Does Medicare cover the zoster (shingles) vaccine?
Usually covered
Medicare Part D covers the shingles (zoster) vaccine at no cost to you — no deductible and no copay — as long as you have Part D drug coverage.
- Covered when You have Part D coverage (standalone or via a Medicare Advantage drug plan) — the shingles vaccine is covered at $0.
- Not when You have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with no Part D plan — the shingles vaccine isn't covered and you'd pay out of pocket.
- Not when You get the shot somewhere that can't bill your Part D plan — you may be charged and have to seek reimbursement.
What flips the answer
- Covered when
You have Part D coverage (standalone or via a Medicare Advantage drug plan) — the shingles vaccine is covered at $0.
- Not covered when
You have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with no Part D plan — the shingles vaccine isn't covered and you'd pay out of pocket.
- Not covered when
You get the shot somewhere that can't bill your Part D plan — you may be charged and have to seek reimbursement.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Usually covered
- Applies to
- zoster vaccine · Medicare
- Covered when
- You have Part D coverage (standalone or via a Medicare Advantage drug plan) — the shingles vaccine is covered at $0.
- Not covered when
- You have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with no Part D plan — the shingles vaccine isn't covered and you'd pay out of pocket.
- Verified
- 2026-07-03 · 1 primary source
The shingles vaccine is covered under Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage), not Part B. Under current law, Part D plans must cover recommended adult vaccines — including the shingles vaccine — with no cost-sharing, so you pay $0 out of pocket for the vaccine and its administration.
The requirement is that you're enrolled in Part D — either a standalone drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) alone doesn't cover the shingles vaccine.
Because it runs through the pharmacy benefit, it helps to get the shot at an in-network pharmacy or from a provider set up to bill your Part D plan, so the claim processes at $0 rather than being billed to you.
This is different from vaccines like flu, pneumococcal, and COVID-19, which Part B covers directly.
What people typically pay
With a Part D plan and an in-network pharmacy, you pay $0 for the shingles vaccine — no deductible and no copay, including the administration fee.
Without Part D coverage, you'd pay out of pocket for the shingles vaccine, and cash prices vary widely by pharmacy and region.
Prices vary by pharmacy and region, and manufacturer or pharmacy savings programs sometimes lower the cash price.
How to actually get it covered
Confirm you have Part D coverage — either a standalone prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.
Check your plan's pharmacy network and pick an in-network pharmacy that can bill Part D directly for vaccines.
Call ahead to confirm the pharmacy stocks the shingles vaccine and can process it under your Part D plan at $0.
Get the shot and confirm at checkout that you were charged nothing; keep any paperwork.
If the vaccine is given as a multi-dose series, return for any remaining doses at an in-network pharmacy.
If you're ever billed by mistake, save the receipt and ask your Part D plan how to file for reimbursement.
Common questions
Which shingles vaccine does Part D cover, and how many doses?
Part D covers the recommended shingles vaccine at $0 when billed through your Part D plan. The current shingles vaccine is typically given as a two-dose series; check with your pharmacy or provider on the exact dosing schedule. Both doses are covered when processed through your Part D plan.
Do I need to be a certain age for Medicare to cover the shingles shot?
Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine as an ACIP-recommended adult vaccine, so age generally isn't a barrier once you're enrolled in a Part D plan. Most people on Medicare are 65 or older. Coverage runs through your Part D drug benefit at $0.
I got charged for the shingles vaccine — how do I fix it?
This usually happens when the shot was given somewhere that couldn't bill your Part D plan directly, so it went through as an out-of-pocket charge. Contact your Part D plan and ask how to submit a reimbursement claim, and keep the receipt showing the vaccine and administration fee. Going forward, use an in-network pharmacy that can process it at $0.
Can I get the shingles vaccine at the same visit as a Part B vaccine like flu?
You may be able to get the shingles shot alongside Part B vaccines like flu, pneumococcal, or COVID-19 at one pharmacy visit. The shingles vaccine is billed to Part D while those others are billed to Part B, so a pharmacy set up for both can handle the billing. Confirm with your pharmacy in advance.
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