cheapest health insurance.

[racinkc1]

Looking for health insurance for 6 months should I have a serious health emergency while in Thailand. I dont want to be insured for tsunamis or terrorist attacks, just broken legs and malaria. Iv also considered going uninsured and just flying back if I have a serious emergency. Also I'm 34 year old male in good health. Plan to stay away from stray animals, jungles and seemingly sketchy street food "playing it safe". Whats the most I should pay for 6 months? $300 USD??? 

[Peter Denis]

What is your home-country?  In Belgium/Netherlands you can get very cheap travel-insurance which would cover any accident or emergency illness (as well as theft and damages), and of course also re-patriation when required.

In Thailand several banks offer accident assurance, 2.000 to 4.000 THB for a full year. 

[racinkc1]

15 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

What is your home-country?  In Belgium/Netherlands you can get very cheap travel-insurance which would cover any accident or emergency illness (as well as theft and damages), and of course also re-patriation when required.

In Thailand several banks offer accident assurance, 2.000 to 4.000 THB for a full year. 

I'm from the states. Does this include a medical accidents/emergencies or illness? Do you have a link you could send me?

[Peter Denis]

Hi, most travel-insurance policies require that you are a national of the country and are in the country when you subscribe to it.  As you are a US citizen that would make my annual travel-policy by EuropAssistance - which covers any trips up to 6 months - not possible for you.

When you look for travel-insurance, be aware that a contract of a full year (with trips limited to a certain period of time, which in your case would have to be 6 months) is often cheaper than a contract for a dedicated period of time, and that would be definitely the case for you.

When you do not find a fitting travel-insurance for your plans in your home-country, you could consider taking a policy with WorldNomads.  For a 34-year old a coverage of 180 days would be just under 500 US $.

As you can subscribe to their policies on-the-fly with coverage starting next day, you could also only take travel-insurance for the days that you are actually traveling or when you are making tours/trips (as the risk that something happens is obviously larger then, than when you just stay at a certain place).

And if you choose that option, you can when you are in Thailand go to a Thai Bank and take a 1-year accident-insurance policy, which is quite cheap (2000 - 4000 THB). 

 

[racinkc1]

16 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi, most travel-insurance policies require that you are a national of the country and are in the country when you subscribe to it.  As you are a US citizen that would make my annual travel-policy by EuropAssistance - which covers any trips up to 6 months - not possible for you.

When you look for travel-insurance, be aware that a contract of a full year (with trips limited to a certain period of time, which in your case would have to be 6 months) is often cheaper than a contract for a dedicated period of time, and that would be definitely the case for you.

When you do not find a fitting travel-insurance for your plans in your home-country, you could consider taking a policy with WorldNomads.  For a 34-year old a coverage of 180 days would be just under 500 US $.

As you can subscribe to their policies on-the-fly with coverage starting next day, you could also only take travel-insurance for the days that you are actually traveling or when you are making tours/trips (as the risk that something happens is obviously larger then, than when you just stay at a certain place).

And if you choose that option, you can when you are in Thailand go to a Thai Bank and take a 1-year accident-insurance policy, which is quite cheap (2000 - 4000 THB). 

 

Do most banks provide the accident insurance? It seems like money well spent. Do you know of any specific banks in chiang mai that might provide a policy like that?

[madmen]

Bangkok bank have a good accident insurance that includes bikes to some degree but it's no good unless you are very active. If your days are spent at home followed by a stroll to the pub then accidents insurance is a waste 

[topt]

On 12/17/2019 at 10:02 AM, racinkc1 said:

Iv also considered going uninsured and just flying back if I have a serious emergency.

And what happens if you are not able to "fly back". Have you seen all the stories on here of uninsured tourists trying to generate money after being laid up in hospital with bills of way over $10k equivalent. Do you have that kind of cash to call on in an emergency - all to possibly save $300 or whatever.

10 hours ago, madmen said:

Bangkok bank have a good accident insurance that includes bikes to some degree but it's no good unless you are very active. If your days are spent at home followed by a stroll to the pub then accidents insurance is a waste 

Personally I think this is very bad advice unless he already has some other insurance. Could get knocked over walking to the pub......if walking back insurance would probably refuse to pay if "under the influence".......

[tgeezer]

Probably an expensive option but your Visa credit card guarantees payment.  I notice that mine gives me 7000GBP credit which would probably be acceptable to get me into a hospital bed. 

[racinkc1]

On 12/18/2019 at 9:05 PM, topt said:

And what happens if you are not able to "fly back". Have you seen all the stories on here of uninsured tourists trying to generate money after being laid up in hospital with bills of way over $10k equivalent. Do you have that kind of cash to call on in an emergency - all to possibly save $300 or whatever.

Personally I think this is very bad advice unless he already has some other insurance. Could get knocked over walking to the pub......if walking back insurance would probably refuse to pay if "under the influence".......

you know how often insurance companies have to get sued in order to get them to pay anyways? i could say what if all day and never leave my house because so. I have yet to face a life or death situation where i needed a hospital that bad.