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Pneumococcal shots

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers pneumococcal shots (or vaccines). You can get the pneumococcal shot as a single dose vaccine or a 2-dose series. 

In most cases, Part B covers the single dose vaccine or the 2-dose series once in your lifetime.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay nothing for pneumococcal shots if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment for giving the shots.

Note

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

 

What it is

The shots protect against different strains of the bacteria that cause pneumonia.

Things to know

Talk with your doctor or other health care provider to find out which vaccine you should get.

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