Short answer: Yes — but only through Medicare Part D (or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage), and here’s the good news: it’s free.
If you’re on Medicare and wondering whether your plan will help pay for the shingles vaccine, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most commonly asked Medicare coverage questions, and there’s a fair amount of confusion around it. The short version is that Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover the shingles vaccine, but Part D does — and as of 2023, you pay nothing out of pocket for it.
Let’s break it all down so you know exactly where you stand.
What Is Shingles—And Why Does the Vaccine Matter?
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful skin rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve ever had chickenpox (and more than 99% of adults over 50 have), the virus is already dormant in your body. It can reactivate at any time, and your risk increases as your immune system naturally weakens with age.
The CDC estimates that about 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. The disease typically causes a painful, blistering rash — often described as a burning or stabbing sensation — that can last for weeks. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-term nerve pain that can persist for months or even years after the rash heals.
The good news: the shingles vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN in healthy adults 50 and older.
The Only Shingles Vaccine Available: Shingrix
If you’ve heard of a shingles vaccine called Zostavax, know that it has been discontinued in the United States since November 2020. The current standard — and the only shingles vaccine available in the U.S. today — is Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine, adjuvanted, or RZV).
Shingrix is a two-dose series, with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first. The CDC recommends Shingrix for:
- All immunocompetent adults 50 years and older, regardless of whether they’ve had shingles before or previously received Zostavax
- Adults 19 years and older with weakened immune systems
No screening — verbal or lab-based — is required for prior varicella infection before getting vaccinated.
Does Medicare Part A or Part B Cover the Shingles Vaccine?
No. This is the most common point of confusion. Original Medicare — which includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) — does not cover the shingles vaccine. It’s not classified as a Part B-covered service.
Part B does cover certain preventive vaccines, like the annual flu shot and the pneumococcal vaccine, but shingles is in a different category. That means if you only have Original Medicare without drug coverage, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Does Medicare Part D Cover the Shingles Vaccine?
Yes — and with zero out-of-pocket cost since 2023.
Medicare Part D is the prescription drug coverage portion of Medicare, offered through private insurance plans that Medicare approves. Shingrix, as a commercially available vaccine, falls under Part D coverage.
Here’s the key update that changed everything: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) eliminated cost sharing and deductibles for all adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) under Medicare Part D, effective January 1, 2023.
That means if you have Part D:
- No copayment
- No deductible
- You pay $0 for the shingles vaccine
This applies whether you’re in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) or a Medicare Advantage plan with built-in drug coverage (MA-PD).
Does Medicare Advantage Cover the Shingles Vaccine?
Yes. If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that includes prescription drug coverage, your plan is required to cover the shingles vaccine at no cost, just like a stand-alone Part D plan. The ACA mandates that Part D and Medicare Advantage plans cover all commercially available vaccines needed to prevent illness.
Just make sure you get the vaccine from an in-network provider or pharmacy to ensure seamless billing — more on that below.
How Much Does the Shingles Vaccine Cost Without Medicare?
Without Part D or Medicare Advantage drug coverage, the cost is significant. Each dose of Shingrix runs roughly $180 or more out of pocket, and you need two doses. That’s $360+ total for the full series.
Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act taking effect, Medicare beneficiaries with Part D were paying an average of about $76.94 out of pocket per shingles vaccination, with the program collectively spending over $234 million annually on patient cost-sharing for the vaccine. The IRA eliminated that burden entirely.
How to Get the Shingles Vaccine Covered by Medicare
Here’s what to do to make sure you don’t pay a dime:
What the Inflation Reduction Act Changed for Shingles Vaccines
Before 2023, even Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage often faced copayments or deductibles for the shingles vaccine. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in 2022, made a sweeping change to improve vaccine access.
Starting January 1, 2023, all ACIP-recommended adult vaccines covered under Medicare Part D — including shingles, RSV, Tdap, and more — are provided at zero cost sharing and with no deductible. This change applied automatically to all Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.
Research published in JAMA found that this policy led to a significant increase in shingles vaccination rates among Medicare Part D beneficiaries. HHS data showed that over 10 million people on Medicare received a free vaccine in the first year under the new rule.
Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine?
The CDC recommends Shingrix for:
| Group | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Adults 50+ | Routine — 2 doses, 2–6 months apart |
| Adults 19+ with weakened immune systems | 2 doses (shorter interval may apply) |
| Those who previously had Zostavax | Should still get Shingrix |
Even if you’ve already had shingles, vaccination is still recommended—the disease can recur. No prior screening for varicella is needed before getting vaccinated.
Key Takeaways
- Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does NOT cover the shingles vaccine.
- Medicare Part D covers Shingrix at $0 as of January 1, 2023, due to the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage also cover Shingrix at no cost.
- Zostavax is discontinued — Shingrix is the only shingles vaccine available in the U.S.
- Get vaccinated at an in-network pharmacy or provider to ensure zero-cost billing.
- If you only have Original Medicare, consider enrolling in a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage during the next enrollment period.
References
1. Medicare.gov — Shingles Vaccines Coverage. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/shingles-vaccines
2. Medicare.org — Does Medicare Cover Zostavax? https://www.medicare.org/articles/does-medicare-cover-zostavax/
3. MedicareWire — Medicare Plan Data & Resources. https://medicarewire.com/
4. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Shingles Vaccination. https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html
5. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Shingles Vaccine Recommendations. https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/vaccine-considerations/index.html
6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (ASPE) — Medicare Part D Enrollee Vaccine Use After Elimination of Cost Sharing (2023). https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/ira-elimination-vaccine-cost-sharing-2023
7. JAMA Network — Shingles Vaccination in Medicare Part D After Inflation Reduction Act Elimination of Cost Sharing (2024). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2819156
8. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — MLN908764: Medicare Part D Vaccines. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mln908764-medicare-part-d-vaccines.pdf
9. U.S. CMS Newsroom — HHS Data on Free Vaccines Under the IRA. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-releases-new-data-showing-over-10-million-people-medicare-received-free-vaccine-because
10. Shingrix Official Site — Cost & Coverage. https://www.shingrix.com/get-shingrix/shingles-vaccine-cost-coverage/
