Did you know about 1 million Americans go to the hospital with pneumonia every year?
Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by pneumococcal disease, which can also cause blood infections and meningitis. The bacteria that causes pneumococcal disease spreads by direct person-to-person contact.
The pneumococcal shot is the best way to help prevent certain types of pneumonia and other pneumococcal infections.
CDC recommends pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for all children younger than 2 years old, all adults 65 years or older, and people 2 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions. CDC recommends pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for all adults 65 years or older, people 2 through 64 years old with certain medical conditions, and adults 19 through 64 years old who smoke cigarettes.
Talk with your or your child’s healthcare professional if you have questions about pneumococcal vaccines.
Medicare Part B covers the initial shot, plus a second shot (a year after you’ve gotten the initial shot). Talk with your doctor to see if you need one or both shots.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for pneumococcal shots if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts assignment.
Note: Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and whether Medicare will pay for them.
Things to know
Talk with your doctor or other health care provider to see if you need one or both shots.