Thailand Requires Tourist Insurance to Ease Healthcare Strain

1 hour ago, sikishrory said:

Which don't? Please enlighten me

All of them. No travel insurance providers charge thousands of dollars for normal unloaded tourist travel insurance.

Now you indicate which providers of travel insurance do charge "thousands of dollars", as you claimed. Just one example of a normal travel insurance policy costing thousands of dollars would suffice.

Another scam to give big contracts to the insurance firms. Depending from which country the tourist comes, the foreigner has compulsory health and accident insurance, valid worldwide. Thailand must instruct it's consulates abroad to assess the local regulations as not to punish the foreigners from quality nations (like those from western Europ and other nations obviously).

This is the first I have heard that the government is supporting the private healthcare system. I assumed that the private hospitals are not the financial responsibility of the government.

Of course the insurance companies bear a lot of the blame - tiny footnotes in the policy, deliberate escape clauses.

The government could help by ensuring all policies for Thailand covered every type of accident.

3 hours ago, sikishrory said:

Which don't? Please enlighten me

My MasterCard (CBA Australia) provider offers FREE travel insurance for up to 3 months.

Have done the online application in the past but as a long term retiree here don't bother these days.

5 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

All of them. No travel insurance providers charge thousands of dollars for normal unloaded tourist travel insurance.

Now you indicate which providers of travel insurance do charge "thousands of dollars", as you claimed. Just one example of a normal travel insurance policy costing thousands of dollars would suffice.

Regardless, whether you're a tourist staying for a week or you're a tourist living here for 365 days a year on a DTV you're not going to be paying a thousand baht. The only insurance I can think of that cheap is from local banks and in the case of a serious accident that will go a few days or a week at best.

4 hours ago, bdenner said:

My MasterCard (CBA Australia) provider offers FREE travel insurance for up to 3 months.

Have done the online application in the past but as a long term retiree here don't bother these days.

That's decent. It was about $40 a day last time I had to buy it from Australia but that was over a decade ago now.

On 4/7/2026 at 9:31 AM, mancub said:

Wasn't there a government fund set up for this.....and something like 50 percent of the allocated monies were never used for purpose ?

Thai Gov version of " Go Fund Me" in my opinion !

https://scandasia.com/thailand-offers-medical-coverage-for-tourists

Thailand launches a scheme which offers tourists up to 18,600 US dollars, equivalent to 500,000 Thai baht, of medical coverage in the event of an accident and up to one million baht in case of death. This was announced by the tourism minister of Thailand, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, on 15 February 2024.

The scheme covers tourists in Thailand from 1 January 2024 and will run until 31 August 2024. Tourists can claim the compensation within 15 days of their accident and the compensation is expected to be paid 15 days later. Thailand allocates 50 million baht to the campaign.

On 4/8/2026 at 9:15 PM, sikishrory said:

On 4/8/2026 at 2:58 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

All of them. No travel insurance providers charge thousands of dollars for normal unloaded tourist travel insurance.

Now you indicate which providers of travel insurance do charge "thousands of dollars", as you claimed. Just one example of a normal travel insurance policy costing thousands of dollars would suffice.

Regardless, whether you're a tourist staying for a week or you're a tourist living here for 365 days a year on a DTV you're not going to be paying a thousand baht. The only insurance I can think of that cheap is from local banks and in the case of a serious accident that will go a few days or a week at best

I find it interesting that you are unable to provide even one example of any travel insurance provider that charges "thousands of dollars" for normal travel cover as you falsely claimed.

There is no insurance for this as it requires a big bike license for virtually any country. And you can't do only 50CC bikes in most tourist destinations due to mountains and hills. Also in how many accidents it was actual crazy trucks, minivans and cars, causing bikes to crash.

And how many are actual thais vs foreigners vs foreigners that rent on a yearly basis in stats. And what about just providing a proper insurance that actually really covers at least basic accidental care, if not being drunk, wearing a real helmet, with the rentals.

Perhaps they should focus first on Thai driving skills and behavior and accidents, and the 20,000 deaths a year, before anything else. No wonder they all fear ghosts with those figures over decades.

All this is is show business politics to satisfy the majority of poor and not really educated Thais, to believe that the government does something about the problems, to then blame foreigners on most causes. That's how the ruling people think about you and me, a necessary and temporary evil they need to accept for money.

On 4/8/2026 at 9:15 PM, sikishrory said:

Regardless, whether you're a tourist staying for a week or you're a tourist living here for 365 days a year on a DTV you're not going to be paying a thousand baht. The only insurance I can think of that cheap is from local banks and in the case of a serious accident that will go a few days or a week at best.

Local banks do not provide travel insurance policies which is what is been discussed here even though it has been referred to, erroneously, health insurance.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I find it interesting that you are unable to provide even one example of any travel insurance provider that charges "thousands of dollars" for normal travel cover as you falsely claimed.

I think you've missed the point here.

Being that, a tourist staying in Thailand year round on DTV is up for thousands of dollars annually, not 1000 baht as the article suggests. Secondary point being how ridiculous it is to call someone living year round in a country for 5 years a "tourist".

A third point could be made that there is no "tourist insurance" option available (as the article casually suggests there is) for these tens of thousands of people staying year round with a "Tourist" status stuck to them.

21 hours ago, sikishrory said:

22 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I find it interesting that you are unable to provide even one example of any travel insurance provider that charges "thousands of dollars" for normal travel cover as you falsely claimed.

I think you've missed the point here

No, I have not missed the point at all, at the point was that I asked you a question about your false claim that travel insurance costs thousands of dollars - it doesn't - and you cannot name even one company with those kind of travel insurance premiums to back up your nonsense.

I'd pay for access to the Thai public healthcare system; whether I'd pay for access to a private hospital is a different matter entirely.