Russian Model Critical After Phuket Motorbike Crash

The 300 baht hidden fee upon arrival that is for insurance hasn't kicked in yet then?

For goodness sake stop with the I`m her cousin comments....please

22 hours ago, impulse said:

Have you ever collected on a travel policy? I don't mean "have you ever bought one?" I mean collected.

Every single time. Though the most difficult was aNorth American claims company.

When it was run by a European company, it was easy enough to organise direct payment. North American company, forget it.

Multiple posts all with the same content have been removed, please STOP this immediately or face a posting suspension @Yana Andreeva

On 4/2/2026 at 9:34 AM, cowellandrew said:

Ah a motorbike licence in Thailand a ride around the carpark and a couple of videos

That's a lot more experience than most unlicensed visitors renting scooters here have!

On 4/2/2026 at 9:39 AM, RMK54 said:

I’ve got an idea that will never fly. Upon entering Thailand:

1. Either propose a mandatory entry health insurance.

   or,

2. Make it mandatory to have proof of health insurance for the time you are here

... or, 3, travel insurance - they are not the same thing and most visitors don't require health insurance.

22 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

I think she is probably now a former model. How faux king stupid to take such risks if your looks are your income?

Her looks couldn't have been very lucrative if she was having to supplement her income by being an English teacher.

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

... Even if you can rent one, it's going to come with insurance. Not so in LOS...

Not so. The provision by rental businesses of basic insurance is mandatory in Thailand.

58 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

... Even if you can rent one, it's going to come with insurance. Not so in LOS...

Not so. The provision by rental businesses of basic insurance is mandatory in Thailand.

In your typical haste to contradict you've missed the point.

Does the basic mandatory insurance cover all medical costs on an injured party ? - the answer is still no.

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

On 4/2/2026 at 3:34 AM, cowellandrew said:

Ah a motorbike licence in Thailand a ride around the carpark and a couple of videos

That's a lot more experience than most unlicensed visitors renting scooters here have!

You’re being far too literal - as usual.

The point being made is that the Thai motorcycle licence isn’t a meaningful measure of basic riding competence. In practical terms, it shows someone can ride in a straight line and around a car park and come to a stop - nothing more.

It doesn’t come close to demonstrating the level of skill or judgement that any Western licensing authority would consider acceptable. In reality, it’s little more than a legal formality - a piece of plastic that proves legality, not genuine proficiency.

But of of course you know that and just want to contradict people instead - which is the bread and butter of your presence on this forum - not contribution, but contradiction.

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

On 4/2/2026 at 3:39 AM, RMK54 said:

I’ve got an idea that will never fly. Upon entering Thailand:

1. Either propose a mandatory entry health insurance.

   or,

2. Make it mandatory to have proof of health insurance for the time you are here

... or, 3, travel insurance - they are not the same thing and most visitors don't require health insurance.

Agreed - they are not the same thing and 'travel insurance' seems to have poorer levels of cover.

Health insurance seems to cover anything, whatever the cause - but health insurance is usually on an annual cover rather than for shorter periods.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Not so. The provision by rental businesses of basic insurance is mandatory in Thailand.

Do these rental businesses file a claim for loss or damages incurred by one of their customers, thus effecting their business insurance premiums, or do they hit on the unknowing or ignorant customer's wallet first?

6 hours ago, Packer said:

The 300 baht hidden fee upon arrival that is for insurance hasn't kicked in yet then?

Nope - the 'Tourists' tax can keeps getting kicked down the road.

OR, if it has kicked in - then its a 'tax only' and involves no insurance.

It would be excellent optics for Thailand IF such a system were to exist where Thailand takes care of tourist who are involved in accidents.

Cover that guarantees 72 hrs emergency treatment in 'any' hospital, and then continued treatment in public hospitals (if safe to move the patient) - 300 or even 500 baht for every foreign arrival.

There are of course arguments and debate about how to implement this which is the sticking point.

The insurance cost can't add it to the cost of a ticket because that involve Thai's too.

IMO the simple solution is add it on to the TDAC system - they system is already 90% there so it wouldn't take a much more to add an insurance and payment portal.

That would be imperfect - but nothing 'is' perfect - Ensure that it covers foreigners for any 'emergency' (non elective) treatment.

The Optics are then: Thailand looks after its tourists - Not thailand abandons its tourists on their deathbeds.

On 4/2/2026 at 7:00 AM, TedG said:

The solution is large fine for not wearing a helmet.

You have forgotten where you are! 'Fines' are the LEO retirement plan.

Just now, gamb00ler said:

You have forgotten where you are! 'Fines' are the LEO retirement plan.

Well, this is true.

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Nope - the 'Tourists' tax can keeps getting kicked down the road.

OR, if it has kicked in - then its a 'tax only' and involves no insurance.

It would be excellent optics for Thailand IF such a system were to exist where Thailand takes care of tourist who are involved in accidents.

Cover that guarantees 72 hrs emergency treatment in 'any' hospital, and then continued treatment in public hospitals (if safe to move the patient) - 300 or even 500 baht for every foreign arrival.

There are of course arguments and debate about how to implement this which is the sticking point.

The insurance cost can't add it to the cost of a ticket because that involve Thai's too.

IMO the simple solution is add it on to the TDAC system - they system is already 90% there so it wouldn't take a much more to add an insurance and payment portal.

That would be imperfect - but nothing 'is' perfect - Ensure that it covers foreigners for any 'emergency' (non elective) treatment.

The Optics are then: Thailand looks after its tourists - Not thailand abandons its tourists on their deathbeds.

I'm on board with paying 300 bath for insurance in Thailand.

On 4/2/2026 at 6:25 AM, blaze master said:

Also real education and training for drivers is desperately needed.

I'm not sure if the Canadian Motorcycle Safety Foundation is still operating. I liked the arrangement they used back in the '70's. I was a volunteer instructor for 3 years from 77-79. The major manufacturers supplied (donated?) the small off road capable motorcycles. The course fees were quite low... maybe C$40? Attendees got a weekend plus an evening of instruction. It was suitable for those with zero experience. At the end, close to 100% would pass the provincial driving exam.

The manufacturers sell enough bikes in Thailand to be able to afford donating to a similar effort here.

Weather permitting, I have ridden almost every day since '75 except for 6 months I was laid up from a sports injury. Luckily... I've never used the protection afforded by my helmets. In the closest call of my years of riding.... a helmet wouldn't have saved me. A high speed red light runner missed the bike and I by a couple of feet.

Such a tragedy.

If she had been riding a horse, like me, then this would never have happened.

49 minutes ago, TedG said:

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Nope - the 'Tourists' tax can keeps getting kicked down the road.

OR, if it has kicked in - then its a 'tax only' and involves no insurance.

It would be excellent optics for Thailand IF such a system were to exist where Thailand takes care of tourist who are involved in accidents.

Cover that guarantees 72 hrs emergency treatment in 'any' hospital, and then continued treatment in public hospitals (if safe to move the patient) - 300 or even 500 baht for every foreign arrival.

There are of course arguments and debate about how to implement this which is the sticking point.

The insurance cost can't add it to the cost of a ticket because that involve Thai's too.

IMO the simple solution is add it on to the TDAC system - they system is already 90% there so it wouldn't take a much more to add an insurance and payment portal.

That would be imperfect - but nothing 'is' perfect - Ensure that it covers foreigners for any 'emergency' (non elective) treatment.

The Optics are then: Thailand looks after its tourists - Not thailand abandons its tourists on their deathbeds.

Expand

I'm on board with paying 300 bath for insurance in Thailand.

When considering the point from a purely mathematical point of view it makes sense.

Thailand had 32.9 Million International Visitors in 2025.

x 300 baht per entry - would be: 9.87 Billion Baht.

Meanwhile the medical cost burden of tourists to Thailand in 2024 was 2.24 Billion Baht.

That is mostly uninsured migrants (migrant labour ) - the best 'estimate' of the Medical burden cost of 'genuine tourists' is 500 Million Baht.

Also of note (as a comparison).

Thailands income from tourism in total is 1.5 Trillion Baht.

Thailands income from Medical tourism and 'wellness' is 679 Billion Baht

Thailands income from Medical Tourism is 123 Billion Baht.

Which ever way we look at the optics - 500 Million Baht medical cost burden of tourists is a drop in the ocean...

500 million of 9.87 Billion is 5.1 %

i.e. the cost medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills would be 5.1% of possible income from a '300 baht tourist tax scheme'.

500 million of 1.5 Trillion is 0.033%

i.e. the medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills is 0.033% of total tourist income.

500 million of 679 Billion is 0.074%

i.e. the medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills is 0.074% of total income from medical tourism.

500 million of 123 Billion is 0.41 %

i.e. the medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills is 0.41% of total income from medical tourism.

One thing is for sure - people sitting in a hospital bed not receiving full treatment or being threatened with not receiving treatment becasue they are either not insured or their insurance has wiggled out - its terrible optics for Thailand - they could turn these stories into an absolute win if they could spin a reasonable domestic insurance policty and promote how well they look after tourists.

People argue - more people would just come here without insurance - and thats possible - but people still don't have accidents deliberately - so its not as if the accident rates are going to shoot up.

1 hour ago, gamb00ler said:

I'm not sure if the Canadian Motorcycle Safety Foundation is still operating. I liked the arrangement they used back in the '70's. I was a volunteer instructor for 3 years from 77-79. The major manufacturers supplied (donated?) the small off road capable motorcycles. The course fees were quite low... maybe C$40? Attendees got a weekend plus an evening of instruction. It was suitable for those with zero experience. At the end, close to 100% would pass the provincial driving exam.

The manufacturers sell enough bikes in Thailand to be able to afford donating to a similar effort here.

Weather permitting, I have ridden almost every day since '75 except for 6 months I was laid up from a sports injury. Luckily... I've never used the protection afforded by my helmets. In the closest call of my years of riding.... a helmet wouldn't have saved me. A high speed red light runner missed the bike and I by a couple of feet.

I know they still have the training course for bikes here. Plus a graduated licensing system. Like with a regular license g2 g1 and g. Similar with bikes now.

2 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

Weather permitting, I have ridden almost every day since '75 except for 6 months I was laid up from a sports injury. Luckily... I've never used the protection afforded by my helmets. In the closest call of my years of riding.... a helmet wouldn't have saved me. A high speed red light runner missed the bike and I by a couple of feet.

So that includes Thailand? Out of curiosity, what bike(s) do you ride?

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Such a tragedy.

If she had been riding a horse, like me, then this would never have happened.

Have you ever seen a horse out of control? I'll stick to the steel variety.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

When considering the point from a purely mathematical point of view it makes sense.

Thailand had 32.9 Million International Visitors in 2025.

x 300 baht per entry - would be: 9.87 Billion Baht.

Meanwhile the medical cost burden of tourists to Thailand in 2024 was 2.24 Billion Baht.

That is mostly uninsured migrants (migrant labour ) - the best 'estimate' of the Medical burden cost of 'genuine tourists' is 500 Million Baht.

Also of note (as a comparison).

Thailands income from tourism in total is 1.5 Trillion Baht.

Thailands income from Medical tourism and 'wellness' is 679 Billion Baht

Thailands income from Medical Tourism is 123 Billion Baht.

Which ever way we look at the optics - 500 Million Baht medical cost burden of tourists is a drop in the ocean...

500 million of 9.87 Billion is 5.1 %

i.e. the cost medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills would be 5.1% of possible income from a '300 baht tourist tax scheme'.

500 million of 1.5 Trillion is 0.033%

i.e. the medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills is 0.033% of total tourist income.

500 million of 679 Billion is 0.074%

i.e. the medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills is 0.074% of total income from medical tourism.

500 million of 123 Billion is 0.41 %

i.e. the medical cost burden of unpaid tourist bills is 0.41% of total income from medical tourism.

One thing is for sure - people sitting in a hospital bed not receiving full treatment or being threatened with not receiving treatment becasue they are either not insured or their insurance has wiggled out - its terrible optics for Thailand - they could turn these stories into an absolute win if they could spin a reasonable domestic insurance policty and promote how well they look after tourists.

People argue - more people would just come here without insurance - and thats possible - but people still don't have accidents deliberately - so its not as if the accident rates are going to shoot up.

IMO it isn't such a big issue to tackle politically… but this is a prime example of the Thais' universal tendency to systematically go for the short-term path of least resistance.

It's a fake photo, according to AN posters, Russians are ugly and fat.

On 4/2/2026 at 10:25 AM, Taboo2 said:

Yes, will rush out to send my Thai kids to learn English from a Russian....55555.

You are inviting comments about whether or not true English are fit for the job!

22 hours ago, Packer said:

The 300 baht hidden fee upon arrival that is for insurance hasn't kicked in yet then?

which hidden fee are you talking about ?

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The insurance cost can't add it to the cost of a ticket because that involve Thai's too.

TDAC, currently free will soon start costing Bt.300 !

5 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

So that includes Thailand? Out of curiosity, what bike(s) do you ride?

I took a big step down after moving to CM from Las Vegas. After the move I didn't have a bike for a couple of months but then I got a hand-me-down from my stepson. It was an old Yamaha Grand Filano that he had loaned to one of his staff .. LOL. I rode that for about 4 years and then the stepson bought me a new Forza 350. 95% of the time I ride rather than take the car.

On 4/1/2026 at 8:34 PM, cowellandrew said:

And half the school population ride to school with no license, no insurance & no helmet!

So ?

3 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

I took a big step down after moving to CM from Las Vegas. After the move I didn't have a bike for a couple of months but then I got a hand-me-down from my stepson. It was an old Yamaha Grand Filano that he had loaned to one of his staff .. LOL. I rode that for about 4 years and then the stepson bought me a new Forza 350. 95% of the time I ride rather than take the car.

Yeah, I also prefer being on two wheels rather than four. I'll be going for a 350 for my next model – my current PCX, though great for riding alone, I find a bit small with a passenger.