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about sick kids unless they get quiet/quit bouncing around. Takes a lot to make a little one that sick..and that's when to worry. Pertussis making a comeback is worrisome, though. My daughter's insurance company no longer pays for regular child immunizations - says they're "elective", not required by schools anymore, since you can sign a waiver. Is that true for where you are, too? Sounds to me like a medical disaster waiting to happen. (this is in IL)
by sherlyle on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 10:33:32 AM PDT
[ Parent ]
Immunizations are not "elective." the waivers are for special circumstances, and differ among the states. Some allow religious exemptions, others only exempt if child's health would be endangered by the vaccine (e.g., if they're immune-suppressed). But in no case is it not required of the vast majority of children. You should check out whether your state requires insurance companies to cover vaccines. (but many insurance companies don't have to abide by state requirements).
Children, immunizations & health coverage are my work and I'm really interested in anything you have to tell me on this. State & Insurance company name would be very helpful. If this is yet another way insurance companies are sleazing out of paying for needed care, we need to know.
If, in our efforts to win, we become as dishonest as our opponents on the right, we don't deserve to triumph.
by Tamar on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:09:31 AM PDT
United Health insurance provided by Caterpillar employer in IL. Told daughter on the phone that she could pay herself for immunizations (this is for one child!) and would cost $500, or she could make an appointment with local county health dept, would cost her $10. Workers at county health department are doing their level best to get everyone in that asks for appointment (which is nearly everyone). Her doctor was fairly freaked out about it - says he can't afford to give all his patients immunizations for free, but very worried that the difficulty of getting an appointment will mean lots of kids not getting their shots. My daughter tells me she found a state website concerning immunization requirements for school, and that IL has stopped requiring them..parents have option of signing waiver.
by sherlyle on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:25:39 AM PDT
The other reply is right, your insurance is nucking futz.
A growing resistance to immunizations means a growing pool of kids who can get sick AND transmit a contagious disease to other children. You might think that your kid has had all their shots so no worries, right? Wrong. Vaccines are never 100% effective. Almost, but not quite. Our school had a mumps outbreak when I was a kid and even some kids who had the vaccine got sick. We even earned a visit from the CDC.
Pertussis has two problems. First is that it causes the most problems for young children, so preschoolers are particularly at risk. Secondly, immunity wears off by adulthood, so adults are quite capable of giving pertussis to non-immune infants and children. So it is really, really important to immunize against pertussis in particular.
About this time last year, I was sitting an ER exam room waiting for hours while my son get poked, prodded, tested and finally waiting to be admitted. (Pott's Puffy Tumor - aka sinus infection gone bad.) Across the hall was a room under level 2 isolation - with a young kid who in all likelihood had pertussis. That deep, whooping cough - it's truly painful to listen to.
Proud member of the Cult of Issues and Substance!
by Fabian on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:35:56 AM PDT
companies apparently are willing to gamble that no epidemic will happen - I'm not. And, thank god, neither are most of the parents out there. They're taking their kids to the county health dept. and getting them immunized anyway. But what about all the people who can't even afford the $10? Or don't have a car to get their kids to the health dept? And the thing is, Fabian, this is United Health, supposedly one of the better insurance companies! I'd like to know how many other insurance co's are turning down immunization claims.
by sherlyle on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:51:26 AM PDT
and it looks like immunizations are absolutely mandatory for children entering school. There are 2 possible exemptions -- either for health (as I said before, if a child is immuno-suppressed that might mean a medical exemption, but only if this is stated officially by a doctor), or parental objection -- and this is quite specifically religious: http://www.ilga.gov/...
Section 665.510 Objection of Parent or Legal Guardian Parent or legal guardian of a student may object to health examinations, immunizations, vision and hearing screening tests, and dental health examinations for their children on religious grounds. If a religious objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent or legal guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the local school authority. The objection must set forth the specific religious belief which conflicts with the examination, immunization or other medical intervention. The religious objection may be personal and need not be directed by the tenets of an established religious organization. General philosophical or moral reluctance to allow physical examinations, immunizations, vision and hearing screening, and dental examinations will not provide a sufficient basis for an exception to statutory requirements. The local school authority is responsible for determining whether the written statement constitutes a valid religious objection. The parent or legal guardian must be informed by the local school authority of measles outbreak control exclusion procedures in accordance with the Department's rules, Control of Communicable Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690) at the time such objection is presented. (Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 11950, effective August 15, 1996)
Section 665.510 Objection of Parent or Legal Guardian
Parent or legal guardian of a student may object to health examinations, immunizations, vision and hearing screening tests, and dental health examinations for their children on religious grounds. If a religious objection is made, a written and signed statement from the parent or legal guardian detailing such objections must be presented to the local school authority. The objection must set forth the specific religious belief which conflicts with the examination, immunization or other medical intervention. The religious objection may be personal and need not be directed by the tenets of an established religious organization. General philosophical or moral reluctance to allow physical examinations, immunizations, vision and hearing screening, and dental examinations will not provide a sufficient basis for an exception to statutory requirements. The local school authority is responsible for determining whether the written statement constitutes a valid religious objection. The parent or legal guardian must be informed by the local school authority of measles outbreak control exclusion procedures in accordance with the Department's rules, Control of Communicable Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690) at the time such objection is presented.
(Source: Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 11950, effective August 15, 1996)
Given the August 1996 date, this is not new. So unless there's something I missed, your daughter's being fed a lot of bull. I would suggest she contact the Illinois Immunization Program and tell them of her insurance company's justification for not paying. Maybe get some state legislators involved.
by Tamar on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 12:10:51 PM PDT
going to register their kids for kindergarten only to find out their kids won't be attending unless they get on the ball and get those immunizations.
Tomorrow is K registration day for our school district.
by Fabian on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 12:15:56 PM PDT
about this, and see what we can find out. Thank you so much!
by sherlyle on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 03:48:52 PM PDT
Exactly right. nasty disease. Can be fatal. I'm going to check out the business about Illinois not requiring children to get immunizations. This would be completely crazy.
by Tamar on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 12:02:03 PM PDT
wide narrow
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