How to Pay for Vaccines
CDC’s Bridge Access Program temporarily provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines for adults without health insurance and adults with insurance that does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs.
Private Insurance
All Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most other private insurance plans must cover certain vaccines without charging a copayment or coinsurance when provided by an in-network provider. This is true even for patients who have not met a yearly deductible. Doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations for vaccinations vary. The following vaccines are usually covered by health insurance:
- COVID-19
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Herpes Zoster
- Human Papillomavirus
- Influenza
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal
- RSV
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
- Varicella
Check with your insurance provider for coverage details. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans that cover children allow parents to add or keep adult children on their health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.
CDC now recommends that adults aged 60 years and older may get RSV vaccine based on shared clinical decision making with a healthcare provider. Private health plans are required to cover new vaccine recommendations in the next plan year however some insurance plans may cover them in the current plan year. Check with your insurance provider for details on whether there is any cost to you for recommended vaccines.
Medicare
Medicare Part B plan will pay for the following:
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Hepatitis B vaccines for persons at increased risk of hepatitis
- Influenza (flu) vaccines
- Pneumococcal vaccines
- Vaccines directly related to the treatment of an injury or direct exposure to a disease or condition, such as rabies and tetanus
Medicare Part D plans make all adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (except those covered by Part B) available at no cost, including:
- RSV
- Zoster (shingles) vaccine
Even if a particular drug plan’s formulary doesn’t list all Part D vaccines, it must provide access when a physician prescribes a Part D vaccine.
Medicaid
Beginning October 1, 2023 most adults with coverage from Medicaid and CHIP will be guaranteed coverage of all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice at no cost to them.
Military
If you serve in the military or are a military dependent, you are eligible for TRICARE. Under TRICARE, vaccines are covered according to the CDC recommended schedule.
No Insurance?
Adults
Adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all vaccine costs can get no-cost updated COVID-19 vaccine from healthcare providers, federally supported health centers, and retail pharmacies participating in CDC’s Bridge Access Program. Visit Vaccines.gov to find an updated COVID-19 vaccine and providers participating in this program.
If you do not currently have health insurance, visit www.HealthCare.gov to learn more about affordable health coverage options.
Children
CDC’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines at no cost to eligible children through health care providers enrolled in the program.