Questions about medical exams

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Greencattle

Registered Users (C)
I am planning to have the medical exams.
In order to save money, I want to go to the local health department to get shots done before going to the USCIS surgeon.
What kinda vaccinations do I need? My University keeps all my record and I didn't keep the copy. Therefore I think I need to redo all the shots.
If I go the the USCIS surgeon gets everything done, I know it costs a lot. Will the health insurance covers for that ?
 
Health Insurance will not cover it. Off the top of my head (and reading the copy of my I-693) I can tell you that you will need:

Tuberculosis Skin Test
HIV Test
Syphilis Test
MMR shots
Varicella shots
Tetanus shots

Best thing to do is call the Civil Surgeon you have selected and ask, what tests/shots do you need. Then go to your local health department and get them done. It will save you a couple hundred dollars.
 
HI PraetorianXI, you can be the consultant of this forum:p

Thanks for your quick reply.
I probably take all those shots as you mentioned at the local health dep. first.
Do you take Tuberculosis Skin Test
HIV Test
Syphilis Test by the civil surgeon?

HOw much approximately does it cost?
 
If you want to know the full schedule of shots got to this website http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/adult-vpd.htm#sched. That is the CDC vaccination and immunization page and is what all civil surgeons and panel physicians must follow by law. There is a page you can print and take to your local doctor. On the website there is also an interactive quiz that can help you determine the tests. If you have ever had TB, were exposed to TB or had the BCG (TB) vaccine then you will not be able to do a Mantoux test (skin prick). The reaction will come back as positive. You need to have a chest x-ray. The medical will cost between $100 and $400 depending on what you need done. Outside the US only the panel physician can do the blood work and the x-ray for it to be acceptable to USCIS. In the US you are better off just going to the civil surgeon unless you can get cheap shots from the university or a public health clinic. Go to your university and ask them if you can get a copy of your vaccination/immunization record, it could save you some money. I believe that the civil surgeon must do the chest x-ray (if you need it) and the blood tests. That doesn't mean that you can't do it ahead of time, just to make sure that nothing is wrong, but only the results from the panel physician are acceptable.
 
Greencattle said:
I probably take all those shots as you mentioned at the local health dep. first.
Do you take Tuberculosis Skin Test
HIV Test
Syphilis Test by the civil surgeon?

HOw much approximately does it cost?
Click to expand...

I took these at the Health Department, it cost me about $ 30. For all 3. Vs. A $250 at the Civil Surgeon.
 
I just had mine a few weeks ago. I already had Hep A/B, Tetenus shots previously (used my insurance). I also had MMR done when I came to this country. (health department) No Varicella was required according to my civic surgeon. So I only had to do Skin test and Blood test which costed me 230 bucks. Since my skint test (always) turned out positive I had to have x-ray done which was covered by my insurance ($30). It was humiliating having to wait in the clinic with mask on. They treated me like I had some disease even though I had the previous paperwork to prove otherwise.
 
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my university provided me with a copy of my vaccination record. I had x-rays done at my regular doctor, covered by insurance.

The bloodwork and Mantoux are supposed to be done by the civil surgen designated by USCIS.
 
Does the Health Department provide HIV and Syphillis Tests? Do these have to be done by the civil surgeon?
 
I don't know if it depends where you're from, but I just had mine done, I had no vaccination records with me, and only got Tetanus and MMR. They didn't take my insurance, but my insurance company refunded me on their own with a receipt.
 
MOM1211 said:
I don't know if it depends where you're from, but I just had mine done, I had no vaccination records with me, and only got Tetanus and MMR. They didn't take my insurance, but my insurance company refunded me on their own with a receipt.
Click to expand...
My parents used OHIP and it cost them...NOTHING.
 
I paid more than 800 dollars for me and my wife in FL. I did get 3 shots and another one for the blood work. Same for my wife. So it is 100 bucks a shot, regardless of whether they are injecting something in or out.

Anyway, I did not do any shopping around since my employer paid for the whole thing including a couple of venti lattes at the Starbucks next to the physician's office :)
 
You guys are lucky.......
What I expect , like other ppl told in the forum, is about $30.....
I can't believe the health department can charge that much for just 3 shots.
 
Greencattle said:
Today I got the 3 shots done at the local health clinic in FL
It costs me $165!!!! I almost passed out....
Click to expand...

my university's student health clinic did it for me for free.

And before I went to the immigr. doctor, I called around. Charges for the exam ranged from $110 (that's the doctor I picked later) to $400+.
 
LucyMo that's cool...I regret that I didn't keep the record myself.
Next week, i'm gonna take the medical exam that charge $180 w/0 shots.
With shots, they charge $375.
I found another one just charges $150 w/0 shots but no appt for next week. So have to go to the first one.
 
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