Question: A beneficiary recently asked, “Can I be charged for the COVID-19 vaccine”?

Answer: NO

Here’s helpful information for Medicare Beneficiaries as well as the American public on the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shared:

• Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost. However, vaccination providers will be able to charge an administration fee for giving the shot to someone. Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund. Source: CDC website
• Insurance plans, medical facilities and other providers cannot charge recipients of the vaccine for the administration fee.
• The administration fee for the vaccine in the first year is being covered by original Medicare regardless of a beneficiary having an Advantage Plan. So beneficiaries should show their original Medicare card when getting the vaccine.

Read CMS Press Release for more information on how COVID-19 costs are covered.