Will Medicare Cover New Shingles Vaccine

Original medicare part a and part b does not cover the shingles vaccination but medicare part d does.

Will medicare cover new shingles vaccine.

However there are other medicare plans that may cover at least part of the costs. The devil is in the details. 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. 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.

Medicare part a hospital insurance or medicare part b medical insurance doesn t cover the shingles shot. On the other hand medicare part d or a medicare advantage plan that includes part d coverage typically does cover the vaccine. 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. Original medicare part a hospital coverage and part b medical coverage doesn t cover the shingles vaccine.

Here s the quick answer. Medicare requires part d plans to cover the shingles vaccine so if you re enrolled in part d you shouldn t. 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.