Do I Need to Have Medicare Part D to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
- January 12, 2024
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
Amidst discussions of COVID-19 variants, booster shots and even the vaccine becoming an annual shot, many Medicare beneficiaries are probably left wondering if the vaccine will be covered by Medicare and if a Medicare Part D plan is necessary to do so.
The answer is yes, Medicare will cover the COVID-19 vaccine going forward. And no, a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan is not necessary.
How is the COVID-19 vaccine covered by Medicare?
Medicare Part B covers the updated Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those ages five and older. Those 18 and older who have completed their primary vaccine series may be eligible to receive the Novavax version of the shot.
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Medicare Advantage plans are required by law to include at least the same benefits as Medicare Part A and Part B, which means the same coverage above also applies to beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
While you do not need to enroll in a prescription drug plan in order to receive full coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine, a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan may provide coverage for medications prescribed for the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms.
How much does the COVID-19 vaccine cost with Medicare?
The COVID-19 vaccine is covered by Medicare with no cost sharing for beneficiaries. That means you will not have to pay anything toward your Part B deductible or pay any Part B coinsurance or copayment for the vaccine, as long as your health care provider accepts Medicare assignment.
You also won’t owe anything for Medicare-approved services related to obtaining the vaccine, such as a doctor’s visit. This applies to beneficiaries with both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare Part B covers additional vaccinations in full
Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for a number of vaccinations such as influenza, pneumococcal and Hepatitis B. These vaccines are not subject to the Part B deductible or coinsurance.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay up to date on information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have any additional questions about the Medicare plans available near you, you can call today to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you compare plan costs and benefits and – if you’re eligible – help you sign up for the right plan for your needs.
You can also compare plans online for free, with no obligation to enroll.
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About the author
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
