You should check around, bunch of groups / counties provide them for free or low cost. Also Costco was at least a few years ago dirt cheap without a prescription.
For some reason CVS refuses to take my UnitedHealth insurance for flu (but will no problem for covid). They said it would have been 200 bucks and I laughed at them and went to Costco.
I'm an EMT w/ a fire dept, we run a local flu shot drive for our community for free. Check for other resources like this for example in your community, or perhaps at the county level.
That seems extremely high. You can pop into any Walmart in Minnesota and get it for about $45 uninsured. At Hy-Vee (the grocery store chain), I want to say it's $25.
I think you're seeing how the ACA mandated free vaccines, so the $300 gets billed to your health insurance, then your insurance negotiates it down to $30. If you don't have insurance, it's the sticker price.
No, this is a loss leader / community benefit these corporations participate in. They'll attempt to be reimbursed through insurance, but also offer it to the uninsured.
> *FOR FREE FLU SHOTS & 14 NO-COST VACCINES: Select vaccines at no cost with most insurance. Eligibility varies by patient and insurance plan. Eligible patients will not pay any copayments unless otherwise required by their plan, including Medicare Part B. Availability varies by state based on regulations...
That doesn't sound like it's free if you're uninsured. Or at least that don't advertise that.
it's never the sticker for cash, if you pay cash you will get the same rate the insurance companies get. Why would a clinic turn down the sale? Just shop around and say you'll be paying cash.
In British Columbia my local health authority texts me to inform me my covid and flu vaccines are available. And both are free. Of course it is cost effective for the province as it is cheaper to give vaccines than treat sick people in hospital.
California imposes a penalty of $900 for not having health insurance, and approximately every health insurance plan you can get covers the flu vaccine at no cost to the patient. 8% of Americans have no health insurance like GP, with states not imposing a mandate having higher uninsured rates.
So actually had to double check this but in Brazil you can get the flu/covid vaccine for free at public hospitals or, which shocked me, at for-profit drugstores (for sure subsidized by the government).
Haha no clue, I was shocked as well. First time being uninsured. According to other commenters maybe there’s other stores that offer it for less.
Funny thing is, same day I didn’t get the vaccine the grocery store receipt starting offering a free shot and $10 store credit with “most insurances” so I didn’t qualify lol.
This sorta thing that keeps Everyone safe with herd immunity you’d really think they’d want to make as easy as possible
