HPV Vaccination - $170????

[the.ronin 0]

Ok so we are scrambling to get vaccinations in time for our AOS interview. We got all except one for free at a community hospital.

The last one is the Human Pappilomavirus vaccination which was evidently added to the list by the CDC in May 2008. The USCIS civil surgeon says it is $170.

Is this right???

[Hannah+Vito 0]

do u have to get it at the civil surgeon? And is that for all three shots or just one shot?

Vito asked his pharmasist at his hospital or what ever it is u guys go to see docuor at regularly and he was quoted somewhere around $89 per shot. But that was in September

[alexpapa 4]

read this: http://www.bu.edu/today/node/6198

they say in that article "most expensive vaccine ever"

$360 for a course, i.e. $120 a shot. he's charging you more just because of one shot probably and not the entire course

[KIMCORENE 0]

If covered by your insurance, just go to your PCP or OB/GYN and say you want the shot- don't mention immigration and insurance will pay for it. Then when going to do the medical, get a letter from the OB proving you have had the shot. HPV goes for around $160 if paying out of pocket.

[matty1966 0]

Is this the female vaccine?? or are us men required to have it now the uscis have decided to just keep on making up medical requirements as they go along?? Not going to be impressed with paying out even more money in what is becoming an absolute rip off.

[alexpapa 4]

Is this the female vaccine?? or are us men required to have it now the uscis have decided to just keep on making up medical requirements as they go along?? Not going to be impressed with paying out even more money in what is becoming an absolute rip off.

HPV is only for females, it only works if you have a cervix.

[matty1966 0]

Thats what i thought, just didnt understand why Vito enquired seeing as he's male unless he was asking for his wife. Well thats one less thing to pay out. Thanks for your help.

[Tunisia216 2]

Is this the female vaccine?? or are us men required to have it now the uscis have decided to just keep on making up medical requirements as they go along?? Not going to be impressed with paying out even more money in what is becoming an absolute rip off.

HPV is only for females, it only works if you have a cervix.

I had it recently at my PCP (primary care physician ) and she billed my insurance $200 for just the first dose. I haven't gone back for the 2nd round yet. However I'm the one that asked her about it and she told me there is an age range on it. Is there any possibility that you're outside of the age range? Even if you're right on the end of it you could potentially get a letter from your doctor that it's not advised for you and maybe they would accept that?

I also found that the vaccine maker is offering it free and reduced cost for those that are uninsured, over 19 years old, etc. Here's the link :

http://cervicalcancer.about.com/od/riskfac...ee_Gardasil.htm

Merck Vaccine Patience Assistance Program: Merck offers a vaccine assistance program to women who want to get Gardasil but cannot afford it. To qualify for the program, women must:

* be at least 19 years of age

* be uninsured

* reside in the United States, although you don't have to be a U.S. citizen

* have an annual income less than $20,800 for individuals, $28,000 for couples or $42,400 for a family of four

OR :

More Ways to Get Assistance Paying for Gardasil

If you don't qualify for Merck's vaccine program or for Vaccines for Children, there is still hope! Here are some other ways you can get help paying for Gardasil:

* Planned Parenthood: Federal, state and private grants have allowed many Planned Parenthood offices around the United States to offer Gardasil for free or at a reduced cost. Try calling your local Planned Parenthood for more information.

* College or University Medical Clinic: Many large colleges and universities provide Gardasil to students at their medical clinics. Check your campus clinic for more information.

* Local Health Department: Call your local health department to learn about other local clinics that may offer free or reduced-cost Gardasil vaccinations. Your local health department may even be able to offer you the vaccine, even if you do not qualify for the Vaccines for Children Program. It depends on what grants and funds your state receives from the government and other private organizations.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Ash * Habibati

[Jasman0717 8]

Do you have insurance? Claudeth got her shots through my insurance at our family physician and it only cost us the office visit if $15. CSs can be rip off artists so suggest you call around. You might try your local health clinic. The county we live in has a clinic that is reasonable.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

HPV is mandatory for all women up to (and including) 26 years of age.

If you are 27 or older, you don't need a letter, the Civil Surgeon will mark "NOT AGE APPROPRIATE" on the form automatically.

If you are 26 or under, and have insurance, go to your doctor and ask for it. You don't need to explain what it's for. You should try and not say anything about immigration because doctors like to say that insurance doesn't cover for immigration purposes. That's a lie. The truth is that insurance covers all vaccines that are age-appropriate, not matter what the reason. Doctors lie because they want to charge you a higher amount in cash.

[metinil 0]

I think I paid $110 for a single shot in Miami, FL.

[Laura+Tom 2]

I'd be happy to pay $170, is over $200 a shot in the UK.

[the.ronin 0]

HPV is mandatory for all women up to (and including) 26 years of age.

If you are 27 or older, you don't need a letter, the Civil Surgeon will mark "NOT AGE APPROPRIATE" on the form automatically.

If you are 26 or under, and have insurance, go to your doctor and ask for it. You don't need to explain what it's for. You should try and not say anything about immigration because doctors like to say that insurance doesn't cover for immigration purposes. That's a lie. The truth is that insurance covers all vaccines that are age-appropriate, not matter what the reason. Doctors lie because they want to charge you a higher amount in cash.

This is exactly what we did. Totally out of pocket was just the $15 copay.

Thanks all for your feedback on this.

[John & Mary 1]

HPV is mandatory for all women up to (and including) 26 years of age.

If you are 27 or older, you don't need a letter, the Civil Surgeon will mark "NOT AGE APPROPRIATE" on the form automatically.

My gynecologist insisted that I should get the HPV vaccine anyway even when I was over 26-- she said that she recommends it for all of her patients who are sexually active, regardless of their ages. (This was unrelated to any immigration requirement-- I'm a USC.) She said that the vaccine is only stated for use by people under 26 because that was the cut-off age for the original research subjects, but that there is no reason why the vaccine isn't good for women who are older than that.

However, my insurance did NOT pay for a single penny of the vaccine because I was overage, and I believe I paid something like $175 for just the first shot. I wound up not finishing the series for other reasons, but I would strongly recommend the HPV vaccine for ANY woman.

I think it's a bit silly that it's required for spousal immigration, though. If one spouse had HPV, then both spouses have it by now, and the vaccine doesn't cure existing HPV.

[alexpapa 4]

HPV is mandatory for all women up to (and including) 26 years of age.

If you are 27 or older, you don't need a letter, the Civil Surgeon will mark "NOT AGE APPROPRIATE" on the form automatically.

My gynecologist insisted that I should get the HPV vaccine anyway even when I was over 26-- she said that she recommends it for all of her patients who are sexually active, regardless of their ages. (This was unrelated to any immigration requirement-- I'm a USC.) She said that the vaccine is only stated for use by people under 26 because that was the cut-off age for the original research subjects, but that there is no reason why the vaccine isn't good for women who are older than that.

However, my insurance did NOT pay for a single penny of the vaccine because I was overage, and I believe I paid something like $175 for just the first shot. I wound up not finishing the series for other reasons, but I would strongly recommend the HPV vaccine for ANY woman.

I think it's a bit silly that it's required for spousal immigration, though. If one spouse had HPV, then both spouses have it by now, and the vaccine doesn't cure existing HPV.

The same reason you are tested for HIV and Syphilis, it's a communicable infection and the CDC unfortunately cannot trust the commitments of spouses when it comes to diseases.