How does Medicare Cover Vaccines?

Some vaccines are covered under Medicare Part B and others are covered under Medicare Part D.

We’ll go through the most common vaccines and sort them into their appropriate coverage category so you know how your vaccines will be covered.

Confused about your Medicare coverage options? Watch our free video: How to Find the Best Medicare Coverage Without Paying More Than You Need To… ​

Medicare Part B Vaccines

Medicare Part B covers Influenza, pneumonia, Hepatitis B, and COVID-19 vaccines. Part B will also cover vaccines if you have been exposed to a disease. For example, Part B covers tetanus shots if you have an accident with a rusty nail and rabies shots if you are bitten by a possibly rabid animal.

Medicare Part D Vaccines

Medicare Part D covers the shingles vaccine, the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine, and other vaccines that are considered reasonable and necessary to prevent illness that are not covered by Medicare Part B.

What does all that mean for you and your wallet?

You pay nothing for vaccines covered by Medicare Part B, as long as your provider accepts Medicare.

Your cost for Part D vaccines will vary depending on your plan and your provider. If you know you will need the shingles vaccine, or any others covered under Medicare Part D, it’s a good idea to include those vaccines in your plan estimate when you are deciding which Part D plan to enroll in.

Vaccine Frequency

Some vaccines need to be administered every year, but others are once in a lifetime or once every 5 or 10 years. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to get a good idea of how often you need to get each of these vaccines.

For the Part D covered vaccines, knowing how often you need to have them can help in future years when evaluating Medicare Advantage and standalone Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period.

If you have questions about finding the right Medicare plan for you, please feel free to contact our office at 877-312-1414 or schedule a free, no obligation Medicare Plan Consultation. We’re happy to help you make sure you select the best plan for your unique situation!