Advertorial What you need to know about health insurance as a digital nomad in Thailand

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There are plenty of reasons to be happy about having the chance to experience Thailand up close. After all, Thailand is a culture trove like few others on earth. To add to that, friendly and easygoing people and mouth-watering Thai cuisines make the Land of Smiles one of the top destinations for digital nomads.

 

All that being said, you should not forget about securing sufficient health insurance before you hop on the plane. For one thing, sufficient health insurance coverage is a requirement under the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa program. And though the quality of Thailand’s public healthcare services is commendable, expats can only access it by paying for it. Language is another reason why public healthcare is not always the preferred choice for expats in Thailand.

 

What all that means is that, oftentimes, private healthcare is the best option for expats in Thailand, including digital nomads. Depending on your plans and situation, you should secure either a long-stay visa insurance plan or an international health insurance plan for your stay in Thailand. Our friends at Pacific Prime Thailand have shared with us their insights, which we’ll share with you here.

1. Long-stay visa insurance

This option is for you if you plan on making Thailand your home for a long time. Long-stay visa (LSV) plans will cover you while in Thailand. If you need to be out of Thailand for brief periods, you will need to secure travel insurance to cover potential medical and repatriation expenses while out of Thailand.

 

The main benefit of LSV plans vis-à-vis international health insurance (IHI) plans is that they often cost less for a similar level of protection. The downside, of course, is that every time you go on a trip, you need to make sure the travel insurance you secure is sufficient for your brief time outside Thailand. In addition, the medical coverage of travel insurance plans are often not as comprehensive as what you get under an IHI plan, and the time limit of coverage means you cannot receive long-term treatment outside of Thailand, even if such treatment is beneficial from a medical standpoint.

2. International health insurance

If Thailand is only one of the countries you want to explore in the coming years, or you are not sure about your plans at the moment, then you should definitely consider securing an IHI plan.

 

Not only will you be covered wherever you may be (but bear in mind particular countries may be excluded under your plan), the fact that your health plan gives you worldwide coverage also implies that you will have a more comprehensive coverage and wider treatment options even during brief trips outside your country of residence. There is also no need to undergo the underwriting process again, provided your plan has a lifetime renewal guarantee and you keep renewing your coverage. All in all, IHI plans are the “once-and-for-all” option that are also more expensive.

 

You will still need travel insurance for brief trips abroad though, because these plans also protect you against property loss in accidents, theft, lost luggage or passport, and the like. Needless to say, whichever type of health insurance you decide to go for, you should carefully understand the terms and conditions of the plans on your shortlist, including those related to pre-existing conditions, renewal guarantees, waiting periods, etc.

Looking for a health insurance plan that meets your needs as a digital nomad?

Whether you’ve decided on securing a long-stay visa insurance or an international health insurance plan, look no further because Pacific Prime Thailand is your ideal partner! With more than 20 years of experience, Pacific Prime is well-positioned to apply their expertise and experience in health insurance to provide unbiased advice that only a leading global brokerage can.

 

So, get in touch with Pacific Prime Thailand to discuss your needs, or for a free plan comparison today!