Routine vaccinations

My wife is expecting a baby, so I’m planning to get Tdap and flu shots this year – I don’t currently have a PCP, so probably at an urgent care or walk-in clinic? I have confirmed that routine vaccinations are 100% covered in-network. Could/would the clinic typically charge any additional fees that wouldn’t be 100% covered? And/or is there anything else I should be asking about / looking out for?

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You can get them from an INN pharmacy too, just so know.

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I asked my insurance about that and they said the vaccination claims have to be run as medical, not prescription. If the pharmacy is INN for prescriptions, does that also mean it’s INN for medical?

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I assume so. I’ve never had an issue with it. I always get my flu and COVID shots at Costco, and they bill both my insurance and my husband’s we have different plans, but Costco pharmacy is in-network for both. Our PCPs take months to book, even for a flu shot, and they want you to see a PCP first, which is a hassle. So now I just go to the pharmacy. It’s much easier than urgent care, where you wait around with sick people. Pharmacies are great you can book online, walk in, and be done in about 20 minutes.

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It really depends on your insurance. With mine, I pay an urgent care copay even before meeting the deductible, and there are no extra fees unless I need lab work or something similar.

If you can get a PCP, do it! It makes situations like this much easier. Plus, you’ll likely see them more often since babies tend to pick up all kinds of germs, especially if they’re in daycare.

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This is definitely good advice, even if I don’t end up following it right away :slight_smile:

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I got my tdap at a pharmacy with zero copay. Urgent care there’s always a possibility that they’ll weigh you or take your blood pressure and make a comment about it, then bill you for discussing a medical issue