Does Medicare cover the shingles vaccine?

Most Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover the shingles vaccine, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B do not cover the shingles vaccine.

Patients with Medicare Part D drug plans typically can receive the lowest-priced shingles vaccinations at pharmacies in their plan networks, or at doctors' offices that can direct-bill the Part D plan for the vaccine, according to AARP. When using doctors' offices that cannot bill patients' Part D plans directly, patients must pay for their vaccinations up front, and then apply through their Part D plans for refunds of the plan-approved amounts.