Flu Vaccine Costco versus Dr’s Office.

[audreyh1]

Interesting experience today. We both have Traditional Medicare + Medigap.

We had made online appointments to get our annual flu shots today at Costco. Upon arrival we signed our preprinted forms. A while later they came back and said Medicare denied both because we had to get the flu shots at our doctor’s office. Costco said this was a new thing depending on the vaccine. We’d certainly gotten our annual flu shots at Costco before, no problems.

So I called the doctor’s office and they said that they take walk-ins for flu shots no problem. So we went by on the way back home. They administered our flu shots, and then handed us each a $10 HEB grocery gift card! That was a surprise.

Scratching head.

 

[jimbee]

Interesting. In my experience, getting vaccines at my medical provider costs about twice what they cost at my pharmacy. I've just started Medicare this year, but it did pay for my flu and COVID boosters at my pharmacy. I have traditional Medicare with a Medigap plan.

 

[Car-Guy]

The DW and I got ours at Walmart a few months ago. Medicare Advantage. No HEB card either .

 

[audreyh1]

Interesting. In my experience, getting vaccines at my medical provider costs about twice what they cost at my pharmacy. I've just started Medicare this year, but it did pay for my flu and COVID boosters at my pharmacy. I have traditional Medicare with a Medigap plan.

I thought that was interesting too as I suspect Costco charges less for this vaccine. And I thought each of us getting a $10 gift card for getting the vaccine at the doctor’s office was really wild!

We did get our Covid vaccine at Costco a month ago, no problems being covered by Medicare. Most doctors offices don’t provide Covid shots.

 

[N02L84ER]

I got mine at Sam's Club and received $5 in Sam's Cash. Traditional Medicare

 

[TrvlBug]

DH and I got our Covid and flu shots at CVS last month as we always do. Medicare & gap coverage. CVS gave us each a $5 off coupon.

It's more convenient than going to the Dr's office.

 

[5Miler]

Interesting indeed.

I went to Kroger in September to receive both the Covid and Flu vaccines under traditional Medicare with no issues. I've never heard of anyone I know having the issue you experienced.

 

[Gotadimple]

Safeway store pharmacy hands out a 10% off grocery shopping coupon. Get a flu and a Covid? 2 coupons.

 

[plsprius]

This looks like a staff training issue at Costco, or maybe a management decision. But, I'm sure CVS and Wallgreens would love your business.

I didn't think a pharmacy could accept original Medicare for some vaccines, but not for others. The annual flu vaccine is a covered benefit under Medicare Part B.

This is from AARP:

Considering flu shots as free preventive services, Part B covers the immunization without any deductibles or copayments as long as you use a provider or pharmacy that accepts Medicare assignment. This means that either of them has agreed to accept the Medicare-approved payment as full reimbursement for the shot.

 

[jazz4cash]

I got mine at Sam's Club and received $5 in Sam's Cash. Traditional Medicare

Same here and I forgot all about the $5. DW’s employer provided insurance, though. No cost.

 

[audreyh1]

This looks like a staff training issue at Costco, or maybe a management decision. But, I'm sure CVS and Wallgreens would love your business.

I didn't think a pharmacy could accept original Medicare for some vaccines, but not for others. The annual flu vaccine is a covered benefit under Medicare Part B.

This is from AARP:

Considering flu shots as free preventive services, Part B covers the immunization without any deductibles or copayments as long as you use a provider or pharmacy that accepts Medicare assignment. This means that either of them has agreed to accept the Medicare-approved payment as full reimbursement for the shot.

It does seem odd. I know Part B covers vaccines. Costco indicated that Medicare denied it. We know Costco has accepted Part B for the flu shots in the past.

 

[RetiredHappy]

It's probably a staff training issue at Costco. If they tried billing it through Part B, it would have gone through. It's similar to whenever my husband gets test strips. When the pharmacy tried it through is Plan F supplement, it would get denied. They have to re-run it against Part B for it to go through.

 

[WWDog]

Interesting experience today. We both have Traditional Medicare + Medigap.

We had made online appointments to get our annual flu shots today at Costco. Upon arrival we signed our preprinted forms. A while later they came back and said Medicare denied both because we had to get the flu shots at our doctor’s office. Costco said this was a new thing depending on the vaccine. We’d certainly gotten our annual flu shots at Costco before, no problems.

So I called the doctor’s office and they said that they take walk-ins for flu shots no problem. So we went by on the way back home. They administered our flu shots, and then handed us each a $10 HEB grocery gift card! That was a surprise.

Scratching head.

Let me guess, You live in norther Minnesota and are wondering what "heb" is. latfotf! I question everything now days. Particularly if it involves health care directed by those in control. ymmv

 

[audreyh1]

It's probably a staff training issue at Costco. If they tried billing it through Part B, it would have gone through. It's similar to whenever my husband gets test strips. When the pharmacy tried it through is Plan F supplement, it would get denied. They have to re-run it against Part B for it to go through.

Yeah, probably something like that. But why would they ever say Medicare told them we had to get it at a doctor’s office and they were starting to see this now?

I guess no one else has run into this at Costco.

 

[skipro33]

Interesting experience today. We both have Traditional Medicare + Medigap.

We had made online appointments to get our annual flu shots today at Costco. Upon arrival we signed our preprinted forms. A while later they came back and said Medicare denied both because we had to get the flu shots at our doctor’s office. Costco said this was a new thing depending on the vaccine. We’d certainly gotten our annual flu shots at Costco before, no problems.

So I called the doctor’s office and they said that they take walk-ins for flu shots no problem. So we went by on the way back home. They administered our flu shots, and then handed us each a $10 HEB grocery gift card! That was a surprise.

Scratching head.

Ours was the exact opposite experience. I had my annual physical with my PCP about a month ago. While there, I asked about getting my flu shot and she said no problem. At the end of the exam, she had me wait while the nurse prepared the vaccination and administer it to me. The doc came back in and said they could not administer; I had to go to a pharmacy. She told me this was a Medicare issue. So, I went to COSTCO. I also got my COVID vaccine at the same time.
I've gotten my past flu shots at the doctor's office every year for as long as I've been on Medicare, this was the first time going to anywhere else for it.
BTW, COSTCO didn't offer us any $10 card or anything else for that matter.

 

[Luvdogs]

I went to Costco around April to get my most recent Covid shot. They wanted about $150 for it so I declined. I went to Sam's and they didn't charge anything. This is with traditional Medicare. It was strange since I had my previous Covid shot through Costco and they did not charge anything.

 

[jollystomper]

The one year we received our flu shots outside of the doctors office (CVS), DW contracted cellulitis in her arm and shoulder from the shot. We are sticking to the doctors office.

 

[Koolau]

We get all our vaccines at CVS (aka Longs Drugs here in the Islands.) No issues and "free."

 

[GalaxyBoy]

DW and I got both flu and Covid around Halloween at Kroger. I’m on private insurance and Kroger rewarded me with a $20 credit for groceries. DW is on Medicare and didn’t get a credit because Kroger said they couldn’t give out freebies to people on government healthcare programs. This is certainly at odds with the experience of those above.

 

[braumeister]

I think it's pretty clear the OP's Costco employee was mistaken. Probably entered the wrong vaccine code into the computer.

 

[audreyh1]

I think it's pretty clear the OP's Costco employee was mistaken. Probably entered the wrong vaccine code into the computer.

We’ll follow up then. Or perhaps they tried to charge against Part D?

 

[Midpack]

We've gotten flu & Covid at CVS, Target or HT Pharmacy every year. Just got both about a month ago at HT.

 

[braumeister]

There are a few vaccines commonly given at a doctor's office, but flu certainly isn't one of them (although it can be given there). It's a normal Part B item, so there is clearly a misunderstanding at your Costco pharmacy.

 

[misanman]

We recently got our flu shots at Costco, no problem and no cost to us. Maybe it's related to which state you live in.

 

[Venturer]

DW and I got both flu and Covid around Halloween at Kroger. I’m on private insurance and Kroger rewarded me with a $20 credit for groceries. DW is on Medicare and didn’t get a credit because Kroger said they couldn’t give out freebies to people on government healthcare programs. This is certainly at odds with the experience of those above.

My wife and I were in Kroger about a month ago and they actually had a sign up reminding folks to get their flu shots. The sign also said get an additional vaccine shot and receive a $20.00 credit on the shoppers card. We ask our "Guy" in the pharmacy if we qualified and he said yes. We waited about 20 min. for them to prepare the Flu & Covid shots and then received them, by the time we got home our shoppers card had a $40.00 credit which we used on our next shopping trip there. We are both on Medicare.