Vaccination

[wishin&waitin 0]

I had the most traumatizing experience at the Doctor's office today when my bill came up to $346 dollars!!!

I am still kinda unsure with what is needed. But basically i told the front desk that i do not need a physical examination. I had to be very adamant about it because she insisted that i needed one.

Anyway if someone can please let me know whether i needed all these tests below, that would be helpful

1) i had a titer shot for varicella and HIV

2) TD & tetanus shot

3) VDRL

4) X-ray reading

All the above came up to a whooping $346 The secretary had me sign the receipt before she showed me my whole bill!!!

I might have been a bit naive to not DEMAND for the bill before signing. But anyhow they did not exercise consumer's rights.

So apparently, i was charged $269 for a physical exam. I had no idea that what the doctor or nurse did was a physical exam. So the supervisor explained to me that the physical exam comprise a shot package. It has like 4 shots in that package which i only took 2 shots but i still had to pay the whole amount!!! And she told me it's INS who decides on the amount and not us. I think it's BS.

Then i showed her the visajourney k-1 medical guideline saying i don't need a "physical exam" and that i have already told the secretary. And she was like "you should have showed it to the DR" Which i thought was really dumb cause i already told the secretary and while i was administered the shots, i was not made aware of the charges. They only made me aware of the charge for my x-ray reading.

Bottom line, i felt jipped! And i swear to God i hate this whole immigration ####### and i feel like moving back to my home.

Anyway, they told me that they will send my case to the top supervisor and have her contact me tomorrow. Basically if i don't have a satisfactory explanation from the top supervisor, i am going to try to dispute the charges on my credit card! I hope they don't screw up my i-693 form though And hopefully they fill it up correctly cause i do not want to step into that clinic again!!!

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Here are some things you should know:

-You don't need another exam as long as your overseas exam was less than 1 year from the date you will file AOS

-the exam fee is not set by USCIS, the doctors set their own prices, that's why it's good to shop around (did you contact any other CS's?)

-you were deceived and lied to (but they're doctors so what's new)

-you don't need a chest X-ray for AOS unless your TB test is positive (did they do a TB test on your arm?)

-I don't think there is a titer test for HIV, it's called a HIV-blood test

-what's VDRL?

Sounds like they are either legal crooks or completely imcompetent as far as knowing what the rules are.

These are things that you should have challenged BEFORE the appointment, not after. You got ripped off (they performed unneeded services and overcharged for them), but there's not much you can do about it now. I don't think you will be able to resolve anything after the fact. Sorry.

Edited October 28, 2008 by kid brooklyn

[wishin&waitin 0]

Here are some things you should know:

-You don't need another exam as long as your overseas exam was less than 1 year from the date you will file AOS

-the exam fee is not set by USCIS, the doctors set their own prices, that's why it's good to shop around (did you contact any other CS's?)

-you were deceived and lied to (but they're doctors so what's new)

-you don't need a chest X-ray for AOS unless your TB test is positive (did they do a TB test on your arm?)

-I don't think there is a titer test for HIV, it's called a HIV-blood test

-what's VDRL?

Sounds like they are either legal crooks or completely imcompetent as far as knowing what the rules are.

These are things that you should have challenged BEFORE the appointment, not after. You got ripped off (they performed unneeded services and overcharged for them), but there's not much you can do about it now. I don't think you will be able to resolve anything after the fact. Sorry.

Hi there

- "You don't need another exam as long as your overseas exam was less than 1 year from the date you will file AOS."

Apparently they told me that the INS has a new rule and that for certain medical reports, it is only valid for 3 months and not 6 months.

- and yes, i contacted a couple of doctors before going in. And i was told to transcribe the form, it will only cost $66 as told by the secretary.

- i brought my extra from Malaysia with me for them to take a look at. So, basically they had to prepare an X-RAY report for me which cost like $20 dollars.

- I just assumed that the HIV was under a titer test. Cause in my bill it says $12 Titer Varicella HIV. But i guess they mean HIV blood test. The way they write their bill is dumb.

- so from my memory, i recall only getting two shots which comprise of a tetanus shot, hep B booster dose, HIV blood test, varicella titer test and TD vaccine. (that's if the nurse gave me the right information before poking the needle into me)

- I have no idea what the VDRL is I was too busy arguing with them over the whole bill

And i did feel like i challenge some things during and before the appointment but it still did not pan out . I told the secretary firmly that i don't need a physical examination and i ended up getting charge for it which apparently the physical examination comprise of a "shot" package. And i kept insisting that i did not need a HEP B booster cause based on my medical report, i have enough antibodies. But she kept insisting that the INS requires a booster. And she just didn't seem to know what i mean either that or i didn't understand her. We argued for a long time and she said, "you can talk to the doctor" But the doctor was busy Probably my fault on that part too.

*SIGH* hopefully my I-693 form comes out right too.

Anyways even if i do get charge by them, at least i know i tried. The nurse seemed to be on my side but it's the billing supervisor i spoke to who was being more straightforward. Later they will have the top supervisor call me.

Thanks!

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Apparently they told me that the INS has a new rule and that for certain medical reports, it is only valid for 3 months and not 6 months.

That's just a BOLD-FACE lie. All medical exams are valid for 1 year, not 6 months nor 3 months. Ask them to show you this apparent new rule change on paper. What a bunch of....

yes, i contacted a couple of doctors before going in. And i was told to transcribe the form, it will only cost $66 as told by the secretary.

So why did you choose to go to this doctor instead of the one for $66?

i brought my extra from Malaysia with me for them to take a look at. So, basically they had to prepare an X-RAY report for me which cost like $20 dollars.

Waste of $20 since you don't need an X-ray report for AOS.

which apparently the physical examination comprise of a "shot" package.

HUH???? A physical exam is just what it says, a physical exam. Shots are shots. Those are separate from an exam. It sounds like they didn't perform a physical exam on you. You may have a case here to dispute the charges for services not rendered. I'm curious to see if they will fill out the whole I-693 or just the vaccination part. Make sure they give you a copy for yourself too, not just the sealed envelope, in case USCIS loses it.

Edited October 28, 2008 by kid brooklyn

[Beantownbabe 1]

I had the most traumatizing experience at the Doctor's office today when my bill came up to $346 dollars!!!

I am still kinda unsure with what is needed. But basically i told the front desk that i do not need a physical examination. I had to be very adamant about it because she insisted that i needed one.

Anyway if someone can please let me know whether i needed all these tests below, that would be helpful

1) i had a titer shot for varicella and HIV

2) TD & tetanus shot

3) VDRL

4) X-ray reading

All the above came up to a whooping $346 The secretary had me sign the receipt before she showed me my whole bill!!!

I might have been a bit naive to not DEMAND for the bill before signing. But anyhow they did not exercise consumer's rights.

So apparently, i was charged $269 for a physical exam. I had no idea that what the doctor or nurse did was a physical exam. So the supervisor explained to me that the physical exam comprise a shot package. It has like 4 shots in that package which i only took 2 shots but i still had to pay the whole amount!!! And she told me it's INS who decides on the amount and not us. I think it's BS.

Then i showed her the visajourney k-1 medical guideline saying i don't need a "physical exam" and that i have already told the secretary. And she was like "you should have showed it to the DR" Which i thought was really dumb cause i already told the secretary and while i was administered the shots, i was not made aware of the charges. They only made me aware of the charge for my x-ray reading.

Bottom line, i felt jipped! And i swear to God i hate this whole immigration ####### and i feel like moving back to my home.

Anyway, they told me that they will send my case to the top supervisor and have her contact me tomorrow. Basically if i don't have a satisfactory explanation from the top supervisor, i am going to try to dispute the charges on my credit card! I hope they don't screw up my i-693 form though And hopefully they fill it up correctly cause i do not want to step into that clinic again!!!

Yeah, some of these people are crooks when it comes to this Immigration medical thing. I'm confused about the Varicella and HIV titers though. Are you sure it isn't an MMR titer? It is a blood draw to tell you if you have been exposed to or had a disease before and they usually take titers if you can't prove that you had it. HIV is a whole other blood draw and not a shot. Hope you are doing ok!

[wishin&waitin 0]

I had the most traumatizing experience at the Doctor's office today when my bill came up to $346 dollars!!!

I am still kinda unsure with what is needed. But basically i told the front desk that i do not need a physical examination. I had to be very adamant about it because she insisted that i needed one.

Anyway if someone can please let me know whether i needed all these tests below, that would be helpful

1) i had a titer shot for varicella and HIV

2) TD & tetanus shot

3) VDRL

4) X-ray reading

All the above came up to a whooping $346 The secretary had me sign the receipt before she showed me my whole bill!!!

I might have been a bit naive to not DEMAND for the bill before signing. But anyhow they did not exercise consumer's rights.

So apparently, i was charged $269 for a physical exam. I had no idea that what the doctor or nurse did was a physical exam. So the supervisor explained to me that the physical exam comprise a shot package. It has like 4 shots in that package which i only took 2 shots but i still had to pay the whole amount!!! And she told me it's INS who decides on the amount and not us. I think it's BS.

Then i showed her the visajourney k-1 medical guideline saying i don't need a "physical exam" and that i have already told the secretary. And she was like "you should have showed it to the DR" Which i thought was really dumb cause i already told the secretary and while i was administered the shots, i was not made aware of the charges. They only made me aware of the charge for my x-ray reading.

Bottom line, i felt jipped! And i swear to God i hate this whole immigration ####### and i feel like moving back to my home.

Anyway, they told me that they will send my case to the top supervisor and have her contact me tomorrow. Basically if i don't have a satisfactory explanation from the top supervisor, i am going to try to dispute the charges on my credit card! I hope they don't screw up my i-693 form though And hopefully they fill it up correctly cause i do not want to step into that clinic again!!!

Yeah, some of these people are crooks when it comes to this Immigration medical thing. I'm confused about the Varicella and HIV titers though. Are you sure it isn't an MMR titer? It is a blood draw to tell you if you have been exposed to or had a disease before and they usually take titers if you can't prove that you had it. HIV is a whole other blood draw and not a shot. Hope you are doing ok!

The doctor i went to is the $66 dollar one Which apparently is a fraud. No it's not an MMR titer because i already have valid vaccination records from my previous doctor. So basically, i told the nurse that i had history of Varicella (chicken pox) when i was kid hence i do not need the vaccination. So she gave me a titer test instead. The HIV was probably a HIV blood test but they didn't write it down properly in the bill. As it says $12 Titer Varicella HIV.

Thanks for your comments and additional suggestions! I checked my credit card and they already charged the full fee. I'll have to let my credit card company know about it before my bill is due and still wait upon those crooks to call me.

[eileenho 0]

I had the most traumatizing experience at the Doctor's office today when my bill came up to $346 dollars!!!

I am still kinda unsure with what is needed. But basically i told the front desk that i do not need a physical examination. I had to be very adamant about it because she insisted that i needed one.

Anyway if someone can please let me know whether i needed all these tests below, that would be helpful

1) i had a titer shot for varicella and HIV

2) TD & tetanus shot

3) VDRL

4) X-ray reading

All the above came up to a whooping $346 The secretary had me sign the receipt before she showed me my whole bill!!!

I might have been a bit naive to not DEMAND for the bill before signing. But anyhow they did not exercise consumer's rights.

So apparently, i was charged $269 for a physical exam. I had no idea that what the doctor or nurse did was a physical exam. So the supervisor explained to me that the physical exam comprise a shot package. It has like 4 shots in that package which i only took 2 shots but i still had to pay the whole amount!!! And she told me it's INS who decides on the amount and not us. I think it's BS.

Then i showed her the visajourney k-1 medical guideline saying i don't need a "physical exam" and that i have already told the secretary. And she was like "you should have showed it to the DR" Which i thought was really dumb cause i already told the secretary and while i was administered the shots, i was not made aware of the charges. They only made me aware of the charge for my x-ray reading.

I am in CT, my hubby also shop around the several nearest Civil Surgeon. Due to I am pregnant, i only have a TD shots, and blood test for chicken pox,, there are four antibody test. I don't know the name about others.

Finally i got my paper today, they told me i have not antibody for chicken pox. But i can have it done and vaccination done after baby were delivered.

And they charged us $300 only for TD shots and Blood test, because i don't have issuarance for now.

Those Civil Surgeons are all private clinic, they charge difference prices. One of my friend is in California, i don't know which city. But she only pay 138 for all needed to do.

[wishin&waitin 0]

They admitted fault!!! And they will refund me my $188 dollars. My fee came up to 158 dollars.

I-693 form - $66

Injection - $27

Tetanus shot -$65

And you were right, i do not need a report.

The supervisor who is in charge of the immigration papers called me to clarify it today Those people who dealt with me did not have a CLUE on what they were doing to me.

I am relief now after spending an uneventful day at the doctors and having to bear the brunt of the rude secretary yesterday.

My form will be ready tomorrow.

Now i can go shopping with my $188 dollars!

Thanks everyone!