The Price of Peace: $$ and Medical Clearance

Not only is the Peace Corps application process lengthy, it can be damn expensive, too! Listed below is an itemized "bill" of the various costs I encountered during the medical/dental review.

Medical
Visits with my Primary Care Physician (3)--$180
Tetanus booster--$26
Lab work---$1140!?!
Follow-up lab test--$80
Mental health evaluation*---$165
*not required of all applicants... just the really awesome people ;)

Dental
Cleaning/exam--$90
X-rays--$95
Filling--$198

Total = $1,974
Peace Corps reimbursement = $225 ($165 for medical; $60 for dental)
Total cost to Kimberly = $1,749

OK, part of the reason why the costs were sooo high are due to my current lack of health insurance. Yet there were certain tests and evaluations that I doubt *any* insurance company would view as "medically necessary." For example, if you received the Polio vaccine during childhood, why should Blue Cross or United Health Care pay for additional proof of immunity?? (The Peace Corps requires evidence of Polio titers in your blood, to demonstrate the vaccine's efficacy.) It is also unusual to be tested for a G6PD enzyme deficiency if you are asymptomatic, but that was another lab required by the Peace Corps.

Although I recognize the importance of assessing a potential volunteer's health, the medical clearance process was tedious, time-consuming, and, for me, expensive. $80 for a follow-up lab? Yes, because a liver enzyme (AST) was a single point outside the "normal" range. An additional doctor's visit because I was *1* pound "underweight"? Yup!!

My main point in submitting this post, however, was not to whine and complain, but to warn prospective volunteers of the potential costs involved with medical clearance. I had not encountered many entries in the blogosphere related to this subject, and, therefore, some of the medical bills (especially the $1140 for lab work!! WTF?!) came as a surprise.

Afterwards, I learned that Peace Corps applicants can schedule their medical appointments at a Federal health care facility (VA hospital, Indian Health Services, etc.), free of charge, after obtaining a letter of authorization from the Office of Medical Services. My understanding, however, is that a long wait may be involved, and when you are applying to the Peace Corps time is of the essence!!

My advice to PC applicants is to do some comparison shopping at various hospitals/clinics, and to ask ahead of time for a price quote on labs. My desire to get through the process quickly and efficiently really cost me in the long run! And if you happen to be 1-2 pounds underweight, just hit the McDonald's drive-through before visiting your doctor, or wear some heavy boots. Trust me, it will save you a co-pay and the hassle of additional paperwork! :)