<p>Romani, do any of the supermarkets in your areas do vaccinations for adults for free or at reduced cost?</p>
<p>I know you are doing the best you can, dear one. Just hang in there. Better days really are coming and there are a lot of people pulling for you.</p>
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<p>Well, the CHEAPEST plan I can get for my family in Maine is almost $1,600 per month (42% increase over last year). $5,000 deductible per person deductible. Our little business has been struggling for a few months. If this keeps up, we will not be able to afford the premiums. We’ve already cut expenses such as the newspaper and charitable giving. So I don’t think it’s an excuse for a lot of people. It’s reality.</p>
<p>Called around. Cheapest seems to be $25. I can do that :). County is $34. The only subsidized ones seem to be only to children and elderly.</p>
<p>However, Walgreen’s and CVS are offering coupon packs with the shots. That could make it almost free. I hope this information helps others as well.</p>
<p>And thanks, zm :). That really means a lot.</p>
<p>FYI for next year…Romani, if you are near a Kroger, my D was able to print out a $15 coupon fall 2012 on their website and got her flu shot for $10 at the Kroger pharmacy.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that I was at O’Hare airport (Chicago) yesterday and they were selling flu shots for $31. I have never seen a vaccination table in a airport terminal before!!!</p>
<p>At least flu shots are covered by our expensive insurance policy! Whoo hoo! DH and I have already gotten the shots; I’m taking our three kids for them in a few minutes.</p>
<p>Our office provides free flu shots for all who want to participate for the past few years, now that all cubicle walls have been removed and we have an open floor plan. Since people who come in to work sick cannot hide in their cubicles, colds travel very quickly throughout our office. DH who is retired got shot at CVS. Thanks to Obamacare we cover younger d on our policy as she (aspiring actress/singer who works as a nanny and children’s theatre/music/movement instructor) just turned 24. Older d who just turned 27 just got a full-time job with benefits. Her insurance coverage begins 2/1/13. Since she aged out of our plan initially at age 22, she had coverage through grad school, then we were able to pick up her again but in NY the Healthy NY program covers people in her situation without full-time jobs or benefits at $287 a month without prescription coverage. There is a higher monthly charge if prescription coverage is included and if one had a chronic condition, one would need that coverage.We paid out of pocket for any prescriptions she needed including her birth control but now that is covered at no charge. Healthy New York was the cheapest option we could find,much less than the Freelancers Union but it was not easy to get the current information and there was much complicated paperwork to complete.I consider myself fairly intelligent and articulate and had many questions and it was complicated for me to negotiate the process along with her and my husband.</p>
<p>Flu’s pretty bad in our area, and I know several people hospitalized with it. My parents and siblings all had it, even though they all had the vaccines.</p>
<p>As for “everyone should have health insurance” - yeah, right. Last year I paid $1600 a month for my family of three after my husband lost his job. I earn $2600 a month. Now that my savings are gone, my churches have scrounged up the money to give us basic insurance - but the deductible is $11K, which is not too helpful. It will get us routine office visits and the prescriptions my husband needs to stay alive, but if he goes back into a-fib we won’t be able to afford the cardioversion.</p>
<p>SteveinMA is right. When I had the flu three or four years ago, I was flat on my back for a week. I had a high fever and chills, my body hurt all over, and I was so weak I found it far too much effort to lie on the couch and watch TV. That was a typical, normal case of the flu; that is what flu is like for a normal healthy person. If you have some nasty virus where you are throwing up for a day, it won’t be pleasant, but that is not influenza.</p>
<p>You do not want to get influenza.</p>
<p>Romani, just one more year until you get subsidized insurance, with free vaccinations, yay. Hang in there, stay healthy, do what you need to do, we’re on your side. Most of us understand the economics of someone with a low income trying to buy insurance, and we do not blame you for not doing what’s impossible.</p>
<p>I’m really just trying to hang in until August. Almost all of the schools I’ve applied for have reasonable health insurance for grad students. Just gotta chug along for a few more months :)</p>
<p>Well this is all your fault, Romanigypsyeyes. If you had taken 30 credits a semester you would be done and in graduate school now, wouldn’t you? Hmph!</p>
<p>Seriously, though, I would love it if your path lead through NYC next year.</p>
<p>I have read from CDC that this year’s vaccine is particularly well matched against the strain of flu out there. </p>
<p>But DH heard from 2 doctors yesterday that it is NOT well matched. His theory is that the CDC is not going to put out news that the vaccine is not a match.</p>
<p>Pet Peeve: People who say they have the flu when they just have a bad cold or something. </p>
<p>I will confess that I have never gotten the shot because I was never in one of the classes of people who were supposed to get them. It is only in the last couple of years that they seem to be recommending it for all adults. My aunt got Guillian_Barre last year after her shot and my doctor said not to risk it for me this year, even tho the chances were remote that I would get any adverse effect.</p>
<p>My D gets the shot every year due to asthma and she is patient Zero in our household, so as long as I keep her healthy I have a better chance of missing it.</p>
<p>Just got back from taking my three kids to get their shots. After theirs, the store had only ONE dose left. The pharmacist said the chain has a few left, but they’re not sure which stores will get them. I’m glad my kids got them today!</p>
<p>Romani if you pm me your area i can help you look for insurance. i an thinking you should be able to get something for around a hundred at your age even if your health isn’t the best but either have to do some research.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID BIONIC using CC</p>
<p>It’s really bad in Minnesota. One death was a healthy, vaccinated teen.</p>
<p>[23</a> more die as Minn.'s flu toll rises to 27 dead, 1,121 hospitalized | StarTribune.com](<a href=“http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/186354402.html?refer=y]23”>http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/186354402.html?refer=y)</p>
<p>fender- I sent you a PM :)</p>
<p>Apparently it’s slowing down down south.</p>
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<p>Maybe it’s simply a difference on how someone defines a “good” match.</p>
<p>You know, the Woody Allen/Diane Keaton therapy scene:</p>
<p>Therapist: How often do you two make love?</p>
<p>Woody Allen: “Hardly ever. 3 times a week!”</p>
<p>Therapist: How often do you two make love?</p>
<p>Diane Keaton: “Constantly. 3 times a week!”</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Went to our local Rite Aid today to get D2 a flu shot. They were out. Oh well, we’ll keep trying but this time I’ll call first.</p>
<p>My son just called. He’s got the stomach flu. :(</p>