I'm not 65 or over. I did get covid for the first time a year ago this week, as did my kid. We were really sick but we had kept up with our vaccines and so did not need hospitalization. We both tested at home and our doctors tested us, too, and confirmed it. We have been wearing masks in public places and medical building ever since we recovered.
I'm thinking that I'll have to co-pay or pay the full amount. No way will insurance companies graciously pay it all, with no law or government entity making them. So I better try to budget for it soon. I checked with local pharmacy, and they do plan to vax for flu and covid, but until they get the shots/serums, they can't schedule anything. I'll try to get my new doc to do it even if I have to pay for it, once I see the doc this fall for the first time. That was the earliest appt I could get anyhow.
Ta, Dok, despite the phony photo (the woman administering the shot would be wearing nitrile or latex gloves). I'm over 65 and work in a medical clinic, so I'll get my booster as soon as it's due. My spouse, however, is not yet a senior citizen (happy senior citizen day to my fellow elders). Worse, he teaches in an elementary school, and really needs to be vaccinated so the Snot Puppets* don't infect him with COVID-19. (He will, of course, bring home colds and such.) He'll get the shot, even if it's all out of pocket
A few of my clients have Medicare; they'll be all right. Most have Medicaid and (some kind of free) private insurance. All of us who work in FQHCs are worried about the repercussions of the Big Bad Bill. NY is a generous state and a rich one; we take care of our own for the most part. The disappearance of federal dollars will hurt, but not as badly as in other locales.
I have no doubt the insurance companies will refuse COVD vax the very second they will be allowed to do so. So if you're in the under 65, get your covid vax ASAP.
There's a real chance that insurance company actuaries will show the boards that covering COVID vax is cheaper than paying for the hospitalization of people who didn't get the vaccine.
Secretary Tanning Bed Brainworm is having a wonderful time doing his job of rendering the continent lifeless of anyone with greater than 45 IQ. More power to him and his crusade to roll back 200 years of medical science just because his Magic 8 Ball told him to.
Dr Osterholm was on a Bay Area PBS call-in talk show this morning. He was pulling no punches. Called out Worms's conflict of interest (7-figure (or maybe 8!) retainer from some anti-vax quack outfit). His analogy was an airplane - if 99 qualified mechanics tell you not to get on the plane, and 1 guy calling himself a mechanic says it's fine, fly it, who do you believe?
Those $20k hospitalizations involve a whole lot of activity in the health care sector and thus more money to be harvested by the bean counters who twiddle all the knobs. It has been true for over 70 years that preventative medicine saves both money and lives. It also avoids avoiding long term degradation in health. So from the point of view of the MBAs who run the system, that's just lost revenue.
I mean, they /just/ put the shingles vaccine on Medicare *last year*. I had to pay $700 out of pocket for it bc I gave in thinking they'd never approve it.
Local guy refused to give me or my kid the shot because we are under 65 with no underlying health dangers. I went shopping for a new doctor. We'll see what happens this fall.
It's hilarious how these MAGAts claim they're antivax because it's all just a big conspiracy by Big Pharma to boost profits, but the fact that virtually all climate change denial has its origins in astroturf operations funded by Big Oil doesn't register with them. Or rather, they don't give a shit. Arguing in bad faith is a way of life for these people.
I'm not 65 or over. I did get covid for the first time a year ago this week, as did my kid. We were really sick but we had kept up with our vaccines and so did not need hospitalization. We both tested at home and our doctors tested us, too, and confirmed it. We have been wearing masks in public places and medical building ever since we recovered.
I'm thinking that I'll have to co-pay or pay the full amount. No way will insurance companies graciously pay it all, with no law or government entity making them. So I better try to budget for it soon. I checked with local pharmacy, and they do plan to vax for flu and covid, but until they get the shots/serums, they can't schedule anything. I'll try to get my new doc to do it even if I have to pay for it, once I see the doc this fall for the first time. That was the earliest appt I could get anyhow.
As Tim Snyder has written, the ethics of the professions, when upheld with integrity, are a bulwark against authoritarianism.
Dr. Osterholm is excellent. I’m glad he’s leading efforts meant to protect us.
The insurance companies ought to cover the vaccinations if only to save money for themselves via reduced risk of hospitalization.
Apparently heroin abuse REALLY fucks up your cognitive abilities.......who knew?????
Secretary Grills Bear is more dangerous than Covid, cancer and red dye #3 and should be avoided like the plague-promoter that he is.
RFKJr. = RIP
Ta, Dok, despite the phony photo (the woman administering the shot would be wearing nitrile or latex gloves). I'm over 65 and work in a medical clinic, so I'll get my booster as soon as it's due. My spouse, however, is not yet a senior citizen (happy senior citizen day to my fellow elders). Worse, he teaches in an elementary school, and really needs to be vaccinated so the Snot Puppets* don't infect him with COVID-19. (He will, of course, bring home colds and such.) He'll get the shot, even if it's all out of pocket
A few of my clients have Medicare; they'll be all right. Most have Medicaid and (some kind of free) private insurance. All of us who work in FQHCs are worried about the repercussions of the Big Bad Bill. NY is a generous state and a rich one; we take care of our own for the most part. The disappearance of federal dollars will hurt, but not as badly as in other locales.
*his term for the kids, not mine
I'd claim the term "snot Puppets" as my own if I could!
I have no doubt the insurance companies will refuse COVD vax the very second they will be allowed to do so. So if you're in the under 65, get your covid vax ASAP.
There's a real chance that insurance company actuaries will show the boards that covering COVID vax is cheaper than paying for the hospitalization of people who didn't get the vaccine.
Actuaries aren't wackos.
Secretary Tanning Bed Brainworm is having a wonderful time doing his job of rendering the continent lifeless of anyone with greater than 45 IQ. More power to him and his crusade to roll back 200 years of medical science just because his Magic 8 Ball told him to.
Dr Osterholm was on a Bay Area PBS call-in talk show this morning. He was pulling no punches. Called out Worms's conflict of interest (7-figure (or maybe 8!) retainer from some anti-vax quack outfit). His analogy was an airplane - if 99 qualified mechanics tell you not to get on the plane, and 1 guy calling himself a mechanic says it's fine, fly it, who do you believe?
As an MIT alum and employee, I plan to invoice Retsef Levi for the cost of my COVID booster this fall.
What I'd really like to see is a series of Retsef Levi Memorial Vaccination Clinics across campus throughout the fall.
I'm sure that insurers would much rather cover [checks math] a $20,000 hospitalization over a $140 vaccine. (Sadly that may be true)
Those $20k hospitalizations involve a whole lot of activity in the health care sector and thus more money to be harvested by the bean counters who twiddle all the knobs. It has been true for over 70 years that preventative medicine saves both money and lives. It also avoids avoiding long term degradation in health. So from the point of view of the MBAs who run the system, that's just lost revenue.
It really is that corrupt.
I think they’ll have people tabulating how many people will pay for the vax on their own vs how many will die if insurance doesn’t pay for the vax.
I mean, they /just/ put the shingles vaccine on Medicare *last year*. I had to pay $700 out of pocket for it bc I gave in thinking they'd never approve it.
GET YOURS NOW RIGHT NOW.
Local guy refused to give me or my kid the shot because we are under 65 with no underlying health dangers. I went shopping for a new doctor. We'll see what happens this fall.
RatFKJr. knows best! Enjoy your remaining days!
It's hilarious how these MAGAts claim they're antivax because it's all just a big conspiracy by Big Pharma to boost profits, but the fact that virtually all climate change denial has its origins in astroturf operations funded by Big Oil doesn't register with them. Or rather, they don't give a shit. Arguing in bad faith is a way of life for these people.
Thanks for this update, Dok.