flea

mr. flea, being an employee of the Federal Government, is getting a free seasonal flu shot at work at some point. Apparently they just show up and jab everyone. (He is also now prohibited from texting while driving a government vehicle!) Go team Socialism!

I used to get a flu shot at work - they'd do several clinics on campus, usually one in the library, and you just had to line up, bring ID, and there you were. Often the line was long unless you timed it well, but since it was generally made up of coworkers, fairly jolly. And by "long," I mean half an hour. Go team University Hospital!

The kids got shots at regular fall doctor's appointments, or the Saturday flu shot clinic at their doctor, which took appointments at 15 minute intervals.

Our options now? I can get a shot at the Uggaversity Clinic (paying $25), or at various local clinics (i.e. the one in Target last Saturday that I missed) (paying $25), or at my doctor when my doctor gets the seasonal flu vaccine (originally told us Oct. 1, now saying they don't have it yet and check back Thursday.)

Casper can get a flu shot at our family doctor, too, when they get some. And they told mr. flea on the phone today that they wouldn't charge for an appointment, we could just bring her by any time (really? I'll believe it when I see it). But Dillo can't, as they aren't getting the vaccine for kids under 4. So far I have called or looked at a variety possible places to get him a flu shot (I'd be willing to pay): County health clinic? Flu shots only for Medicaid patients. Uggaversity? Staff only (and students, etc. - unclear if they have any kid vaccine anyway). Clinics at Target, Public, CVS? Vaccine only available for children over 10, or people over 18. Other clinic finders helpfully suggested by our insurance company? None in our area (I live in a city of 100,000 people, not the boondocks!)

We're planning to switch the kids to a pediatrician next year; unfortunately there are very few pediatricians who accept our current insurance, open enrollment for both our health plans isn't until November, and won't take effect until January. I guess I should be glad that Dillo is the kid who is never sick, and I should be able to get the one who's had pneumonia and gets a hacking chest cold every fall vaccinated, I hope?

The logical reaction to being told one needs a crown is to go home and eat potato chips and ice cream, right?

The dentist spackled my broken tooth, but said I should have it crowned (I can probably get away with a partial) and said I should first of all get a mouth guard made, because I have hairline cracks in my teeth and I am probably grinding. And I still have to get my wisdom teeth pulled and get the multiple cavities on the other side of my mouth dealt with.

And of course the insurance company refused the re-billing for the first fillings as amalgam, so we owe them $900 for the work that's been done. I asked their financial person to double-check whether a crown and the pullings will be covered before I have those done. The mouth guard will not be covered ($205). For the rest of the fillings, if they're in unobtrusive places I'll get amalgam (covered) and if not, porcelain (not covered).

Insert standard rant about dental coverage and medical coverage being separate (note that having two children cost me less, including all prenatal care and delivery, than having these fillings); insert standard rant about preventive care (which could have prevented some of this).

At least I still have good gums. Because gum stuff is *nasty*.