Updated Aug 2021
This winter, it is even more important to get your flu shot, so you don’t run the risk of getting both the flu and Covid -19, and also to slow down the community spread of the flu virus. If we can stop the flu spreading so widely we can protect our elderly loved ones and other vulnerable individuals, and vitally reduce the number of people who need hospital treatment and beds, at a time when the demands on the health services and resources are so great, and so stretched.
To get at flu shot at Rite Aid, you just walk in and ask for a flu shot. Rite Aid is offering 4 different flu vaccines this year, and the prices start at $31.99 for those without insurance. If you have insurance it is, in many cases, free.
Contents Overview & Quicklinks
Which flu shots is Rite Aid offering ?
How much is the flu vaccine at Rite Aid without insurance ?
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Rite Aid ?
Why is it so important for seniors to get flu shots ?
Which vaccines are available at Rite Aid ?
Does medicare pay for flu shots at Costco ?
How much do flu vaccines cost at Costco without insurance ?
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Walgreens ?
Home much is a flu shot at Walgreens without insurance ?
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Walmart ?
How much does a flu shot cost at Walmart if you have to pay ?
Which flu shots is Rite Aid offering ?
The following flu vaccines are available from Rite Aid –
Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine – this a vaccine with four strains of flu virus
Adjuvanted Quadrivalent flu vaccine – a high dose flu vaccine which is generally for the 65’s and over
High-dose Quadrivalent flu vaccine – contains 4 times more antigen than a standard dose vaccine and is generally for the 65’s and over
Locate a Rite Aid pharmacy in your area
There is a Rite Aid store locator tool on their website here, or you can call 1-800-RITE-AID to locate Rite Aid pharmacy near to you.
Download and fill out an Immunization and Screening Consent Form
Immunization Screening and Consent Forms are available here on the Rite Aid website.
If you download and fill one out before you go, it will reduce the length of time it takes to get your flu shot in the pharmacy.
Walk-in appointments
At Rite Aid, you can only get walk-in appointments for flu shots without advanced booking – you just turn up and request a flu shot.
Remember to take with you –
- a valid ID
- a Medical Insurance card if you have insurance
- a face mask
- and if you downloaded and filled out Immunization and Screening Consent Form, take that along to speed things up
How much is the flu vaccine at Rite Aid without insurance ?
If you don’t have insurance and have to pay for your flu vaccine at Rite Aid it costs –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $31.99
- high dose flu vaccine – $60.99
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Rite Aid ?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B there is nothing to pay for one flu shot a season, if you use a provider who is Medicare-enrolled and who accepts assignment – there is no deductible or coinsurance either.
Rite Aid is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment, so if you haven’t already had a flu shot, you can have one at Rite Aid.
Rite Aid will bill Medicare for your shot directly.
Remind the pharmacist to forward the flu shot information to your primary care doctor so that your records are up-to-date.
Why is it so important for seniors to get flu shots ?
Who is at the greatest risk if they catch the flu virus ? –
- seniors
- children less than 5 yrs old
- individuals suffering from certain existing underlying health conditions
Each year –
- 90% of all “flu-related deaths” in the US are people aged over 65 years old
- 60% of “flu-related hospital stays” in the US are people over 65 years old
One of the best measures available to prevent and protect against this is to have a yearly flu vaccination.
The high strength dose flu vaccinations are the ones which are usually recommended for the elderly, so that their immune systems give a strong response to build up resistance to the virus.
The statistics are from: NCOA Center for Benefits Access – “Vaccines: What Medicare pays for” which can be found here.
The elderly become more vulnerable and susceptible to catching the flu virus if they come into in contact with it, with each passing year.
This is compounded by the fact that the older an elderly person is who catches the flu, the greater the chance is that they may develop a serious complication.
Furthermore, underlying health conditions increase the danger of even greater complications from the flu virus, and sadly the elderly are the most likely to have underlying health conditions due to advanced age.
Underlying conditions which present a risk of more severe complications from the flu virus include –
- heart disease
- asthma or COPD
- diabetes
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- a compromised immune system
The elderly though are not alone in needing to get a flu shot, if we are too slow the community spread of the flu virus. We all need to get vaccinated.
Which vaccines are available at Rite Aid ?
Rite Aid offers the following vaccines –
- Chickenpox
- Diptheria
- Haemophilus Influenzae (HIB)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Japanes Encephalitis
- Measles
- Meningitis
- Mumps
- Pneumonia
- Polio
- Rubella
- Shingles
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Whooping Cough/Pertussis
- Yellow Fever
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Costco ?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, a flu shot at Costco costs nothing.
With Medicare, you are covered for one flu shot per season with a Medicare provider.
Like the other pharmacies, Costco pharmacies are Medicare-enrolled and accept assignment, meaning that there is no deductible and no coinsurance to pay when you have a flu shot.
Costco’s pharmacies will bill Medicare directly, and you will have nothing to pay out of pocket.
How much do flu vaccines cost at Costco without insurance ?
For a flu shot without insurance at Costco you are going to pay –
- Afluria or Flucelvax quadrivalent flu vaccines (members and non-members) – $19.99
- Fluad high-dose flu vaccine for seniors – $46.99
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Walgreens ?
With Medicare Part B, you are covered for one flu shot per season at a pharmacy which is Medicare-enrolled and which accepts assignment, such as Walgreens.
A flu shot at Walgreens is free and there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
Walgreens will bill Medicare directly for the flu shot.
How much is a flu shot at Walgreens without insurance ?
If you don’t have insurance, a Walgreens flu vaccine costs –
- 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, a flu shot at a Walmart pharmacy is covered by Medicare, so long as you have not had another flu shot already in the same flu season.
Walmart’s pharmacies are another Medicare-enrolled provider and accept assignment, they will bill Medicare directly for your flu shot, and there will be no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
How much does a flu shot cost at Walmart if you have to pay ?
If you don’t have insurance, a flu shot at a Walmart pharmacy will cost –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $25.00
- high dose flu vaccine (this is for 0ver 65’s) – $48.00
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at CVS ?
Flu shots at CVS are covered by Medicare, just so long as you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you haven’t already had another flu shot in the same flu season.
CVS is a Medicare-enrolled pharmacy and accepts assignment, so the shot is free – there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
Just remember to ask the pharmacist to forward the information of your flu vaccine to your primary care doctor, so that your records may be updated.
How much are flu shots at CVS without insurance ?
If you have to pay yourself for a flu shot at CVS, it costs –
- Seasonal flu vaccine -$31.99
- Fluzone high-dose flu vaccine for seniors – $51.99
I hope that this was of use, and that you will all take care and try to get your flu vaccines, so we can slow the community spread of the flu virus.
Try to stay safe, and to think of others this winter, and how you being prudent can help lessen the stress on our health services and their workers.
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.
