Physical, titers and immunization: insurance coverage?

[stmclovin]

Does insurance cover those things? Or people just pay out of their own pocket?

I figured that having the titaers done at CCOM costs like $285 plus costs of shots and physical.

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[slim78]

AZCOM has a deal w/ a local hospital that lets you do your titers your first week of school. I think it was free (if I remember correctly).

Oh and lots of insurances will cover physicals. Mine is even having a special right now where I don't even have to pay a copay.

 

[EEL08]

AZCOM has a deal w/ a local hospital that lets you do your titers your first week of school. I think it was free (if I remember correctly).

Oh and lots of insurances will cover physicals. Mine is even having a special right now where I don't even have to pay a copay.

Hmmm, I was wondering why AZCOM recommended waiting to do titers until school. At my school we can get them for around $10-15 each, I think but free would definitely be better. Maybe I can find out for sure.

 

[slim78]

Hmmm, I was wondering why AZCOM recommended waiting to do titers until school. At my school we can get them for around $10-15 each, I think but free would definitely be better. Maybe I can find out for sure.

You're right. Here is the official statement on online.midwestern.edu

It says nothing about being free. It could actually be cheaper at your school. I would definitely call.

"Midwestern University has contracted with Sonora Quest Laboratories in the Phoenix Metropolitan area to facilitate this process and minimize your expenses and also to assure that the correct tests are done. If you wish to take advantage of our discount with Sonora Quest Laboratories, you will need to come to the Office of Student Services to pay for the titers and obtain a requisition form. The university provides a 2 week grace period following the start of classes to allow you to get these titers drawn. The expense of the blood titers will also be included in your financial aid package, which you will receive the first week of classes. We recommend that you wait until you have received your financial aid disbursement before you have your titers drawn. Again, you must come to Student Services first in order to take advantage of the discount."

 

[EEL08]

You're right. Here is the official statement on online.midwestern.edu

It says nothing about being free. It could actually be cheaper at your school. I would definitely call.

"Midwestern University has contracted with Sonora Quest Laboratories in the Phoenix Metropolitan area to facilitate this process and minimize your expenses and also to assure that the correct tests are done. If you wish to take advantage of our discount with Sonora Quest Laboratories, you will need to come to the Office of Student Services to pay for the titers and obtain a requisition form. The university provides a 2 week grace period following the start of classes to allow you to get these titers drawn. The expense of the blood titers will also be included in your financial aid package, which you will receive the first week of classes. We recommend that you wait until you have received your financial aid disbursement before you have your titers drawn. Again, you must come to Student Services first in order to take advantage of the discount."

Cool, thanks slim! 🙂 I will definitely have to contact them sometime this week.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

They're going to put a long q-tip in your weener.

 

[ShyRem]

I did mine before I lost my husband's really awesome insurance (read: before we moved and he had to quit his job). They covered EVERYTHING. It was awesome. I know people who had to pay $800 for their titers and boosters. 😡

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Wow that's ridiculous. I'm getting all my titers for free from my job. I'll get the physical for a $20 co-pay through insurance.

 

[Powdermonkey]

Must be nice to actually have insurance.....

 

[MDROCKSTAR]

Don't worry Hillary's Universal Health Care will be here soon enough!
hehe.

 

[LauraDO]

Don't worry Hillary's Universal Health Care will be here soon enough!
hehe.

😱😱😱

 

[dwilber]

Aha! Found it, don't mind me...

 

[Marthea007]

Must be nice to actually have insurance.....

Yea, I didn't have insurance when I got mine done. Although fortunately everything didn't run me too much over $400 I believe. Still sucked. A lot. 👎

 

[Ilovethemcat]

For anyone that works somewhere (eg hospital, clinic) that you had to get a Drug test/ blood draw pre-employment, I would recommend going to your Employee Health and asking them for copies of lab work. I was worried about shelling out money for the titers/ drug test but when I went to employee health they already ran every titer/ drug test I needed (besides alcohol) pre employment. They gave me signed copies for free. If I would have needed any shots, they would have covered those too.

 

[avalon18217]

For anyone that works somewhere (eg hospital, clinic) that you had to get a Drug test/ blood draw pre-employment, I would recommend going to your Employee Health and asking them for copies of lab work. I was worried about shelling out money for the titers/ drug test but when I went to employee health they already ran every titer/ drug test I needed (besides alcohol) pre employment. They gave me signed copies for free. If I would have needed any shots, they would have covered those too.

How long ago did you start your job, and did your school accept them from so long ago? Mine would be like 2-3 years old.

 

[Ilovethemcat]

How long ago did you start your job, and did your school accept them from so long ago? Mine would be like 2-3 years old.

I started 8 months ago.

Correct me if I'm wrong but if a titer is positive than it should not make difference that they are from 2 or 3 years ago. Drug tests are a different story. Granted you can gradually lose immunity to some things (eg pertussis) but I think in a lot of cases if you have the memory Ab than you have it. An example: if you ever had chickenpox, even if it was when you were 3 years old, you will most likely have a positive varicella titer because of the memory Ab's that developed for that disease.

You could also ask them if they will run your drug test/titers again for free and/or update you on your shots.

 

[avalon18217]

I started 8 months ago.

Correct me if I'm wrong but if a titer is positive than it should not make difference that they are from 2 or 3 years ago. Drug tests are a different story. Granted you can gradually lose immunity to some things (eg pertussis) but I think in a lot of cases if you have the memory Ab than you have it. An example: if you ever had chickenpox, even if it was when you were 3 years old, you will most likely have a positive varicella titer because of the memory Ab's that developed for that disease.

You could also ask them if they will run your drug test/titers again for free and/or update you on your shots.

I don't work in a clinic so our tests are not in-house and I don't think they would be willing to pay for them again. I knew I'd need a new drug test, but I think the titers depend on the disease/type of vaccination, which is why I asked how long ago you had yours if they were acceptable. Thanks.

 

[BobBarker]

I went to my local county health department for all my shots and tb test. Total cost: $0. Went to the local DO family doc, and he did my titer for free.

 

[Isoprop]

Must be nice to actually have insurance.....

out of school? most schools require health insurance.

but yeah i've been there. it sucks.

 

[Isoprop]

I went to my local county health department for all my shots and tb test. Total cost: $0. Went to the local DO family doc, and he did my titer for free.

i've done this too. be prepared to wait in a long line.

edit: i havent been to one that offers a full physical though.

 

[ShyRem]

Make sure to contact your county health department on this policy. Back in Colorado they would absolutely do immunizations, PPDs, etc. for a VERY reasonable cost - cheaper than the copay for an office visit. Here in Maine they don't do ANY of that stuff. I'm not sure what they actually do except use up taxpayer's money and create paperwork while not actually helping/serving the citizens of Maine in any direct capacity. They seem to have a lot of offices though.

 

[BobBarker]

Forgot about the physical part..
The MD I shadowed did it for free, also.

 

[tzarafan]

I'd suggest checking with your school's student health center. I went to my primary care doctor and had them done there as a part of my annual physical. Even though I had them all done a few years ago for my job he suggested I have them performed again "because immunity can be lost." He said they would be covered with insurance. I was shocked when I received a bill two months later for over $2000 because I elected to get the polio tired as well. Let's just say I'm not blindly paying it and plan on fighting the bill.

 

[costales]

I believe OP is done with med school.

 

[tzarafan]

Yeah I just noticed the original post date. I was just venting about the situation.