Saturday, July 23, 2011

Is it normal for health insurance to not cover baby vaccinations?

I'm appalled to learn Aetna won't cover my sons shots.
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Some employers don't carry the rider for pediatric well care. Aetna does cover well visits and vaccines - IF the employer selects the rider. Personally, I'd call your HR person at work and ask them - some companies don't have many people with little kids, so they don't generally offer that type of plan, but they might do something for you. Otherwise, look into state-sponsored vaccines. I know New York has this program - it's called Vaccines for Children (VFC) - the state purchases the same vaccines the doctors do, but in such a large quantity, they get a huge discount. (Vaccine companies sell the vaccines at the more you buy, the cheaper they are.) So, then the doctors get the vaccines for next to nothing and can sell them for less than $20 a dose to uninsured or underinsured (meaning: kids who have insurance that doesn't cover shots) patients. If your pediatrician's office doesn't know, call your local health department.
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