not eligible for health insurance.</p>
<p>Recent college grads can stay on their parents’ health plan until the age of 26. </p>
<p>So, if romanigypsyeyes does not have health insurance I am sure there is a very good reason for that.</p>
<p>Greenwitch, there is a nasal spray flu vaccine your daughter can get.</p>
<p>Sorry, there is never a GOOD reason not to have health insurance-there are a lot of excuses though. I just priced out individual plans in MI-$100/month for a plan with a $3500 out of pocket max with a $1000 deductible for a 26 year old non-smoking female…I priced out Detroit, which is likely the most expensive part of the state too.</p>
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<p>I am 21, almost 22. My parents don’t have health insurance because they’re unemployed. We cannot afford out of pocket health insurance and I don’t qualify for any kind of subsidized programs because I’m a young adult without dependents or disabilities. I do not work full time with benefits because I’m still in college. My college’s plan is too expensive for me. </p>
<p>If anyone wonders where my passion for public health comes from, it’s because I don’t want anyone to ever have to be in fear of getting sick like I am every day.</p>
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<p>Wrong and I don’t live in Detroit. </p>
<p>I have tried getting those so-called $100 plans. Nope, doesn’t work. The lowest I’ve been quoted is about $250/month. I can’t afford that.
I’m not going to continue this though. I’ve been trying to get health insurance for the last few months and I’m sick of people telling me what is and isn’t out there. You’re not in my shoes. You haven’t been the one applying for it and getting the REAL numbers.</p>
<p>ETA: If you look at the beautiful fine print on those $100 you’ll see that you need “proof of good health” to get those lovely $100 plans. I can’t provide that because I don’t fit that criteria. Therefore I don’t get those $100 plans.</p>
<p>romani, doesn’t your county health dept. provide free vaccines for people with no health insurance?</p>
<p>Nrds, only to children and the elderly. My county back home does but it would cost me almost as much in gas to go home as just running down to the Meijer.</p>
<p>greenwitch: I too have a needle-phobic daughter. Until the last year or so she passed out when getting a shot or having blood drawn. She gets the nasal flu vaccine FluMist rather than get a shot and has for a goodly number of years.</p>
<p>By the way, sometimes when the flu vaccine runs lows, you can still find FluMist available, since many people don’t know to ask for it. You have to be between the ages of 2-49 to get it. Also, my daughter says the word “mist” is a misnomer: thicker than mist, slithers through the nasal passages.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I’ll ask about the mist. I know I can’t get it - immune system issues - but I think they can. Is it contraindicated for asthma?</p>
<p>Sigh… just checked the CDC site and people with asthma should probably NOT get the live virus vaccine (flumist) since one of the side effects is wheezing.</p>
<p>SteveMA - How can you suggest that a full-time student and part-time employee can afford such a plan?</p>
<p>Say as a student such as romani makes $12/hour and works 25 hours a week. She also has rent, utility, and food expenses.</p>
<p>$12 x 25 x 4 = $1200 in monthly pretax income</p>
<p>Can you please show how someone can afford an individual plan on that salary? Also, how would they meet the ~$1000 deductible required by such a plan?</p>
<p>with a high deductible, it wouldnt be worth romani getting an individual plan, it would be better to get an accident/catastrophic plan in the event that she needed surgery or god forbid was in an accident. as i assume she is reasonably healthy…she probably doesnt spend 1000 per year on health costs… certainly the individual plan like that would mean she was still paying doctors visits, flu shots,etc as it would all go to deductibles until she was 1000 out of pocket.</p>
<p>before they allowed kids to stay on until age 26… we had a policy for S1 from assurant that was pretty cheap.</p>
<p>Hopefully next year when the state health insurance exchanges are up and running and those who can’t afford it will be able to get their premiums subsidized (premiums will be on a sliding scale depending on income) - people in romani’s situation will be able to afford to purchase insurance. I believe every policy will be required to be comprehensive and cover preventive care, including vaccines with no co-pay.</p>
<p>I’m so excited for that, Emily. Let’s see if it works in practice. <em>Crosses fingers</em></p>
<p>“Sigh… just checked the CDC site and people with asthma should probably NOT get the live virus vaccine (flumist) since one of the side effects is wheezing.”</p>
<p>greenwitch, If she has asthma I would think getting a flu shot would be even more important! If she can’t do the flu mist, I think you have to drag her, kicking and screaming, to get the shot. </p>
<p>She is going to need to get the meningitis shot to go to college so might as well get her use accepting she is not going to be able to avoid shots forever.</p>
<p>^^^^^Yes, kids with asthma would be at higher risk for serious complications if they contracted the flu.</p>
<p>I try to accommodate D2’s severe fear of needles when I can, but at the end of the day, she’s going to get a shot if I feel it is dangerous for her not to do so. We make sure she is lying down when she gets it. The worst thing that happens is a vaso-vagal response where they “pass out” or get clammy and nauseated. They always come out of it, and if they are lying down, they are protected from harm.</p>
<p>Just chiming in…S1 and DH are both somewhat needle phobic and both have passed out for vaccinations. I come with, and we sign papers ahead of time that say “if he passes out, he still wants the shot”. And when they pass out, our GP sticks 'em. This does not work for blood draws, however, although lying down is a big help. Phleb. don’t always offer, you need to ask.</p>
<p>Romani, you have my sympathies. We have many of the same worries about S2 and his complicated medical issues that make most insurance policies unavailable (either by price, or they flat out won’t insure him). Even if he is insured, the co-pays for his care and meds still runs into 4 figures most months. How can he afford that on some entry-level job salary? I have no solutions, but again, I know what you mean.</p>