Key takeaways:
Allergy shots, a form of immunotherapy, help reduce allergy symptoms.
Allergy shot costs for a course of treatment can range from $1,000 to several thousand dollars a year without insurance. Many health insurance plans cover this treatment.
Sublingual immunotherapy, known as SLIT, uses allergy drops or tablets under the tongue as the treatment delivery method. SLIT can be less costly than allergy shots but isn’t usually covered by insurance.
Allergy shots are a series of injections that can desensitize your immune system from triggers that cause allergic reactions. They are a type of immunotherapy known as allergy immunotherapy.
Also called subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), allergy shots are given on a schedule to stop or reduce allergy attacks. Each shot contains a customized serum with a small amount of the substance or substances that cause your allergic reaction.
Allergy shot treatment is personalized and typically long term, so costs can be higher at first and at the beginning of each treatment cycle. Although many insurance plans cover allergy shots, you may still have out-of-pocket costs. But you might save money overall because you won’t have the continuing expenses of managing symptoms or missing work.
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How much do allergy shots cost?
Allergy shots could cost you several thousand dollars a year without insurance. The cost of your allergy shots will vary depending on:
The length of your treatment plan
The amount of serum you require
The prices in your area
You’re typically charged for each set of personalized serums, which typically expire in 1 year or sooner. You’re charged an administration fee each time you have injections. During your buildup phase, you’ll typically get shots more than once a week. Once you reach your maintenance phase, you’ll receive shots in longer intervals — once a month, twice a month, or every 4 to 6 weeks — and your costs typically decrease.
Here is the expected allergy shot cost without insurance at one national chain of allergy and immunology clinics:
Allergy vaccine prices
Serum cost* | Injection administration fee per visit |
1 vial: $598 | $25 |
2 vials: $1,196 | $29 |
3 vials: $1,794 | $29 |
*Note: Vials prepared by this practice expire every 6 months. The cost of your entire course of treatment depends on how long you receive shots and how long vials are used at your facility.
How much do weekly allergy shots cost?
For a person requiring 2 vials at the clinic noted above, you’ll need two sets of those vials for a year of treatment. If you have injections twice a week for 6 months, then twice a month for 6 months, your costs for allergy shots at this clinic would be about $4,000 for a year of treatment. Learn more with the chart below:
Sample year of allergy shot costs
Injection phase | Calculation | Cost |
Buildup (6 months) | $1,196 for original vials, plus 24 weeks (6 months) of twice-a-week injections ($29 x 24 x 2 = $1,392) | $2,588 |
Maintenance (6 months) | $1,196 for fresh vials, plus 6 months of twice-a-month injections ($29 x 6 x 2 = $348) | $1,544 |
Total treatment cost | $4,132 |
Other expenses
Some out-of-pocket costs of allergy shots are indirect, including:
Time away from work, school, and family for doctor appointments
Lost wages from missing work
Transportation expenses, such as parking, tolls, ride-sharing fees, and public transit fares
If you’re calculating your total cost of allergy treatment, you may also want to include charges for the initial allergy testing.
Are allergy shots covered by insurance?
Your health insurance plan may cover allergy immunotherapy. But you might have to meet your deductible and pay a copay per shot. You may also have an additional copay or coinsurance for each office visit.
Original Medicare
Original Medicare covers allergy immunotherapy deemed medically necessary under Part B. Medicare allows serum mixes to be used for no longer than 12 months.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans meet or exceed the benefits of original Medicare. Check with your plan to determine how allergy shots are covered.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a public health insurance program run by states and territories. With every state, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories, that means there are 56 different programs. Allergy immunotherapy is covered by most Medicaid programs.
Commercial insurance
Many commercial health insurance plans cover allergy shots. The specifics of your health plan will be outlined in your summary of benefits and coverage.
Tricare
Tricare covers allergy treatment, including allergy shots.
What can you expect to pay out of pocket for allergy shots?
Out-of-pocket allergy immunotherapy costs vary, depending on your coverage.
If you have commercial health insurance, there may be cost sharing for your serum. You may also have a copay for each injection, as well as a copay or coinsurance for each office visit.
If you have Medicare Part B, you must meet your Part B deductible. After that, you will pay 20% of the approved amount for services.
If you use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), your out-of-pocket costs for allergy shots are considered qualified expenses. This means they can be purchased using these tax-advantaged funds.
How to get an accurate estimate of allergy shot costs
If you have health insurance, ask your allergist’s office for the CPT codes used for your allergy shots. Once you have these billing codes, call your health insurer. Give them the CPT codes and ask:
What are my treatment costs for these services?
What are my deductible, copay, and coinsurance amounts?
If you don’t have insurance, ask the healthcare professional’s billing department for a good faith estimate before you start treatment. By law, they must give you this estimate if you ask at least 3 business days before an appointment and explain the estimate to you.
You can also compare prices by checking state-run healthcare price databases. Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington are among the states that have these sites. National cost-comparison databases such as FAIR Health Consumer and MDsave can help too.
How do allergy shots work?
Allergy shots tame your immune system’s response to allergens. They expose your body to a small amount of allergen so your immune system can get used to it. Buildup injections start the “training” process and may last 6 months or longer while the amount of allergen gradually increases. Eventually, your immune system will mount less of a response when exposed to high doses of an allergen. Treatment typically includes a maintenance phase, during which you get injections less often. This can last several years.
Types of allergy shots
Allergy immunotherapy treats reactions from many sources, including:
Seasonal allergens: Trees, grasses, and pollen can trigger allergic reactions in the spring. Leaf mold can also prompt an allergy response.
Indoor allergens: Mold, dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander are common irritants found in homes, schools, and other buildings.
Insect stings: Some people have a more pronounced and immediate reaction to bites from insects, including fire ants, bees, hornets, and wasps.
Prescription allergy injections
Most food allergies are not effectively treated with allergy shots. But in 2024, Xolair (omalizumab) — an injectable medication long used to treat asthma — was FDA approved for lowering the risk of food allergy reactions in adults and children at least 1 year old after accidental exposure.
GoodRx discounts are not available for this specialty medication. But manufacturer savings and patient assistant programs may be able to help you afford Xolair.
If you have commercial insurance, you can save with the Xolair Co-Pay Program. Eligible consumers could have no out-of-pocket costs because the program offers annual assistance up to $15,000 for medication costs and up to $1,500 to cover injection fees.
How often do you need allergy shots?
The frequency of your allergy shots depends on your treatment plan. During the buildup phase, you typically get injections 1 or 2 times per week for 3 to 6 months. In the maintenance phase, you may need a shot every 2 to 4 weeks. The maintenance schedule can last 3 to 5 years, depending on how your body responds.
Some people experience continued relief for years after their allergy shots end. Others find some relief but still have to use allergy medications. It’s possible for symptoms to resurface once the injections stop.
Are allergy shots more cost-effective than OTC medications?
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be effective for temporary relief of allergy symptoms. But allergy shots are a longer-term solution that may save you money over time. Allergy shots are often less expensive than the combined costs of doctor appointments, prescription and OTC medications, missed time at work or school, ER visits, and misery.
For people with asthma or allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies or hay fever), immunotherapy for allergies is often more cost-effective than the annual expenses for long-term prescription medications.
Are there more affordable alternatives to allergy shots?
Another form of long-lasting allergy treatment is called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). This therapy involves drops or tablets that dissolve under the tongue. SLIT costs about $2 a day on average.
A study published in 2018 found that SLIT was the most cost-effective immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis. Because you can take the treatment yourself at home, school, or work, there are no additional costs, such as insurance copays or missed time from other commitments.
But SLIT is considered an off-label therapy, so it’s not covered by original Medicare and many other health insurance plans. That’s why it’s important to check your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Allergy shots may be worth it if you have severe allergies that don’t improve with medication or other treatments. They can also help if your allergies are serious, disrupt your daily life, or could become dangerous, like insect sting allergies. Studies show allergy shots can reduce symptoms over the long term — even after you stop taking shots — or keep new allergies from progressing.
During the buildup phase, you may get a shot every 3 to 7 days. In the maintenance phase, you might get a shot every 2 to 4 weeks. The buildup phase can last 6 months or more; maintenance can last up to 5 years. Your treatment length depends on how your body responds.
You can get allergy shots at an allergist’s office. Sometimes, an allergist can provide serum vials for you to take to your primary care provider, who can administer the shots. In some cases, you may be able to give yourself maintenance shots at home.
Allergy shots may be worth it if you have severe allergies that don’t improve with medication or other treatments. They can also help if your allergies are serious, disrupt your daily life, or could become dangerous, like insect sting allergies. Studies show allergy shots can reduce symptoms over the long term — even after you stop taking shots — or keep new allergies from progressing.
During the buildup phase, you may get a shot every 3 to 7 days. In the maintenance phase, you might get a shot every 2 to 4 weeks. The buildup phase can last 6 months or more; maintenance can last up to 5 years. Your treatment length depends on how your body responds.
You can get allergy shots at an allergist’s office. Sometimes, an allergist can provide serum vials for you to take to your primary care provider, who can administer the shots. In some cases, you may be able to give yourself maintenance shots at home.
The bottom line
Allergy shots are a form of immunotherapy that help reduce your reactions to allergens. Injections can cost from $1,000 to several thousand dollars a year without insurance, depending on the number of vials of custom serum, the number of injections you require, and the cadence of your treatment. Many health insurance plans cover allergy shots.
If you have food allergies, Xolair (omalizumab) may reduce your risk of an allergic reaction. It’s an injectable prescription medication that was FDA approved in 2024 for food allergy reactions after accidental exposure. Consumers with commercial insurance plans can save on Xolair’s medication and injection fees through the manufacturer copay program. Sublingual immunotherapy involves drops or tablets under your tongue. This treatment can be less costly than allergy shots, but it may not be covered by your insurance plan.
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References
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