shingles shots (health insurance, pharmacy, costs)

[bradc344]

anyone know of an inexpensive clinic to get a shingle shot went to safeway and they wanted $250.00 without insurance seems like a lot so I'm just looking for options and prices ....thanks

[observer53]

I did some coogling and came up with this Immunization Clinics | Community Benefit & Outreach Programs

It gives a phone number to call to see if shingles (herpes zoster) vaccines will be available at any upcoming clinic. It doesn't show that one on their price list. Call and see what you find out.

[dynimagelv]

have you EVER tried to say "Shingles shots" three times,,,,,

[AZJoeD]

Go to Costco. With my insurance it was free. No insurance? Call and ask their price. You DO NOT have to be a member.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

Go to Costco. With my insurance it was free. No insurance? Call and ask their price. You DO NOT have to be a member.

Yep. Cheapest at Costco if you're insurance doesn't cover it.

[bradc344]

thanks for the replies very helpful

[Jimrob1]

I had my shingles shot and a flu shot in Oct. I didn't pay anything for either one thru BC/BS. I didn't know the going price was $250 without insurance. That's terrible. Is there no end to the rip off cost of Health Care.

I can't think of anyplace to get one at a low cost.

[youthinkso]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I had my shingles shot and a flu shot in Oct. I didn't pay anything for either one thru BC/BS. I didn't know the going price was $250 without insurance. That's terrible. Is there no end to the rip off cost of Health Care.

I can't think of anyplace to get one at a low cost.

Canada

[Jukesgrrl]

I researched this very carefully because several members of my family had shingles. The two doctors I consulted both said not to get the vaccine until you're 60, but don't dawdle after that. If you have health insurance it will usually be covered, but if you don't $200+ is the going rate everywhere. Safeway was also one of the places I checked and they said $250, as did the two urgent care clinics I phoned. Walgreen's Clinic said $235 and Costco was the cheapest at $215 on the day I called.

I asked my doctor why so expensive and she said it's because the vaccine has a very short shelf life. It has to be injected within a short period of time after it is made (if that's the proper word), has to be refrigerated, etc. If clinics get the vaccine and then nobody uses it, they have to eat the cost. So no matter how it's being paid for, get an appointment for the shot and call ahead to make sure they have it. If you have health insurance and they balk at covering it, ask you doctor to contact them and explain that you are related to people with shingles because that does give you the predisposition to get it. And remind them they don't want to pay the cost of treatment if you GET shingles. Sometimes they will give you a waiver.

Costco is generally a good pharmacy if you don't have insurance. Tell them and they will enroll you free of charge in their program that gives discounts to the uninsured. You get a card that you can flash the next time you are there to get the discount automatically. Both Target and Walmart have a long list of popular medications that you can get for around $5, so always check on that first for any prescription. But I've always found Costco matching that price, if not bettering it. I take one medication my insurance won't cover and I got it at Costco with the "no insurance" card for only $8. How ridiculous that I can't get coverage on something my doctor says I need and it costs less than $10??

My only gripe with the Costco pharmacy is that they no longer recycle prescription pill bottles and they used to.

[Rubi3]

I have auto-immune problems and cannot have the shingles shot and wish I could. My dad suffered terribly when he had shingles at age 91.