Shingles Shot

Jackie22

Jackie22

Well-known Member
Location
Northeast Texas
Last checkup I had the doctor gave me a prescription for the shingles shot...only one place in our little one-horse town gives the shot...so I go through all the paper work..then they tell me the shot cost $200 and that my insurance will only pay $28...I have medicare, a supplement insurance and Humana drug plan...

Has anyone had this shot, if so what did you have to pay?
 

I got the shot when it first came out and the insurance wouldn't pay anything. It cost me $205. My wife got it earlier this year and the insurance now covers part of the cost so she only paid $92.
 
Jackie22 said:
Last checkup I had the doctor gave me a prescription for the shingles shot...only one place in our little one-horse town gives the shot...so I go through all the paper work..then they tell me the shot cost $200 and that my insurance will only pay $28...I have medicare, a supplement insurance and Humana drug plan...

Has anyone had this shot, if so what did you have to pay?
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I had thought about it, but never gotten around to checking it out more. Wonder why the huge out of pocket fee?
 
I had a shingles shot three weeks ago. My insurance covered 100 o/o, hubby is on Humana Medicare supplement and his cost was quoted as $85.00. He opted not to get the vaccine, not because of the cost, but he doesn't like anything he deems medically unnecessary.

Last week when I visited my friendly neighborhood GYN for my annual geological survey and melon smashing event, he mentioned out of the blue that he and his wife had recently gotten shingles shots and he was devastated by joint pain, causing him to think he may need another hip replacement. His wife was plagued by foot pain, and according to him she has never had arthiritis joint pain.

As he mentioned this, I thought back on a few days after my shot and recalled that I was experiencing more pain than usual, which I chalked up to weather change. Apparently this is a side effect that can last up to 45 days, according to him.

All I know is after having shingles several years ago, it's not something I want to do again. However, the shot only has a 50/50 effective rate....so I guess, it's how lucky do I feel.
 
Ozarkgal said:
I had a shingles shot three weeks ago. My insurance covered 100 o/o, hubby is on Humana Medicare supplement and his cost was quoted as $85.00. He opted not to get the vaccine, not because of the cost, but he doesn't like anything he deems medically unnecessary.

Last week when I visited my friendly neighborhood GYN for my annual geological survey and melon smashing event, he mentioned out of the blue that he and his wife had recently gotten shingles shots and he was devastated by joint pain, causing him to think he may need another hip replacement. His wife was plagued by foot pain, and according to him she has never had arthiritis joint pain.

As he mentioned this, I thought back on a few days after my shot and recalled that I was experiencing more pain than usual, which I chalked up to weather change. Apparently this is a side effect that can last up to 45 days, according to him.

All I know is after having shingles several years ago, it's not something I want to do again. However, the shot only has a 50/50 effective rate....so I guess, it's how lucky do I feel.
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Thank you for that! I'm done thinking about it then .... 50/50 effective rate.. PAIN .. and up to 45 days of it..??


(after never having had the flu in my life, and never getting the flu shot .. then deciding that maybe the flu shot wouldn't be a bad idea .. getting the shot and being sicker than a dog for a month!!!! ... maybe I've learned my lesson about these things.)
 
Anne, that is about treating the symptoms of shingles once you have them. It is not about preventing them as the vaccine does.

Good info for those that get the shingles, but I got the shot in hopes I won't need any treatment.
 
Ozarkgal said:
I had a shingles shot three weeks ago. My insurance covered 100 o/o, hubby is on Humana Medicare supplement and his cost was quoted as $85.00. He opted not to get the vaccine, not because of the cost, but he doesn't like anything he deems medically unnecessary.

Last week when I visited my friendly neighborhood GYN for my annual geological survey and melon smashing event, he mentioned out of the blue that he and his wife had recently gotten shingles shots and he was devastated by joint pain, causing him to think he may need another hip replacement. His wife was plagued by foot pain, and according to him she has never had arthiritis joint pain.

As he mentioned this, I thought back on a few days after my shot and recalled that I was experiencing more pain than usual, which I chalked up to weather change. Apparently this is a side effect that can last up to 45 days, according to him.

All I know is after having shingles several years ago, it's not something I want to do again. However, the shot only has a 50/50 effective rate....so I guess, it's how lucky do I feel.
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Loved your description of your GYN visit...lol, but I had no idea the shot only has a 50/50 rate. And here I thought I was fully protected from the possibility of what my mother called worse than childbirth. That really bums me!
 
Boo's Mom said:
Thank you for that! I'm done thinking about it then .... 50/50 effective rate.. PAIN .. and up to 45 days of it..??


(after never having had the flu in my life, and never getting the flu shot .. then deciding that maybe the flu shot wouldn't be a bad idea .. getting the shot and being sicker than a dog for a month!!!! ... maybe I've learned my lesson about these things.)
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Interesting reading, cuz I know a dozen or so people who've had shingles and from their description of suffering they would probably 2nd mortgage their home to pay for the shot if necessary. It's not cheap, but after what I've seen, money is no object. I spoke with my dr in detail about it before deciding to get it a few years ago and she didn't mention the 50/50 odds. She's an internist and very detailed, so I'm calling on Monday to ask. I've seen the hell others have gone through and I thought that was one less worry for me..perhaps not, but I'm going to post what she has to say.

And I've never heard of any side effects at all from the dozens of people I've known who've had it. See, you learn all kinds of things on this board. I had none whatsoever, not even site soreness, and so far as the charge (can't remember, but know it's pricey,) they allowed me to pay via installments. As for me, if getting it again would improve my chances of not getting it, I would do it in a heartbeat -- no matter what the cost!
 
rkunsaw said:
Anne, that is about treating the symptoms of shingles once you have them. It is not about preventing them as the vaccine does.

Good info for those that get the shingles, but I got the shot in hopes I won't need any treatment.
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I realize that, rkunsaw; but it might help someone who does get shingles. I don't plan on gettnig the shot, and no dr. has ever brought it up so far - only the flu or pneumonia shot. I may have to ask them what they think of it.
 
Anne said:
I realize that, rkunsaw; but it might help someone who does get shingles. I don't plan on gettnig the shot, and no dr. has ever brought it up so far - only the flu or pneumonia shot. I may have to ask them what they think of it.
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No, the dr's don't mention it as it's not contagious or a killer as the flu or pneumonia can be. According to my neighbor friend, shingles won't kill you, it just makes you wish you were dead. Also, I suspect the cost factor keeps them from saying anything ....some just can't afford it no matter how much they may want it. It wouldn't be fair to encourage something kinda expensive to everyone -- but they sure emphasize what a good decision it is once you mention it. And, funny thing, probably because I have no past history of related issues, my dr of many years has never mentioned giving me a pneumonia shot. And she's always totally on top of things. (For all I know it's included in the flu shot.) But if you walk in for anything else at my dr's -- no matter what it is -- the flu shot is suggested. Guess they think we need reminders so we don't have to come back & co-pay, and I appreciated being reminded.
 
Jackie22 said:
....thanks for the replies, still not sure if I'm going to cough up that much money.
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Like many other things, insurance is the pits on helping out w/this. Any way they can bill you and make monthly payments, as I did? I remember when I got the shot 5 yrs ago it was $180, so I'm sure $200 would be the going rate these days. It's more than worth every penny I paid to avoid, but I'm hearing from the board that it's only 50/50 protection and can't wait to hear what my dr says on that. aaarrrrgghh!!!!
 
Jackie22 said:
Last checkup I had the doctor gave me a prescription for the shingles shot...only one place in our little one-horse town gives the shot...so I go through all the paper work..then they tell me the shot cost $200 and that my insurance will only pay $28...I have medicare, a supplement insurance and Humana drug plan...

Has anyone had this shot, if so what did you have to pay?
Click to expand...

I was about to ask why the paperwork, but then I remembered there is paperwork to get the flu shot. Guess lawsuits are forcing CYA.

I tried to combine my comments into 1 post, but it won't let me cancel the 2nd one. Sorry...
 
Just me, and call me old-fashioned.. But a red flag goes up when someone asks me to sign a paper that I won't sue them for what they are about to do to me.
 
Katybug said:
I was about to ask why the paperwork, but then I remembered there is paperwork to get the flu shot. Guess lawsuits are forcing CYA.
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Pretty soon you will have to sign a CYA to get a cup of coffee...There's another lawsuit in the works for McD's because some old lady spilled hot coffee on her hand...Guess the $650,000 award for the last one looked good to her.
 
I've had the shingles some twelve to fifteen years ago. I've been turning down shingles shots since. BeforeI got the shingles I never heard of a shingles shot. Having had them I'll take my chances.
 
drifter said:
I've had the shingles some twelve to fifteen years ago. I've been turning down shingles shots since. BeforeI got the shingles I never heard of a shingles shot. Having had them I'll take my chances.
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If I'd had shingles, I wouldn't get it either...not saying it's impossible, I've heard, just unlikely. Does anyone know differently on that?

As for permission signatures, I went to a new Dermatologist today and was handed 5 sheets to fill out, front and back, and at least 2 of the signatures were giving them permission for something. It is apparently CYA any and everywhere we go, so I have no problem with doing it. But as new patients, all the endless paperwork/signatures are probably considered a PIA for all of us.
 
Katybug...
If I'd had shingles, I wouldn't get it either...not saying it's impossible, I've heard, just unlikely. Does anyone know differently on that?
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If I understand your question, you are asking if it is unlikely to get shingles again once you've had them...The answer to that is that the shingles is a herpes strain of virus. Once you've had chicken pocks this virus remains in your system for life. It can lay dormant for many years until it rears it's ugly head in the form of shingles. Once you get an episode of shingles, you may never have another, or you may be plagued with outbreaks frequently or suffer nerve damage forever. There is no way of knowing if it will stay dormant or how many outbreaks you may get, and to what extent of nerve damage you may have.

Having suffered through this once, if the shot gives me a 50/50 chance of not having it again or having a lesser episode of it, for me it's worth. It's not even the pain and blistering that worries me the most, it's the permanent nerve damage that can drive you crazy.

Interesting thing is that someone with an active case of shingles can give chicken pocks to someone who has never had them. You cannot get shingles unless you've had chicken pocks.
 
Ozarkgal said:
Katybug...

If I understand your question, you are asking if it is unlikely to get shingles again once you've had them...The answer to that is that the shingles is a herpes strain of virus. Once you've had chicken pocks this virus remains in your system for life. It can lay dormant for many years until it rears it's ugly head in the form of shingles. Once you get an episode of shingles, you may never have another, or you may be plagued with outbreaks frequently or suffer nerve damage forever. There is no way of knowing if it will stay dormant or how many outbreaks you may get, and to what extent of nerve damage you may have.

Having suffered through this once, if the shot gives me a 50/50 chance of not having it again or having a lesser episode of it, for me it's worth. It's not even the pain and blistering that worries me the most, it's the permanent nerve damage that can drive you crazy.

Interesting thing is that someone with an active case of shingles can give chicken pocks to someone who has never had them. You cannot get shingles unless you've had chicken pocks.
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I obviously totally misunderstood in thinking you couldn't get it again. Thx for the update. Mom had told me you could transmit active shingles to someone via chicken pox if they haven't had it.

I'm still banking on the 50/50 odds with the shot.
 
I got the shingles vaccine just this week and am insured with Kaiser-Permanente and there was no charge. I'll take my 50/50 chance after having seen and heard what some friends have suffered with shingles. And shingles absolutely CAN be life-threatening.
 

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