Medicare Part B does cover a flu shot at Costco. Pharmacies which are Medicare-enrolled and which accept assignment will bill Medicare directly, and you will have nothing to pay. There is no deductible or coinsurance to pay. You do not have to be a member at Costco to get your flu jab there, as health services cannot be denied to the public, and Costco’s pharmacies are open to all.
Contents Overview & Quicklinks
On site Covid 19 measures at Costco
Shopping hours especially dedicated to seniors and vulnerable persons
Which flu vaccines is Costco offering ?
How do I arrange my flu shot at Costco ?
What do flu vaccines cost at Costco without insurance ?
Why should the elderly get flu shots ?
What are the different types of flu vaccine ?
Does Medicare pay for the quadrivalent flu vaccine ?
What other vaccines does Costco offer ?
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at a pharmacy ?
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Walgreens ?
How to arrange your flu shot at Walgreens ?
How much is a flu shot at Walgreens without insurance ?
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Walmart ?
How to arrange your flu shot at Walmart ?
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Rite Aid ?
How to organize your flu shot at Rite Aid ?
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at CVS ?
Which flu vaccines are CVS and MinuteClinic offering ?
How can I organize my flu shot at CVS or MinuteClinic ?
How much is a flu shot at CVS without insurance ?
On site Covid-19 measures at Costco
Here are the current Covid-19 pandemic measures that Costco is currently taking to protect everyone.
Safety and precautions at Costco due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Taken directly from the Costco website –
Costco locations will follow the face mask regulations of the applicable state and local jurisdictions. In communities where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial, per current CDC guidance, Costco strongly recommends that all members and guests wear face masks inside our locations.
Shopping hours especially dedicated to seniors and vulnerable persons
Special Operating Hours for Members Ages 60 or Older –
Costco have reduced their Special Operating Hours for Seniors from daily, to 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These hours for seniors and vulnerable persons will continue until further notice.
These Operating Hours are for adults aged 60 and older, and for those with disabilities or who are immunocompromised.
Only members who meet these criteria will be able to shop during these hours. Guests will not be admitted.
“Exceptions:
- Brooklyn, NY: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Culver City, CA: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Iwilei (Honolulu), HI: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Temecula, CA: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Westbury, NY: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday”
The source of the text above is the Costco “Updates and Coronavirus Response” page on their website, last updated August 28, 2021.
You will find it here – https://www.costco.com/covid-updates.html
Which flu vaccines is Costco offering ?
Costco offers the following Influenza Vaccines –
- Afluria – Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine
- Flucelvax – Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine
- Fluad – High Dose Influenza Vaccine for seniors
How do I arrange my flu shot at Costco ?
To sort out your vaccination at Costco, you need to –
- locate a Costco pharmacy near you
- download your Immunization Consent Form to speed up the actual appointment
- schedule an appointment online
- walk into Costco for a flu shot without an appointment
Locate a Costco pharmacy near you
You can use the Costco store locator on their website to find a Costco near to you.
Visit the Costco website here to use their store locator tool.
Schedule a flu shot appointment online at Costco
To make an appointment for a flu shot at a Costco pharmacy near you online, rather than turning up and waiting for a flu shot, you can go to their website and make an online reservation here.
Don’t forget to also download the Immunization Consent Form while you are on the Costco site, you’ll be able to take that along with a valid ID and proof of Medicare insurance when you have your appointment for the flu shot at Costco to speed things up a little.
Walk in flu shots at Costco Pharmacies ?
You do not have to book an appointment online, you can just turn up and ask for a flu shot. Wait times will depend on the availability of the staff to administer your shot.
Remember to download the Immunization Consent Form from the Costco website if you wish to speed up your appointment a little.
You will need to take a valid ID and proof of your Medicare Part B insurance.
Download your Immunization Consent Form
Whether you make a prior appointment at a Costco pharmacy, you may want to download the Immunization Consent Form here.
This is only necessary if you want your appointment to go more quickly.
What do flu vaccines cost at Costco without insurance ?
If you don’t have insurance, flu shots at Costco cost –
- Afluria or Flucelvax quadrivalent flu vaccines (members and non-members) – $19.99
- Fluad high-dose flu vaccine for seniors – $40.00 (for members) and $46.50 (for non-members)
Why should the elderly get flu shots ?
The people at who are at the greatest risk from catching the flu are –
- the elderly
- young children under the age of 5
- people with certain underlying health conditions
Each year in the United States, 9 out of 10 flu-related deaths and 6 out of 10 flu-related hospital stays occur among people aged 65+. An annual flu shot is one of the best preventive measures to help protect against the flu. The shot is available in both a regular strength dose and a high dose that provides extra immunity, which is often recommended for older adults.
Source: NCOA Center for Benefits Access – “Vaccines: What Medicare pays for” which you can read here.
The older a person is, the more likely they are to catch the flu if they are in contact with the influenza virus.
This is then compounded by the fact that the older you are, the greater the chance that you will develop a serious complication like pneumonia from the flu virus, and underlying health conditions can further increase the risk.
Underlying health conditions which can put a person at increased risk of greater complications from flu include –
- heart disease
- asthma or COPD
- diabetes
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- a compromised immune system
It is important if you are the caregiver for an elderly person, that you also get a flu shot so you cannot catch the flu and then pass it on.
What are the different types of flu vaccine ?
Standard types of influenza vaccines available to adults are –
- Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine
- High-Dose Flu Vaccine
- Intradermal Influenza Vaccine
- Adjuvanted Vaccine
- Cell-based Flu Vaccine
- Recombinant Flu Vaccines
- Nasal Spray Vaccine
For the over 65’s, the recommended Influenza Vaccines are –
- High-Dose Flu Vaccine
- Adjuvanted Vaccine
The source for this section is the Centers for Disease and Prevention website here.
Does Medicare pay for the quadrivalent flu vaccine ?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B they pay for Quadrivalent influenza vaccines.
This is the list of influenza quadrivalent vaccines covered by Medicare Part B for the 2020 -2021 flu season from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Fluad Quadrivalent
- Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent
- Flucevax Quadrivalent
- FluMist Quadrivalent
- Flubok Quadrivalent
- Fluzone Quadrivalent
- Afluria Quadrivalent
- Fluarix Quadrivalent
- Flulaval Quadrivalent
You will find all the information here on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.
What other vaccines does Costco offer ?
Other vaccines which are available at Costco –
- Hepatitis A (Harix)
- Hepatitis B (Engerix-B)
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B (Twinrix)
- Human Papilloma Virus (Gardasil 9)
- Meningitis (Menactra)
- Pneumonia (Pneumovax 23 , Prevnar 13) or (Prevnar 13)
- Shingles (shingrix)
- Tetanus, Diptheria, Whooping Cough (Tdap) (Boostrix)
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at a pharmacy ?
For Medicare to cover flu shots at a pharmacy, the pharmacy must be Medicare-enrolled and accept assignment.
Medicare will cover one flu shot per season in this case.
For both flu and pneumonia vaccines as long as the pharmacy is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
The pharmacy should bill Medicare directly for you, and you should have no out-of-pocket payments to make.
Don’t forget to have the information about the flu vaccine forwarded by the pharmacy to your primary care doctor so that your records can be updated.
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Walgreens ?
Medicare Part B will cover one flu shot per season, which can be at Walgreens.
Walgreens are Medicare-enrolled and accept assignment, so there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay, and Walgreens should bill Medicare, on your behalf directly, so you have nothing to pay.
Walgreens in-store flu shots
Which flu vaccines are available at Walgreens ?
Walgreens offers the following flu shots –
- quadrivalent flu vaccines
- high dose flu vaccines designed to give a greater immune response for seniors
Special Operating Hours for Members Ages 60 or Older –
Costco’s warehouses have reduced their Special Operating Hours for Seniors to 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This will continue until further notice.
The Operating Hours are for adults aged 60 and older, and for those with disabilities or who are immunocompromised. Only members who meet these criteria will be able to shop during these hours. Guests will not be admitted.“Exceptions:
- Brooklyn, NY: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Culver City, CA: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Iwilei (Honolulu), HI: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Temecula, CA: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Westbury, NY: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday”
The source of the text above is the Costco “Updates and Coronavirus Response” page on their website, which was last updated August 28, 2021.
You can find that page here – https://www.costco.com/covid-updates.html
Don’t forget to take your insurance information, a photo ID to your appointment, and also to complete the assessment/consent form, in advance, and which you can download and print out from the Walgreens website here.
You can find this on the Walgreens website here.
How to arrange your flu shot at Walgreens ?
How you can organize going to get a flu shot at Walgreens –
- you can simply book an appointment online on the Walgreens website
- you can use the Walgreens App to book an appointment
- you can walk into a Walgreens and get a flu shot
Schedule an appointment online
If you don’t want to walk in to a store and wait in line for an appointment for your flu shot, you can go online and use the Walgreens online store locator here and book an appointment for a flu shot at that store.
You may also want to download the Informed Consent For Vaccination Form here, and fill it out prior to your appointment to cut down on the time you spend in the pharmacy.
You will also need to take a valid ID, proof of your Medicare insurance, and a face mask.
Schedule an appointment with the Walgreens App
Using the Walgreens Mobile App, you can also schedule an appointment for a flu shot at one of their pharmacies, through “Walgreens Find Care”.
Again, don’t forget to download the Informed Consent for Vaccination form here, and fill it out before you go for your shot flu, to cut down the time in the pharmacy.
You will also need to take a valid ID, proof of your Medicare insurance and a face mask.
Walk-in appointments
It is also possible to walk in to any Walgreens and have a flu shot without an appointment – there is no guarantee how long it will take, though, and you will have to wait until the correct person to administer the vaccine is available.
You can still go online and download the Informed Consent for Vaccination form here and fill it in advance, so this will cut down your time in the pharmacy.
Again, you will need to take a valid ID, proof of your Medicare Insurance and a face mask to wear in the store.
How much is a flu shot at Walgreens without insurance ?
At Walgreens without insurance, flu vaccines cost –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $31.99
- high does flu vaccine – $54.00
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Walmart ?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, flu shots at Walmart pharmacies are covered by Medicare.
Walmart’s pharmacies are Medicare-enrolled providers and accept assignment, so they should bill Medicare directly once you have had your flu shot, and there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
Walmart in-store flu shots
Which flu vaccines are available at Walmart ?
Walmart’s pharmacies are offering two types of influenza vaccines –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – these contain 4 strains of the flu virus
- high dose flu vaccine – this is a type of vaccine which invokes a greater immune system response reaction, and is for the over 65’s
How to arrange your flu shot at Walmart ?
Walmart’s pharmacies offer a range of ways you can organize your flu shot appointment –
- you can schedule an appointment on the Walmart Mobile App
- you can go to a special flu shot event
- seniors can go in to stores in devoted time slots
- you can walk in to a Walmart pharmacy and wait until the relevant staff member in the pharmacy is available to give you a flu shot
Digital Appointment Scheduler
Walmart has a new Digital Appointment Scheduler on the Walmart Mobile App where you can book an appointment at a local store with a pharmacy.
There is also an online patient questionnaire to download and fill out for the appointment, so you can receive the flu vaccination – this makes the process of the vaccination in the store far quicker.
You will be screened for Covid-19 at your appointment before you are given the flu shot.
You can download the Walmart Mobile App here.
Walmart in-store flu shot events
Walmart is hosting in-store events for flu shots on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.
To find out more, visit Walmart.com/flu.
Special pharmacy hours for seniors
Tuesday mornings from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. at the Walmart store and pharmacy is a time just for seniors and vulnerable customers to do their shopping and flu shots will be available at this time.
Walk-in appointments
Walk-in appointments for flu shots are also available.
If you are going to go for a walk-in appointment, it is a good idea to call your local Walmart store and check they have a pharmacy, and that this is available.
How much is a flu vaccine at Walmart if you have to pay ?
If you get a flu vaccine at Walmart without insurance, it will cost you –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $25.00
- high dose flu vaccine (this is for 0ver 65’s) – $48.00
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Rite Aid ?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, you don’t have to pay anything for a flu shot at Rite Aid.
As Rite Aid is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment, Rite Aid should bill Medicare directly for the flu shot, and you should have nothing to pay – and no deductible or coinsurance to pay to Medicare either.
Rite Aid in-store flu shots
Which flu shots is Rite Aid offering ?
The following flu shots are available at Rite Aid –
Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine – four strains of flu virus For the 65 yrs and over
FLUZONE HD – a high dose flu vaccine.
How to organize your flu shot at Rite Aid ?
Find a Rite Aid pharmacy near you
You can use the store locator on the Rite Aid website here, or call 1-800-RITE-AID, to find a Rite Aid pharmacy that’s near to you.
Fill out an Immunization Consent Form in advance
To speed up your time in the pharmacy, you can download the Immunization Screening and Consent Form from the Rite Aid website, fill it out and take it with you when you get your shot.
The Rite Aid Immunization Screening and Consent Form can be downloaded here.
Walk- in appointments
Rite Aid is not scheduling appointments online, it is just offering walk-in appointments for flu shots – you just have to turn up at a store pharmacy and request a flu shot.
Don’t forget to take a valid ID, proof of Medicare insurance, and the filled out Consent Form (if you want to speed things up).
Special pharmacy hours for the elderly
From 9 am to 10 am, Rite Aid has set aside a special daily shopping time for the elderly (65 +, except in Massachusetts where it is 60+) and the vulnerable only, in their stores to help them to shop more safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
If you are elderly and/or vulnerable, and you wish to make your visit as short as possible, download the Immunization Screening and Consent Form and fill it out before you go for your flu shot – it’ll speed this up.
How much is the flu vaccine at Rite Aid without insurance ?
If you have to pay for your flu vaccine at Rite Aid without insurance it costs –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $31.99
- high dose flu vaccine – $60.99
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at CVS ?
Flu shots at CVS are covered by Medicare Part B, so long as you are Medicare-enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you haven’t already had a shot in the same flu season, you should have nothing to pay.
CVS is a Medicare-enrolled pharmacy and accepts assignment.
CVS will bill Medicare directly for your flu shot, and as before there will be no deductible or coinsurance for you to pay.
Don’t forget to have the pharmacist forward the information of your flu vaccine to your primary care doctor.
Which flu vaccines are CVS and MinuteClinic offering ?
At their pharmacies CVS and MinuteClinic are offering –
- Quadrivalent flu vaccine
- Fluzone High-Dose for the 65’s and older
How can I organize my flu shot at CVS or MinuteClinic ?
To arrange your flu shot at CVS or MinuteClinic you will need to –
- find a CVS pharmacy or a minute Clinic where you wish to get your flu shot
- if you are booking online, you’ll need to digitally provide all the necessary information and consent beforehand
- schedule an appointment online
- you can also just walk into a CVS or MinuteClinic for a flu shot without a booking
Locate a CVS pharmacy near you
The CVS store locator is on their website here – the tool is in the main page navigation menu.
To locate a MinuteClinic you can use the locator on the website here.
Book a flu shot appointment online
You can –
- book an appointment for a flu shot at a CVS pharmacy near you, go to their website and make an appointment here
- book an appointment with the CVS mobile app – the CVS app is available on their website here
- book an appointment at a MinuteClinic on their website here – you will see the link to make an appointment for a flu shot in the center of the page
On booking your appointment, you will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire and consent form for a screening prior to getting your booking, and to also provide your insurance information.
Walk in flu shots at CVS Pharmacies
CVS pharmacies and at the MinuteClinics both do walk -in flu shots.
How much is a flu shot at CVS without insurance ?
Without insurance, flu shots at CVS cost –
- Seasonal flu vaccine -$31.99
- Fluzone high-dose flu vaccine for seniors – $51.99
So which vaccines are covered by Medicare ?
Medicare Part B covers –
- the Influenza vaccine
- the Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine
- the Hepatitis B Vaccine – in high risk cases
- the Tetanus Vaccine – in the case of an illness or injury
I have a full article on Medicare Part B and vaccines which explains the conditions for the vaccines more fully, which you can find here.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) covers –
Medicare part C covers the same vaccines as Medicare Part B, and some also cover Shingles and both of the Tetanus vaccines.
As long as you use a provider (i.e. pharmacy and staff) who is approved by your plan, you should not have to pay either the deductible or the coinsurance payment of the vaccine – check with your plan provider which pharmacies you may use.
Medicare Part D covers –
Medicare Part D plans (Drug plans) cover the commercially available vaccines not covered by Medicare Part B.
Vaccines required for travel abroad covered under Medicare Part D plans, and the amount of deductibles and co-pays will depend on the plan you choose.
Free help with understanding Medicare
SHIP – State Health Insurance Assistance Programs –
Having trouble with understanding your Medicare benefits ?
If you contact your SHIP, you can get free guidance about Medicare, Medicaid and Medigap over the telephone.
Here’s how you find your SHIP – “Free Help Understanding Medicare And Medicaid ? Here’s Where You Get It”.
I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com
I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.
