Does Medicare Cover Flu Shots?
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers one flu shot each flu season and will cover additional flu shots if they’re deemed medically necessary.
Because flu season usually lasts from fall to spring, this could mean that you get two flu shots in one year — but in different flu seasons — and both shots are covered.
Shopping for Medicare plans? We have you covered.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE is an alternative to traditional Medicare offered by private health insurers. Compare options from our Medicare Advantage roundup. | |
Best for size of network
| Best for low-cost plans
|
MEDICARE PART D covers outpatient prescription drugs for people on Medicare. Compare options from our Medicare Part D roundup. | |
Best for member satisfaction
| Best for low premiums
|
MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT, or Medigap, is private health insurance that covers “gaps” in traditional Medicare coverage. Compare options from our Medigap roundup. | |
Best for Medigap plan options | Best for premium discounts |
Star ratings from CMS and on a 5-★ scale. | |
Costs
There are no costs for a flu shot under Original Medicare, as long as the health care provider accepts Medicare assignment for the shot. That means there's no deductible and no coinsurance.
Medicare Advantage plans must provide at least as much coverage as Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, so they also cover one flu shot per season at no cost. But you may have to see a doctor in the plan’s network to be covered.
The parts of Medicare
Read more about the different parts of Medicare and what they cover.
Should you get a flu shot?
Vaccination for the flu is recommended if you’re at higher risk of developing serious health complications from the flu. This group includes:
People 65 and older.
People with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Pregnant women.
People with HIV/AIDS.
People with cancer.
What are flu shot side effects?
Side effects from the flu shot are typically mild, but they may include headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, muscle aches and redness, soreness and/or swelling at the injection site.
What Medicare covers
Medicare covers a lot of things — but not everything. Find out where Medicare stands in the following areas:
