Why Does Medicare Not Cover Shingles Vaccine

That s because the federal program that insures most seniors in the u s.

Why does medicare not cover 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. Medicare part a hospital insurance or medicare part b medical insurance doesn t cover the shingles shot. Each plan may cover the vaccine differently. Medicare part b covers a small handful of vaccines for the flu hepatitis b and the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine.

On the other hand medicare part d or a medicare advantage plan that includes part d coverage typically does cover the vaccine. Original medicare does not cover the cost of the shingles vaccine. Medicare coverage for shingrix and zostavax the two commercially available. If you re covered by medicare you may feel the pain of a shingles shot more in your wallet than in your arm.

People with traditional medicare may purchase a separate part d drug plan while medicare advantage plans sold by private insurers typically include prescription coverage. Read on to learn. However if you have a medicare advantage or medicare part d plan part or all of the cost should be covered. Here s the quick answer.

En español unlike some common vaccines like those for the flu hepatitis b and pneumonia shingles shots are not covered under medicare part b the component of original medicare that includes doctor visits and outpatient services. 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. Part a which deals with hospital costs doesn t cover shingles shots either. The devil is in the details.