Does Medicare cover the shingles vaccine?

Medicare splits vaccines between two parts. Which part pays is the whole answer.

• Part B covers four vaccines: flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal (pneumonia), and hepatitis B for people who qualify. Part B also covers a shot like tetanus when you need it to treat an injury.
• Part D covers the rest: every other adult vaccine the national vaccine advisory group recommends. That group is called ACIP. The list includes shingles, RSV, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough).

So if you have Original Medicare with no drug plan, Medicare does not pay for your shingles shot. Part D is the drug coverage you add on, through a stand alone drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan. Learn more in our guide to Part D.

In short: the shingles shot is a Part D vaccine. No Part D, no Medicare coverage for it.

If you have Part D, you pay $0 for the shingles vaccine. Medicare.gov says your Part D plan will not charge you a copay or apply a deductible for vaccines ACIP recommends. That holds even if you have not met your plan's yearly deductible.

• If you have no Part D: you pay the full price. Prices vary, so ask the pharmacy before the shot.
• If you have Medicare Advantage with drug coverage: your plan covers it the same way.
• If you have Medicaid too: ask your state Medicaid office what it pays.
• If cost keeps you from having a drug plan: see if you qualify for Extra Help, which lowers Part D costs.

The shingles vaccine is called Shingrix. It comes as 2 shots. Here is what the CDC recommends:

• Adults 50 and older: 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart.
• Adults 19 and older with a weak immune system: 2 doses. The second can come 1 to 2 months after the first if needed.

There is no top age limit. The CDC says to get it even if you already had shingles, or if you had the older shingles vaccine years ago. You do not need to remember having chickenpox.

Plan for both shots. The second dose finishes the series.

1. Check that you have Part D. Look for a drug plan card, or a Medicare Advantage card that lists drug coverage.
2. Pick a pharmacy in your plan's network. Pharmacies give the shot and bill your drug plan.
3. Bring your drug plan card, not just your red, white, and blue Medicare card. That card is for Part A and Part B, not your drug plan.
4. At a doctor's office, ask first. Ask if they can bill your Part D plan for the shot. If they cannot, you may get a bill.
5. Book your second dose before you leave, 2 to 6 months out.

In short: take your Part D card to a pharmacy in your plan's network, and you should pay nothing.

With Part D, a bill for the shingles vaccine itself usually means something went wrong. Here is what to do.

• Ask which plan the office billed. A shingles shot should go to your drug plan, not Part B.
• You paid up front. Call your drug plan and ask how to get paid back.
• The plan says the vaccine is not on its drug list yet. The Medicare handbook says you can ask the plan for a coverage exception or to be paid back.
• The plan still says no. You can appeal. Your plan's notice explains how.

Want to see how other shots are covered? Read Does Medicare cover COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines? or browse the coverage library.