Thai insurance companies offering Covid-19 coverage as foreign tourists prepare to return

[eastendanto]

6 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Presumably because they are more likely, based on the insurance companies underwriters informed analysis, to become sick.

 

Guessing, based on the linked article, this is in support of the "Phuket - Safe and Sealed" plan?

 

 

Maybe they'll throw in a complimentary prison tour?

 

 

 

 

 

 

But why pay for a year? 2 week incubation period over no need for cover for rest of year!!! Have same chance as any other person residing in the country

 

[sanuk711]

 

4 minutes ago, eastendanto said:

But why pay for a year? 2 week incubation period over no need for cover for rest of year!!! Have same chance as any other person residing in the country

 

Now you pay for how long you stay------

Braking news----------reports that travellers coming from countries considered low-risk for Covid-19 can expect to pay anything from 1,600 baht to over 43,000 baht, depending on where they live and the extent of the coverage. Packages vary from under 30 days to a year, with 16 Thai insurance companies selling coverage online. These include Pacific Cross, Muang Thai Life and Viriyah. Foreign arrivals will need coverage of up to 3.2 million baht, to cover medical treatment, in addition to potential funeral expenses or to transport their remains home, in the event of death from the illness.

[rott]

Ref the illustration on the OP "Life Insurance"?? No such thing. 

 

You insure against the possible but assure against the inevitable. 

 

Yes, I know, but............ 

 

And for Sanuk711 it is BREAKING NEWS. 

[AbeNormal]

read the fine print very carefully, people who get into difficulties with covid usually have other conditions or morbidities 

 

This Insurance seems to only cover covid 19 and for a very limited period of time

[sanuk711]

I dont want to keep printing it...but its just changed..........

 

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/mandatory-covid-insurance-of-up-to-3-million-baht-for-foreign-visitors-to-thailand

[DirtyHarry55]

Based on this requirement and cost don't think there will be many tourists even if they open up the boarders better get back to working the land and convert Hotels to Condos.

[DirtyHarry55]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Because if you test positive on arrival or while in quarantine, you will be hospitalized, even if asymptomatic; that is Thai policy. They want to be sure you have insurance to cover the cost of that. And it is more likley to happen if you cam from a high risk country.

Just wondering why they hospitalize someone if they have no symptoms surely Quarantine would suffice?

[Dialemco]

This is final nail in coffin why on earth would foreign tourists be interested in purchasing insurance from a Thai Insurance company subject to Thai Law when they can purchase far cheaper and more comprehensive insurance in their home countries. The Government's   domestic tourism package is far more likely to help big hotels but not the many small businesses that rely on Foreign Tourists nor the many Thais who earn relatively large sums from foreigners. The Government needs foreign currency which is badly needed for Thai economy. Personally regretfully have given up any plans to visit Thailand.

[agood1963]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai insurance companies offering Covid-19 coverage as foreign tourists prepare to return

Who said they are preparing to return . i think not it is just a dream .

 

[surfinglife]

5 hours ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

That very expensive doubt any tourist will pay that.
They were offering COVID19 insurance in March for 500-1000THB
If they do want tourists to return they need to offer insurance a reasonable price

from what I understand all COVID19 patients are treated in government hospitals not private

so it's not like they have to cover Private Hospital higher costs.

 

 

 Not correct. I had Covid in March and stayed in private hospital in Pattaya, treatment was covered by private (international, not Thai) insurer.

[rott]

borders

[surfinglife]

I assume that private international insurance will also be accepted for Covid just like for any other medical emergencies whilst in Thailand. Not many people would travel without a comprehensive insurance so I'm not sure who this "Thai Covid insurance" is supposed to be for.

[steven100]

6 minutes ago, surfinglife said:

 Not correct. I had Covid in March and stayed in private hospital in Pattaya, treatment was covered by private (international, not Thai) insurer.

so you had COVID19 in Pattaya in bars 

[mjakob007]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Are the premium numbers mentioned for annual policies?

 

And are short term policies available (17 days, 3 weeks, 1 month etc., to cover folks coming back on repat. flights but after getting their affairs in order need to quickly return abroad)?

one can buy a years insurance and decide to pay on a monthly basis.

ie step down to required levels, once you have gone through the hoops

[Chiang Mai Bill]

''with all the other certification required such as certificate of entry, fit to fly and fit to travel health certificates.''

 

I wonder what the exact requirements are for ''fit to travel'' certificate?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Well I would be interested to see how this all works out.

I think I can already guess.

[Anna Rak]

This is an excerpt from my bank policy and cost £15 per month.

 

What IS covered:

1. Reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses, including the cost of the rescue service to take You to hospital; and 2. Returning You to the UK provided this is authorised by Us or the Medical Assistance Helpline; and 3. Reasonable travel and room only accommodation expenses for a travelling companion or resident in the UK to stay with You and travel Home with You if this is authorised by Us or the Medical Assistance Helpline; and 4. Funeral expenses abroad or the cost of transporting Your body or ashes to Your Home. We will pay You up to £10,000,000: • if You go into hospital or require any medical assistance; and/or • if You have to return Home early or extend Your Trip; or • for reasonable and necessary funeral expenses abroad; or • for transporting Your body or ashes back to Your Home. We will pay You up to £1,000 if: • You require emergency dental treatment for the immediate relief of pain. We will pay You £50 per day (up to a maximum of £1,000) as a: • benefit for every complete 24 hour period You are in hospital or confined to Your Trip accommodation. We will pay You £10 for every 24 hour period: • towards meal expenses for the nominated person who stays/travels with You. Please note We may instruct You to return Home if Our medical advisers and the medical practitioner treating You decide that You are fit to travel. If You are injured or become ill during Your Trip, our Medical Assistance Helpline: з may move You from one hospital to another; and/or з arrange for You to return to the UK at any time. They will do this if they and the treating doctor think that it is safe for You to be moved or returned to the UK. If You choose not to, Our liability will end on the date it was deemed safe for You to be moved or returned to the UK

 

I would have thought this should be enough cover for these idiots, without paying rip-off fees to the government sponsored insurance companies. So ( BO**OCKS) to em!!!!

[Cake Monster]

The whole issue of Tourists returning to Thailand is hung up on just 2 things.

1.  A government that has little or no idea on how to manage a return of Tourists based on " damage limitation ".

and 2.   Money

A willingness from the Thai Authorities to shaft as much money as possible from any potential Tourist

Eg Fit to fly cert, medical check up, Insurance cover, ASQ 2 week Quarantine Etc ETc

These people in Authority do not realise that the who World is now savvy to their scams and lies, and will avoid Thailand for other more welcoming destinations. And there are many that appreciate Tourists and their money more than Thailand.

[ukrules]

44 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

I dont want to keep printing it...but its just changed..........

 

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/mandatory-covid-insurance-of-up-to-3-million-baht-for-foreign-visitors-to-thailand

Ok, it's changed from $100,000 to $95,600 - big deal

[Pattaya46]

deleted. already answered.

[VBF]

"Visitors will be able to buy coverage from 16 companies online before they travel."

 

This has to be a "white elephant"

Whenever Tourist Visas are available and flights, quarantine, etc are approaching normality, genuine tourists will simply get their travel insurance in their home countries!

[ukrules]

1 minute ago, VBF said:

"Visitors will be able to buy coverage from 16 companies online before they travel."

This has to be a "white elephant"

Genuine tourists will simply get their travel insurance in their home countries!

If it needs to be one of these companies then they're going to be very disappointed when hardly anyone comes to Thailand.

 

I believe there may be some international regulations and treaties which apply here. I'm going to look into this.

[VBF]

Just now, ukrules said:

If it needs to be one of these companies then they're going to be very disappointed when hardly anyone comes to Thailand.

 

I believe there may be some international regulations and treaties which apply here. I'm going to look into this.

Absolutely! I'll repost a link to my earlier thread, showing that "standard" UK travel insurance now covers Covid and i'm sure other countries' insurance companies are similar.

Who is going to get a policy from Thailand in order to travel to Thailand when they can get one at home, with a known and trusted organisation before they travel?

 

 

[samsensam]

14 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

The whole issue of Tourists returning to Thailand is hung up on just 2 things.

1.  A government that has little or no idea on how to manage a return of Tourists based on " damage limitation ".

and 2.   Money

A willingness from the Thai Authorities to shaft as much money as possible from any potential Tourist

Eg Fit to fly cert, medical check up, Insurance cover, ASQ 2 week Quarantine Etc ETc

These people in Authority do not realise that the who World is now savvy to their scams and lies, and will avoid Thailand for other more welcoming destinations. And there are many that appreciate Tourists and their money more than Thailand.

 

true enough, the thai government it putting all the emphasis on what visitors should/have to do and not what they can do to help manage the situation within thailand, two obvious initiatives;

 

- have an effective track and trace system in place (not the nonsense system they have currently)

- have widespread testing, it's what is most often stressed for any country wanting to effectively manage the virus, i did read thailand had developed a test that gave results in 1 hour 15 minutes so why not use it?!

 

the government just dont seem interested in creating a safely managed environment for tourism to exists in. they should be making it easy for tourists to visit not difficult.

[ukrules]

8 minutes ago, VBF said:

Absolutely! I'll repost a link to my earlier thread, showing that "standard" UK travel insurance now covers Covid and i'm sure other countries' insurance companies are similar.

Who is going to get a policy from Thailand in order to travel to Thailand when they can get one at home, with a known and trusted organisation before they travel?

 

 

The heavyweights in the European insurance industry will not be happy about this and I'm sure their lawyers will be all over the issue once things become clear.

 

As I mentioned in the other thread, the 'treatment' for COVID is to be locked away from people for weeks or more at great expense even if you're not actually ill. Good luck getting insurance companies to pay for that.

 

[terryofcrete]

6 hours ago, yeahbutif said:

The way I see this we all need insurance soon to be allowed back in to thailand.and won't make any difference on type of visa .or weather we need it to renew visa or not. So sound's to me only way not to need insurance is not leave....

I was in Greece and it clearly states that the Greek government will pay all the costs associated with Covid if you are unfortunate enough to fall ill or be tested positive including Isolation . As I said elsewhere ... Stick it in yer Momma Soup ! 

[samsensam]

thailand does seem to be, and has been, obsessed by foreigners not paying hospital bills, i'd suggest far out of proportion to the actual problem. they seem more concerned about a tourist not paying a medical bill than making a thailand a safe place for tourists to visit.

[Shocked farang]

Am I dreaming, or have I read yesterday an article where the prime minister said that normal tourists would not be returning to Thailand anytime soon? 

 

[robsamui]

3 hours ago, mlkik said:

I was about to get insurance with Pacific Health Thailand and they have informed me that my policy is only active once I have re entered Thailand. Therefore as there is a 15 day wait period I would not be covered under the policy if I tested positive in ASQ.

erm . . . aren't you stamped into the country with an entry stamp as soon as you get off the plane? Or are you now whisked off to be tested in limbo-land before you officially enter the country?

If you have left your previous country but not yet entered Thailand, that would seem to raise all sorts of possible legal problems and issues, with insurance being just one of them.

[holy cow cm]

Flogging the foreigners oh so gently with Thai Government fake smile of welcome, bring your money and then leave quickly.  Becoming land of the reaming.