Does Medicare Cover the Flu Shot? Yes, $0 on Part B
Yes: Medicare covers your annual flu shot, and for most people it costs nothing at all. Part B pays for one flu shot each flu season, as long as your provider accepts assignment.
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Brevy Care Team
6 min read · Published July 17, 2026 · Last verified November 6, 2026
Yes: Medicare covers your annual flu shot, and for most people it costs nothing at all. Part B pays for one flu shot each flu season, as long as your provider accepts assignment.
Does Medicare Cover the Flu Shot? Yes, and It's Free
Yes. Medicare Part B covers the seasonal flu shot as a preventive service, usually once each flu season, and you pay $0 for it, with no deductible and no coinsurance, as long as your doctor or provider accepts assignment.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
The flu shot doesn't get counted against your Part B deductible (which is $283 in 2026), and there's no 20% coinsurance tacked on the way there is for a lot of other outpatient services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Sep 4, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles Part B covers the full Medicare payment amount for both the vaccine and the person giving it to you.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
One thing worth clearing up early: you don't need a separate drug plan for this. The flu shot is a Part B benefit, so if you have Part B, you're covered.
What "Accepts Assignment" Actually Means
You'll notice the free part comes with one string attached: your provider has to "accept assignment."
When a provider accepts assignment for the flu shot, your share is nothing. According to Medicare's flu-vaccine page, you pay nothing for the shot when your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment for giving it.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
It's a fair question to ask before you get the shot, especially somewhere new: "Do you accept Medicare assignment for the flu vaccine?" A yes means you walk out owing nothing.
Can You Get a Medicare Flu Shot at the Pharmacy?
You've got two easy routes.
The first is your doctor's office. The second is a pharmacy. Bring your Medicare card, and confirm the pharmacy accepts Medicare assignment for the flu shot before you roll up your sleeve.
If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare, the flu shot is still covered, because these plans must cover the services Original Medicare covers under Part A and Part B.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). 12026 understanding medicare advantage plans. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf Before you go, a quick call to the number on your plan card confirms where to get the shot and what you'll pay.
Does Medicare Cover a Second Flu Shot in One Season?
For nearly everyone, one flu shot a season is the whole story. Part B covers the seasonal flu vaccine as a preventive service, usually once each flu season.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
Medicare's flu-vaccine page doesn't spell out when a second shot in the same season would be covered, so treat an extra dose as something to sort out ahead of time rather than assume. If your doctor thinks you need one, ask the office to check coverage with Medicare before you get the shot, and to tell you what you'd owe if it isn't covered. And if you're just wondering whether to double up on your own, that's a conversation to have with your doctor first.
Flu Shot vs. Shingles Shot: Which Part Pays
The flu shot is one of a handful of vaccines Part B pays for directly as preventive care, alongside the pneumococcal (pneumonia) and COVID-19 shots.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccinesThe shingles shot is the odd one out: it runs through Part D, the prescription drug side of Medicare. Someone with Original Medicare and no Part D plan can be fully covered for the flu shot and still get charged for shingles.
Vaccine
Covered under
Your cost
What you need
Flu
Part B
$0 if the provider accepts assignmentCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
Part B
Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
Part B
$0 on the same terms as the flu shotCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
Part B
COVID-19
Part B
$0 on the same terms as the flu shotCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Flu vaccines coverage - Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/flu-vaccines
A Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the flu shot really free with Medicare?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers one seasonal flu shot per flu season at $0, with no Part B deductible and no coinsurance, as long as your provider accepts assignment for giving it. For most people with Original Medicare, that means you walk in, get the shot, and owe nothing.
Do I need a Part D drug plan to get a flu shot?
No. The flu shot is a Part B benefit, not a Part D one, so you don't need a separate prescription drug plan for it. This is where it differs from the shingles shot, which does run through a Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan.
What if my provider doesn't accept assignment for the flu shot?
Then the $0 isn't guaranteed at that spot, because assignment is the piece that zeroes out your cost. If it doesn't, ask what you'd owe before the shot, or go to a provider that does. A one-line check at the counter, "Do you accept Medicare assignment for the flu vaccine?", settles it before you get the shot.
Can I get my Medicare flu shot at a pharmacy?
Yes. Confirm the pharmacy accepts Medicare assignment for the flu shot, and it is covered at $0.
Does Medicare Advantage cover the flu shot?
Yes. Medicare Advantage plans cover the flu shot too, since they must cover the services Original Medicare covers under Part A and Part B.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). 12026 understanding medicare advantage plans. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf If you're not sure where to go or what you'll pay, call the number on your plan card.
Can I get a second flu shot in the same season?
Medicare's rule is usually one flu vaccine each flu season, and its flu-vaccine page doesn't describe when a second shot in the same season would be covered. So there's no routine second dose you can request at the pharmacy counter just for added protection. If you think you might need one, that's a conversation to start with your doctor, not the pharmacist, and the office can check coverage with Medicare before you get the shot.
Find personalized help understanding what a parent's Medicare vaccines will actually cost at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.
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