Key takeaways:
Shingrix is a vaccine that prevents shingles. Without insurance, the average price of Without insurance, Shingrix can cost over $230 per dose, plus administration fees (you'll need 2 doses total).
Most insurance plans cover Shingrix, although in some cases you may need a prior authorization. Medicare only covers Shingrix through a Part D prescription plan.
If you don't have insurance coverage, the manufacturer's patient assistance program and your local health department can help you access Shingrix for free or at a reduced cost if you meet certain requirements. You can also save on the cost of Shingrix with a free GoodRx coupon.
Save on related medications
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes painful, blistery rashes. It can also lead to long-term nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia. People age 50 and older and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk for shingles. But it can happen to anyone who’s had chickenpox in the past.
Shingrix is the only FDA-approved vaccine to prevent shingles and its complications. It's recommended to receive 2 doses separated by 2 to 6 months for Shingrix to work properly. Unlike the previous shingles vaccine (Zostavax), Shingrix isn't a live vaccine. So it's safer for more people to receive it.
The cost of Shingrix depends on several factors, including where you get the shots and whether you have insurance. Here, we'll review how much Shingrix costs without insurance along with ways to save on the cost of this vaccine.
How much does Shingrix cost without insurance?
The manufacturer list price for Shingrix is about $235 per dose ($470 total for 2 doses). But your cost will likely be higher than this due to wholesaler markups and vaccine administration fees.
Other factors may affect how much Shingrix costs, such as:
Where you receive the vaccine. Costs can vary between your local pharmacy and your prescriber's office. In addition, prices can vary between different pharmacies, even if they're in the same area.
Insurance coverage (more on that next).
Your geographic location. Shingrix prices may vary depending on where you live. For instance, prices for prescription medications are generally lower in Tampa, Florida, than in New York City.
Is Shingrix covered by insurance?
Most health insurance plans cover Shingrix. Nearly all Medicaid and commercial insurance plans cover this vaccine. Shingrix is covered by about 90% of plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) marketplace. If you have Medicare, you need a Part D prescription plan in order for your Shingrix vaccine to be covered.
About 25% of Medicare and Medicaid plans and about 9% of commercial plans require a prior authorization for Shingrix. This means your prescriber needs to provide additional information to the insurance company in order for the plan to approve it.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Shingrix is covered and what, if anything, you can expect to pay for it.
How different insurance plans cover Shingrix
The chart below shows the percentage of enrolleess who have coverage for Shingrix under various types of insurance plans. It also shows how often a prior authorization is required.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Shingrix | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial plans (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 96.3% | 8.8% | 0% |
89.9% | 0.6% | 0% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 99.9% | 22.7% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 98.6% | 25.2% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of April 14, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
If your insurance doesn’t cover Shingrix, you still have options:
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. You can also file an appeal if your claim is denied.
Look for discounts or patient assistance programs to help you save on the cost of the Shingrix vaccine (more on this next).
Ways to save on Shingrix without insurance
Here are some ways to save on the cost of Shingrix if you're uninsured or underinsured.
1. See if you qualify for the manufacturer's patient assistance program
The GSK patient assistance program for vaccines provides Shingrix at no cost to those who qualify. To be eligible, you must not have insurance coverage for Shingrix, be age 18 or older, and live in the U.S. or Puerto Rico. You must also meet certain income limitations. If you have Medicare, you are not eligible for this program.
Your prescriber must submit the application for the program. Call 1-866-728-4368 for more information.
2. Look into free vaccines through your local health department
Many state health departments and community health centers offer free or low-cost vaccines. You can find more a program near you by visiting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services vaccinations website.
3. Use a GoodRx coupon
GoodRx can help you save over 10% off the cost of Shingrix at certain pharmacies with a free discount.
To get a coupon, visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device. Type “Shingrix” 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. Take your coupon with you to the pharmacy. Present the coupon to the pharmacy staff before receiving your vaccine.
4. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
If you have a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), you can use it to help cover your out-of-pocket costs for Shingrix. These tax-advantaged healthcare accounts let you pay for eligible expenses with tax-free dollars.
Pay for your medication directly with your HSA or FSA card, or cover the cost yourself and submit a request for reimbursement. The funds in HSAs and HRAs typically roll over annually, but you have to use FSA dollars before the deadline or they’ll expire.
The bottom line
Shingrix is a vaccine that prevents shingles. Without insurance, Shingrix can cost over $230 per dose plus administration fees(you'll need 2 doses total).
Most insurance plans cover Shingrix, although in some cases you may need a prior authorization. If you don't have insurance coverage, the manufacturer's patient assistance program and your local health department can help you access Shingrix at no or a low cost if you meet certain requirements. You can also save on the cost of Shingrix with a free GoodRx coupon.
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
GSK for You. (n.d.). GSK pricing information for Shingrix.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2026). Get vaccinated - where to go.
