CPT
90471 — Immunization administration, single vaccine
ACA-covered vaccines should be free, including the admin fee.
Preventive care
99387 — Preventive medicine, new patient; adult age 65 years and older
This is the new-patient preventive medicine code for adults 65 and older.
- Typical setting: Doctor's office
- National avg charge (illustrative): $185-$325 (commercial insurance; traditional Medicare does NOT cover this code — use G0438/G0439 instead)
- Most-disputed reason: Billing to traditional Medicare: 99387 is not a covered benefit under Medicare Part B — this will result in denial
What it means
What 99387 actually means
This is the new-patient preventive medicine code for adults 65 and older. However, it is important to note that traditional Medicare does not cover this CPT code — Medicare beneficiaries should instead use the Annual Wellness Visit codes (G0438, G0439) or the Welcome to Medicare visit (G0402). Commercial Medicare Advantage plans may vary in coverage.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing to traditional Medicare: 99387 is not a covered benefit under Medicare Part B — this will result in denial
- Confusing 99387 with G0438/G0439: patients may be billed incorrectly or receive unexpected charges when the wrong code is used
- New vs. established error: billing 99387 when the patient should be billed as established (99397)
If you see 99387 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 99387 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
90472 — Immunization admin; each additional vaccine
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90651 — Human papillomavirus vaccine types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58, nonavalent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90670 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 13 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90671 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 15 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90677 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 20 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 99387 on a bill.
99387 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 99387 usually cost?
$185-$325 (commercial insurance; traditional Medicare does NOT cover this code — use G0438/G0439 instead). Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 99387?
Billing to traditional Medicare: 99387 is not a covered benefit under Medicare Part B — this will result in denial
What should I do if I see 99387 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 99387 before paying.
Don't pay 99387 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.