Does Medicare Cover the Shingles Vaccine?

While Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B — does not cover the cost of the shingles vaccine, or Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine), you can purchase private plans — Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plans — that do cover the cost.

It is important to note that even if your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan covers the shingles shot, you may have a copayment or other out-of-pocket costs to pay. Check with your plan for particular details.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover all commercially available vaccinations, except for those already covered under Original Medicare. But these plans will pay only if the vaccinations are considered “reasonable and necessary to prevent illness.”

Medicare Advantage plans may include a Part D component that covers these shots.

Medicare Part B medical insurance, included in Original Medicare, pays for only a few types of vaccines.

There is currently only one shingles vaccine available in the United States, sold under the brand name Shingrix. An older shingles vaccine called Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) was taken off the market in November 2020.

Shingrix is delivered in two shots. Without insurance, each shot retails for around $202 for a total of $404, according to GoodRX in 2021. Discounts can lower that cost by nearly $50 per shot.

Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans may cover most of the cost of the Shingrix vaccine, but you could have out-of-pocket costs for both the shot and your doctor visits.

Before getting the vaccine, check with your plan’s administrator to make sure your policy covers the shingles shot.

While Original Medicare will not cover the shingles vaccine, there are other options for you to get coverage through either a Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare Part D Coverage

Original Medicare doesn’t cover most prescription drugs, but you do have the option of purchasing a Part D plan. These plans are sold by private insurers and offer coverage for a range of prescription drugs.

While there is some variation in Part D plans since they are provided by different private companies, they typically must include coverage for Shingrix.

Medicare Advantage Plan

Another way to be eligible for coverage of the shingles shot is through a Medicare Advantage plan. Like Part D, Medicare Advantage is provided through private insurers.

The plans include, at minimum, everything that is covered under Original Medicare, and they also offer additional and expanded coverage as well. One of the most common forms of expanded coverage is prescription drugs, which means your shingles shot can be covered under many different Medicare Advantage plans.

You have a few different options on where to get the shingles vaccine. You usually can receive it directly from your doctor at a doctor’s office or at a pharmacy.

The major pharmacy chains typically offer shingles shots so you should be able to get it at a location near you. You will still need a prescription from your doctor in order to get it at a pharmacy.

The vaccine is administered as a shot to your upper arm. While the Shingrix vaccine is safe and effective at preventing shingles, there are some possible side effects. According to the CDC, you may experience some common mild symptoms associated with vaccines, such as arm soreness, muscle pain or a headache.

Remember that the vaccine comes in two doses, so you will have to return to wherever you got the shot two to six months later to receive the second dose. The immune reaction may come with the first or second dose, or with both doses of Shingrix.