The kids are heading back to school and you’ve already shelled out money for new clothes and school supplies. Now you need to come up with more for sports physicals and back-to-school vaccinations. Here are some tips that might help you save on those expenses:
If you’re insured, start with your primary care provider. If sports physicals and vaccinations are included in the cost of a $10 or $20 copay, that may be your cheapest option. But make sure you call first and ask if your only out-of-pocket expense will be your copay or if there will be any additional charges.
Concentra Urgent Care is offering sports physicals for “around” $35. You’ll need to call your local center and ask for their exact price. Concentra also offers vaccinations, so if your child also needs shots, you may as well ask about price while you have them on the line. Concentra also accepts most types of insurance.
The Walgreens Take Care Clinics are offering back-to-school sports physicals for $39 through September 30, 2012. The clinics also offer vaccinations, so again, it doesn’t hurt to ask about cost. The Take Care Clinics also accept most types of insurance.
The CVS Minute Clinics are offering a $10 discount on sports physicals through September 30, 2012, which brings the price from $59 to $49. The Minute Clinics accept most types of insurance; however, they do not accept insurance for sports physicals. The Minute Clinics also offer vaccinations.
Many city health departments run public health clinics that offer childhood vaccinations at low or no cost. To find your local department of health, do a Google search for “Department of Health Your City Name” (e.g., Department of Health Kansas City).
The federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program offers vaccinations at no cost for children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, or American Indian or native Alaskan. Vaccines are administered by private and public health care providers who are enrolled in the VFC Program. If your child meets one of the above eligibility requirements, ask your doctor if he or she is a VFC provider. If not, contact your state’s VFC Coordinator to find out where to get your child vaccinated.
Julie Henry
Julie Henry, RN, MPA, is a freelance writer, editor, and project manager who loves the thrill of scoring a good deal. She writes a bi-weekly "On the Cheap" column for the Sun News in Myrtle Beach. In addition to writing about deals and discounts, Julie is an established medical writer. She has done work for a number of national health care organizations, including The Joint Commission, The American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine. Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, she now lives in Myrtle Beach. Julie owns and operates Kansas City on the Cheap, Myrtle Beach on the Cheap, and Charleston on the Cheap.
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