US Citizen living in Thailand needs insurance for trip to the US

[garet]

I'm living in Thailand now, but I'm moving back to the USA in mid-November. I'm looking for short term health/travel insurance for my 1st month there.

All the travel insurance that I've looked at doesn't cover US citizens while in the US. Another plan requires that I be a resident of Thailand, but I will be leaving Thailand and giving up my room before I leave. 

 

I'm intending on signing up for insurance through the ACA after I'm in the US, but that would still leave me uncovered for several weeks. 

 

Can any expat US citizen tell me where they bought reliable, short term health/travel insurance during trips home to the US?

I've looked at old posts both here and on Reddit, but I haven't found a reliable answer.

[Gobbler]

2 minutes ago, garet said:

I'm living in Thailand now, but I'm moving back to the USA in mid-November. I'm looking for short term health/travel insurance for my 1st month there.

All the travel insurance that I've looked at doesn't cover US citizens while in the US. Another plan requires that I be a resident of Thailand, but I will be leaving Thailand and giving up my room before I leave. 

 

I'm intending on signing up for insurance through the ACA after I'm in the US, but that would still leave me uncovered for several weeks. 

 

Can any expat US citizen tell me where they bought reliable, short term health/travel insurance during trips home to the US?

I've looked at old posts both here and on Reddit, but I haven't found a reliable answer.

I used travel insurance to go to the USA, and then increased the length. There was a limit of a year or two.

 

[Sheryl]

IMG has a travel  policy that covers US citizens visiting the US -- but  they must be resident elsewhere.

 

I believe it is called Patriot.  Prior to becoming eligible for Medicare I got this each year. (Never had a claim tho). 

[jas007]

Unless you know for sure that you're at risk of a major health emergency, why not just get some accident insurance?  

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, jas007 said:

Unless you know for sure that you're at risk of a major health emergency, why not just get some accident insurance?  

Health emergencies can strike unexpectedly and medical care in the US is astronomicslly expensive. ...even for more  minor ailments which he would also want to be able to get treatment for as needed. 

[Phillip9]

On 10/29/2024 at 6:47 PM, garet said:

I'm intending on signing up for insurance through the ACA after I'm in the US, but that would still leave me uncovered for several weeks. 

 

You can sign up for coverage the minute you land and declare yourself a US resident.  You will be covered immediately after you signup.  There is no need for any travel insurance.

[jas007]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Health emergencies can strike unexpectedly and medical care in the US is astronomicslly expensive. ...even for more  minor ailments which he would also want to be able to get treatment for as needed. 

 

Well, if he has to go to the US and has no other options, my guess is that accident insurance would be better than nothing.

[garet]

On 10/29/2024 at 7:28 PM, Sheryl said:

IMG has a travel  policy that covers US citizens visiting the US -- but  they must be resident elsewhere.

 

I believe it is called Patriot.  Prior to becoming eligible for Medicare I got this each year. (Never had a claim tho). 

Thanks for this information. I will be leaving Thailand so I won't officially be a resident. My Thai Visa is still good until May, and I could get a re-entry permit to make it look like I'm still a resident, but if I needed to make a claim, chances are IMG would investigate and determine that I already moved out of Thailand. It would be a roll of the dice I guess.

[sqwakvfr]

I go back to CA two to three times a year. I have bought AXA Thailand travel insurance for years.  It is not much but better than nothing.  Never filed a claim so do not know how effective they are.  I also have Thai Health Insurance policy that does provide IPD (Inpatient) coverage while I am in the US. 

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, garet said:

Thanks for this information. I will be leaving Thailand so I won't officially be a resident. My Thai Visa is still good until May, and I could get a re-entry permit to make it look like I'm still a resident, but if I needed to make a claim, chances are IMG would investigate and determine that I already moved out of Thailand. It would be a roll of the dice I guess.

 Would likely depend on how long you had been in US, and also on the size of the claim. When you get the policy you have to state duration of the trip to US.

 

If you still have a valid Thai visa and have been in US not more than the indicated length of your trip  I doubt there would be a problem.