CHEAPEST ANNUAL TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR COE?

[AJR3RD]

I'm trying to find a way to make a trip back to the U.S. to see my dying father.

 

I have found it virtually impossible to get straightforward information about travel insurance from insurance companies. The first thing they want is your personal and contact information, and once you give it, they never leave you alone, and they NEVER give you what you are actually looking for. It's all about milking you for the greatest possible amount of money they can.

 

I'm wondering if anybody here has experience with a company that provides bare-bones, absolute rock-bottom COVID-19 cover (US$100k for COE) without any other bells and whistles, and with the highest possible deductible. I do not need coverage outside of Thailand (I'm am 100% covered in the U.S. and territories). I do not need HEALTH insurance in general. I don't need lost baggage insurance, or travel interruption insurance. All I need in coverage is what the government of Thailand requires me to have when I re-enter on my long-stay O-A visa. I am fully vaccinated and can easily get negative PCR.

 

I've spent quite a few hours researching this, and now I'm fending off insurance weasels 10 times a day. The best I've been able to find costs $1,000 U.S. dollars, and provides a very long list of coverage for stuff I don't want or need.

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by AJR3RD

[ubonjoe]

Have you looked at this site for the covid 19 insurance required to enter the country.

https://www.tipinsure.com/CovidRegional/product_detail

 

[AJR3RD]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

Have you looked at this site for the covid 19 insurance required to enter the country.

https://www.tipinsure.com/CovidRegional/product_detail

 

I have not, but I will. Thank you.

[wanderingengine]

Is there a deductible requirement for the insurance? Or can you get insurance with any deductible that you want?

[ubonjoe]

46 minutes ago, wanderingengine said:

Is there a deductible requirement for the insurance? Or can you get insurance with any deductible that you want?

It depends upon which insurance your are asking about. 

For the $100,000 covid 19 insurance no deductible would be allowed.

For 40/400k baht needed for a OA visa application it is allowed. There are companies on this list that offer it with a educatable (check LMG). https://longstay.tgia.org/home/companiesoa

[wanderingengine]

Probably not the very cheapest but useful for purposes other than the COE.

DAN (Divers Alert Network) has annual travel insurance that covers covid. The "Explorer" plan has a limit of US$100,000. The company that actually runs the insurance will write an embassy letter for you which states specifically that covid is covered. They are a bit error prone -- it took four phone calls for them to get it right for me.

I haven't gotten my COE yet, but they seemed to accept DAN insurance with the embassy letter for confirmation of the pre-approval.

Cost was $440 for a 40 year old guy. You have to be a US or Canadian resident. The insurance will cover all of my travel for a year. DAN membership is very good if you dive. They have people on the phone who can direct you to useful help in case of a dive accident, etc.

Edited July 16, 2021 by wanderingengine

[BritTim]

With travel insurance, be very careful you understand how the coverage works. For instance, in most cases, even with 12 month travel insurance, you will not be covered once you have been in a foreign country for over six months. 

[EVENKEEL]

On 6/28/2021 at 3:44 AM, ubonjoe said:

Have you looked at this site for the covid 19 insurance required to enter the country.

https://www.tipinsure.com/CovidRegional/product_detail

 

I'm assuming as an example, I reenter Thailand 26 Nov, 2021 and extension ends 28 Dec, 2021 a 2 month covid 19 insurance is all's needed besides your OA Ins.

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I'm assuming as an example, I reenter Thailand 26 Nov, 2021 and extension ends 28 Dec, 2021 a 2 month covid 19 insurance is all's needed besides your OA Ins.

Two months of covid 19 insurance is all that is required at this time.

That could change before then since the are discussing a requirement for it to be valid for the length of your extension of stay when you apply for it if you are extending a OA visa entry. That was in the news a months or so ago.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

This is from the Dhipaya Insurance (Thipinsure) website regarding their inbound Covid policy:

 

"This insurance policy is not intended for foreigners and Thai nationals who currently live in Thailand"

 

It looks like this product was designed to allow tourists to enter Thailand but not to facilitate re-entry of those already living here. I don't know how it works in practice, however.

 

Most travel insurance policies will cease cover once the policyholder returns to his or her country of residence or country from which the travel itinerary originated, so this needs to be looked into carefully in order to avoid surprises if the policyholder lives in Thailand and expects cover to apply upon re-entry.

 

Best to find a competent broker and explain your situation and needs.

[ubonjoe]

33 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

"This insurance policy is not intended for foreigners and Thai nationals who currently live in Thailand"

 

It looks like this product was designed to allow tourists to enter Thailand but not to facilitate re-entry of those already living here. I don't know how it works in practice, however.

That means you cannot buy it to use while you are here in the country already.

You buy it tied to specific arrival date and etc. After using it to enter the country you can use it to pay for treatment until it expires.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That means you cannot buy it to use while you are here in the country already.

You buy it tied to specific arrival date and etc. Aftering using it to enter the country you can use it to pay for treatment until it expires.

Thanks, Joe.