Wellness

[OKPrincess]

We are on Medicare and think we paid something but I don't remember. 

well worth not getting the shingles.

[BarbiHollywood]

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@Anonymous032819 wrote:

I have BC/BS, and it cost me exactly $0.00 for me to get my Shingrix shot.

I had mild arm achiness, run down feeling, and a mild headache.

I'll take that any day over shingles.

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@Anonymous032819   Got mine yesterday.  Same side effects plus chills.  Tylenol to the rescue!  Feel fine now.  Hope you're okay now too.  I'd rather have these side effects than the actual illness.

[BarbiHollywood]

I live in Florida and got the Shingrix vaccine yesterday at my doctor's suggestion.  The pharmacist at Publix administered it, and there was no cost to me with my Aetna insurance.  Today, though, my Mom who is on Medicare and has a United supplement, went to Publix for her vaccine and was told it was $69.  Hard to believe Medicare isn't covering it.  I was stunned when she told me.  She is going to get it, though, because getting shingles is a horror. 

[Eileen in Virginia]

We have Medicare A & B, plus Blue Cross. We got both Shingrix shots (September and November), flu shots and DH got the pneumonia vaccine. It didn't cost us a nickel. I had a slightly sore arm and felt a little off the day after the shots. A couple of aspirin fixed me right up. 

[2Kittys]

I don't get it. How many shots are there? If you pay, do you pay per shot, or for a total of however many you need?

[Carmie]

If you have Traditional Medicare, you must have Medicare Part D ( Drug coverage) to get a shingle vaccine covered.  This vaccine is covered based on the terms of your chosen insurance.  It is up to you to check to see which drugs are covered  and if there is a copayments for your drugs, based on the tier levels...the shingles vaccine included.

If you have Medicare Advantage,  Your coverage probably includes RX coverage built in.  You are responsible to check your benefits for all of the drugs you take or plan on using during open enrollment as well. You may or may not have a copay.

If you do not have insurance, the shingles vaccine is about $300 that includes both shots and the administration.

Medicare does pay for some preventative vaccines, but not all. The common ones are the flu and pheumonia vaccines.

The common one that isn't covered is the shingles vaccine.

 The injection for osteoporosis (Peolia) is another expensive drug that often has a copayment under the RX plan.

[Anonymous032819]

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@2Kittys wrote:

I don't get it. How many shots are there? If you pay, do you pay per shot, or for a total of however many you need?

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@2Kittys 

Shingrix is given in two doses (shots) two months apart, and each shot is paid for separately.

[Shelbelle]

You can wait up to 6 months after the first shot to get the second one. 

[lovesrecess]

It does depend on your insurance I have Medicare Advantage with Humana and DH has one with Aetna. All vaccines are no cost. I have had the stronger flu shot for seniors now twice. Both times I was really surprised to get terrible chills and pain in every joint in my body. No fever, and both times it lasted a few hours and then I was fine. I had never had more than a little arm soreness in the past. It must be because the vaccine is so much stronger? The Shingrix shots gave me no side effects at all.

[conlt]

I had Shingles in July of 2019. I received the Shingrix Vaccine in January 2020 and June 2020. I am still working and have Blue Cross Blue Shield and my insurance paid for both vaccinations at 100%. Payment just depends on the plan that you are on. I think Medicare should cover the vaccine at 100%. 

Both times I had a sore arm, but not bad, a slight temp, around 99 and felt a little tired.