Vaccines Medicare Covers for Free
The U.S. is experiencing an outbreak of measles and is on track to have the most whooping cough cases since 1948; these vaccines Medicare covers for free can keep you safe.


Did you know that Medicare fully covers a number of vaccines for its beneficiaries? Well, they do. All adult vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are covered with no out-of-pocket costs. Your Medicare drug plan won't charge you a copayment or apply a deductible for vaccines you get including: shingles, whooping cough and tetanus.
This list of free vaccines is updated every year, so just because it is on the list this year, doesn't mean it will be on the list next year. If you are traveling outside of the country, you may want to consult the CDC's list of recommended vaccinations depending on your destination. The CDC suggests that you make sure you are up to date with all of your routine vaccines as "the majority of measles cases imported into the United States occur in unvaccinated U.S. residents who become infected during international travel." You can see which countries in the world have reported measles outbreaks.
Routine vaccinations available without any out-of-pocket costs
Vaccine | Covered dosage | Age covered- 65 and over |
---|---|---|
COVID-19 | 2 or more doses of 2024-2025 vaccine | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Influenza | 1 dose annually | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap or Td) | 1 dose Tdap, then Td or Tdap every 10 years thereafter. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
1 dose | For adults with no evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella: | |
Chickenpox- Varicella (VAR) | 2 doses | For adults who do not have evidence of immunity. |
Shingles- Zoster recombinant (RZV) | 2 doses | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
Vaccine | Covered dosage | Age covered- 75 and over |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | Unvaccinated: 1 dose. Previously vaccinated: additional doses not recommended. | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
Covered vaccines that are given when necessary
Some vaccines are only recommended when a patient has a risk factor that makes the vaccination necessary. Those additional factors include: an underlying condition, increased risk from exposure or traveling to a country with a documented increased risk of exposure.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Pneumococcal (PCV15, PCV20,PCV21, PPSV23) | As determined by your doctor | Which vaccine you receive and when is based on your prior vaccination history |
Hepatitis A (HepA) | 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on vaccine | Note: Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication |
Hepatitis B (HepB) | 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on vaccine or condition | Notes: Recommended vaccination for adults who meet age requirement, lack documentation of vaccination, or lack evidence of immunity Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication |
Meningococcal A, C, W, Y (MenACWY) | 1 or 2 doses depending on indication | Notes: Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication |
Meningococcal B (MenB) | 2 or 3 doses depending on vaccine and indication | Notes: Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication |
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | 1 or 3 doses depending on indication | Note: Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication |
Mpox | 2 doses | Note: Recommended vaccination for adults with an additional risk factor or another indication |
Pollio- Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) | Complete 3-dose series if incompletely vaccinated. | Note: Most adults have likely already been vaccinated against poliovirus during childhood.- If you are traveling to a country where there is a documented increased risk of exposure to poliovirus. Ask your healthcare provider if you need a booster. |
Bottom line
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have access to routine vaccinations for no additional costs. If you are traveling, check to see if any destination-specific vaccines and medicines are covered.
If you have a chronic illness, disability, or a weakened immune system, consider getting travel insurance. Why? Traditional Medicare and most Medigap and Medicare Advantage policies do not offer comprehensive coverage outside of the U.S. Medicare defines the term “outside the U.S.” to mean anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Related Content
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Donna joined Kiplinger as a personal finance writer in 2023. She spent more than a decade as the contributing editor of J.K.Lasser's Your Income Tax Guide and edited state specific legal treatises at ALM Media. She has shared her expertise as a guest on Bloomberg, CNN, Fox, NPR, CNBC and many other media outlets around the nation. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and the University at Buffalo.
-
Stocks Rally on Apple Strength: Stock Market Today
The iPhone maker will boost its U.S. investment by $100 billion, which sent the Dow Jones stock soaring.
-
How to Adopt AI and Keep Employees Happy
The Kiplinger Letter As business adoption of AI picks up, employee morale could take a hit. But there are ways to avoid an AI backlash.
-
Don’t Let Your Dreams Go Unfulfilled: Plan for Your Passion in Retirement
Follow these three steps to ensure you are emotionally and financially prepared for your passion in retirement.
-
I Heard Tariffs Will Cost Families $2,800 This Year. I'm a Retiree on a Fixed Income. How Can I Prepare?
We ask retirement planning experts what to do.
-
I'm an Estate Planning Attorney: These Are the Two Legal Documents Everyone Should Have
Every adult should have a health care proxy and power of attorney — they save loved ones time, money and stress if a sudden illness or injury leaves you incapacitated.
-
Does Happiness Improve at Age 50? Maybe Not for Everyone
New thinking about how happiness changes over our lifetimes shows that one group in particular gains the most contentment after age 50.
-
Six Big Beautiful Opportunities: Advisers' Guide to Tax and Client Strategies
Here are several ways financial professionals can help their clients maximize opportunities in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extends key TCJA provisions, introduces increased deductions for people 65 and older and more.
-
How to Guard Against the New Generation of Fraud and Identity Theft
Identity Theft Fraud and identity theft are getting more sophisticated and harder to spot. Stay ahead of the scammers with our advice.
-
The Retirement Bucket Rule: Your Guide to Fear-Free Spending
Forget market declines or rising inflation. With this strategy, you won’t have to worry about any of that during retirement.
-
Brace for Higher Health Costs in 2026: A Look at Projected Medicare Premiums
In 2026, Medicare participants will pay more for their health care. Part B costs are expected to rise more than 10%. Here's what you can do.