How to Pay

Did you know that most health insurance plans cover recommended vaccines for both children and adults at little or no cost to you? And even if you don’t have health insurance, you can still get vaccinated — and you may be able to do it for free or at low cost.

Below you’ll find information about the different ways to pay for vaccines.

Private health insurance

Most insurance plans are required to cover recommended vaccines without charging you. That means you can usually get vaccines at no cost to you.

Military insurance

Military insurance, TRICARE, covers all of the recommended vaccines for people currently serving in the military and their dependents (family members they support). Depending on your plan, there may be a copay or a fee for getting vaccinated.

Learn more about TRICARE coverage for vaccines.

Medicare

Medicare Part B covers many vaccines at little or no cost to you. The costs may vary based on how you get your Medicare coverage, the vaccine, and whether the doctor you see accepts Medicare.

Medicare Part B covers vaccines that protect against:

• Flu
• Hepatitis B (if you have certain long-term health problems or a weakened immune system)
• Pneumococcal disease

Medicare Part D plans may cover other vaccines — for example, vaccines that protect against:

• Shingles
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (Tdap vaccine)

Visit Medicare.gov to learn more.

Medicaid

Medicaid covers all of the recommended vaccines for children and some vaccines for adults. There may be a copay or fee for getting vaccinated, depending on what state you live in and the doctor you see to get vaccinated.

Contact your state Medicaid office to learn more.

Free and low-cost vaccines

If you don’t have health insurance — or your plan’s out-of-pocket costs for vaccines aren’t affordable — you can still get vaccinated. There are ways to get vaccines for children and adults at a lower cost or for free. Here are some helpful resources.

The Vaccines for Children Program

The Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) provides all recommended vaccines at no cost for children under age 19 who:

• Qualify for Medicaid
• Don’t have insurance or can’t afford out-of-pocket insurance costs for vaccines
• Are Native American or Alaskan Native

Learn more about the Vaccines for Children program.

Local health centers and state health departments

Federally funded health centers provide preventive services and wellness care, including vaccines — and may offer sliding fees based on your income. Find a health center near you.

Your state health department can tell you where to go for free and low-cost vaccines, including community centers, schools, and religious centers. Click on your state to get your state health department’s vaccine resources.