Will Medicare Cover New Shingles Vaccine

While original medicare medicare part a and part b does not cover the shingles vaccine called shingrix some medicare advantage plans and some medicare part d plans may offer coverage for the vaccine.

Will medicare cover new shingles vaccine.

Original medicare part a hospital coverage and part b medical coverage doesn t cover the shingles vaccine. Here s the quick answer. However there are other medicare plans that may cover at least part of the costs. Medicare requires part d plans to cover the shingles vaccine so if you re enrolled in part d you shouldn t.

Generally medicare prescription drug plans part d cover all commercially available vaccines like the shingles shot needed to prevent illness. 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. On the other hand medicare part d or a medicare advantage plan that includes part d coverage typically does cover the vaccine. The devil is in the details.

To get this covered you must enroll in either a stand alone medicare prescription drug plan pdp or a medicare advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage also known as medicare advantage prescription drug plan. Contact your medicare drug plan for more information about coverage. 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.