Travel insurance to be arranged for all tourist arrivals over holiday season : Srettha

[StayinThailand2much]

37 minutes ago, George FmplesdaCosteedback said:

It is now covered in flight costs for those departing by plane. I expect this will happen to the new arrival tax soon too.

 

Yes, the 300-baht fee is shelved for now, but I will ring the bell in a full bar, if I'm wrong and a similar one isn't proposed again within the next 18 months...

Edited December 21, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Paris333]

The western embassies of the USA and the European Union are responsible for this chaotic situation of their citizens.They can attach contracts for the tourists coming from America and Europe in order to be treated in the emergency room.

[jacko45k]

19 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

tourist has an accident, is hospitalized. No insurance, no money. Hospital sends the bill to the government, after the patient's pockets are empty.

Or he is wearing something without pockets?

[jacko45k]

19 hours ago, Lopburikid said:

It says he wants it implemented to cover the upcoming holiday period. Christmas and New Year. will ALL tourist be given an insurance card as they enter? Will their hospital bill be covered immediately, or they pay and claim it back? Like everything else here, a lot of gray areas.

Beyond optimistic, in reality, quite ridiculous. 

[jacko45k]

19 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Government minimum insurance covers everyone for 30kbht, which is enough to cover most accidents treated in a government hospital.

I thought it was only 3rd party. 

That amount may or may not get a broken leg fixed in a government hospital, but in reality more cover is needed.

[jacko45k]

17 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is not the duty of an IO to check if you have insured yourself. They have  to hold you when you did not pay the hospital bill or damages... when you leave the country

Under what legal premise can they hold you, and prevent you leaving the country? Not sure that is practical either....

[BritManToo]

15 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I thought it was only 3rd party. 

That amount may or may not get a broken leg fixed in a government hospital, but in reality more cover is needed.

My pal toppled his scooter in his driveway, claimed on gov min, paid for his broken hip (just).

My hit and run 2 months back, it's paying for my emergency care and broken ribs/collarbone (8 weeks in and 8kbht spent).

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

My pal toppled his scooter in his driveway, claimed on gov min, paid for his broken hip (just).

My hit and run 2 months back, it's paying for my emergency care and broken ribs/collarbone (8 weeks in and 8kbht spent).

Some of these tourists get really smashed up... and would not know which government hospitals to use. I know a few with very good reputations, but a few others that are not as good. 

[radiochaser]

6 hours ago, Paris333 said:

The western embassies of the USA and the European Union are responsible for this chaotic situation of their citizens.They can attach contracts for the tourists coming from America and Europe in order to be treated in the emergency room.

Does Thailand attach contracts to Thai tourists that go to the USA or Europe, in order for Thai tourists to be treated in emergency rooms?

 

I cannot speak for Europe, but in the USA, emergency rooms are required, by USA law, to treat sick and injured people whether or not those people have any insurance.  

That would include Thai tourists who go to hospitals due to illness or injury.  And if the Thai tourist happens to overstay their visa's while hospitalized, those Thai tourists are not treated as criminals and subject to detention or fines or blacklisting for overstay!

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by radiochaser

[radiochaser]

18 hours ago, Lopburikid said:

In England they held a forum about the wording of insurance policies and after reading every word of 1 or 2 insurance policies The head of English at Cambridge University said there are so many "HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW" paragraphs that totally contradict what it is you are being insured for and gives them under the law the right to refuse payment. The only people who could/would be able to fight it are the rich and/or famous.

I was offered an insurance policy here in the U.S. of A. and the company refused to send me the details of the policy to read, before I paid for it.  Then if I did pay for it and did not like the terms of the policy, they told me I could not get a refund.  

Naturally, I did not purchase that insurance.

[Poseidon]

On 12/21/2023 at 12:59 AM, Andyfez said:

Perhaps instead of making everyone go to the expense of this travel insurance, they should tell the international hospitals not to be charging ridiculous prices like 100,000 baht per day.

For ITU that's cheap

[Huckenfell]

On 12/21/2023 at 10:03 AM, Iron Tongue said:

I wonder if this foreign traveler insurance will cover STDs?

There's still that nasty case of antibiotic-resistant Super Gonorrhea that hasn't been addressed.

OMG  I never heard of that one. Where is it to be found ?

 

[Huckenfell]

On 12/21/2023 at 11:00 AM, alien365 said:

Will this cover riding a bike without a helmet, license, or while drunk? Rabies injections after dog/monkey bites? 

So  many stupid questions, why dont people think first ?

 

[alien365]

6 hours ago, Huckenfell said:

So  many stupid questions, why dont people think first ?

 

Please provide the policy wording then. If tourists are receiving insurance, surely they need to know what it covers. It currently sounds like it will cover all accidents which gives a false sense of security. 

Edited December 26, 2023 by alien365

[lor]

I wish I could get travel insurance. Being 70 years young with stage 4 kidney disease, heart failure, very high blood pressure and a stay in Intensive Care within the last 9 months no company will insure me without paying thousands of pounds!  Glad the Thai government are now going to cover the cost for me!

[Sheryl]

14 minutes ago, lor said:

I wish I could get travel insurance. Being 70 years young with stage 4 kidney disease, heart failure, very high blood pressure and a stay in Intensive Care within the last 9 months no company will insure me without paying thousands of pounds!  Glad the Thai government are now going to cover the cost for me!

That would certainly be so for regular health insurance but are you sure it is true for travel insurance?

 

Most would insure you but exclude anything related to your various pre-exisitng conditions.

 

A few would also cover "acute exacerbations" of your pre-existing conditions, often for an extra cost.

[lor]

On 12/27/2023 at 12:22 PM, Sheryl said:

That would certainly be so for regular health insurance but are you sure it is true for travel insurance?

 

Most would insure you but exclude anything related to your various pre-exisitng conditions.

 

A few would also cover "acute exacerbations" of your pre-existing conditions, often for an extra cost.

That was for normal travel insurance. It is true it can be a lot cheaper if pre-existing conditions are not included but I have so many pre-existing that it would mean I would have no cover health cover whatsoever and I am sure they would even try to not pay out on accident causing medical treatment. I have found it is better to pay myself. Spent 4 nights in Queen Sirikit hospital with all the care. Lots of daily tests and X-Rays, medication and private room. The doctors were first class. My heart was checked by one of Thailand's top heart specialists who happened to be at the hospital at the time. The whole cost came to less than the insurance excess which was £500. Always avoid the private hospital rip offs in Thailand.

[actonion]

All Tourist   Insurance  should be free   for any accidents,     Going to Thailand is  becoming   like having a  Death wish,      The  Roads are too dangerous to drive,    the Footpaths   are unsafe,   more Boats  Sink than  can  complete a journey,  any form of Public Transport in unadvisable  due to the  Driver mistaking the  Accelerator  for the Brake,     or sleeping....the list is endless

[bristolgeoff]

What would go fund me do if this happens.Also the hospital charges are over the top here.Will they look at that.