Using Health Insurance for Travel Immunizations (cost, passport, flights, cheaper)

[verybadgnome]

Has anyone done this? United Healthcare is not very helpful as they a find-it-yourself attitude.

Talking about basic shots/pills for visiting Central America, e.g. Malaria, Hep A, Hep B, etc. Thanks.

[flyonpa]

I seem to recall that few years ago when i needed my ins did not pay for the shots, but did pay for the office visit.

[PacificFlights]

my health insurance covers shot for travel because the company requires them to cover it. you need to read your plan to see what is and isn't covered. start by reading the exclusions and if non illness or preventative shots are excluded. some pharmacys can give these shots and may be cheaper than using insurance.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by PacificFlights

my health insurance covers shot for travel because the company requires them to cover it. you need to read your plan to see what is and isn't covered. start by reading the exclusions and if non illness or preventative shots are excluded. some pharmacys can give these shots and may be cheaper than using insurance.

Agreed, a call to the insurer generally clears it up.

If you ytavel abroad on business, you can usually get employers to pay the cost of required immunizations and passport/visa fees.

[intelfan11315]

How much do the shots typically cost without insurance?

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by burgler09

How much do the shots typically cost without insurance?

Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, and Tetanus were $400. If I remember right, it was the Typhoid that required two shops six weeks apart.

[verybadgnome]

I found out that the county I live in has a health services dept. that gives shots for Hep A/B and Tetanus for $10 a pop. They saved me a couple hundred dollars.

[Chava61]

I would assume that your health insurance would cover whatever it normally does for a doctor's visit.

[timberline742]

Never knew this was an issue. My insurance has always covered all shots/medicines (malaria, cipro), etc for travel. Be silly of them not to as if you picked something up while traveling it would cost them more when you got back.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by Chava61

I would assume that your health insurance would cover whatever it normally does for a doctor's visit.

BAD assumption. Never assume, especially with insurance companies.