Does Medicare Cover the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)?

Is the shingles vaccine covered, and under which part of Medicare?

Yes. Medicare covers the shingles vaccine, sold under the brand name Shingrix. The important detail is where the coverage comes from: it is covered under Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit — not under Original Medicare (Part A or Part B).

This trips up a lot of people, because many other preventive shots, like the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, are covered under Part B. The shingles vaccine is different. Part A and Part B do not cover it at all.

To get the shingles vaccine covered, you need one of the following: a standalone Medicare Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (often called an MA-PD plan). If you have Original Medicare and no Part D plan, the vaccine is not covered and you would pay the full retail price out of pocket.

• Covered: by a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage (MA-PD).
• Not covered: by Original Medicare (Part A or Part B) on its own.
• Most Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage, so the shingles vaccine is usually covered — but check that your specific plan has Part D drug benefits.

How much does Shingrix cost with Medicare?

If you have Medicare drug coverage, you pay $0 for the shingles vaccine. There is no copay and no deductible. The fee your pharmacy or provider charges to give you the shot (the administration fee) is also covered at no cost to you.

This applies to both of the two recommended Shingrix doses — each dose is free.

Why is it free? The Inflation Reduction Act changed the law. Section 11401 of that law amended the Social Security Act so that, effective January 1, 2023, Part D plans cannot charge any deductible or cost sharing for adult vaccines recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which includes Shingrix. Before this change, many people faced copays of $50 or more per dose, which discouraged a lot of seniors from getting it.

The change made a measurable difference: in 2023, about 3.9 million Medicare enrollees received a shingles vaccine, up from roughly 2.7 million in 2021 — an increase of more than 42% after the cost dropped to zero.

• $0 for the vaccine itself.
• $0 for the administration fee.
• No deductible applies, even if you have not yet met your plan's annual drug deductible.
• Both doses are free.

Where to get the shot — and the in-network caution

Most people with Part D get the shingles vaccine at a pharmacy, which is the usual place to have it covered under the drug benefit. You can also sometimes get it in a doctor's office, but the billing can be more complicated there, so a pharmacy is generally the simplest route.

One practical caution: to be sure you pay $0, use a pharmacy that is in your plan's network. Part D plans have pharmacy networks, and an out-of-network pharmacy could charge you more or refuse to bill your plan. Before you go, it is worth a quick call to your plan or a check of your plan's pharmacy directory to confirm the pharmacy is in network and that the vaccine will be billed under your drug benefit, not run as a retail cash purchase.

• Pharmacy is the typical, simplest place to get it under Part D.
• Confirm the pharmacy is in your plan's network to guarantee the $0 price.
• Ask the pharmacist to bill it under your Part D drug coverage.

Who should get Shingrix, and how many doses?

Coverage and medical recommendation are two different things. Here is what the CDC and its ACIP advisory committee recommend.

For healthy adults 50 and older, the CDC recommends 2 doses of Shingrix — whether or not you remember ever having had shingles. For adults 19 and older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed (for example, due to certain illnesses or treatments), the CDC also recommends 2 doses.

The two doses are normally given 2 to 6 months apart. For people who are immunocompromised and need protection faster, the second dose can be given 1 to 2 months after the first.

A few common questions the CDC addresses: Yes, you should still get Shingrix even if you had shingles in the past — a prior episode is not a reason to skip it (though you should not get the vaccine during an active shingles episode). And yes, you should get Shingrix even if you previously received the older Zostavax vaccine; wait at least 8 weeks after your Zostavax dose.

• Age 50+ and healthy: 2 doses recommended.
• Age 19+ and immunocompromised: 2 doses recommended.
• Standard interval: 2 to 6 months between doses (1 to 2 months allowed if immunocompromised).
• Already had shingles? Still recommended — but not during an active episode.
• Previously got Zostavax? Still get Shingrix, at least 8 weeks later.

If you don't have Part D: the late penalty and income surcharge

If you have Original Medicare and no drug coverage, the shingles vaccine is not covered, and you would pay full retail price. That is a real reason to consider a Part D plan — but enrolling in Part D has its own rules worth understanding before you sign up just to get one vaccine.

Part D late enrollment penalty: If you went without creditable drug coverage after you were first eligible, you may owe a permanent late enrollment penalty. It is calculated as 1% of the national base beneficiary premium ($38.99 per month for 2026) for each full month you went without coverage, rounded to the nearest $0.10, and it is added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. So if you have skipped Part D for years, enrolling now could mean an ongoing monthly penalty on top of the plan premium — the math may favor signing up during a normal enrollment period rather than mid-year.

Income-related surcharge (IRMAA): Higher-income beneficiaries pay an extra Part D amount on top of their plan premium. For 2026, this Part D IRMAA surcharge ranges from $14.50 to $91.00 per month and applies if your 2024 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) was above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint). Note: IRMAA affects your monthly premium, not the price of the vaccine — the shingles shot itself is still $0 regardless of your income.

Plans vary in premium, network, and the rest of their drug coverage. Compare plans on Medicare.gov or talk with a licensed advisor or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) before enrolling.