Does Medicare Cover the Shingles Vaccine?

If you’re 50 and older, it’s very important to get your shingles vaccine. Shingles is the reactivation of the herpes zoster virus that lies dormant in your body after you’ve had chickenpox.

Because the shingles vaccine is considered preventive, many insurance plans do typically cover it, according to Stella Safo, MD, Primary Care Physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Does Medicare cover the shingles vaccine?

If you’re wondering whether Medicare will cover your shingles vaccine, Part D, the prescription portion of Medicare, does cover it. Parts A, B, and C do not generally cover the shingles vaccine.

“However, you have to check and make sure that you’re actually covered [even if you have Part D], because some plans have some specifications,” explains Safo.

What are ways to save money if your shingles vaccine isn’t covered?

If you don’t have Medicare coverage or your insurance doesn’t cover it, there are financial assistance programs from the vaccine manufacturer that may help you cover it. You do have to meet certain terms of eligibility, but more people than you might expect are approved for assistance.

“If you live in a certain geographic area, if you’re a certain age, you can get these financial assistance programs pretty easily,” says Safo.

You can learn about financial assistance for the shingles vaccine by visiting GSKforyou.com.

You can also talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the shingles vaccine, because they may know about other resources for financial assistance.

Finally, there are some community vaccine clinics that may offer free or low-cost shingles vaccines. Try visiting your area’s public health website or connecting with your local public health office to find out how to get access to preventative vaccines like the shingles vaccine. 

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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