Shingles Vaccine Cost - Buyer Experiences and Price Information

Have a BlueCross Blue Shield SmplyBlue coverage. It is not covered, I have to pay the vaccine out of pocket

Am age 69. Walgreen's said cost of the vaccine is $750,Part D would pay $550 and I had to co-pay the balance. I said no way that vaccine cost that much and Walgreen's is double billing. I left without. Gave them a second chance as they tried charging me $250 for a $25 prescription before. No more Walgreen's. Too bad, they used to be a trusted pharmacy.

Have Medicare A B and D plus a Medicare gap policy. The pharmacy said there was a 95.00 co-pay. I am 67 years old...can't afford it. It is ridiculous that Medicare doesn't pay 100%. There is something wrong with this picture..because if I get shingles it's going to cost them a lot more than 95.00 for doctor's visits and medications. Makes no sense !

I went to our local Drug Mart and gave them my prescription and medicare benefit info. The shot was over $200.00 and I was suppose to pay $95.00. Needless to say, I did not get it as I can not afford it.

My sister had chickenpox, not me. I don't have a pock mark on me. My doctor was sure that if my sister (whom I shared a room with) had chickenpox then I did too. He did blood work and sure enough I had them. He wants me to get the vaccine, however, $220 is out of the question.

Just left Walgreens. The total charge for the Shingles Shot was $131.00. I have Medicare and BCBS. My Co-pay was $88.00.

Went to Walgreen's and had no idea how much it was going to be. Have a family history of Shingles so thought it would be a good idea. But at a cost of $220.00 decided I couldn't afford it.

The full price at the Niles, IL Costco was $188 but I got a discount of $22 from my drug provider, Caremark. Even the full price sounds good compared to Walgreens.

Have not gotten the shot yet in New Hampshire. I have Medicare and also Humana for prescription drugs. Because I am healthy and have not met the $320.00 deductable, Rite-Aide, Wal-Mart and Walgreens all said the fee would be $200.00. I am being punished for great health at 69. I cannot believe seniors cannot get this vaccination without cost! It is ridiculous!

I recently was charged $489 for the Shingle shot at the Cleveland Clinic. I voiced my concern that I had been over charged but they said no. I now find that Walgreens offers the shot for $200.00, and some Clinics as low as $10.00. Cleveland Clinic is a rip off.

My insurer would not reimburse because they said it's not REQUIRED for folks under 60. I ended up paying 100% and H paid nothing for his since he's over 60. Was glad to get the shot because H & D were miserable when they were afflicted by it.

I have read different articles on shingles and I am totally confused. Health Care providers tells me that they wont administer the shot because I'm not old enough. But ER gave me prescriptions for antiviral and pain. The ER Dr. said that the Bells Palsey. May be THE result of SHINGLES. I was experiencing a lot of pain and now I'm getting blisters that comes an goes. Now the articles that I have read says that I qualify for the shot @ age 50 and over. Everyone else says that I have to be 60 and over.

Got the runaround from Cigna AND Walgreens...The pharmacy flat-out lied to me, even after approval by insurance company and doctor's approval for vaccine as a medical necessity...I really think franchise pharmacies are in cahoots with our extremely evil congress. I hate Walgreen's and I hate my insurance company, though there is nothing else I can do.

The pharmacist explained that through an assistance program, the patient could recover $160.00.
BCBS of Illinois will not cover Zostavax vaccine and I do not have Medicare D. So when BCBS is billed I will get a rejection letter from them. I take that to Fagen and they will process a form from Merck which will cover $160.00. So the assistance program is Merck's.
Is it worth a call to your local Fagen Pharmacy?
written June 2012...

My Pharmacy (Rite Aid) called me knowing that I took care of a patient who was being treated for shingles. She is 73, I am 55. He told me I was eligible and needed a Shingles one time shot (yearly) and that he had it all ready for me at the pharmacy and that because of my age etc. it would be totaly covered with NO CO PAY.

I can't get covered by insurance. The cost of a shingles shot is $250.00. I have watched people with shingles, and it is dreadful. I don't want them. What else can I do? It is very expensive

My insurance picked up the greatest majority of the cost and I was only left with a co-pay of $6.50. I received mine at the pharmacy because the insurance company said that was less expensive that at the doctor's office.

Cannot understand why the shingles vaccine isnt paid for like the flu shot and pneumonia vaccine.....Does medicare say why it isnt a PartB covered vaccine or injection????

We both just got the shot... it's free for us, we have Kaiser.

My Dr's office charged me $582 for the shingles vaccine. My secondary insurance would only pay 80% of the vaccine cost based on $225 cost. So I
paid the differentc. A rip off and a hard
lesson learned.

I recently was charged $473 for the vaccine shot at the Cleveland clinic. I voiced my concern that I had been over charged but they saud no. I now find that Walgreens offers the shot for $200.00. Cleveland clinic is a rip off.

As a preventive shingles vacination - covered one hundred percent as long as I had the injecttion at my doctor's office. No co-pay as long as I was there for only the vacination.

Would have cost me $168.90 if I had gotten it at any other location.

I got my shingles shot through my Medicare Advantage plan. No amount for this vaccine is too much, as Shingles is very painful and can cause blindness or even death in some circumstances.
One writer says he got Shingles and never had chicken pox. That is impossible as it is the same virus. Get the shot!

My dr ordered the vac for me in early Sept 10..it just arrived. The cost my pharmarcy will be 85.00 then I have my co-pay for dr visit. I had shingles 8 yrs ago they lasted over 2 months unable to work. The pain was so severe..never had chickenpox but, my children did. I am on disableility..work 2 days a week. The system is really messed up..I switched to a new medicare ins plan. My dr is requesting I have it for I am at very high risk..my thought it should be covered 100%. Am still debating toget the shot. Safe or not safe I have yet to read real proff.

Received mine during my annual wellness exam at
no charge. Also received the pneumonia booster
at the same time. Problem is the shot does not
keep you from getting Shingles. I had my shot in
2008 and the Shingles started a week ago. I have
heard that some people who have had Shingles are taking the shot in
hopes that they will not have them again. My understanding is that once you have them you will
always have the virus and the shot doesn't do any
good. Don't know whether that is true or not. There is no known cure for the Shingles.

My physician's staff told me this was covered by health insurance because .. 1) I've had shingles; 2) I have MS; 3) I am over 60. My OV co-pay was $10.00 but their billing dept charged $190.00 for the vaccine RX .. the administration of injection cost was covered. They want me to pay that $190 upfront (retail cost of Zostavax), then submit evidence of full payment to Optima Medicare to reimburse me, minus co-pay. At $10/month pmt (only what I can afford) = 19 months. Outrageous.
Medicare Part D DOES cover it, but only some doctor's offices will bill for any prescription Part D plan. It is NOT a Medicare Part B expense, such as a flu or pneumonia or B-12 injection.
ASK AHEAD OF TIME AND BE SPECIFIC. Getting reimbursed or getting the correct coverage information can be a nightmare.

I got the vaccine at my loacal Texas Department of health, fee was $10.00.

PHARMACY DID NOT GIVE ME THE DILUENT FOR THE VACCINE. NOW, I HAVE TO KEEP THE VACCINE FROZEN UNTIL I CAN GET THE DILUENT AND GET SOMEONE TO GIVE ME THE INJECTION.

Be careful. Although Medicare covers this all insurers do not honor the coverage. They make it difficult to get reimbursed for the shot. Many providers want payment up-front and then the insured files the claim. Long and drawn out. I'm still fighting with insurance.

We have medicare A,B, and D.I am not sure if the price includes the "office Call"
The local Health department charges $170.00
This artcle mentions $200 to $300. How much does the local hospital pay for the shots?