Supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations in other EU countries: How to avoid unexpected costs.
25/10/2025
5
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A spontaneous hiking holiday in Austria or a trip to Eastern Europe is on the horizon, but with the anticipation comes questions about the necessary vaccinations. Many travellers assume they are fully covered by their health insurance and are surprised by the costs when the bill arrives. This article shows why supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations in other EU countries is a smart financial decision.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Reimbursement for travel vaccinations abroad in the EU is a voluntary benefit offered by statutory health insurers and is therefore not guaranteed.
Especially for vaccinations such as TBE for travel to Austria or Eastern Europe, coverage gaps of €150 or more per person often arise.
Supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations closes this financial gap for a small annual premium and provides comprehensive cost certainty.
Analysing statutory health insurance benefits for travel vaccinations in other EU countries
Travel vaccinations for private holidays in other EU countries are not a legally mandated benefit provided by health insurers. Coverage of the costs is a voluntary benefit under the insurer’s rules, which means that each of the roughly 96 statutory health insurers in Germany has its own rules. Many insurers do reimburse the costs of vaccinations recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), but the scope is often limited. For example, some insurers offer a health account with a budget of up to 300 euros per year that can be used for such preventive measures.
In practice, this means that policyholders initially have to pay the costs of the vaccine and medical treatment themselves. They then submit the invoices for reimbursement, without any guarantee of full coverage. Often only eighty to ninety per cent of the costs are covered. It is therefore essential to enquire with your own health insurer in advance to clarify the exact reimbursement scope six to eight weeks before departure. This gap in cover leads directly to the next question: When does it become expensive for travellers?
Identify coverage gaps when travelling to TBE risk areas
A classic example of a coverage gap is the vaccination against early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME), which is transmitted by ticks. While the cost of a vaccination for travel to German risk areas such as parts of Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg is usually covered by statutory health insurance (GKV), this does not automatically apply in other EU countries. If you are planning a trip to risk areas in Austria, the Czech Republic or the Scandinavian countries, your insurer may refuse to cover the benefit. The cost of a complete primary immunisation with three doses amounts to around 150 euros per person.
Travellers then have to bear this amount in full themselves if their health insurance fund excludes it in its rules. For a family of four, this quickly adds up to 600 euros. This illustrates the practical value of a supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations in other EU countries, which covers exactly such scenarios. It closes the financial gap created by the differing rules of statutory health insurers.
Creating optimal cover with supplementary insurance
Top-up insurance for travel vaccinations is designed to cover in full the costs not covered by the statutory health insurance scheme (GKV). For an annual premium of often less than 20 euros, it covers vaccination costs amounting to several hundred euros. This is particularly relevant for more expensive vaccinations, which may also be recommended for travel to certain regions of the EU. Rabies prophylaxis, for example, can cost more than 250 euros.
The insurance usually covers the following items:
The full cost of the vaccine recommended by a doctor.
The doctor’s fee for advising on and administering the vaccination.
Vaccinations that are only subsidised by the GKV are also topped up to 100 per cent.
Cover for all vaccinations recommended by STIKO for the respective travel destination.
Taking out such a policy is often possible right up until shortly before departure. This makes it a flexible and cost-effective alternative to the uncertain reimbursement practice of the GKV, which brings us to the legal details.
Legal basics and expert tips on cost reimbursement
The legal basis for cost coverage of preventive vaccinations by statutory health insurance (GKV) can be found in the Social Code (SGB V). Under Section 20i SGB V, there is a claim in particular if the stay abroad is work-related. For private travel, however, the aforementioned voluntary benefit under the scheme applies. Knowing this distinction is crucial for planning. One exception is vaccination against poliomyelitis, the cost of which the GKV also covers for private trips in order to prevent the disease being brought into Germany.
Our expert tip: When submitting your expenses, always ensure your doctor issues a correct invoice. Request a detailed invoice in accordance with the German Scale of Medical Fees (GOÄ). This itemises the services provided precisely and makes processing quicker and more accurate for both the statutory insurer and your supplementary health insurance. This helps you avoid follow-up questions and significantly speeds up reimbursement. With this knowledge, specific travel scenarios can be assessed more effectively.
Practical examples: When supplementary insurance pays off
To illustrate the financial benefit, let’s look at two real-life scenarios. In the first case, a couple is planning a two-week cycling tour along the Danube through Austria and Hungary, both designated tick-borne encephalitis risk areas. Their statutory health insurance refuses to cover costs for trips abroad. The vaccination costs amount to 150 euros per person, or 300 euros in total. A suitable supplementary insurance policy costs the couple around 25 euros a year and covers the full 300 euros.
In the second scenario, a family with two children (aged 13 and 15) travels to southern Sweden for a summer holiday. In addition to the TBE vaccination, a hepatitis A vaccination is recommended, as they are travelling in rural areas. The total cost for all vaccinations comes to more than 800 euros. A family supplementary policy for around 40 euros per year covers these expenses in full. These examples show that the investment in travel insurance pays for itself on the very first trip.
More useful links
The Foreign Office provides comprehensive travel and safety advice, including important information on health precautions when travelling.
The German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG) provides detailed recommendations and guidelines on travel vaccinations.
FAQ
What is the difference between overseas health insurance and travel vaccination supplementary insurance?
A overseas health insurance policy covers the costs of medical treatment for acute illnesses or accidents abroad. The travel vaccination add-on insurance, on the other hand, covers the costs of preventive vaccinations you receive in Germany before travelling.
How do I correctly submit the costs for a travel vaccination?
You initially pay for the vaccine and the doctor yourself. Then submit the doctor's private invoice (according to GOÄ) and the prescription for the vaccine to your supplementary insurance or statutory health insurance (GKV). Keep all receipts carefully.
Does the supplementary insurance also cover the costs of travel medical advice?
Yes, most good plans not only cover the cost of the vaccine, but also the associated medical consultation and the administration of the vaccination itself.
Are there waiting periods for supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations?
As a rule, there are no waiting times, or only very short ones, for travel vaccinations. You can often arrange cover at short notice before a trip and make use of the benefits immediately.
Which vaccinations are most commonly needed for travel in other EU countries?
In addition to checking standard vaccinations (tetanus, diphtheria), a vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is relevant for many regions in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. Depending on your travel style and destination, vaccination against hepatitis A may also be advisable.
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