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Back in September, while walking at night, I had a bat land on the back of my neck. I didn't think much of it at first, but after a couple of weeks, I started to get paranoid. After talking to my doctor who thought it was nothing, the health department who didn't have a clue, and then getting chewed out by the State of Georgia Poison Control, I ended up getting the full series of rabies vaccination.
The shots are not like what you hear about, giant needles in the stomach and what such.
At the ER on day 0, its four shots of immunoglobulin, two in each butt cheek and one shot of vaccine in the arm. (the vaccine is a beautiful pink color). Then follow up vaccine shots in the arm on days 3, 7, and 14.
A couple of months went by, and I finally got the explanation of benefits from insurance and the first invoice from the hospital.
Before insurance was applied, the cost for the ER visit was $17,000. The discounted cost for the insurance was about $9,000. My out of pocket was only $150 ER copay.
The explanation of benefits also listed the cost for the two vaccinations on days 3 and 7. I think the original cost was $1,500 total, and my expected cost to be $900.
I've not yet received the explanation of benefits for the day 14 shot. My assumption would be my expected cost to be around $450.
I have not received any invoice from the hospital for the follow up shots.
I'm still on the fence if it was worth it or not as there is no good estimation that I have found of IF the bat was rabid, and IF it transmitted it to me or not. The reports I've read stated fever does not start until three to six months after the exposure, at which point you're dead within the week.
If you plan on contracting rabies, have insurance first!
The shots are not like what you hear about, giant needles in the stomach and what such.
At the ER on day 0, its four shots of immunoglobulin, two in each butt cheek and one shot of vaccine in the arm. (the vaccine is a beautiful pink color). Then follow up vaccine shots in the arm on days 3, 7, and 14.
A couple of months went by, and I finally got the explanation of benefits from insurance and the first invoice from the hospital.
Before insurance was applied, the cost for the ER visit was $17,000. The discounted cost for the insurance was about $9,000. My out of pocket was only $150 ER copay.
The explanation of benefits also listed the cost for the two vaccinations on days 3 and 7. I think the original cost was $1,500 total, and my expected cost to be $900.
I've not yet received the explanation of benefits for the day 14 shot. My assumption would be my expected cost to be around $450.
I have not received any invoice from the hospital for the follow up shots.
I'm still on the fence if it was worth it or not as there is no good estimation that I have found of IF the bat was rabid, and IF it transmitted it to me or not. The reports I've read stated fever does not start until three to six months after the exposure, at which point you're dead within the week.
If you plan on contracting rabies, have insurance first!
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