How to Get a Flu Shot for Free, With or Without Insurance
Flu season is approaching and getting a flu shot this year is more important than ever . Ideally, you will receive it by the end of October, although anytime is better than never . So we offer you the cheapest and easiest ways to get vaccinated – with or without insurance – plus some bonuses for added temptation.
Flu shots are usually free
First, if you have insurance, is the cost of the flu shot covered? The answer is almost always yes. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover recommended vaccines at no co-pay and excluding your deductible .
If you don’t have insurance, or perhaps if you have a very old grandfathered plan, you may eventually need to pay. Another thing to be wary of is the cost of visiting the office, which may not be covered. Fortunately, most plans cover flu shots at the pharmacy. There are other options: Many large employers – from large corporations to universities – offer free flu shots. After all, herd immunity is in their best interest too. Before heading to the pharmacy for your vaccination or talking to your doctor, check to see if free flu shots are coming to your workplace soon.
Your county health department may also offer free flu shots. Most of these programs were originally targeted at the elderly, for whom the flu is especially dangerous, but some have spread to healthy adults as well, so they are definitely worth looking into.
Pharmacies offer discounts on flu shots
However, pharmacies are some of the easiest and most common places to get a flu shot, although some don’t vaccinate children, so you might want to call ahead and ask. The flu shots at the pharmacy are usually covered by insurance , and this is also usually the cheapest option if you find it necessary or more convenient to pay for it yourself.
If you’re paying out of pocket, the cheapest drugstore flu shots we’ve found are still at Costco , where the quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four strains of flu, costs $ 19.99. No bulk discount, har har, but you can get an injection without a Costco membership – let me know you came to the pharmacy and they will let you in directly to the pharmacy.
Otherwise, a flu shot usually costs $ 30-40 out of pocket; GoodRx has this year’s price chart on popular pharmacy chains. If you’re over 65, a high-dose flu shot (sometimes called a “high dose”) may give you better protection , but it usually costs more, between $ 50 and $ 70.
Many pharmacies offer bonus discounts on flu shots. Some are limited to vaccines covered by commercial (non-government) insurance plans.
- Target pharmacies are run by CVS and offer a $ 5 Target coupon when you place your bid there.
- CVS offers a coupon for a $ 5–20 discount on flu vaccinations.
- Safeway and other stores that have a pharmacy Albertsons, offer 10% discount on your next order from the grocery store with influenza vaccination.
- Publix offers a $ 10 gift card for the flu shot.
- Walgreens does not offer discounts, but it does have a Come On, Come On, Get It program, whereby buying a vaccine helps fund the vaccination of children in need around the world. They also offer free shots to veterans registered with VA services if you complete this form .
And before you start in the comments, “I’ve never had the flu, so why would I get the flu shot?” or “Eh, the flu isn’t that bad – just a few days at home from work!” or “I’m already wearing a mask!” or any other vaccine bullshit, remember that healthy people who can get the vaccine absolutely must, because your immunity protects the people around you who cannot get the vaccine and for whom the flu can be fatal.
This post was originally published in 2017 and was updated in September 2020 with more recent information.