So we had a bat in our house for a couple of days, killed it with an electric fly swatter and had the town pick it up for rabies testing. We never touched it. The doc said go to ER for rabies shots. We get the shots and are told to come back 3 more times for more shots. That's a family of four and 4 ER visits a piece--16 ER visits. So I called everywhere--dozens of calls--to see where else we could get these shots. No doc, urgent care, or drugstore has the vaccine (Walegreens has it if you are starting a job in a shelter or something but won't give it to you post exposure). Basically we said we never touched it and doc said that a bat could bite you in your sleep and you wouldn't know it and you have to finish the series once you start--even though CDC says you don't have to finish.
After many calls to hospital I was told that a level 4 ER visit where you just get a shot is 3K and my copay is 15%. So I found a place called Passport Health that does vaccines for travelers like malaria, typhoid, etc. and they gave us the shots for $400 each shot each person and my copay was 30% out of network.
The hospital instead submitted bills for over 20K each!!!! My copays ended up being thousands and doctor bills were separate. So glad I didn't go back. I'm arguing with the hosptial now to waive part of the bill etc.
My insurance said that if you submit it as a bat bite instead of possible exposure it would be considered an accident and be covered at 100%. Apparently you don't pay an ER visit if you are admitted like you are actually sick or if you have an accident, but if you just show up when it's not an emergency they charge you a fortune.
So advice--capture your bat and wait until it comes back--our was negative. Make sure that you are being treated for a possible bite and NOT for possible rabies exposure. Check with your insurance to see how much an ER visit is depending on the diagnosis code. Do not finish your shots if your bat is negative. See your vet.
