I planned a trip to rural Laos and needed the Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies vaccines. Total cost at the travel clinic: $850. I submitted the claim to my “comprehensive” nomad insurance. Denied. “Preventative care and immunizations are excluded.”
Key Takeaways
- Travel Insurance is Reactionary: It pays to treat Malaria; it does not pay to prevent Malaria. Vaccines, prophylactics (Malarone), and bug spray are out-of-pocket expenses.
- The “Wellness” Benefit: Only premium “Resident/Expat” plans (Cigna Gold/Platinum, GeoBlue Premier) cover travel vaccines, and usually only after a waiting period or up to a low cap ($150).
- Get Vaccinated at Home (Maybe): In the US, some health plans cover travel vaccines at a pharmacy. If not, they are insanely expensive.
- Get Vaccinated Abroad (Definitely): The Rabies vaccine in the US is $400/shot (you need 3). In Bangkok, it is $30/shot.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Maintenance vs. Accident.”
Insurers view vaccines as maintenance. Since travel insurance is cheap ($50/mo), they cannot afford to pay for $800 worth of shots for every customer.
The Investigation: I Called Them
- SafetyWing: “We do not cover vaccines.” Clear and simple.
- Genki (Resident): “We cover medically recommended vaccinations.” I checked the fine print: yes, they cover travel vaccines recommended by STIKO (German standing committee on vaccination). This is a huge perk.
- Thai Travel Clinic (Bangkok): I checked their price list.
- Japanese Encephalitis: $15.
- Rabies: $18.
- Typhoid: $12.
- Conclusion: It is cheaper to fly to Bangkok and get shot there than to use insurance in the US.
Comparison Table: Vaccine Costs
| Vaccine | US Travel Clinic (Cash) | US Insurance (Travel) | Bangkok Travel Clinic (Cash) | Genki Resident Plan |
| Japanese Encephalitis | $350 | $0 (Excluded) | $15 | Covered |
| Rabies (3 doses) | $1,200 | $0 (Excluded) | $54 | Covered |
| Typhoid | $150 | $0 (Excluded) | $12 | Covered |
[IMAGE: Photo of a ‘Vaccination Record’ yellow book with stamps, next to a bill from a US pharmacy vs a Thai clinic receipt]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Don’t get vaxxed in the US/UK: Unless your employer pays. The markup is 1000%.
- Go to the Thai Travel Clinic (or similar): In Bangkok, Saigon, or Mexico City, go to the Red Cross or University tropical medicine clinics. Top tier care, rock bottom prices.
- Keep the Yellow Book: Record every shot in the official WHO yellow book. You need this for border crossings (Yellow Fever).
- If Bitten: Post-exposure rabies shots ARE covered by travel insurance because that is a medical emergency. Pre-exposure is not.
FAQ
Is Yellow Fever covered?
No, because it is a visa requirement/preventative. Pay cash.
Does insurance pay for Malaria pills?
No. Buy them in the destination country (e.g., Doxycycline is cheap in SE Asia).
What if I have an allergic reaction to the vaccine?
YES. That is a medical emergency and is covered.