Allergy Shots

[missy'smom]

Our copay was recently doubled, which is one thing and fairly standard, but we have to pay a copay for shots too, even if a doctor is not seen so now we pay $20 copay per shot visit! He was getting them twice a week. We have cut back to once a week but it'll take all the longer to get to the maintainance dose. Kiddo's got a heavy allergy load so stopping them is not an option and because of the load, he has a long ways to go before he gets to maintainance dose. No appointment, no doctor seen, just a nurse in basically a closet piled with storage, not even an exam room. The sympathetic receptionist at the ped's office mentioned me giving the shots to him at home. That would save us alot of $. Anyone done this?

[macocha]

haven't done it but I would learn really quick if it cost me 20 bucks a pop to go in and not even see a doctor. good luck!

[missy'smom]

It sounds appealing when you think of the savings! Not such a simple undertaking though. He gets three shots each time-two in one arm and one in the other, shots have to rotated each time-can't do the same one in the same arm twice in a row plus doses have to be adjusted each time I think. So careful records have to be kept and it has to be done very mindfully. If only I had a neighbor or friend who was a nurse...

[Roda]

I originally had the same thing, $20 copay for any visits including my son's shots(he goes once a week for two shots). The receptionist suggested to me if I was to "self pay" they would give a discount(total charges were $25). Plus it saved them paperwork. I ended up doing that just for the allergy shots and paid $15/week instead of my $20 copay. It saved me $260/year. It might be worth it to talk to the office manager and see if you can negotiate a self pay. Since all that my insurance changed how it pays, so now I pay the $250 deductible then the insurance covers the rest at 80%. I have run all the numbers and the way it is now is cheeper over the course of the year. After I pay the deductible, I pay $4.40/allergy shot visit. I then submit my out of pocket expenses (deductible and what I pay after ins. pays) to my medical flexible spending account for reimbursement.

[luvs2eat]

I did, years ago when I moved from NJ to FL and took my allergy prescription to a doctor and begged him to let me give them to myself.

I used to have to go once a week to the allergist's office... and sit for about an hour, waiting my turn, getting my shot, and then waiting the 20+ minutes to see if I was going to react. He wouldn't consider letting me take them at home. I was a nursing student at the time.

My FL doc gave me the serum, a 'scrip for the needles, and a 'scrip for an "Epi-pen" which I kept at all times in case I went into anaphylactic shock or something after taking the allergy shot.

I rotated both arms AND both thighs... my friend and neighbor, also a nurse, would give me the arm ones occasionally. It was great!

Like a diabetic learning to take their insulin... I don't see why not being a nurse would make it impossible. You could easily learn. Good luck getting your doctor to agree to it tho. He is getting that copay for a nurse to see you in a closet, after all.

[Roda]

Dang. I feel your pain and frustration. My husband was recommended to have allergy testing and the doctor's office called the insurance to see what it pays. The receptionist called yesterday and told my husband what his benefits were. I called the insurance company, and low and behold my insurance has changed yet again as of Jan. 1st. It is pretty darn sad that I had to find out this way. I knew that my ins. rates were staying the same and some benefits were going to be paid differently, but never got any information on what ones. I sure do love the communication. I now have a $750 deductible and for the actual injection appointments after that it covers 80%. Unfortunatly his serum is now subject to the deductible also, before it was covered 100%. The copay for the allergist is now $50 and it will only pay 60% for the serum after deductible. Because of this my husband has canceled his allergy testing and said it was not worth it for both of them. He does manage his pretty well with otc meds. It still in the long run is better to go this route than to negotiate self pay since the serum itself is very expensive/vial. GRR..... I am going to see if I can find another allergist that the insurance will pay 80% after deductible and the lower copay. I am going to inquire about giving him his shots myself. I am certified BLS for healthcare providers in CPR and certainly know the signs of allergic reactions. At work I perform ct scans and routinly inject patients with iv contrast. I think I can handle two allergy shots a week. We'll see.