Am I alone in thinking drugs stores now administering flu shots is a gift to insurance companies?

[Just-plain-Kathy]

[MineralMan]

1. I'm not sure what you mean.

My insurance doesn't cover flu shots at all, so I have to pay for them. I used Minute Clinic at a nearby CVS. $30. Cheap, considering what the flu costs if I get it. Medicare covers the shots, as do some other insurance plans. In that case, you don't pay.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

6. I've been lucky, my insurance company has always covered flu shots. n/t

[Oregone]

2. Its a gift to drug stores

Its smart marketing. You get people in your venue and you upsell them

[paulsby]

3. it is smart marketing

but it's also a good public service. i'm all for giving credit where it's due.

[paulsby]

4. it is smart marketing

but it's also a good public service. i'm all for giving credit where it's due.

[MineralMan]

5. Where I am, the drug stores are about the only ones who

have stocks of the seasonal flu vaccine right now.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

9. Yesterday on the Today Show some rep from CVS (?) said they were prepared to vaccinate 30 million.

At $30 a pop, they're in for a killing.

[MineralMan]

12. OK by me. The Minute Clinics work very well for lots of things.

What I want, when it's time to get a flu shot, is to walk in the door fill out the paperwork, get my shot, and leave. I always show up when they open, don't have to wait, and I'm out of there in 10 minutes.

I wouldn't use my regular clinic...you have to make an appointment and the charge is much higher.

[Jokerman]

7. CVS is the only place I can get a shot without paying for it.

If I visit the doctor, I have to pay the office visit co-pay. At the minute clinic, my insurance covers the shot 100%.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

11. Wow, I didn't know you could submit a shot given at a store would be covered by insurance.

Good to know.

[MineralMan]

14. The Minute Clinics accept all insurance plans, I think.

Whatever you go in there for, they take down the insurance info, charge you the copay, then bill the insurance. Even though my policy doesn't cover flu shots, they still bill and I pay later.

They're great, too, for common ailments. They can prescribe antibiotics, etc. They'll take your insurance.

[timeforpeace]

8. No, they are taking advantage of their pharmacists to increase business.

[salvorhardin]

10. How would it be a gift to insurance companies

If the insurance companies pay for the vaccinations?

Or do you mean it's a gift to the insurance companies, because the larger the number of people vaccinated the fewer the number of people will be who develop serious illnesses or die from the flu? In other words, the drug stores are helping the insurance companies by offering low-cost immunizations that allow the insurance companies to make a small short-term expenditure to save on a much larger long-term expenditure?

[sinkingfeeling]

13. In the last 40 years I've worked only 2 places and both have provided flu shots at no

expense and no insurance forms to fill out.