questions to Medical Exam

A

AGM6

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

few questions to medical exam:

1. Can I take the medical exam now, even if I submit my I-485 in a few months? Is the physician sending the sealed letter himself, or is he giving me the sealed letter so that I can enclose it to my I-485 once I have all the documents together?
If yes, how current has the medical exam has to be (within 6 months?)?

2. How do I find a list of accepted physicians? I need an accepted physician in NYC (ideally Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital)?

3. It sounds from this forum that the costs for the medical exam are not covered by insurance: how expensive is it?
I also would need to get a CXR because of a positive PPD in the past.

Thanks!
 
The medical exam is valid for one yr or 15 months as far as I know. You get the closed envelope from the MD and send it in. I don't see why you want to do it now. Are you planning to get HIV or something!!

The cost is not covered by insurance. The uscis.gov website has a physician locator. Find couple of them nearby and get a price quote. Now that you have got time get all your shots done at your primary and take the documantation in with you. This way you'll save on those. Also most physicians will accept your previous chest X ray done for the +ve PPD. You can even get a new chest X ray covered by your insurance in you primary's office. I assume you are going to get a cold in NY this winter that brings on some cough. That with a history of +ve PPD is enough to get a CXR.

By the way there are a lot of false +ve PPDs. Repeat testing has its own risks too, but you might want to look into it.
 
from my family's experience;
1) doctors fee was 125 or 150 per person (do not remember), not covered by insurance (however I heard that someone was lucky to find out his doctor was also one of USCIS doctors and fee for him was covered? not sure)
2) in addition you may or may not have to get vaccinations, which may or may not be covered.
If you get vaccinations in USCIS doctors office, they will be probably not covered and will cost 60-80 $ per vaccination. We got a list of needed vaccinations in advance and got it done by our doctor, MMR and tetanus was covered by our insurance, hepatitus (not sure if really needed) was covered by our work - this we did in USA. for varicella and something else USCIS doctor did not accept our home country paperwork so we had to do blood test for it ($ 18 or 28 per test - again do not remember exactly) to show we have antibodies and do not need vaccinations.
3) X-ray (chest) was included in base fee so it was free for all 3 of us. We specifically asked for it and not for skin TB test.
 
compass said:
from my family's experience;
2) in addition you may or may not have to get vaccinations, which may or may not be covered.
If you get vaccinations in USCIS doctors office, they will be probably not covered and will cost 60-80 $ per vaccination. We got a list of needed vaccinations in advance and got it done by our doctor,
Click to expand...


Do you have to give a reason to your family physician for the vaccination? The doctor has to put something down on the paper work to the insurance company. Thanks.
 
My wife and I are going for the medical exam tomorrow. The doctor fee is $180 and shots are going to cost $150. So, $330 for each person. I guess the costs are related to the area you live in. We live in a fairly expensive area, therefore, medical costs are higher overall. There was some confusion in regards to the shots. Some doctors told me we need to receive 9-10 shots since we don't have vaccination records, although we've had all the shots on schedule in our home country. Some other told us it depends on age. I'm 31 and my wife is 29. These ones told us for this age, there's a maximum of 3 shots needed. We'll find out tomorrow.

But, I was thinking.... isn't it better for officials to be concerned more about people's health in the US (I mean those born here) with unsubcidized medical expenses and outgrowing rate of HIV and herpes and etc. which is essentially not brought here by immigrants? Especially skilled workers who are typically from richer cultures, safer environments with appropriate university studies and healthier habits in life.
 
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