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I took my elderly mother over to our local Publix to get her flu shot (in TN). She is on Medicare and it should be covered. We were told that " Medicare was down" and we could either come back another day (SO difficult to get my Mom to go anywhere, she is in a wheelchair) or pay $55 for the shot.
The Pulbix pharmacist went on further to say that it has been like that for a couple weeks - like every other day - the webiste (I asssume?) that processes Medicare approval or payments - is not operating. They are VERY frustrated. Mine went through to MY private pay insurance company with no trouble.
I don't know why we think the government will be good at running healthcare services.
I think I'd rather get my flu shot from Amazon. At least their website works VERY well!
I took my elderly mother over to our local Publix to get her flu shot (in TN). She is on Medicare and it should be covered. We were told that " Medicare was down" and we could either come back another day (SO difficult to get my Mom to go anywhere, she is in a wheelchair) or pay $55 for the shot.
The Pulbix pharmacist went on further to say that it has been like that for a couple weeks - like every other day - the webiste (I asssume?) that processes Medicare approval or payments - is not operating. They are VERY frustrated. Mine went through to MY private pay insurance company with no trouble.
I don't know why we think the government will be good at running healthcare services.
I think I'd rather get my flu shot from Amazon. At least their website works VERY well!
For the record, our government is not going to be running health care services.
FWIW - we ran across the same thing with our flu shots at Costco last week here in north Florida. Medicare computer system was down. Costco just said it would run the charge through Medicare when the system was up again - and we paid $0. OTOH - we're regulars at our local Costco pharmacy - and they know us. Don't know if Costco would do this for everyone. FWIW - a flu shot at Costco costs $14.99. Publix is overpriced for a lot of pharma type stuff. Although I'm pretty sure our Publix stores aren't charging $55 or anything like that for regular flu shots. Did you get the "regular" or newer "senior" version of the shot?
Computer systems in the government are - for the most part - an antiquated disgrace.
And quietstormnc - talk to some doctors if you don't think the government has a heavy hand in running health care services (to the extent that it tells doctors what they can/can't should/shouldn't do and/or in the way it pays them). Luckily - on my part - most of my doctors today are pretty happy in their practices (the unhappy ones have mostly quit). The majority are Mayo based - and Mayo runs defense for its doctors like the best defensive line in the NFL. I have a family dermatologist outside Mayo who is happy because most of her work is cosmetic - so she can afford to take some Medicare patients like me for things like routine skin cancer screenings. I have a plastic surgeon who removes an occasional cyst for me - and he's ok with me because the majority of his practice - like that of my dermatologist - is cosmetic. The GI doc who's been doing my colonoscopies for a long time isn't that happy (money is ok - but he dislikes many parts of the "brave new medicine world"). OTOH - he is 62 - and plans to retire at 65. My next colonoscopy may be his last. Robyn
II don't know why we think the government will be good at running healthcare services.
I think I'd rather get my flu shot from Amazon. At least their website works VERY well!
If it bothers you that much, cancel her Medicare (don't want you using our socialized healthcare if government heath care services upset you) and get her a private heath care policy not run by the government. That's the solution, go ahead and do it, that way you won't have anything to worry about!
Actually health insurance was 'born' when the government started mandating what companies could pay workers for certain jobs during WW2. In response, private companies offered health coverage as a fringe benefit, which was not covered by the wage controls.
Whenever the government starts messing around with how much things cost (including health care) things get mucked up. Everything works best in a free market economy.
My mother pays a hefty sum for supplemental insurance as well. And she pays for her Medicare.
Believe it or not, she TRIED to pay for things that Medicare covered and the doctors office had no idea how to process it (she wanted a procedure more often than Medicare allowed, which was every 90 days) They pretty much MADE her charge Medicare.
Will see about being reimbursed . . but if "Medicare is down" - who do you contact?
It was the senior shot that was $55. The "junior" shot was $30 and I have not seen any signs at Costco offering flu shots. Suspect that if "Medicare is down" it would affect ANY place offering flu shots to seniors.
If it bothers you that much, cancel her Medicare (don't want you using our socialized healthcare if government heath care services upset you) and get her a private heath care policy not run by the government. That's the solution, go ahead and do it, that way you won't have anything to worry about!
I don't think this hasty reply is really addressing the issue as much as pushing party policies. The fact is anything the government has taken over loses money and is run poorly. Show me one entity that the government has excelled beyond private business. Her point, and mine, is that we doubt the government is going to be able to handle the healthcare successfully. Debate that instead of brow beating and being mean spirited.
I don't think this hasty reply is really addressing the issue as much as pushing party policies. The fact is anything the government has taken over loses money and is run poorly. Show me one entity that the government has excelled beyond private business. Her point, and mine, is that we doubt the government is going to be able to handle the healthcare successfully. Debate that instead of brow beating and being mean spirited.
Yes, the governement is unable to properly run health care, and that is never going to change. If it bothers you and others, just don't use governement healthcare. Complaining about something you ise where you have the ability not to use it is senseless. Drop health care where government has a hand in it and all your concerns are gone!
I work at a Walgreens and we have vouchers for free flu shots for people who do not have insurance/insurance won't pay. Reimbursement should work though, but I would have tried to avoid the process by looking for a place with free flu shots. We are practically handing them out to anyone and everyone!
...It was the senior shot that was $55. The "junior" shot was $30 and I have not seen any signs at Costco offering flu shots. Suspect that if "Medicare is down" it would affect ANY place offering flu shots to seniors.
Just FWIW - our Costco doesn't have the "senior" flu shot. Perhaps Costcos in areas with larger senior populations do. Robyn
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