Although vaccinations prevent morbidity and mortality among Medicare beneficiaries, uptake of vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices covered by Medicare Part D (ie, shingles, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and hepatitis A and B) is suboptimal. Unlike commercially insured individuals who have no cost sharing for recommended vaccinations, in 2021, Medicare beneficiaries receiving vaccines covered under Medicare Part D paid $234 million out of pocket (OOP), with a mean OOP cost of $76.94 for shingles vaccines.
Qato, P., MPH, PhD Dima M. (2024). Shingles vaccination in Medicare part D after inflation reduction act elimination of cost sharing. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.7348
The full study can be viewed at JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.
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