Medicare Part B covers many vaccines as free preventive benefits, meaning you won’t have to pay deductibles or copayments. Medicare Part D, the prescription drug coverage you can purchase from private companies that Medicare regulates, also covers some common vaccines.
Thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, you no longer have to pay copayments or deductibles for recommended vaccines that either part of Medicare covers. The law eliminated cost sharing on many types of screenings, vaccines and prevention programs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends for adults.
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Here’s a list of vaccines Part B covers. You may need to meet certain criteria based on age, risk and the time frame in which you receive the vaccine or a series of vaccines.
COVID-19. Medicare continues to cover COVID-19 vaccines, even though the public health emergency ended May 11, 2023. Providers who participate in Medicare can’t charge beneficiaries for the vaccine.
Flu. Considered an annual vaccination, most people of all ages receive flu shots around flu season, which typically runs October through May with peak activity from December to February. The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get the high-dose version for extra protection.
Hepatitis B. This is covered as a preventive benefit if people are at medium or high risk for the virus, including those with diabetes, end-stage renal disease or hemophilia.
Pneumonia. This vaccine helps protect you against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. Medicare covers either the single-dose vaccine or a two-dose series with the second dose required at least one year later for most people 65 and older. People who are immunocompromised could receive the second dose sooner.
You can use your online Medicare account to help keep track of the Medicare-covered screenings and vaccines you’re eligible for in Part B.
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Unless Part B covers a vaccine, Part D plan formularies usually cover all commercially available inoculations to prevent illness. These include:
Health & Wellness Dental insurance plans for members and their families See more Health & Wellness offers >Hepatitis A. The CDC recommends a hepatitis A shot for children age 12 to 23 months and children age 2 to 18 who weren’t vaccinated earlier. It also recommends the vaccine for adults at increased risk for hepatitis A, including people with chronic liver disease or those who have HIV or work in areas with a risk of infection as well as others at high risk.
Hepatitis B. For those at low risk for hepatitis B.RSV. Respiratory syncytial virus can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and can worsen other chronic conditions common among older adults, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved the RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older to help protect against contracting the virus.
On June 26, 2024, the CDC recommended that people age 75 or older who haven’t received an RSV vaccine should get one later this summer or early fall. It also recommended the vaccine for people ages 60 to 74 who are at high risk for severe RSV because they have chronic health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, or live in a nursing home. The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine.
Shingles. The CDC recommends that everyone 50 or older get the shingles vaccine. It recommends two doses of Shingrix spaced two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S.
Tdap. This shot protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, also known as pertussis. The CDC recommends getting a Tdap or Td booster every 10 years.
Even some less-common shots. These include immunizations you may need for travel to Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands, which are usually covered through Part D without deductibles or copayments if the CDC recommends them for your travel.
Unless Part B covers a vaccine, Part D plan formularies usually cover all commercially available inoculations to prevent illness. These include:
Hepatitis A. The CDC recommends a hepatitis A shot for children age 12 to 23 months and children age 2 to 18 who weren’t vaccinated earlier. It also recommends the vaccine for adults at increased risk for hepatitis A, including people with chronic liver disease or those who have HIV or work in areas with a risk of infection as well as others at high risk.
Hepatitis B. For those at low risk for hepatitis B.RSV. Respiratory syncytial virus can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and can worsen other chronic conditions common among older adults, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved the RSV vaccine for adults 60 and older to help protect against contracting the virus.
On June 26, 2024, the CDC recommended that people age 75 or older who haven’t received an RSV vaccine should get one later this summer or early fall. It also recommended the vaccine for people ages 60 to 74 who are at high risk for severe RSV because they have chronic health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, or live in a nursing home. The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine.
Shingles. The CDC recommends that everyone 50 or older get the shingles vaccine. It recommends two doses of Shingrix spaced two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S.
Tdap. This shot protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, also known as pertussis. The CDC recommends getting a Tdap or Td booster every 10 years.
