An exotic vacation to a national park in Africa or climbing Mount Everest can become a highlight of your life and bring unforgettable memories to be shared for generations. At the same time, if you travel without appropriate pre-travel immunization and care, you can return home with chronic conditions that can destroy your quality of life and your health for many years into the future.
Our first five patients who came today for travel immunizations and consultations are going to Thailand, Kenya, Ghana, Singapore, and Malaysia. Despite different destinations, these travelers all require pre-travel counseling and immunizations, and all of them asked the same question:
Will my insurance cover travel vaccines and pre-travel visits?
There is no straightforward answer to this question. Each healthcare plan is unique; some insurance plans can provide next to nothing, whereas others may offer generous coverage of preventive services. For example, Medicaid, tax-payer insurance that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources will most likely not cover travel immunizations before your exotic vacation.
Medicare provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. Even though Medicare covers many vaccinations under Part B, including the flu shot; however, the program does not typically cover voluntary vaccinations against preventable diseases that are generally acquired through travel abroad. As a result, if you opt to travel outside of the United States to an area where a disease is more prevalent, you will likely need to pay for the vaccine yourself. This is because Medicare benefits offer coverage for medically necessary items, and if you’re electing to travel, you are assuming the risk.
Medicare Advantage plan may provide added benefits for travel vaccinations. Additionally, you may be able to find specific travel insurance plans outside of Medicare that offers coverage for travel-related medical coverage, including vaccines. On the other hand, some private insurance carriers may provide partial reimbursement of your pre-travel medical expenses. You should log into your insurance carrier online and review your plan-specific benefits explanation to find your insurance policies. Under Physician and Medical Services, locate the link for Injection -Immunization -then the Travel Immunization details. To your surprise, many private insurances will reimburse you for the pre-travel medical expenses after you satisfy your deductible and coinsurance.
If your travel is related to work activities, your employer should reimburse you for all pre-travel medical expenses. Remember to enroll in your FSA (flexible spending account) during the benefits enrolment period. With your pre-tax money, FSA will cover your pre-travel medical expenses, including vaccinations. The voluntary employee health FSA contribution limit for 2023 will be $3,050 –a $200 increase over the 2022 limit. There are many options to cover your pre-travel expenses. In any case, our office will provide you with a letter of medical necessity explaining the need for your immunizations and itemizing the amount you paid for consultation and vaccinations, together with ICD and CPT codes. Travel responsibly and enjoy the world’s wonders without sacrificing your health.
