Key takeaways:
Gardasil 9, often simply called Gardasil, is the only vaccine available in the U.S. to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV).
The HPV vaccine is given as a multidose series that can begin as early as age 9. When you have your first shot is the main factor that determines whether you will need 2 doses or 3 doses.
Without insurance, the average price of 1 dose of Gardasil is $370.63. But you could pay as little as $169.50 with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies.
Save on related medications
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. There are more than 200 types of HPV and about 40 are transmitted through sexual contact. The virus can cause certain cancers and genital warts. The HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 — often simply referred to as Gardasil — can decrease your risk of infection.
Gardasil 9 is the only FDA-approved vaccine distributed in the U.S. to prevent HPV. (The original Gardasil vaccine, and the vaccine Cervarix, are no longer available.) Gardasil is recommended for people ages 9 to 26 and for all genders. Some adults ages 27 to 45 should also get the HPV vaccine based on their risk for a new HPV diagnosis.
The recommended HPV vaccine schedule depends on when you start the multidose series. You’ll likely receive 2 doses spaced 6 months to 1 year apart if you start the series from the time you turn 9 until the day before your 15th birthday.
People ages 15 to 45 generally need 3 doses — as do individuals ages 9 to 26 with a weakened immune system. So it’s an economical move to get most children the HPV vaccine before they turn 15.
Gardasil basics
Gardasil is the only vaccine available in the U.S. to prevent HPV, and it is recommended for people ages 9 to 26. Some adults up to age 45 may also receive this vaccine.
Gardasil is given as a 2-dose or 3-dose series, depending on when you receive the first shot and the health of your immune system. Gardasil is not a live vaccine, but it contains proteins from the HPV types most commonly linked to cancer.
The chart below provides a summary of basic information about Gardasil.
Gardasil Basics
| Brand name | Gardasil 9 |
| Form | Vaccine injection (prefilled syringes and single-dose vials) |
| Number of doses |
|
| FDA-approved uses | Prevention of certain strains of HPV |
| Benefits | Preventing certain conditions, including:
|
| Possible side effects |
|
Is Gardasil covered by insurance?
At the time of publication, most health insurance plans cover Gardasil as preventive care with no cost-sharing — whether you’ve met your deductible or not. Nearly all Medicaid and commercial insurance plans cover this vaccine. And it is covered by about 90% of plans purchased through an Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) marketplace. If you have Medicare, you need a Part D prescription medication plan for your Gardasil vaccine to be covered.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Gardasil is covered. If it’s not, contact your plan provider and ask about an exception, as this vaccine has no alternative approved in the U.S.
The HPV vaccine appears on the CDC’s recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule, which is based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Under the ACA, health insurance plans are required to cover all ACIP-recommended vaccines for children and adults. But changes to ACIP recommendations or the CDC immunization schedule could lead to your insurance plan no longer covering the HPV vaccine.
How insurance covers Gardasil
The following chart shows the likelihood of having coverage — and prior authorization and step therapy requirements — for Gardasil from a prefilled syringe with different types of insurance. Some health insurance plans require enrollees to receive prior authorization before covering this vaccine. If you have Medicare Part D, Gardasil should be covered without any out-of-pocket costs like copays or meeting your deductible.
Insurance Coverage for Gardasil 9
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Gardasil (prefilled syringe) | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial plans (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 93.8% | 3.1% | 0% |
85.8% | 0.5% | 0% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 100% | 0.7% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 94% | 20.1% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of April 14, 2025. (See methodology below.)
What is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine? Gardasil 9, the HPV vaccine approved in the U.S., can protect you from infections that cause genital warts and cancer.
HPV vaccine side effects: You may experience side effects from the HPV vaccine. Examples include pain and swelling at the injection site, headaches, and nausea, which are usually mild and brief.
Genital warts from HPV: Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. They are caused by HPV and can be passed even if you are using condoms.
Tips if your vaccine isn’t covered by insurance
If your insurance doesn’t cover Gardasil, you still have options:
Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan, as Gardasil is the only HPV vaccine approved in the U.S.
When it’s time for open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides the coverage you need.
How much does Gardasil cost without insurance?
The manufacturer’s list price for 1 dose of Gardasil is $306.86 as of August 2024. In addition to the price of the vaccine, you may be charged an administration fee for each shot.
Without insurance, what you’ll pay for Gardasil depends on several factors, including:
Your injection facility
Your geographic location
A GoodRx coupon could lower the cost at certain pharmacies. The manufacturer also has a patient assistance program that provides this vaccine at no cost for people who do not have insurance and meet certain income criteria.
The following table shows the average cash price for 1 dose of Gardasil.
Gardasil Costs
Gardasil quantity and dose | Average cash price |
|---|---|
1 injection (0.5 mL)* |
* Note: A full vaccination series may be 2 or 3 injections.
Ways to save on Gardasil without insurance
Gardasil may be a stretch for your budget. Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to reduce the cost of the vaccine. Here are five options, which you may be able to combine to get optimal savings on the HPV vaccine for you or your child.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a free GoodRx coupon, you could get a lower price for your Gardasil prescription at the pharmacy. For example, without insurance, the average price of 1 dose of Gardasil is $370.63. But you may be able to pay as low as $169.50 with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies.
To get a coupon, visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device. Type “Gardasil” in the search field, and choose the dose you have been prescribed. Make sure the search results show prices at local pharmacies. You can input your ZIP code or address, or you can select “Use my current location.” Then, choose if you want to receive your coupon by email or text, or opt to print it out.
2. Apply for the manufacturer’s patient assistance program
See if you’re eligible for MerckHelps, a patient assistance program that provides Gardasil at no cost to eligible adults ages 19 to 45. Typically, you must be without health insurance or prescription medication coverage and meet income requirements. However, the program allows for exceptions for people who have insurance but meet income requirements and also have a financial or medical hardship.
3. Compare prices at various pharmacies
GoodRx lets you easily compare Gardasil costs at different pharmacies in your area. You might find it’s worth driving a bit farther to get a lower price.
4. Use tax-advantaged healthcare funds
Consider using a flexible spending account (FSA), a health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to purchase your vaccine. These funds can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings. Review your account’s contribution limits, rollover limits, and eligible expenses.
5. Vaccines for Children program
ACIP recommendations also determine which vaccines are provided at no cost by the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. VFC provides free vaccines, including Gardasil, to low-income and underinsured minors — which describes about half of the children in the U.S.
The bottom line
Gardasil 9 is the only vaccine available in the U.S. that prevents HPV. How much you’ll pay for the HPV vaccine depends on factors such as where you receive the shot and your insurance coverage. Most insurance plans cover Gardasil as preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs. If you don’t have insurance, the average price of 1 dose of Gardasil is $370.63. You could pay as little as $169.50 with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies. Remember, a full vaccination series may be 2 or 3 doses.
Other ways to save on the vaccine include applying for the manufacturer’s patient assistance program, paying with a tax-advantaged healthcare account, shopping around at different pharmacies, and qualifying for the Vaccines for Children program.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of April 2025.
We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel.
We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel.
Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel.
These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). About HPV vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). HPV vaccine VIS.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Vaccines for Children (VFC) program: Information for parents.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine safety.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2025.
Gardasil 9. (n.d.) Cost information for Gardasil 9. Merck.
Godoy, M. (2025). RFK Jr. replaced everyone on the CDC's vaccine panel. Here's why that matters. NPR.
Levy, B., et al. (2019). The HPV vaccine is now recommended for adults aged 27-45: Counseling implications. OBG Management.
MerckHelps. (n.d.) Gardasil 9.
MerckHelps. (2023). Merk Patient Assistance Program.
Merck Sharp & Dohme. (2025). Gardasil 9 - human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine, recombinant injection, suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
