Medicare and TDAP Vaccines

When it comes to vaccination, most people associate it with children or early age, at the very least. Rarely do they attribute vaccination to adults. And even if it is true that a given number of vaccines are expressly targeted for the younger demographic, this doesn’t mean that adults shouldn’t consider getting vaccinated, when the situation asks of it. That’s because vaccines aim at preventing specific illnesses, no matter the age of the patient.

Since Medicare acknowledges this, it provides coverage for specific vaccines, as well. But does it cover the expenses of the TDAP vaccine?

Introducing the TDAP Vaccine

TDAP is a vaccine that aims at preventing three life-threatening diseases: namely diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).

As a rule of thumb, Medicare plan D covers the expenses of commercially available shots whose purpose is to deter illnesses. To that end, note that Medicare plan B doesn’t cover this. Still, there is an exception – namely the plan B program will cover the cost of the vaccine granted that it has been recommended by a health professional as a means of treating an injury or illness.

Medicare Coverage of the TDAP Shot

Distinct from the flu and pneumonia shots, which are covered by the plan B as a rule, the TDAP vaccine is usually attributed Medicare Plan D. That being said, if you benefit from Original Medicare – which entails part A and part B of the plan – this means that you don’t benefit from part D automatically.

There is another scenario in which you can get the TDAP shot – namely via a Medicare Advantage plan. Such a plan should also offer coverage for prescription drugs. In many cases, such plans offer a handful of additional perks, which don’t fall under plan A and plan B: wellness programs, routine visits to vision or dental checkups, so on and so forth. They also incorporate prescription drug coverage, referred to as Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans.

Hence, it all comes down to this: the type of Medicare insurance plan you have at the time being. Each plan comes with individual specifications and rules regarding the shots you can take.

This is why it is highly advisable to get more information regarding the specifications of your Medicare plan. By doing so, you will know if you should choose to pay a premium in order to expand your Medicare insurance so that you could benefit from a range of various perks. Of course, this is entirely up to you, your health condition, budget, and other criteria.

On a final note, many health specialists recommend taking at least a TDAP booster to prevent these diseases from leading to unwanted complications.

Still, as with any other health decision, you should consult with your healthcare provider beforehand, to ensure that you’ve made the right call. That’s because each vaccine comes with contraindications. So, if you are currently under medication, there are certain contraindications worth noting.

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