464$ for Medical Exam and 3 vaccines!!!

[map1map 3]

I Paid $280 in oaklawn illinois but i called many places from the uscis web site under medical exam page that are closer to me? cheapest i found was $280

Did you already pay? I think they ripped you off.. I live in Chicago as well, and went to this place:

http://www.michiganavenueimmediatecare.org...n_medicals.html

They accept several insurance plans so I only paid my insurance deductible ($40)

Is the doctor you have seen one approved by USCIS? It looks so...I ask because I too live in Chicago (in the city limits) and the fees were in the vicinity of $250-$300 at 4 different doctor offices. I ended up paying $300 because I was not charged extra for vaccines done in other places.

Edited January 6, 2009 by map1map

[vicmo 1]

I Paid $280 in oaklawn illinois but i called many places from the uscis web site under medical exam page that are closer to me? cheapest i found was $280

Did you already pay? I think they ripped you off.. I live in Chicago as well, and went to this place:

http://www.michiganavenueimmediatecare.org...n_medicals.html

They accept several insurance plans so I only paid my insurance deductible ($40)

Is the doctor you have seen one approved by USCIS? It looks so...I ask because I too live in Chicago (in the city limits) and the fees were in the vicinity of $250-$300 at 4 different doctor offices. I ended up paying $300 because I was not charged extra for vaccines done in other places.

Yes, it is on the surgeon list here:

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=of...office_type=CIV

Just type in zip code 60603

Also I forgot to mention that to be able to use your insuracne you may need a referral from your PCP (Primary Care Physician). In my particular insurance it was not necessary, but I do know that other insurance plans require a referral before you actually take the exams...

Edited January 6, 2009 by vicmo

[john_dot 0]

HPV is necessary fro AOS- one shot ordinarily costs about $160 or thereabout. If you had her on your insurance and had known what shots were missing, she could have gotten them from her PCP to lower the cost. But when I called around when I needed to do my medical Prices were up to $500.

Most U.S. insurance companys will not pay in another country.

Isn't the OP and wife filing for AOS?

yes I am filing my wife's AOS from her B2 visa.

The doctor said that the succeeding HPV shots ( 2 more shot) can be covered once she gets her insurance.

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Hi! I accompanied my wife today for her medical examination appointment. She had 3 shots MMR, DPT and HPV plus the TB skin test exam. I cant believe that it will cost us 464$ to have that all!!

How much did you pay for your medical exam? Is HPV really needed? or we just been ripped off by that doctor. He said that effective august 2008 HPV vaccine is needed for woman below 27 yrs old. My wife is 26 yrs old. And were both shocked when we are told that its 464$. We are expecting that it should be less than 300$.

Thanks.

Why were you shocked? Didn't you ask how much it cost ahead of time? You should have asked them and then came here and asked if that too high. Too late now.

HPV is mandatory for all woman up to 26 years old. If she's 26, she still needs it. It's expensive, so that probably jacked up the cost.

Most of these crooks (err...doctors) charge about $250 just for the medical/blood, so with vaccines it can easily go over $400. Your total is high but vaccines are expensive.

Regarding insurance.... it's true that the medical exam itself will not be covered by insurance. That is something you have to pay for. But bloodwork, Syphilis/HIV test, and vaccines are all covered by insurance. The problem is that when you tell a doctor that these things are for immigration purposes, they tell you that insurance won't cover them. That's a bold-faced LIE! Insurance covers all preventative care (vaccines) and all testing (bloodwork/HIV) without question. They don't ask what the reason is, they just pay for it. But insurance pays the contractual rate to the doctor, which is only a fraction of what a cash patient pays. So the doctor will tell you that insurance won't cover it because they know you will probably get them anyway and pay them cash. If a vaccine costs the doctor $20, insurance may pay them about $30, but they charge cash patients $100. That's why they always lie and say insurance won't pay. The bloodwork/HIV test is covered too. It would probably cost you less than $10 with insurance. I pay $6 for full lab work.

These are all questions you should have asked BEFORE you went to the doctor and received medical services. It's too late now, so there's nothing to be gained from knowing that you needlessly overpaid.

[scubapam 0]

That is a little pricey for any city. We paid approximately $250 for everything at the local health department. No wait however this is Sarasota, Florida and not a major city. Usually things cost more here.

[Dakine 26]

Are all of you talking about a FULL medical or just vaccinations and the transfer of records from the DS 3025 and it's been less than one year since you had the immigration medical in your home country??

Edited January 6, 2009 by Haole

[alexpapa 4]

I paid $200 for full medical + 1 vaccine that had expired on my record. (i.e. including blood and tb tests)

[Maddy_Peru 0]

Hello!!!,,,,,,,,I had mine too last week, I paid $400 here in Miami, Im 26 too ,and got everything asyour wife ,,,,the bad news are that I dont have my I 94, I applied ofr an extension last year and not got a response I sent the original and I lost the copies,,,does anybody know how long will it take when I send the form I 102 to get a replacement of my I 94,should I just wait for it or just keep going?

Thanks

[john_dot 0]

When we called the Family Clinic in Swampscott Massachusetts to make an appointment we asked how much it will cost for the medical exam and vaccines. We were told that it will be up to 250-300$ the most we will pay if she will be needing some vaccination but if she already had those vaccines it will cost less. He also said that we need to come there personally to sign up for an appointment. So we went there and we paid 50$ for deposit which according to them is needed in case we didnt show up on our appointment schedule. She has her vaccinations record and already had MMR but the doctor said that she will still need another one. Yeah vaccines are really expensive especially the HPV. Iam just wasnt expecting that it will cost more than we were told before.

Thanks for all your response! Goodluck everyone!

Edited January 6, 2009 by john_dot

[clolita 0]

HPV is mandatory for all woman up to 26 years old. If she's 26, she still needs it. It's expensive, so that probably jacked up the cost.

really? wow, i'm shocked. i'm 22, had my medical done in november, and my doctor didn't mention anything at all about the HPV shot. so i don't have it now. i was trusting that the doctor i paid 350$ would know what i need. now i'll probably get an RFE for that, great.

[candyace 0]

Hi! I accompanied my wife today for her medical examination appointment. She had 3 shots MMR, DPT and HPV plus the TB skin test exam. I cant believe that it will cost us 464$ to have that all!!

How much did you pay for your medical exam? Is HPV really needed? or we just been ripped off by that doctor. He said that effective august 2008 HPV vaccine is needed for woman below 27 yrs old. My wife is 26 yrs old. And were both shocked when we are told that its 464$. We are expecting that it should be less than 300$.

Thanks.

If she has health insurance already they should probably cover the HPV vaccine. Mine did.

[Petersons 0]

I paid 309 for the medical exam, skin test, blood test and 1 additional tetanus vaccine. The medical exam was the stupidest thing ever. She spent 2 minutes with me and asked me if I thought I had any problems. Thats it. I was expecting it to be a thorough check up since they charge so much.

They also cheated me on the money. I'm covered by TRICARE since my husband is in the military, and they were in tricare;s network. They made me pay all charges in case and asked me to file my own claim with tricare. The lady assured me that I would be reimbursed since tricare covers this service with them. Six weeks later I get a letter from Tricare stating that the claim needs to be filed by them and not me and I wasn't supposed to pay them anything. Now they've refiled the claim and also charged me already. They say that they've asked for tricare to reimburse me this time. Lets see what happens in another 6 weeks.

Pathetic healthcare system. Cheating people all around here.

I would not say that if atleast they would have done a proper medical checkup.

[chrislyse 0]

I just paid around $400 for 2 Hepatitis B shots (a week apart), a typhoid shot and a hepatitis A shot. That includes the consulation appointment (i'm the one traveling not the one that lives outside of the US). Btw, none of that is covered in the US under normal health plans.

Edited January 6, 2009 by chrislyse

[AussieKat 0]

Hi

In 2006 I paid $10 to my Primary Care Doctor to run all the test that the Immigration doctor required and then I made and appointment with the Immigration doc and it cost me $100 so he could do the physical and go over all the papers from my doctor. Grand total $110.

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

I just paid around $400 for 2 Hepatitis B shots (a week apart), a typhoid shot and a hepatitis A shot. That includes the consulation appointment (i'm the one traveling not the one that lives outside of the US). Btw, none of that is covered in the US under normal health plans.

Says who? Every insurance would rather pay for a vaccines than the treatment for any disease. I'm willing to bet it was your doctor who told you that insurance doesn't cover it, not the insurance company itself. I called my insurance company and they said that vaccines and tests fall under "preventative care" which every single health insurance company in America covers. This is one way to keep costs down, prevent people from getting sick. A vaccine is an investment for them, why would they not cover it. Your doctor, on the other hand, has a different agenda. He wants you to accept his lies and pay him cash because he charges 4-5X the rate the insurance pays him.

About 3 years ago, before I met my wife, I got the Hep A and B vaccs and I wanted the Typhoid (but doc didn't have it) for my first trip to Costa Rica. I paid $20 co-pay.

Edited January 6, 2009 by Eric-Pris