Does my international health & travel insurance cover COVID-19 Vaccinations?
photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
If we're alike, you are also following the daily updates about the rollout and availability of the COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines are a crucial component to quell the spread of COVID-19, and ultimately to bring peace of mind and security back to travelers and destinations.
If you are currently traveling or living outside of your home country, the opportunities, timing, and costs of receiving the vaccine can be confusing. It is critical to note that coverage for the COVID-19 vaccine can vary depending on whether the vaccine is administered inside or outside of the United States.
Some recent questions from our Wanderwell community members include:
- Does my expat health plan include an immunization/vaccination benefit?
- Does my single-trip travel insurance or travel medical insurance plan include an immunization/vaccination benefit?
- Does the government of the country I am currently in fund the cost of the vaccine?
Answers and guidance related to these questions and more are below...
Vaccines administered in the USA
If the vaccine you are set to receive is being administered to you in the United States, the CARES Act communicates that the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine is covered by the government of the USA, whether your insurance policy includes a benefit for immunization and vaccination. The facility where an individual has the vaccine administered will be reimbursed under the purview of the CARES Act, the individual should not be responsible for any cost share for the vaccination.
*If there is an administration charge in addition to the cost of the vaccine, check with your insurance carrier to see if the plan will cover administration costs or if you will be responsible for any administration costs charged separately from the costs of the vaccination.
Vaccines administered outside of the USA
Check with the government or embassy in the country you are currently in to verify whether or not the government funds the costs of administering the vaccination.
Do expat plans cover the costs of vaccines administered outside of the USA?
Many international major medical plans, often referred to as "expat" plans, do include immunization/vaccination coverage outside of the USA. Check with your insurance carrier to verify whether or not your plan includes such a benefit and what limits apply to your policy.
Do travel insurance plans cover the costs of vaccines?
Short-term, single-trip and multi-trip travel insurance and travel medical insurance plans are generally designed to provide coverage outside of the insured traveler's home country and usually do not include a benefit for immunizations/vaccinations. Do not assume that such plans will cover the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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