Supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations abroad in the EU: How to avoid cost traps.
25 Oct 2025
8
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
A spontaneous hiking holiday in Austria or a trip to Eastern Europe is planned, but with the excitement come questions about necessary vaccinations. Many travellers assume they are fully covered by their health insurance and are surprised by costs when settling the bill. This article explains why supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations within the EU is a wise financial decision.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The coverage of costs for travel vaccinations abroad within the EU is a voluntary service by statutory health insurance providers and is therefore not guaranteed.
Particularly with vaccinations like TBE for trips to Austria or Eastern Europe, coverage gaps of 150 euros or more per person often arise.
An additional insurance for travel vaccinations fills this financial gap for a low annual fee and ensures comprehensive cost security.
Analyse GKV benefits for travel vaccinations abroad in the EU
Travel vaccinations for private holidays within the EU are not a service legally provided by health insurance. The coverage of costs is a voluntary statutory benefit, which means that each of the approximately 96 statutory health insurance funds in Germany has its own rules. Many funds reimburse the costs of vaccinations recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), but the scope is often limited. For example, some insurances offer a health account with a budget of up to 300 euros per year, which can be used for such preventive measures.
In practice, this means that insured individuals initially have to bear the costs for the vaccine and medical treatment themselves. They then submit the bills for reimbursement, without a guarantee of full coverage. Often, only eighty to ninety percent of the costs are covered. Therefore, a prior inquiry with one's own health insurance is essential to clarify the exact reimbursement framework six to eight weeks before departure. This gap in coverage leads directly to the next question: When does it become expensive for travellers?
Identify the cost coverage gap for trips to TBE risk areas
A classic example of a coverage gap is the vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), which is transmitted by ticks. While the costs for vaccination when traveling to German risk areas, such as parts of Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg, are usually covered by statutory health insurance (SHI), this does not automatically apply to travel within the EU. If you plan a trip to risk areas in Austria, the Czech Republic, or Scandinavian countries, your insurance may refuse to cover it. The cost for a complete basic immunization with three vaccine doses amounts to about 150 euros per person.
Travelers must then fully bear this sum themselves if their health insurance excludes it in its policy. For a family of four, this quickly adds up to 600 euros. Here, the concrete benefit of a supplementary insurance for travel vaccinations within the EU becomes evident, as it covers precisely such scenarios. It closes the financial gap created by the differing regulations of statutory insurers.
Design optimal coverage through supplementary insurance
Supplemental insurance for travel vaccinations is designed to fully cover costs not covered by the statutory health insurance. For an annual premium of often less than 20 euros, it covers vaccination costs of several hundred euros. This is particularly relevant for more expensive vaccinations, which may also be recommended for travel to certain EU regions. A rabies prophylaxis, for instance, can incur costs exceeding 250 euros.
The insurance generally covers the following items:
The full cost of the doctor-recommended vaccine.
The doctor's fee for consultation and administering the vaccination.
Even vaccinations only subsidised by the statutory health insurance are increased up to 100 percent.
Cover for all vaccinations recommended by the STIKO for the respective travel destination.
Taking out such a policy is often possible right up until shortly before departure. This offers a flexible and cost-effective alternative to the uncertain reimbursement practices of the statutory health insurance, which brings us to the legal details.
Legal foundations and expert tips for cost reimbursement
The legal basis for the coverage of vaccinations by the statutory health insurance (GKV) is found in the Social Security Code (SGB V). According to § 20i SGB V, entitlement exists primarily when the stay abroad is work-related. However, for private travel, it remains the mentioned voluntary statutory benefit. Knowing this difference is crucial for planning. An exception is the vaccination against poliomyelitis, the cost of which the GKV covers even for private travel to prevent its introduction into Germany.
Our expert tip: Always ensure that your medical expenses are submitted with a correct bill from your doctor. Request a detailed invoice according to the medical fee schedule (GOÄ). This lists the services provided precisely and facilitates quick and accurate processing by both the statutory insurance and your supplementary health insurance. This way, you avoid queries and significantly speed up reimbursement. With this knowledge, specific travel scenarios can be better assessed.
Practical Examples: When Supplementary Insurance Pays Off
To illustrate the financial advantage, let's consider two real scenarios. In the first case, a couple plans a two-week cycling tour along the Danube through Austria and Hungary, both designated TBE risk areas. Their statutory health insurance refuses to cover costs for foreign travel. The vaccination costs are 150 euros per person, totalling 300 euros. An appropriate supplementary insurance costs the couple about 25 euros a year and reimburses 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 because they are travelling in rural areas. The total vaccination costs amount to over 800 euros. A family supplementary policy for around 40 euros per year completely covers these expenses. These examples show that investing in travel insurance pays off from the very first trip.
More useful links
The Auswärtige Amt offers comprehensive travel and safety advice, including important information on health precautions while travelling.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tropenmedizin, Reisemedizin und Globale Gesundheit (DTG) provides detailed recommendations and guidelines on travel vaccinations.
FAQ
What is the difference between international health insurance and additional travel vaccination insurance?
An <a href="/solutions/subsolutions/auslandskrankenversicherung">international health insurance</a> covers the costs for medical treatments in the event of acute illnesses or accidents abroad. In contrast, the travel vaccination supplementary insurance covers the costs for preventive vaccinations that you receive in Germany before your trip.
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. Keep all receipts carefully.
Does the supplementary insurance also cover the costs for travel medical advice?
Yes, most good plans cover not only 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 little to no waiting times for travel vaccinations. You can often complete the protection shortly before your trip and immediately avail of the services.
Which vaccinations are most commonly required for travel within the EU?
In addition to checking the standard vaccinations (tetanus, diphtheria), an FSME vaccination is relevant for many regions in Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe. Depending on your style and destination of travel, a Hepatitis A vaccination might also be advisable.
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