Medicare covers the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The updated vaccine targets the original COVID-19 viral strain and 2 Omicron variants (BA.4/BA.5). You can get the updated vaccine at least 2 months after completing your primary vaccination series (2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson)—regardless of how many original COVID-19 vaccines you got so far.
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The updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available for people 5 and older.
- The updated Moderna vaccine is available for people 6 and older.
If you’re 65 or older and got the updated vaccine, you can get one additional shot of the updated vaccine at least 4 months after your first updated vaccine shot.
If you’re immunocompromised (like people who have had an organ transplant and are at risk for infections and other diseases), you can get one additional shot of the updated vaccine at least 2 months after your first updated vaccine shot.
Note: Some adults 18 years and older who have completed their primary vaccine series have the option to get a Novavax vaccine instead of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Visit CDC.gov to learn more about the Novavax vaccine.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for the COVID-19 vaccine for as long as the federal government continues buying and distributing the vaccine. You won’t pay a deductible or copayment, and your provider can’t charge you an administration fee to give you the shot. When the federal government stops buying and distributing the vaccine, you'll still pay nothing for the vaccine if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment.
What it is
A COVID-19 vaccine helps reduce the risk of illness from COVID-19 by working with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity (protection) against the virus.
Things to know
- Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.
- You might be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine in your own home.
- Be sure to bring your red, white, and blue Medicare card with you when you get the vaccine so your health care provider or pharmacy can bill Medicare. If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must use the card from your plan to get your Medicare-covered services.
- If you fill out a form to get the vaccine, you might be asked for your insurer’s group number. If you have Part B, leave this field blank or write “N/A.” If you have trouble with the form, talk with your vaccine provider.
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Medicare also covers COVID-19 diagnostic laboratory tests, COVID-19 antibody tests, and COVID-19 monoclonal antibody products.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine in your home
If you have Medicare and have a disability or face other challenges in getting to a location away from home for a vaccination, Medicare will pay a doctor or other care provider to give you the COVID-19 vaccine in your home. You may need to give them your Medicare Number for billing, but there’s still no cost to you for the vaccine and its administration.
Contact your regular doctor or health care provider and ask if they’re able to give you the COVID-19 vaccine in your home. If they can’t, they might be able to refer you to someone who can do this. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for vaccine contacts in your state. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. More details on providers of the COVID-19 vaccine are also available on Vaccines.gov.
Remember, don’t give out your Medicare Number or accept a vaccine from anyone who isn’t a known or trusted provider, or who contacts you without your invitation.
If you paid to get a COVID-19 vaccine
When you get a COVID-19 vaccine, your provider can’t charge you for an office visit or other fee if the vaccine is the only medical service you get. If you get other medical services at the same time you get the COVID-19 vaccine, you may owe a copayment or deductible for those services.
If you paid a fee or got a bill for a COVID-19 vaccine, check this list to see if your provider should have charged you:
- Check the receipts and statements you get from your provider for any mistakes.
- Call your provider’s office to ask about any charges you think are incorrect. The person you speak to may help you better understand the services you got, or realize they made a billing error.
- If you have Original Medicare, review your “Medicare Summary Notice” for errors. Report anything suspicious to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
- If you have other coverage like a Medicare Advantage Plan, review your “Explanation of Benefits.” Report anything suspicious to your insurer.
If you think your provider incorrectly charged you for the COVID-19 vaccine, ask them for a refund. If you think your provider charged you for an office visit or other fee, but the only service you got was a COVID-19 vaccine, report them to the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or visiting TIPS.HHS.GOV.
Be alert for scammers trying to steal your Medicare Number. Only share your Medicare Number with your provider when you get COVID-related services.
As always, guard your Medicare card like a credit card and check Medicare claims summary forms for errors. If someone you don’t know calls asking for your Medicare Number, hang up.