Does Medicare Cover Shingles Vaccine?

Shingles is far more common than many people realize — roughly one in three adults in the United States will experience it at some point, and the risk increases significantly after age 50. The pain can be severe, and complications like postherpetic neuralgia can linger for months. Given all of that, whether your Medicare plan covers the shingles vaccine is a very practical question. Here's the clear answer.

Original Medicare does not cover the shingles vaccine. However, coverage is available through a Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the virus lies dormant in the nervous system, sometimes for decades, before reactivating as shingles later in life.

The condition typically begins as a painful rash on one side of the face, neck, or body. Over three to five days, that rash develops into fluid-filled blisters, often accompanied by a burning or tingling sensation that can precede the rash itself. The blisters eventually dry and crust over within two to four weeks, though shingles can leave lasting scars or pigmentation changes. Most people experience shingles only once, but a recurrence is possible.

What vaccines are available for Shingles?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all healthy adults 50 years and older get vaccinated against shingles. The CDC's preferred vaccine is Shingrix — and for good reason.

Shingrix requires two doses, separated by two to six months, administered as a shot in the upper arm. It can be given by your doctor or at a pharmacy.

The CDC's preference for Shingrix over the older Zostavax vaccine is backed by compelling efficacy data: Shingrix is 97% effective at preventing shingles in adults ages 50 to 69, and 91% effective in adults 70 and older. Zostavax was discontinued in the United States in November 2020.

Does Original Medicare cover the Shingles Vaccine?

No. Neither Part A nor Part B of Original Medicare covers the shingles vaccine.

However, Medicare Part D does cover all commercially available vaccines needed to prevent illness — including shingles. Under recent legislation, beneficiaries enrolled in a Part D plan pay $0 out of pocket for covered vaccines. Without Part D coverage, the Shingrix vaccine can cost $150–$200 per dose, meaning a full two-dose course could run $300–$400 out of pocket.

Does Medicare Advantage cover the Shingles Vaccine?

Medicare Advantage plans — also known as Medicare Part C — are all-in-one packages that combine hospital coverage, medical coverage, and often prescription drug benefits in a single plan. If your Medicare Advantage plan includes prescription drug coverage (making it an MA-PD plan), you'll have coverage for the shingles vaccine — typically at no cost to you.

In recent years, nearly all Medicare beneficiaries have had access to at least one MA-PD plan with no additional monthly premium, making this a widely available option.

Does Medigap cover the Shingles Vaccine?

Medigap plans are supplemental insurance policies designed to cover the out-of-pocket costs you incur under Original Medicare — copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. Critically, Medigap only covers what Original Medicare covers. Since neither Part A nor Part B covers the shingles vaccine, Medigap won't cover it either.

Final Words

If you have only Original Medicare — without any Part D or Medicare Advantage drug coverage — you'll pay 100% of the cost of the shingles vaccine out of pocket. Medigap does not change that equation. But if you have Medicare Part D coverage, whether as a standalone plan or bundled into a Medicare Advantage plan, the shingles vaccine is covered, generally at no cost to you. For most Medicare beneficiaries, the right coverage is already in place — it's simply worth confirming before your next vaccine appointment.