Flu shot free?

[shootingstar]

To U.S. citizens/residents?

It is free in CAnada and has been for a number of years.

Not all types of vaccine shots are free. A shingles shot is $300.00CAN+ and probably because it is for specific population group. And no my employer health care benefit plan, does not cover it.  I probably should get it soon since I had chickenpox as a child.

[maddmaxx ★]

It's free to me (0 copay)  but the pharmacy bills my insurance company.

[Razors Edge ★]

6 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

To U.S. citizens/residents?

It's likely the single most inexpensive "health care" item in the US.  Free or very inexpensive across the land.

[shootingstar]

4 minutes ago, maddmaxx said:

It's free to me (0 copay)  but the pharmacy bills my insurance company.

It doesn't work that way at all for the flu shot in Canada. The cost is absorbed by govn't.

[shootingstar]

2 minutes ago, Razors Edge said:

It's likely the single most inexpensive "health care" item in the US.  Free or very inexpensive across the land.

Well, dearie paid nothing for his heart stent day surgery. He pays for his blood-thinner pills..partially paid by his former employer health care benefit.  (He has a fantastic health care retirement pkg. I won't get this at all.)

Anyway, it would be great to get the vaccine...

[maddmaxx ★]

https://www.goodrx.com/blog/heres-how-to-get-discounted-or-even-free-flu-shots-this-year/

[JerrySTL ★]

21 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

Well, dearie paid nothing for his heart stent day surgery.

There is no free lunch Someone paid for it. Taxes. Employer healthcare. I bet that he paid for it, and maybe even other peoples healthcare.

[Allen ★]

It was $100 to see the doctor and I think the shot was $36

[shootingstar]

22 minutes ago, JerrySTL said:

There is no free lunch Someone paid for it. Taxes. Employer healthcare. I bet that he paid for it, and maybe even other peoples healthcare.

Not terrible, Jerry.  Not to some of us. Sure it's our taxes.

Not everyone sets out to live a consistently unhealthy life. There's a thin line between myself, a healthy, reasonably fit female vs. a drug addict.  All it would take, is me put on a drug (opiod which is what happens to badly injured trades/construction worker),  for some sort illness and then later, I might end up addicted not understanding consequences.

A person would have argued, I could have avoided my concussion, by not knowingly cycle as part of my transportation choice /fitness activity. And that part of their taxes paid for me.  Honest, it's actually not that simple.  It really is not, not even for us who try and with visible results, eat healthy, exercise often, etc. Every single fit, healthy person I personally know has had a major injury in the past 30 years. It is not that simple.. in terms of thinking of health care as a basic human right, not as a privilege for those who can afford/pay it.

I am satisfied that my taxes did pay for my father's cancer + final few months of pallative care, and even all the people I didn't know either.  My taxes pays for my baby nephew's brain cancer chemotherapy...and he will probably die soon 'cause it's not working.  I am satisfied my taxes pays for women to have safe pregnancies and birth.  (Because we all know parents bear the cost of raising each child for the next 20+ years thereafter.)

[shootingstar]

1 minute ago, Allen said:

It was $100 to see the doctor and I think the shot was $36

Really?  

[Allen ★]

25 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

Really?  

Really. To see the doc for any reason is a bill, and anything else is extra.

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

Shingles shots are covered by my insurance. I need to get those now that demand is down. Wegmans pharmacy has then. Costco too some days.

[sheep_herder ★]

Insurance pays for most of my vaccinations, but of course I pay insurance premiums via my retirement fund.

[MickinMD ★]

3 hours ago, shootingstar said:

To U.S. citizens/residents?

It is free in CAnada and has been for a number of years.

Not all types of vaccine shots are free. A shingles shot is $300.00CAN+ and probably because it is for specific population group. And no my employer health care benefit plan, does not cover it.  I probably should get it soon since I had chickenpox as a child.

I think all the county health departments in Maryland offer free flu shots - I know all the ones in the Baltimore-Washington Corridor do.

Personally, if I get mine during an ordinary doctors visit - like during my diabetes blood test follow-up, I pay nothing in addition to my $15 regular copay.  But if I get it during my blood test, for which I have no copay, then I get hit with $15.  So I always get the flu shot near the beginning of flu season during the follow-up with the doctor after my blood test.

[Dirtyhip]

My flu shot is free with my insurance. I have not gotten a shingles or pneumonia shot yet.

why do you start these threads about health insurance. @shootingstar? You already know that you have excellent coverage compared to the USA? It feels like you just rub salt in our wounds? It feels cruel to those of us that struggle with this.

[Kirby]

Work has free flu shot clinics, and if i didn't get it there, I could get it for free at my doctor's.  The practice has a flu shot clinic so that you can just drop in and get it at certain hours  each day without an appointment, or you can get it if you have an appointment with the doctor.  Some pharmacies actually give you a gift certificate if you get it at the pharmacy (presumably the insurance pays them enough to cover the cost).

[shootingstar]

9 minutes ago, Dirtyhip said:

My flu shot is free with my insurance. I have not gotten a shingles or pneumonia shot yet.

why do you start these threads about health insurance. @shootingstar? You already know that you have excellent coverage compared to the USA? It feels like you just rub salt in our wounds? It feels cruel to those of us that struggle with this.

Pneumonia shot is not free in Canada.... dearie just told me it was $125.00CAN.  There are all sorts of specialty prescription drugs that aren't free. The aim by government authorities is to prefer generic drugs for their list (which is probably posted on the Internet per provincial health ministry).

Dental is not free at all. None. Most physiotherapy is not, custom orthotics..no.  I think there's something for low-income for physio but only for 3-4 sessions per year, at least in Alberta. There may be some slight variations in different provinces.  A lot of restaurant workers aren't covered by employer health benefits. So my father (he was the sole breadwinner) paid for all our dental work for 6 children, braces for 2 kids (which is incredible when I think about it. I knew it ran couple thousand dollars per kid back in 1970's).

Dearie's butcher shop does not provide any employer health care benefits to his employees.  By law, he must provide worker injury compensation if worker is injured on the job and submits a claim for worker's compensation,

I'm sorry that's not the intent. There is a perception in Cnaada that everything in health care is free. It's easy to fall into that trap when one is young/healthy or has a great supplemental employer health benefit pkg.

 

[Longjohn ★]

2 hours ago, Allen said:

Really. To see the doc for any reason is a bill, and anything else is extra.

You can just get the flu shot at a pharmacy, no doctor needed.

[shootingstar]

14 minutes ago, Kirby said:

Work has free flu shot clinics, and if i didn't get it there, I could get it for free at my doctor's.  The practice has a flu shot clinic so that you can just drop in and get it at certain hours  each day without an appointment, or you can get it if you have an appointment with the doctor.  Some pharmacies actually give you a gift certificate if you get it at the pharmacy (presumably the insurance pays them enough to cover the cost).

Employer offers to us. I haven't taken a flu shot for many years yet. I did about 15 or more years ago. I dunno. I just haven't.  

I"m actually more motivated to get the shingles shot soon (when I can still afford it)....my mother had  shingles just 2 years ago. Of course she had chickenpox in her 30's....she was looking after 5 of kids who got it.

[Longjohn ★]

Probably should hold out for the Mexican beer virus shot. They will be free and required.

[Prophet Zacharia]

I get a free to me flu shot annually at work. 

[Kirby]

9 hours ago, shootingstar said:

I"m actually more motivated to get the shingles shot soon (when I can still afford it)....my mother had  shingles just 2 years ago. Of course she had chickenpox in her 30's....she was looking after 5 of kids who got it.

I was lucky that I completed the shingles shots before all this started.   I was supposed to get the second shot at my regular office visit, but because of some vacation plans, I pushed the doctor's visit back a few weeks but arranged to stop by the office early just to get the shot so that I could make sure to get both shots within the 6 month period.    After all this started, I pushed the doctor's visit back almost 2 months, so I definitely would have been out of the allowed time frame.  The shots did make me feel a little under the weather for a day, but that's much better than getting shingles.

 

[Dirtyhip]

11 hours ago, shootingstar said:

Pneumonia shot is not free in Canada.... dearie just told me it was $125.00CAN.  There are all sorts of specialty prescription drugs that aren't free. The aim by government authorities is to prefer generic drugs for their list (which is probably posted on the Internet per provincial health ministry).

Dental is not free at all. None. Most physiotherapy is not, custom orthotics..no.  I think there's something for low-income for physio but only for 3-4 sessions per year, at least in Alberta. There may be some slight variations in different provinces.  A lot of restaurant workers aren't covered by employer health benefits. So my father (he was the sole breadwinner) paid for all our dental work for 6 children, braces for 2 kids (which is incredible when I think about it. I knew it ran couple thousand dollars per kid back in 1970's).

Dearie's butcher shop does not provide any employer health care benefits to his employees.  By law, he must provide worker injury compensation if worker is injured on the job and submits a claim for worker's compensation,

I'm sorry that's not the intent. There is a perception in Cnaada that everything in health care is free. It's easy to fall into that trap when one is young/healthy or has a great supplemental employer health benefit pkg.

 

Dental is not free. You have to have really good insurance to be well covered here. Most everything has co pays. It is really easy to slip into a medical induced bankruptcy here if one gets very sick.

i don’t want to talk about this topic anymore 

[Kzoo]

1 minute ago, Dirtyhip said:

Dental is not free. You have to have really good insurance to be well covered here. Most everything has co pays. It is really easy to slip into a medical induced bankruptcy here if one gets very sick.

i don’t want to talk about this topic anymore 

AND why do we have this same conversation every 4 to 6 weeks.  We understand that the Canadian health coverage system is better.  We understand that you pay nothing and we pay through the nose.

Enough already.

 

[Indy]

3 minutes ago, Dirtyhip said:

Dental is not free. You have to have really good insurance to be well covered here. Most everything has co pays. It is really easy to slip into a medical induced bankruptcy here if one gets very sick.

i don’t want to talk about this topic anymore 

And compare to Juciluci's story, I prefer our system.  Canada's system is far from perfect and regardless of what the system looks like, you are still paying for medical coverage.

[Dirtyhip]

3 minutes ago, Kzoo said:

AND why do we have this same conversation every 4 to 6 weeks.  We understand that the Canadian health coverage system is better.  We understand that you pay nothing and we pay through the nose.

Enough already.

 

These posts of ss about medical are annoying due to how obtuse they are.

2 minutes ago, Indy said:

And compare to Juciluci's story, I prefer our system.  Canada's system is far from perfect and regardless of what the system looks like, you are still paying for medical coverage.

Pharmacy meds and other serious conditions make their medical system seem far superior to ours. Unless you plan to work till that day you die at your desk or have some fantastic retirement plan, we are screwed.

One chronic condition or cancer and your entire family is screwed. 
 

we get screwed every which way from medical. The higher ups do not care about the people. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 5 years. Health is a hot button issue. I am still waiting for some promises that never materialize. 

[Indy]

1 minute ago, Dirtyhip said:

These posts of ss about medical are annoying due to how obtuse they are.

Pharmacy meds and other serious conditions make their medical system seem far superior to ours. Unless you plan to work till that day you die at your desk or have some fantastic retirement plan, we are screwed.

One chronic condition or cancer and your entire family is screwed. 
 

we get screwed every which way from medical. The higher ups do not care about the people. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 5 years. Health is a hot button issue. I am still waiting for some promises that never materialize. 

No, you just have to take advantage of the products and services that are out there like my parents did when the retired.  There are plenty available without breaking the bank.

[Dirtyhip]

5 minutes ago, Indy said:

No, you just have to take advantage of the products and services that are out there like my parents did when the retired.  There are plenty available without breaking the bank.

Maybe not for those with chronic conditions.

[Indy]

Just now, Dirtyhip said:

Maybe not for those with chronic conditions.

My dad is a lifetime chewing tobacco user, he had no issue and didn't cost much.  He says he's better insured now than at any point in his life.

No system is perfect, but ours is better than most.  And again, there are no shortage of programs to help people who are in need.  If you aren't aware of them, you either are not in need or just haven't actually looked.  With my daughter, I've certainly racked up the medical bills, but not more than we could afford as we paid them off with no issue.  We make to much to qualify for any of the programs that help, but those that do, they get the exact same care and it's all free and many do qualify.  Programs are out there if you look for pretty much everything.

Lack of healthcare in this country isn't a reality, it's only a political bullet point for idiots that will believe it.

 

Maybe you should log off the internet and get outside.  You are incredibly negative, doom and gloom, it's not healthy.

[ChrisL]

It’s pretty well established that in the US, the cost for our medical & dental is contingent on the persons employer.  Some companies offer tremendous plans and cover much of the premiums.  Other companies offer and pay the bare minimum leaving much of the cost to the employee. The unemployed and retired is a whole different matter and it’s a mess.

My question for the Canadians is, is your medical all the same as in services & costs (or lack there of) regardless?  Employed, unemployed, retired al the same?  

[Scrapr ★]

14 hours ago, Old#7 said:

Shingles shots are covered by my insurance. I need to get those now that demand is down. Wegmans pharmacy has then. Costco too some days.

I got my 2nd (and final) shingles shot a month ago. Probably could not get it today as the clinic is shut down to divert staff to the hospitals. I got the bill yesterday....nada. Although I don't know if I paid 6 months previous for the first one. I don't usually get a flu shot. Although I got a couple when WoScrapr was going through treatment. She was immuno compromised. Those shots were free

[Dirtyhip]

Don’t throw words like idiot around Indy. I know that was directed at me cause of what I was saying. Nice disguise of a slam.

4 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

It’s pretty well established that in the US, the cost for our medical & dental is contingent on the persons employer.  Some companies offer tremendous plans and cover much of the premiums.  Other companies offer and pay the bare minimum leaving much of the cost to the employee. The unemployed and retired is a whole different matter and it’s a mess.

My question for the Canadians is, is your medical all the same as in services & costs (or lack there of) regardless?  Employed, unemployed, retired al the same?  

Yes, it is a mess, unless you are affluent. 
 

this topic sucks

[bikeman564™]

I can get a flu shot at no charge to me, but it's not free. But as sheep said, I pay a premium. Nothing is free  

[Wilbur ★]

8 minutes ago, bikeman564™ said:

Nothing is free  

Correct. 

[Wilbur ★]

22 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

My question for the Canadians is, is your medical all the same as in services & costs (or lack there of) regardless?  Employed, unemployed, retired al the same?  

No, it is all over the board.   We pay for the medical system through a variety of taxes, some off income some off property, some off sales taxes.  The overall system is provided and mandated by the federal government but each province and territory operates the health care system.  Some tests and procedures are not covered. Drugs are not covered.  Dental is not covered.  Unemployed get the same basic health care though but they do get supplements as needed. 

Employers may offer additional insurance that covers all or part of drugs, vision care, life insurance and parts of dental.  My dental coverage for instance is 90% of basic and 50% of major and orthodontics with a maximum annual limit.  A crown for instance would still cost around $1000 dollars.  My drug coverage is 100% of the drugs but we have to pay the dispensing fee. 

I get $200 every two years toward eye care and glasses.   

So, if you are destitute, you get basic healthcare and hospitalization and probably free drugs to support your condition.  Dental includes cleaning and extractions.  

If you are an illegal immigrant though, you get full medical coverage, dental coverage, drugs and that continues until you are removed from the country or 20 years if you get citizenship. 

It is much more complex and varies by employer though.   This is the basics. 

 

[shootingstar]

5 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

It’s pretty well established that in the US, the cost for our medical & dental is contingent on the persons employer.  Some companies offer tremendous plans and cover much of the premiums.  Other companies offer and pay the bare minimum leaving much of the cost to the employee. The unemployed and retired is a whole different matter and it’s a mess.

My question for the Canadians is, is your medical all the same as in services & costs (or lack there of) regardless?  Employed, unemployed, retired al the same?  

Let's just use the heart stent surgery that dearie just had (day surgery)

 

--it would be provided regardless if you were unemployed, retired or employed.  for the surgery itself you would have not been directly charged.  Of course, to even get the surgery, the patient would have undergone testing. Maybe several times.  No he didn't get charged for those tests. (I had cardiac testing myself last year at a cardiac testing clinic. I was not directly charged either.)  For the drugs thereafter for maintenance, blood thinners...it would depend if you already had a retiree employer sponsored drug plan, for drug discount.  Dearie has it.   Whereas for my mother, for the blood thinner she would not have drug discount..but one would have check the provincial govn't drug list.

For my father's cancer, prostrate....he was seen by a urologist in addition to maybe another specialist.  No, he was not directly charged but I am not certain because he was retired.  The reason I don't know is that I live several thousand kms. away and don't know every single detail. I can affirm it was too expensive, my family would have sought financial help from me. 

I just saw my family doctor almost a month ago. It was a physical checkup, plus cleaning out my ear which wax was pressing against my eardrum, plus her order lab test order for usual blood tests. This time she added bone density test for lst time. I have never requested this before myself. She felt I should get it because: a) age b) I'm slim/my bones may not be as dense.  Will I be directly charged for these tests?  No. Would other people be charged: most likely not. They are standard tests..even for diabetes 2 testing.  Even if they are unemployed:  I've had this medical treatment because I have been unemployed 3 times during my career.

So fees may depend:  on whether or not the drug is for common problem, if you as patient need to stay in hospital longer (they most likely need to discharge you pretty soon since hospitals in big cities are operating at full capacity),  etc. I'm only relating myself and experiences of other family members over the past few decades, who cross a number income levels ranging from very low-income to middle class income, unemployed,retired or working.

So I won't talk about this anymore:  best for Americans to relay your experiences to other Canadians.   I get tired hearing some Canadians we should have private health care insurer model etc. like the U.S.  

And for juciluici:  she was pursuing malpractice law case through the courts. Is her case symptomatic of CAnada's entire health care system?  No.  Sadly I think lawyers are the same in Canada and U.S.: they want their cut to cover for their legal fees if there was a settlement.  It made me sad, that pursuing justice often has a hefty price tag.  I should know since I worked for lawyers and judges for over a decade. I was aware of their billing rates.  My dept. was included in some of those billing rates.  But now, getting off topic.

 

 

[shootingstar]

56 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

No, it is all over the board.   We pay for the medical system through a variety of taxes, some off income some off property, some off sales taxes.  The overall system is provided and mandated by the federal government but each province and territory operates the health care system.  Some tests and procedures are not covered. Drugs are not covered.  Dental is not covered.  Unemployed get the same basic health care though but they do get supplements as needed. 

Employers may offer additional insurance that covers all or part of drugs, vision care, life insurance and parts of dental.  My dental coverage for instance is 90% of basic and 50% of major and orthodontics with a maximum annual limit.  A crown for instance would still cost around $1000 dollars.  My drug coverage is 100% of the drugs but we have to pay the dispensing fee. 

I get $200 every two years toward eye care and glasses.   

So, if you are destitute, you get basic healthcare and hospitalization and probably free drugs to support your condition.  Dental includes cleaning and extractions.  

If you are an illegal immigrant though, you get full medical coverage, dental coverage, drugs and that continues until you are removed from the country or 20 years if you get citizenship. 

It is much more complex and varies by employer though.   This is the basics. 

 

When I retire, my (govn't) employer will not be provided any supplemental health care benefit.  Yup. That's the trend in the public sector..... The defined pension plans for govn't workers have become more restrictive.  So I will have to pay prescription glasses (I need them because I have uneven eye vision), dental, etc. on my own.

Wilbur: Same for Ontario govn't employees especially those hired after a certain year onward, then retired.  No supplemental health care benefit.... I'm choosing that group because they have 1 of the richest Canadian public sector pension trust.

[Wilbur ★]

7 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

When I retire, my (govn't) employer will not be provided any supplemental health care benefit.  Yup. That's the trend in the public sector..... The defined pension plans for govn't workers have become more restrictive.  So I will have to pay prescription glasses (I need them because I have uneven eye vision), dental, etc. on my own.

I am betting the vast majority of private sector workers will not be sympathetic as private sector is being beaten down as well.  Profits before people. 

[shootingstar]

2 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

I am betting the vast majority of private sector workers will not be sympathetic as private sector is being beaten down as well.  Profits before people. 

I agree.  Which why our organization will have another round of layoffs...this was planned BEFORE the pandemic.