Permalink Flu Shots - Go to your Doctor not a Store
Last year when Genius was still in public school, we opted to get our flu shots at a Target Flu Shot Clinic. Now the following is not a stab on Target rather it is on SUMMIT HEALTH the company that was contracted to do the flu shots. We chose to do the shots at Target because the public school was not pleased with you to take your children out of school during the day (HOORAY FOR HOMESCHOOLING) - and our doctor's office only does flu shot clinics from 7am to 11am in the morning.
In any case one year later -- today -- I realize what a HUGE mistake that was.
The shots were advertised at $27.50 a piece (the doctor's office was similar) - and they would file your insurance for it. Excellent, always a bonus. So I signed the form for both of us, and got the shots.
We got home and I remember reading the fine print that I signed stating that if your insurance is rejected they will bill you another $43.00 for the shot. I was not at all worried because I knew our insurance would cover it, I had called first to make sure.
In any case our old insurance company (we have a different one this year), has a 90 day window for person claims (claims that a company is not filing on your behalf) - when it was close to that day, I called the insurance to see if they had a claim - they said they did not. I then proceeded to call the pharmacist at Target to find out whom exactly was filing these claims. She was very kind, and phoned around for me, and called me back stating that Summit Health WAS NOT filing any claims as they said they would. Fine, so I make a personal claim with the insurance company and I at least get $25.00 back per shot .
Today I get a bill in the mail from Summit Health for both Genius and I for $43.00 each -- ????? --- only to find out they did file insurance after that 90 day window, and my claim was rejected because well I had already claimed for it. ARGH. And I'm liable for it, because well, I signed the form, fine print and all.
Now I am not stupid, far from it, and feel I was horribly duped. I had checked not just with one person but with a number of people, all to make sure I would be covered for this shot that in the end cost me $45.50 a piece x2 so that was $91.00 for a shot that we could have got at the doctor's office for free --
What an expensive lesson learned -- seek medical care from your doctor, even if it costs more at least you are putting your money into someone you trust and value and not a big, impersonal, money hungry company.
Fortunately for me, I received this years when I went for my annual checkup at the doctor's just yesterday. Genius will go to the flu shot clinic next week for hers....and I don't even have to take her out of school...which is how this all started....
Reader Comments (1)
Oh man, that sucks!
Thanks for the insiders tip