Get the Shingrix two part vaccine, which is thought to be 89% to 95% effective against shingles, rather than the Zostavax, which is only about 50% effective. If you ever get shingles, you will definitely wish you had had the vaccine, whatever the cost.

I’ve had both, and I got them both for free (to me) due to the health insurance I had when employed. However, my health insurance was billed about $360 for the Shingrix vaccine two part combo. That’s a lot of money, but there are drugs used for treating shingles once you get it that cost a lot more than that!

Shingles is a herpes-based Disease, like chicken-pox. If you get the regular herpes people talk about, the antiviral drugs that can keep you from having attacks cost around $1,000 a month, I believe. If you are taking PReP to keep from getting HIV, I think that is also about $1,000 a month. If you have HIV and are taking drugs to stay alive, I believe that cocktail costs about $2,000 a month. I have two dear friends in Hobe Sound, Florida, in adjacent rooms, fighting for their lives right now to survive Covid-19. They have both had convalescent plasma antibodies—the man has had two doses. I have no idea what that costs, but I’d be very surprised if it was less than $5,000 a dose.

This is why the total cost of health care is so high. If my friends, age 91 and 85, with big health problems before catching Covid-19, are in the hospital under continuous, high-quality care for a month, whether or not they live, I’m sure they will have cost we the people a million dollars, even if they don’t have to pay much of it. Their Medicare Advantage plan will pay, and other people with that plan will then have to pay the premiums. This is how it works. And Medicare will pay, and all taxpayers pay for that. I’d rather pay my taxes than have shingles or herpes or HIV or Covid-19. I’m grateful for the excellent and seamless care my friends are receiving and the dedicated people helping them.

:shocked: We have a Humana Advantage Plan and the co-pay was $1 each shot. I guess they have a number of different plans???

my friends who had Connecticare RAVED about it-said it was better than BC/BS

I was going to have the Shingrix shot but decided to call my insurance when I found out how much it cost. Then the china flu happened and they did not do any shots at Walgreens. I have very good coverage but it does not cover this shot according to Walgreen’s. It seems impossible to talk to anyone on the phone now but plan to take asap.

I also only paid $45 for the 1st shot. Haven't had the 2nd one yet.

We paid nothing with UHC in Cincinnati.

When you say "I paid $1 or I paid nothing", you need to state which type you received: Shingrix or Zostavax. Both are available. They have different co-pays too.
For Tier 5 drugs you usually have a $395 deductible first then you pay 25% of the total cost after that deductible on an "Advantage Plan".
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What phase of your plan are you in?

I got my first in 2019 and second in 2020. They both cost $28.50 at Walgreen's. The difference must be in the type of Part D that you have.

I got both shots at Publix $40 ea, after my horrible bout with shingles I would have paid much much more to have avoided that experience. It's been 11 years since my bout and I still have occasional light pain

Read about the side effects carefully..

it’s more than likely your deductible depending on what other prescriptions you take. I only take tier 1 and 2 generic so none of the small costs get charged to the annual 435 (2020) deductible. So i had to pay the full cost of the shingles shots. On part D you are responsible for the first 435 in 2020

My Doctor charges 1800.00 plus 110.00 to give the shot (which takes all of 10 seconds and is given by the blood draw person in a lab.)
You have to get a shot every six months!

Shingrix vs. Zostavax
 

I did get the old one in 2013. But Shingrix is 97% effective at preventing shingles. The Zostavax is between 50-64% at preventing shingles.

I was wondering that as well.