Allergy shots, a popular type of allergy immunotherapy, can be a highly effective option for seniors dealing with annoying allergies. Unfortunately, the costs associated with these treatments can be steep, creating a barrier to entry for seniors on a tight budget.
Thankfully, there are a few ways to keep costs to a minimum and still get the treatment you need to relieve your irritating allergies.
What Are Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots, a type of allergy immunotherapy, help desensitize the body to a specific allergen, such as bee venom, pollen, or pet dander.
To understand how they work, we need to have a basic understanding of an allergy and how it works. Simply put, an allergy is your immune system’s reaction to a foreign substance called an allergen. Your body produces antibodies, blood proteins that counteract with a specific antigen, and when they deem a foreign substance as harmful, they trigger an immune response.
This response results in the symptoms we recognize as an allergic reaction. To dim this reaction, allergy shots repeatedly expose your immune system to the allergen. Repeated exposure to a small, gradually increasing dose of the allergen helps decrease the production of the “blocking” antibodies that trigger the reaction.
Over time, this exposure helps minimize your body’s sensitivity, thus reducing the allergy and the resulting symptoms. However, it’s important to recognize that it takes more than a few months to achieve this result. For most folks, the best results appear in years two and three, although many notice slight improvements within the first year.
Do Allergy Shots Work?
Allergy shots are incredibly effective in achieving an allergen-specific tolerance. The treatment has been around for well over a century, and in that time, researchers and healthcare professionals have explored its efficacy.
Many studies and trials document this efficacy. For example, multiple research and clinical trials that evaluated subcutaneous injections (allergy shots) found that they can achieve an allergen-specific tolerance that lasts for years after the last injection.
A study that evaluated the impact of AIT on allergic rhinitis found that allergy shots and allergy drops offer clinical benefits and immunological changes that indicate an allergen-specific tolerance. These are just a couple of the many studies documenting the remarkable efficacy of this treatment.
How Much Do Allergy Shots Cost?
On average, allergy shots cost between $1,000 and $4,000 per year per person. Of course, the cost depends on factors specific to your treatment program.
For example, if you need multiple shots per week or a higher dosage, you might pay more than someone who needs one shot per week or a lower dosage. Additionally, the company you choose for your treatment plan can contribute to cost fluctuations, as each facility, allergist, and location may have different costs.
Budget-Friendly Allergy Immunotherapy Options for Seniors
For many seniors, especially those on tight budgets, the steep out-of-pocket allergy shot costs aren’t doable. However, there are a few ways to keep costs to a minimum.
Health Insurance
One excellent option is to take advantage of health insurance coverage. Most health insurance providers cover allergy immunotherapy, as it’s often deemed a medically necessary treatment. With help from insurance, costs may drop significantly, as you’ll probably pay as little as your co-pay plus your deductible.
If you’re not sure whether your health insurance provider covers allergy immunotherapy, chat with your insurance agent or doctor.
Cost-Effective Alternatives
Another great way to keep costs to a minimum is to consider an alternative to allergy shots: allergy drops. Unlike allergy shots, allergy drops don’t require doctor visits for each injection, which cuts out a considerable portion of the cost.
Plus, many companies that offer allergy drop immunotherapy treatment plans offer affordable pricing plans, making it easier to fit your treatment within your budget.
Wrapping Up
Allergy shots can be an effective treatment for desensitizing the body to specific allergens. However, the cost of allergy shots can be steep, especially for seniors on a tight budget if you’re looking for budget-friendly immunotherapy options, remember to chat with your health insurance provider or consider cost-effective alternatives like allergy drops.
Of course, if you’re considering allergy immunotherapy, whether it be shots or drops, remember to talk to your healthcare provider. They can offer more insight into costs and help you choose the best fit based on your needs and medical history.
