A single dose of the HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) costs about $250 at list price. Depending on your age, you’ll need either two or three doses, putting the total uninsured cost between roughly $500 and $750 before any office visit fees. However, most people pay nothing out of pocket thanks to insurance mandates, government programs, or manufacturer assistance.
Cost Per Dose Without Insurance
Gardasil 9, the only HPV vaccine available in the United States, carries a list price of just over $250 per dose. That’s the price you’d see at a retail pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens if you walked in without insurance. On top of the vaccine itself, you may also pay an administration fee for the injection, which typically runs $20 to $40 per visit.
The total you’ll pay depends on how many doses you need. Children who start the series between ages 9 and 14 get two doses, spaced 6 to 12 months apart, for a total vaccine cost around $500. Anyone who starts at age 15 or older needs three doses, given over about six months, bringing the vaccine cost closer to $750. Adults vaccinated between ages 27 and 45 also follow the three-dose schedule.
What Most People Actually Pay
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private health insurance plans must cover preventive vaccines at zero cost to you, with no copay, coinsurance, or deductible, as long as you use an in-network provider. The HPV vaccine qualifies as a recommended preventive service, so if you have marketplace insurance, employer-sponsored coverage, or most other private plans, you should pay $0.
This applies to the full recommended age range. If your child is getting vaccinated at 11 or 12, or if you’re an adult under 26 catching up, the coverage rules are the same. Adults between 27 and 45 may also be covered, though some plans handle this age group differently since the recommendation involves a conversation with your provider rather than a blanket guideline. Call your insurer to confirm before scheduling.
Medicare Coverage
Medicare covers the HPV vaccine under Part D (prescription drug plans), not Part B. Since 2023, Part D plans charge nothing out of pocket for vaccines recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. That includes the HPV vaccine, even if you receive it from an out-of-network provider. If you have a Medicare Part D plan, all three doses should be fully covered.
Free Options for Children and Teens
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides free vaccines, including Gardasil 9, to kids under 19 who meet any of these criteria:
- Uninsured: no health insurance of any kind
- Medicaid-eligible or enrolled: including children who qualify but haven’t formally signed up (children on standalone CHIP plans don’t qualify)
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Underinsured: insurance that doesn’t cover vaccines, only covers some vaccines, or requires copays or deductibles before vaccine coverage kicks in
Underinsured children can only receive VFC vaccines at federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics, not at private doctors’ offices. But for uninsured, Medicaid-enrolled, and American Indian or Alaska Native children, any VFC-enrolled provider can administer the shots at no charge. Your pediatrician’s office likely participates.
Low-Cost Options for Uninsured Adults
If you’re an adult without insurance, you have several paths to reduce or eliminate the cost.
Community health centers and Planned Parenthood clinics often use sliding-scale fees based on your household size and income. At one Planned Parenthood affiliate, for example, the lowest-income patients pay $0, while higher earners pay between $240 and $600 per follow-up dose. The exact brackets vary by location, but the principle is the same: your cost scales to what you can afford.
Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil 9, runs a Patient Assistance Program that provides certain vaccines free of charge to people who don’t have insurance or whose insurance won’t cover the cost. You’ll need to apply through a healthcare provider’s office, and eligibility is based on financial need. The application process starts at Merck’s patient support website or by calling the number your provider’s office can supply.
How the Dose Schedule Affects Your Total
The number of doses you need is straightforward. If the first dose happens between ages 9 and 14, you need two shots. The second dose comes 6 to 12 months after the first, with a minimum gap of 5 months. Two visits, two doses, and you’re done.
Starting at age 15 or older means three doses on a tighter schedule: the second dose comes 1 to 2 months after the first, and the third dose arrives at the 6-month mark. The minimum spacing is 4 weeks between doses one and two, 12 weeks between doses two and three, and 5 months between the first and third. This schedule also applies to anyone with a weakened immune system, regardless of age.
For anyone paying out of pocket, this difference matters. Two doses at $250 each totals around $500, while three doses runs about $750, not counting administration fees. Getting your child vaccinated before age 15 saves both a dose and a visit.