Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for the flu shot in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — and it's free. Medicare Part B covers one seasonal flu shot each flu season and you pay nothing, as long as your provider accepts assignment for giving the vaccine. The Part B deductible doesn't apply.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover the flu shot at least as well as Original Medicare, so it's $0 in-network on an Advantage plan too. Use an in-network pharmacy or provider to keep it free, since out-of-network rules vary by plan.
Everyone with Medicare — the flu shot is one of the clearest $0 benefits in the program. If a provider tries to bill you for a routine seasonal flu shot, confirm they accepted assignment, because you shouldn't owe anything.
See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.
See 2026 Medicare Costs →Yes. Part B covers the seasonal flu shot at no cost to you when your provider accepts assignment — no copay and no deductible. This is true whether you get it at the doctor's office or a pharmacy that bills Medicare.
Medicare covers one flu shot per flu season. Because flu season crosses calendar years, you can sometimes receive two covered shots within a 12-month span — one each season — if your provider recommends it.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like the flu shot — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.
Open the Enrollment Finder →This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: