Short answer up top, then the exact rule. Here's what Original Medicare does and doesn't cover for hepatitis B shots in 2026 — and where a Medicare Advantage plan can fill the gap.
Quick answer: Yes — free for people at medium or high risk. Part B covers hepatitis B shots if a health condition or situation puts you at medium or high risk — diabetes and ESRD both count — and you pay $0 when the provider accepts assignment.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the hepatitis B vaccine the same way — $0 in-network for members who meet the risk criteria. Because it bills through Part B (not the drug plan), a doctor's office is usually the cleaner route than a pharmacy, which is set up to bill Part D.
The one to remember is diabetes — a very large share of Medicare beneficiaries have it, and most don't know it makes the hepatitis B series free. This is a high-value, zero-cost thing an agent can point out during an annual review.
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, if you're at medium or high risk. Part B covers the hepatitis B shot at $0 when your provider accepts assignment. Diabetes, ESRD, hemophilia, living with someone who has hepatitis B, and frequent occupational contact with blood or body fluids all qualify.
Yes. Diabetes is one of the conditions Medicare lists as putting you at medium or high risk for hepatitis B, so Part B covers the vaccine. Complete protection takes 3 shots, and you pay nothing when the provider accepts assignment.
Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like hepatitis B shots — 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: