[l2ridehd]

I must be getting old and crotchety. Every time I have to deal with anything medical insurance or medicare related I get so frustrated at the sheer incompetence and lack of common sense in the system.

Last week I was at Walgreen's and saw they had flu shots available. So not having this years version, I decided to get one. So I inquire about it and they ask if I am over 65. So yes I am, so they say "if your over 65 it is recommended you get the enhanced flu shot". OK, give me the enhanced one. Well they are out of stock, but will add my name to a list and call me when they get it in. So I say OK, thinking I will never hear from them, but understand.

Yesterday they call and say they have the enhanced version available. So I drive to Walgreen's and ask for the shot. They ask for my medicare and insurance card which I provide. Well turns out Medicare will only pay for the basic flu shot. Still OK so I ask how much they cost. The basic is $33 and the enhanced is $55. Then thinking about it I ask, "if over 65 they recommend the enhanced, why does medicare only pay for the basic? Does not everyone over 65 have medicare? Well yes, but Medicare only pays the basic.

It gets worse. OK, give me the enhanced and I will pay the extra $22. Can't do that, Medicare will pay for basic only, but zero toward enhanced. OK give me the basic and then a second shot with the enhanced different coverage. (basic covers 3 flu's and enhanced covers one or two more) Can't do that either. Only two shots available, one basic and one that has basic plus enhanced.

OK, getting pretty annoyed, but say OK give me the enhanced and I will pay the $55.

So if you're over 65 you have to have medicare. If you're over 65 they recommend the enhanced flu shot. But medicare only pays for the one they don't recommend.

We are all doomed by the incompetence of our medical system run by a government that has zero common sense. And our taxes pay some bureaucrat to think these things up and not have a clue about the complete stupidity of it. And now we are about to turn more of it over to them.