Re Covid booster, I want to thank everyone here...

[ananda]

for reminding me to get it.

I want to CVS for the Moderna
booster; it was easy, free, and
I got a $5 coupon.

Whew.

[hlthe2b]

1. "Free?" I doubt it was "free," but rather no co-pay with insurance, right?

I'm only trying to be specific because I know we have uninsured here and they will be out of pocket given Trump has ceased all public funding of COVID-19 vaccines. Some local public health departments might be able to provide them on a limited basis, however.

I'm glad you got your vaccine, though. Don't misunderstand my point, please.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

2. No, it's free.

Pharmacy tech here. There are workarounds for Covid *and* flu vaccines, and they should always be available for free. If you have Medicare, they’re covered.

They should all be, but… *gestures* capitalism.

[hlthe2b]

3. Medicare Part B, you mean? Or C? Not A only.

[hlthe2b]

4. Like I said, the distinctions are very important--not only to DUers here but I have had patients

that were sent to pharmacies and paid upwards of $130 for COVID-19 only within the past six months who had no private insurance or only Medicare Part A. I strongly recommended they get it and were crushed that they had no way to get it except to pay that amount of money they DID NOT HAVE--but they did (and almost assuredly failed to buy all the groceries they needed that week).

[Calico20]

8. Kroger

pharmacy (OH) here charged me $200+ each for COVID-19 and shingles vax last week. So, $440 or about a month's groceries. They didn't even throw in a free flag,lol.------- Me no health insurance, did have Medicaid bc Biden/COVID.----Come on, Nov. elections!

[SidneyR]

14. Born and raised in Ohio.

Left as soon as I could.

[Lemon Lyman]

17. Yup

Insurance wouldn't cover my most recent booster (last fall). Maybe b/c I'm middle-aged?

$250 at Walgreens in Dubuque, IA.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. Yes, part B

I was just downsized (Wags was bought out by a fkg hedge fund and they’re stripping staff, stores, and everything else to suck it dry before they shitcan the whole company, I assume ) and both were still working as of two weeks ago.

[hlthe2b]

7. So most definitely NOT FREE.

Please be careful how you couch this with your uninsured patients coming in. The distinction is really critically important. My patient's kids may not have eaten well because of the $130 charged to my patient that week, though I did send them to a good food pantry who hopefully did help.

Perhaps you don't realize but with the cuts to mediCAID, which did cover PART B for the poorest, many now have lost BOTH. So please don't assume all your patients with a Medicaid card HAVE PART B. Not all will right now.

[rog]

9. I have Medicare A & B ... I am NOT covered for Covid vax.

... although I AM covered for the flu vaccine.

Fortunately, here in MKE WI we have a county program that offers free immunizations for un/under-insured folks. It's a bit of a hassle b/c there are only a few places in the city, they are all (of course) understaffed, and the hours the clinics are open are short, and different for each venue. But it's a great program. I don't know how many cities or counties have a similar program, but it's worth checking. The program here does not seem very well publicized.

The way I understand it, Medicare Part D does cover the Covid vax (Part A is hospital, Part B is doctor visits, labs, etc, and neither cover the Covid vax, Shingles, etc, but do cover flu vax).

[hlthe2b]

5. Buzzy. Will you please answer my two posts to you about this issue to clarify? thank you.

[ananda]

18. I don't know, here's why...

I have United Healthcare through Texas
Teacher Retirement System Medicare.

Until this year, my pharmacy was CVS.
This year they said I could no longer
use CVS, so I switched to HEB.

I didn't get the booster because HEB
doesn't offer Moderna.

However, I finally decided to go with CVS
and just pay whatever it cost. But there
was no charge, I'm not sure why.

Anyhow... not complaining.

[progressoid]

10. The free part ended in 2024 for the uninsured.

The COVID-19 public health emergency is over. The CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which provided free COVID vaccines for underinsured and uninsured individuals at retail pharmacies across the U.S., ended in August 2024.

Most adults with health insurance can still get the vaccine without cost sharing. So can young people who qualify for the Vaccines for Children program.

Local health departments and certain health centers may still offer free COVID vaccines. If you are an uninsured adult who receives a free vaccine, you may be charged an administration fee.

...
The bottom line

The COVID-19 public health emergency has ended. So have widespread programs offering free COVID vaccines for uninsured and underinsured people. If you are an adult without insurance paying for the vaccine without discounts, expect to spend $200 or more for the shot. You also may be charged an administration fee. You may be able to save on your self-pay COVID vaccine with a GoodRx coupon.


https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/covid-19/how-much-will-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-cost

[Texin]

11. I was thinking about the Covid booster just last week, but hadn't heard anything and CVS had/has not texted me

to remind me to schedule one.

Does anyone know whether this is an updated version?

[Pluvious]

13. I'm getting it today...

https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/get-basics-covid-19-vaccines-older-adults-age-65

[ananda]

19. They texted me last month, but I said upthread...

United forced me to change to HEB ... but
finally I decided to with CVS anyway
and there was no charge.

[Pluvious]

12. Some info about this...

I literally just booked by jab appointment, the last info I read...

https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/get-basics-covid-19-vaccines-older-adults-age-65

[ananda]

20. Thank you. That explains it.

It's a Medicare only deal.

So it doesn't matter what pharmacy you use.

[Katinfl]

15. It might be a good idea to call your pharmacy and get the information straight from them.

[deurbano]

16. My husband, daughter and I got the Moderna booster yesterday at Safeway!