Will Medicare Cover New Shingles Vaccine

Here s the quick answer.

Will medicare cover new shingles vaccine.

Surprisingly original medicare parts a and b doesn t cover the shingles vaccine even though it covers other vaccines like the flu vaccine and pneumonia shot. Generally medicare prescription drug plans part d cover all commercially available vaccines like the shingles shot needed to prevent illness. Original medicare part a hospital coverage and part b medical coverage doesn t cover the shingles vaccine. Medicare part a hospital insurance or medicare part b medical insurance doesn t cover the shingles shot.

The devil is in the details. On the other hand medicare part d or a medicare advantage plan that includes part d coverage typically does cover the vaccine. Original medicare part a and part b does not cover the shingles vaccination but medicare part d does. Medicare requires part d plans to cover the shingles vaccine so if you re enrolled in part d you shouldn t.

Medicare part b covers a small handful of vaccines for the flu hepatitis b and the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. Contact your medicare drug plan for more information about coverage. Medicare coverage for shingrix and zostavax the two commercially available shingles vaccines is provided only if you are enrolled in a stand alone part d drug plan or a medicare advantage plan that includes part d drug coverage.