Does Medicare Cover Shingles Vaccine?

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It can happen anywhere on a person’s body. However, it’s most commonly found on the torso. The virus that causes shingles is the same one that causes chickenpox.

Unfortunately, there is no currently known cure for shingles. That means that if you get it, the only thing that doctors can do for you is to reduce your discomfort. This is one of the main reasons why experts recommend that everyone receive a shingles vaccine as soon as it is practical.

Studies have found that the shingles vaccine is highly effective at preventing this medical condition. Just one dose of it will keep you 85% protected from the disease for at least the first four years after you receive it. Get the recommended two doses of the shingles vaccine, and your protection will rise to 90%.

Does Medicare Cover the Shingles Vaccine?

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the costs of the shingles vaccine. That means you’ll have to pay for the entire cost of the vaccine if the only insurance plan you have is Original Medicare. The exact amount you’ll pay for the shingles vaccine will vary based on several factors. However, the average price falls between $150 and $300 without insurance.

That being said, your coverage for the shingles vaccine may differ if you have a different type of Medicare health insurance. For example, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) will cover your costs for this vaccine. In fact, Medicare Part D covers the costs of all commercially available vaccines as long as they’re needed to prevent illness.

How Can I Learn More About My Vaccine Coverage Through Medicare?

The shingles vaccine is just one vaccine that older adults need to get to keep themselves healthy. While paying for the costs of one vaccine may not break your budget, the collective costs of every vaccine that you need might.

For that reason, you may be interested in signing up for Medicate Part D if you don’t have this coverage already. If so, consider reaching out to a partnered licensed agent through Time for 65. You can also learn more about what does Medicare cover on this page.

An agent can take a look at your current coverage to see whether your insurance covers the costs of vaccines that you need. If it doesn’t, they can make specific plan recommendations to help you find the right Medicare option for your unique health and wellness needs. Getting started with this process is incredibly easy. All that you need to do is either fill out this form or give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you.