CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic can directly bill many national and regional health plans that cover all or part of the cost of a flu shot. Flu shots are free with insurance, as is the case with most pharmacies. The flu vaccine is available at no cost through most insurance plans, including Medicare Part B. Those insured through Medicare Part B should be able to get the CVS flu shot for free once per year. Without insurance, you will pay more out of pocket. The out-of-pocket cost for a flu shot is between $20 and $70.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Flu shot cost with insurance | Free |
Flu shot cost without insurance | $20-$70 |
Flu shot cost without insurance (standard vaccine) | $62.99 |
Flu shot cost without insurance (standard vaccine, egg-free) | $106.99 |
Flu shot cost without insurance (65+ vaccine) | $106.99 |
What You'll Learn
Flu shots are free with insurance
Most insurance plans cover flu vaccines at no cost to you. This includes Medicare Part B, many Medicaid enrollees, and people with coverage through the Affordable Care Act. If you are insured through Medicare Part B, you should be able to get a flu shot for free once per year. CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic can directly bill many national and regional health plans that cover all or part of the cost of a flu shot.
The flu shot is also covered by most insurance plans with a $0 copay, although provider networks may vary. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan for details.
If you don't have insurance, you can still get a free or low-cost flu shot at your local community clinic or public health department.
The flu shot is important to protect you and your family from this potentially serious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot by the end of October.
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Flu shots are available at a discounted price for those without insurance
Some pharmacies, such as CVS, offer flu shots at discounted prices for uninsured individuals. For example, uninsured patients can get flu shots starting at $49.99 at CVS locations. Additionally, patients who receive a flu shot at CVS will also get a coupon for $5 off purchases of $20 or more.
There are also other options for obtaining discounted or free flu shots. Federally funded health centers and state departments may offer flu shots for free or at a reduced cost, sometimes on a sliding scale based on income. Local health centers may also provide free or low-cost flu shots to vulnerable individuals, such as those in public housing or veterans. Nonprofit organizations and employers may also offer vouchers for free or discounted flu shots.
Furthermore, many large grocery store chains with onsite pharmacies, such as Stop & Shop, Kroger, and Safeway, offer free flu shots with most insurance plans and may provide discounted flu shots for uninsured individuals.
It is important to note that the flu shot is recommended annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect against the flu virus and reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
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Medicare Part B covers the flu shot
Medicare Part B covers the full cost of one flu shot per flu season. This is available through original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. It doesn't apply to your deductible, and you don't have to pay a copayment or coinsurance to receive it.
Medicare Part B covers the seasonal flu shot (or vaccine) once per flu season and additional flu shots if it's medically necessary. This means that if your doctor orders an extra flu shot as a medically necessary treatment, Medicare will cover it.
Medicare Part B is available through original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. It covers medical expenses and doctor and outpatient services.
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The cost of the flu shot varies depending on the type of vaccine
Flu shots are often free for those with insurance, as many insurance companies will cover the cost of the flu shot at pharmacies or urgent care facilities. Medicare Part B also covers the cost of the seasonal flu shot. For those without insurance, the cost of the flu shot will depend on the type of vaccine and the location, but there may be options for discounted or free flu shots through local health centers, state health departments, or employer voucher programs.
At CVS, the standard quadrivalent vaccine costs $62.99, the egg-free Flublok vaccine costs $106.99, and the Fluzone HD or FLUAD vaccine for adults 65+ costs $106.99. These prices are for patients paying without insurance or with a voucher or third-party discount card.
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The high-dose flu vaccine is for adults over 65
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. People aged 65 and older are at a higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu compared to young, healthy adults. This is due to the fact that the immune system weakens with age, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and respond to vaccinations.
The high-dose flu vaccine is specifically designed for adults over 65 to create a more robust immune response and protection against flu viruses. It contains four times the amount of antigen as the standard-dose flu vaccine, which is the substance that causes an immune response in the body. The higher dose of antigen in the vaccine is intended to give older adults a better immune response to vaccination and, therefore, better protection against the flu.
The CDC recommends that people 65 and older get either a higher-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine. The two vaccine types offer similar benefits but differ slightly: an adjuvant vaccine contains an ingredient that helps the vaccine create a stronger immune response in the body, while a high-dose flu vaccine simply provides a bigger dose of the antigen.
The CDC's recommendation to use these potentially more effective vaccines in people 65 and older is based on data showing that they offer better protection against the flu for this age group. A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2022 found that the group that received the high-dose flu vaccine had a 49% lower risk of death and a 64% lower risk of hospitalization for the flu or pneumonia than the group that received the standard dose.
It is important to note that the high-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines may result in more of the mild, temporary side effects that can occur with standard-dose seasonal flu shots, such as pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle ache, and fatigue. These symptoms typically resolve within one to three days.
If you are 65 or older, it is recommended to get vaccinated with a high-dose flu vaccine or an adjuvanted flu vaccine to protect yourself from the flu and reduce the risk of severe illness and death.
Frequently asked questions
The flu shot is available at no cost through most insurance plans, including Medicare Part B. However, without insurance, you will have to pay out of pocket.
The out-of-pocket cost for a flu shot is between $20 and $70. The price will vary depending on the type of flu vaccine you receive.
Yes, CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic can directly bill many national and regional health plans that cover all or part of the cost of a flu shot.