Scheduling: We will begin giving flu vaccine on 9/20/11, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Appointments are required for flu vaccine.
- Influenza season in the Bay Area is typically December and January.
- This year’s vaccines combine H1N1 vaccine with 2strains of seasonal flu vaccine.
Who needs it?
*Adults age 50 or over
*Children and teens ages 6 months to 18 years (until 19th birthday)
*Adults for whom it is medically necessary (see below)
*Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
*Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
*Household members and caregivers of infants under the age of 6 months
*Healthcare workers providing direct, hands-on care to patients (should try to get from employers first)
What is medical necessity?
*patient has one of the following problems
*or is primary caregiver for someone with one of the following problems
*or lives with someone with one of the following problems:
Anemia
Congenital disease
Heart disease
Asthma
COPD
Immunodeficiency
Cancer
Diabetes
Renal disease
Coverage:
The following health plans pay for flu shots:
Medicare
Alameda Alliance plans
Medi-Cal
HMOs administered by Hill Physicians
For patients with all other insurance plans, we will bill your insurance. If the flu shot is not covered, we will bill you for both the vaccine and the nurse visit ($70.)
But, if you pay for it at the time of service, the charge will be just $30.
Some other plans cover flu shots only for patients over 65 or with medical necessity (see above), and many insurance plans do not pay for flu shots even with medical necessity.
