Shingles Vaccination in Medicare Part D After Inflation Reduction Act Elimination of Cost Sharing

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.