Mastodawn

I just got my booster at Walgreens, even though the pharmacy tried to tell me that ~unfortunately~ my (state provided) insurance doesn't cover Covid boosters anymore

So I said according to https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html I should be able to get it free of change no matter what, & https://www.vaccines.gov/ lists this Walgreens location as a provider, so how can we fix this? They said they needed to "check some things", & then I magically got it for free instead of $155.99

Know what you're owed!

Bridge Access Program

This Program provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults. Learn how.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Louisa Oct 2, 2023

I don't think they were malicious, but they were absolutely fine being incompetent and trying to either charge me or send me on my way with nothing after making an appointment over a week ago, showing up on time today and waiting half an hour

I hope you don't need it but maybe pull up that website info on your phone just in case

campbell Oct 2, 2023

@Louisa same thing happened to my partner but for some reason handing them a cvs prescription card instead of an insurance card worked.

Yes, this was also at a walgreen's and no, I have no idea why this would somehow fix whatever problem there was

✨Lord of Misrule ✨Oct 2, 2023

@Louisa that's so weird. so in my state some insurances including Medicaid weren't covering them the first week my Walgreens got them. We ended up using the government funded free plan for uninsured patients. But that was week one of getting the thing so we expected bumps in the system but it's been around for a while now, they should have that stuff handled 😡

Ethan 🌒Oct 2, 2023

@Louisa i paid 16usd for mine today but they really should be free for everyone forever

🖤 Gray 🧡Oct 2, 2023

@Louisa capitalism in medicine is going absolutely great and has no glaring flaws whatsoever

scottfines Oct 2, 2023

@Louisa FWIW to anyone else seeing this, but the Affordable Care Act also requires all insurance to cover _any_ approved vaccine, so never take “your insurance won’t cover it” as an answer:

https://www.kff.org/infographic/insurance-coverage-of-updated-covid-19-vaccines-a-cheat-sheet/

Insurance Coverage of Updated COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cheat Sheet | KFF

This cheat sheet provides details on coverage rules by insurance type and for people who are uninsured.

KFF

@Louisa I talked to an older lady in line at Walgreens who had a similar thing happen to her at Kroger. Thankfully they called her back later and rectified the mistake. But what the fuck.

Ricki Yasha Tarr Oct 2, 2023

@Louisa WOW so you pay, unless you call them on their bullshit

RPh is in the garden 🪴 🏳️‍🌈 ✡️Oct 2, 2023

@RickiTarr @Louisa
It is a mess. The 1 pharmacist on duty is responsible for 100s of
rxs/vaccines/billing/Inventory/answering phone/calling your md because you appear to have a drug/drug interaction/answering phone/counseling.
It’s similar to being on a carousel going 100 miles per hour.
Not making excuses. Just facts.
I left this line of work because of the safety concerns. It is hell. Has been for a long time.
Oh, and my favorite—-the drive thru window.

Ricki Yasha Tarr Oct 3, 2023

@CuriousRPh @Louisa You're right, mine is nearly always understaffed

mia Oct 3, 2023

@Louisa yeah, sometimes insurances can be really dumb, and refuse to cover things that it should. Generally there's an alternate billing path that bills the government directly for it, bypassing insurance (although I'm not that well versed on the post commercialization stuff)
It really can be kinda luck based, whether the tech you talk to knows their stuff, or can find the answer and try to advocate for you on those issues.

Jenn Dolari Oct 3, 2023

@Louisa - Good to know. My insurance just ended, and their website made me put in "new insurance information." I added all zeros, and it gave me the appointment anyways. I plan to call them in the morning and say, "Hey, free Covid vax, please. Your site wouldn't let me say 'I don't have insurance.'"

@Louisa My insurance said that because Nevada DHS was refusing to allow providers to pay for C19 boosters that I would have to wait.

Yeah, no. CVS told me the booster was ~$170 when I went in to get both, and I don't have that kind of money. Luckily it was only a couple days before I was able to get the shot, but I could've gotten my flu and C19 shot together had NDHS gotten their crap together sooner. Still mildly annoyed about that.

Altivo 🔔✨🐎✨Oct 3, 2023

@Louisa Weird. What state? We walked in, no appointments, and asked. Walgreens said "Sure, but you will have a 15 minute wait as people with appointments come first." 20 minutes later, vaxxed, no charge. You might consider sending a complaint to Walgreens HQ as that sounds fishy. Employees or manager on the take?

Stephen Bannasch (316 ppm)Oct 3, 2023

@Louisa A week ago I got the updated Moderna at a local Walgreens. My insurance didn’t cover it yet (their screwup, covered now), after 20m of the pharmacist trying to figure out how to bill they asked for my license instead and I got it no-charge. I suspect they billed the “Bridge Program”. I didn’t ask for details because there was a very long line and the two pharmacists were very stressed.