Is the COVID Vaccine Free? Costs, Insurance, Billing, and More Explained
Key takeaways:
Now that the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has ended, the COVID vaccine is free for most people — but not for everyone, as before.
Most adults with health insurance and all children can continue to get the vaccine without cost-sharing. If you are an uninsured adult who receives a free vaccine, you may be charged an administration fee.
If you have insurance, balance billing isn’t allowed for the COVID vaccine, so it doesn’t matter whether your vaccination is administered by an in-network provider.
If you are uninsured or your insurance doesn’t cover all the costs, the CDC has provided special funds to more than 20,000 retail pharmacies to help ensure you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket for a COVID vaccine.
Table of contents
Is the COVID-19 vaccine free? Yes, it’s still available at no cost to most people, even though the COVID public health emergency (PHE) has ended. Read on for more information about billing and how and where to get the COVID vaccine at no cost.
How much is the COVID vaccine?
Free COVID vaccines are being made available for people in the U.S. who are 6 months and older, regardless of insurance and immigration status.
The updated vaccine for the 2023-2024 season, which protects against new COVID subvariants, will be available by October 2023 in most areas. If you are an uninsured adult who receives a free vaccine, you may be charged an administration fee.
SHINGRIX (Zoster Vaccine Recombinant, Adjuvanted) is now $0 for almost everyone*
Get SHINGRIX at the pharmacy or in-network doctor’s office today. 98% of privately insured people pay $0 and all Medicare Part D beneficiaries pay $0 at the pharmacy.
Prescribing Information
*Coverage and cost may vary and are subject to change without notice. Reimbursement decisions are made by individual insurance plans.
SHINGRIX is an FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults 50 years and older. SHINGRIX is not used to prevent chickenpox.
• You should not receive SHINGRIX if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of SHINGRIX
• An increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) was observed after vaccination with SHINGRIX
• Fainting can happen after getting injectable vaccines, including SHINGRIX. Precautions should be taken to avoid falling and injury due to fainting
• The most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever, and upset stomach
• SHINGRIX was not studied in pregnant or nursing women. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• Vaccination with SHINGRIX may not protect all individuals
• Ask your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of SHINGRIX. Only a healthcare provider can decide if SHINGRIX is right for you
You are encouraged to report vaccine adverse events to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Visit www.vaers.hhs.gov to file a report, or call 1-800-822-7967.
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There are now three vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer. (The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer authorized in the U.S.)
At this point in the post-PHE era, ACIP-recommended vaccines will continue to be covered by most private health insurance plans, Medicare Part B, and many Medicare Advantage plans without cost-sharing. Balance billing isn’t allowed for the COVID vaccine, so there’s no need to worry about whether your vaccination comes from an in-network provider. Balance billing is when you are left to settle the difference between what your provider charged and your insurance plan paid.
Medicaid will continue covering ACIP-recommended vaccines without copays and cost-sharing through at least September 30, 2024. About half of people 18 and younger in the U.S. receive free COVID shots through the Vaccines for Children program — and can continue to do so.
The people most likely to face charges for the vaccine are adults without insurance. Even if the vaccine is free, these individuals could face an administration fee.
How much is the COVID vaccine without insurance?
The vaccine is still free for most people, even those who don’t have insurance. You can get a free COVID vaccine at:
Health departments run by state, local, tribal, or territorial authorities
More than 20,000 retail pharmacies nationwide, including CVS and Walgreens locations, participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program
If you can’t find a free dose, you may be charged about $115 for the Pfizer vaccine and about $128 for the Moderna vaccine. And these prices don’t include a potential administration fee.
Is there any way I could get a bill for the COVID vaccine?
There is still a possibility that you could get a bill when you get vaccinated for COVID. One reason you might get a bill is if you get a COVID vaccine as part of a healthcare appointment that you booked for multiple reasons. But the bill would be for the provider’s visit and not for the vaccine itself.
For example, if you see your provider about shoulder pain and get a COVID shot at the appointment, you’ll need to pay for the office visit. If you have insurance, that may mean a copay or coinsurance.
You also could be charged an administration fee for the vaccination at some locations or by certain providers. If you have insurance and get a bill for the COVID vaccine in error, contact your health plan, or your healthcare provider if you’re uninsured, and explain the issue.
Where can I get a COVID vaccine?
You can visit www.vaccines.gov to find a COVID vaccine or booster near you and make an appointment to get vaccinated.
Browse by vaccine or pharmacy
Browse by vaccine brand:
Browse by pharmacy:
Albertsons | Costco | CVS | Health Mart | H-E-B | Hy-Vee | Kaiser Permanente | Kroger | Meijer | Publix | Rite Aid | Safeway | Target | Walgreens | Walmart
The bottom line
Even though the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has ended, COVID vaccines are available for free to most people 6 months and older, regardless of insurance and immigration status. If you are uninsured or your insurance doesn’t cover all the costs, the CDC’s Bridge Access Program has provided funds to more than 20,000 retail pharmacies to help ensure you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket for a COVID vaccine.
If you are an adult without insurance and decide to pay for the vaccine, expect to spend at least $115 for the shot, in addition to a potential administration fee. Even with insurance, you could be charged an administration fee when you get a COVID shot. And if the vaccine is part of an office visit involving other services, you may be charged a copay or coinsurance for that appointment.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). CDC’s Bridge Access Program.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). CDC vaccine price list.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Vaccines & immunizations: Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Newsroom. (2023). CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Newsroom. (2023). HHS launches Bridge Access Program to safeguard free COVID-19 vaccination for uninsured and underinsured adults.
Health Resources and Services Administration. (n.d.). FY 2023 COVID-19 Bridge Funding awards.
Kekatos, M., et al. (2023). CDC recommends new COVID booster for all Americans over 6 months amid rising cases, hospitalizations. ABC News.
Vaccines.gov. (n.d.). Homepage.
