Medicare Part D prescription drug plans expressly excludes coverage for vitamins - although some Medicare plans do cover "excluded" drugs such as B-12 vitamin injections as "Bonus" or Supplemental drugs.

However, in specific cases - or for specific conditions, Medicare will cover the administration of Vitamin B-12 injections.  For more information, please see the following explanation provided in the Medicare benefits manual:

Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 7 - Home Health Services (Rev. 233, 02-24-17)

40.1.2.4 - Administration of Medications (Rev. 1, 10-01-03) A3-3118.1.B.4, HHA-205.1.B.4

Although drugs and biologicals are specifically excluded from coverage by the statute (§1861(m)(5)) of the [Social Security Act], the services of a nurse that are required to administer the medications safely and effectively may be covered if they are reasonable and necessary to the treatment of the illness or injury.

A. Injections
Intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injections and infusions, and hypodermoclysis or intravenous feedings require the skills of a licensed nurse to be performed (or taught) safely and effectively. Where these services are reasonable and necessary to treat the illness or injury, they may be covered. For these services to be reasonable and necessary, the medication being administered must be accepted as safe and effective treatment of the patient's illness or injury, and there must be a medical reason that the medication cannot be taken orally. Moreover, the frequency and duration of the administration of the medication must be within accepted standards of medical practice, or there must be a valid explanation regarding the extenuating circumstances to justify the need for the additional injections.

1. Vitamin B-12 injections are considered specific therapy only for the following conditions:


• Certain neuropathies: posterolateral sclerosis, other neuropathies associated with pernicious anemia, during the acute phase or acute exacerbation of aneuropathy due to malnutrition and alcoholism.

For a patient with pernicious anemia caused by a B-12 deficiency, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of vitamin B-12 at a dose of from 100 to 1000 micrograms no more frequently than once monthly is the accepted reasonable and necessary dosage schedule for maintenance treatment. More frequent injections would be appropriate in the initial or acute phaseof the disease until it has been determined through laboratory tests that the patient can be sustained on a maintenance dose.


Please note, if you are just searching for the prescription drugs covered by your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you can use either our Formulary Browser (you can view all Rx drugs for a single Medicare prescription drug plan) and our Q1Rx Drug Finder (you can view all Rx drug plans covering a single drug) to search for specific drug coverage.  We strive to keep our Formulary Browser and Drug Finder updated with the latest available Medicare Part D formulary data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - but Medicare plan formularies and drug availability can change throughout the plan year and you can always contact the Medicare plan directly for more information.  The contact information for any Medicare Part D plan you can use our Medicare Part D Plan Finder using the link: PDP-Finder.com or for Medicare Advantage plans, you can use our Medicare Advantage Plan Finder using the link: MA-Finder.com.


As reference: Text from an earlier version of Medicare manual.

The excerpt below is from Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7 - Home Health Services. Section 40.1.2.4 -Administration of Medications(Rev. 1, 10-01-03)A3-3118.1.B.4, HHA-205.1.B.4 (page 48):

Intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injections and infusions, and hypodermoclysis or intravenous feedings require the skills of a licensed nurse to be performed (or taught) safely and effectively. Where these services are reasonable and necessary to treat the illness or injury, they may be covered. For these services to be reasonable and necessary, the medication being administered must be accepted as safe and effective treatment of the patient's illness or injury, and there must be a medical reason that the medication cannot be taken orally. Moreover, the frequency and duration of the administration of the medication must be within accepted standards of medical practice, or there must be a valid explanation regarding the extenuating circumstances to justify the need for the additional injections. Vitamin B-12 injections are considered specific therapy only for the following conditions:

• Specified anemias: pernicious anemia, megaloblastic anemias, macrocytic anemias, fish tapeworm anemia;
• Specified gastrointestinal disorders: gastrectomy, malabsorption syndromes such as sprue and idiopathic steatorrhea, surgical and mechanical disorders such as resection of the small intestine, strictures, anastomosis and blind loop syndrome, and
• Certain neuropathies: posterolateral sclerosis, other neuropathies associated with pernicious anemia, during the acute phase or acute exacerbation of a neuropathy due to malnutrition and alcoholism.

For a patient with pernicious anemia caused by a B-12 deficiency, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of vitamin B-12 at a dose of from 100 to 1000 micrograms no more frequently than once monthly is the accepted reasonable and necessary dosage schedule for maintenance treatment. More frequent injections would be appropriate in the initial or acute phase of the disease until it has been determined through laboratory tests that the patient can be sustained on a maintenance dose.


(Source: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/bp102c07.pdf)