Hi,

Bit of an odd question maybe!

Background:

I travel very regular to Thailand (roughly 7 or 8 times a year), hold a 1 year extension based on marriage (with obviously a multi re-entry).

Total stay in country is maybe between 3 and 4 months per year. Own a condo in BKK.

So at his time I remain fully covered by a (very extensive) travel insurance policy. With extra whistles and bells making sure for example motorbike accidents are fully covered (when driving legally of course).

However sometime in the not so distant future the stays in country will become longer, and there will be a point when I will lose the coverage from the travel insurance (single stay cannot be over 90 days for that insurance).

Not sure exactly when that will be.

Question now is as follows, does it make sense to start a Thai health insurance policy although not really needing it yet?

I am looking at for example advantages towards insurance premiums which might be lower when you are longer with the same company?

Along with possible issues starting cover while a bit older?

I am now in my fifties and as a guestimate will start needing Thai local insurance when I'll be somewehere early sixties.

In my homecountry it does make a rather big difference, the policy I hold now (having been with them well or over a decade) has a roughly 40% lower premium compared with what I would need to pay when starting the exact same policy now.

Differences get even higher the older you are!

i would continue with the travel insurance as long as it's valid as it's much better value than health insurance, then switch

Edited May 15May 15 by scubascuba3

I would get a good international health insurance(not travel) from your home country it will be more expensive than a Thai policy, Thai policies can add exclusions later long after you take out the policy, this would certainly be banned in Europe and i would Say Australia.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

i would continue with the travel insurance as long as it's valid as it's much better value than health insurance, then switch

So does Travel Insurance cover the same as Health Insurance? I think not

10 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

So does Travel Insurance cover the same as Health Insurance? I think not

No different policies

12 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

So does Travel Insurance cover the same as Health Insurance? I think not

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

No different policies

Yes and no.

Medically speaking, what both do is avoiding illness or an accident to become financial ruin.

How they do that is very different.

Local health insurance will cover medical expenses in Thai hospitals until you are healed and (obviously) within the limits you are insured for.

In normal circumstances it should mean that the only out of pocket is your deductible (if you chose a contract with one).

Travel insurance pretty much does the same (avoid financial ruin), however the route will most likely be different.

It will make sure you are treated locally, and if needed, and healthwise able, will repatriate you back to your home country, where the remainder of your treatment will take place (for most Europeans that will mean from then on largely paid for by the social system of your home country).

The main reason such "travel" insurance oftentime is relatively cheap, is that they do rely on the brunt of the medical costs to be paid for by your existing "government" insurance in your homecountry.

Travel insurance will ususally have much higher limits (mine is up to equivalent of 3 million Euros).

It will also cover travel costs for your travel companions if needed. And a whole heap of other purely travel related stuff such as lost luggace etc.

So actually an added advantage of having local health insurance, is that they will not scoot you back to your homecountry at the earliest possible!

It might be that you'd want that, but just the same you might prefer to get fully treated in Thailand!

My worry is not how they work/operate as both sort of do the same (saving your wallet/bankaccount when things go to sh*t), but rather making sure that I can get local insurance later on when I am older, and at the best possible price.

Actually what prompted this question is that when trying to get a quote on the Thai AXA site, I could not enter a birthday giving me an age over 60 (was curious how much a 65 your old would pay).

Many insurance companies do not take you on as a new customer when you are older then X amount of years, but if you already are a customer you can keep extending your policy, often till you pass away!

Edited May 15May 15 by pdebuck456

28 minutes ago, pdebuck456 said:

Yes and no.

Medically speaking, what both do is avoiding illness or an accident to become financial ruin.

How they do that is very different.

Local health insurance will cover medical expenses in Thai hospitals until you are healed and (obviously) within the limits you are insured for.

In normal circumstances it should mean that the only out of pocket is your deductible (if you chose a contract with one).

Travel insurance pretty much does the same (avoid financial ruin), however the route will most likely be different.

It will make sure you are treated locally, and if needed, and healthwise able, will repatriate you back to your home country, where the remainder of your treatment will take place (for most Europeans that will mean from then on largely paid for by the social system of your home country).

The main reason such "travel" insurance oftentime is relatively cheap, is that they do rely on the brunt of the medical costs to be paid for by your existing "government" insurance in your homecountry.

Travel insurance will ususally have much higher limits (mine is up to equivalent of 3 million Euros).

It will also cover travel costs for your travel companions if needed. And a whole heap of other purely travel related stuff such as lost luggace etc.

So actually an added advantage of having local health insurance, is that they will not scoot you back to your homecountry at the earliest possible!

It might be that you'd want that, but just the same you might prefer to get fully treated in Thailand!

My worry is not how they work/operate as both sort of do the same (saving your wallet/bankaccount when things go to sh*t), but rather making sure that I can get local insurance later on when I am older, and at the best possible price.

Actually what prompted this question is that when trying to get a quote on the Thai AXA site, I could not enter a birthday giving me an age over 60 (was curious how much a 65 your old would pay).

Many insurance companies do not take you on as a new customer when you are older then X amount of years, but if you already are a customer you can keep extending your policy, often till you pass away!

Travel insurance and health insurance are very different, travel insurance is mostly accident insurance, it won't cover diabetes related illnesses etc etc.

Your health insurance will get very expensive here eventually whatever you do now. Eventually it will become unaffordable when you need it the most.

May be a benefit getting the insurance before the pre existing conditions (known or unknown) start kicking in

Don't expect your insurance premiums to go down based on how long you have been insured with the company. Expect the opposite as they will increase it based on age, usually every 5 years. Also check the policy for exclusions that activate based on age.

If you are taking any medication for stuff like blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.. expect lots of exclusions from the get go.

19 hours ago, pdebuck456 said:

Hi,

Bit of an odd question maybe!

Background:

I travel very regular to Thailand (roughly 7 or 8 times a year), hold a 1 year extension based on marriage (with obviously a multi re-entry).

Total stay in country is maybe between 3 and 4 months per year. Own a condo in BKK.

So at his time I remain fully covered by a (very extensive) travel insurance policy. With extra whistles and bells making sure for example motorbike accidents are fully covered (when driving legally of course).

However sometime in the not so distant future the stays in country will become longer, and there will be a point when I will lose the coverage from the travel insurance (single stay cannot be over 90 days for that insurance).

Not sure exactly when that will be.

Question now is as follows, does it make sense to start a Thai health insurance policy although not really needing it yet?

I am looking at for example advantages towards insurance premiums which might be lower when you are longer with the same company?

Along with possible issues starting cover while a bit older?

I am now in my fifties and as a guestimate will start needing Thai local insurance when I'll be somewehere early sixties.

In my homecountry it does make a rather big difference, the policy I hold now (having been with them well or over a decade) has a roughly 40% lower premium compared with what I would need to pay when starting the exact same policy now.

Differences get even higher the older you are!

Yes, do it.

You'll start with low premiums.

Read the small prints. Is it a life time Health Insurance?

Go for various quotations.

Today there's a story about a British couple with a hospital bill over 60.000 pounds. (I pay 300 Euro/month, compare)

So, I don't follow those here on AN, claiming it's better to pay out of your pockets, without insurance.

I reckon sometimes they say that because they can't afford a Health Insurance.

Up to you.

19 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes, do it.

You'll start with low premiums.

Read the small prints. Is it a life time Health Insurance?

Go for various quotations.

Today there's a story about a British couple with a hospital bill over 60.000 pounds. (I pay 300 Euro/month, compare)

So, I don't follow those here on AN, claiming it's better to pay out of your pockets, without insurance.

I reckon sometimes they say that because they can't afford a Health Insurance.

Up to you.

Good quality insurance may well be worth it, but even that will become unaffordable for most eventually, of course cheap poor quality insurance isn't a good idea, best people do good due diligence before signing up

20 hours ago, pdebuck456 said:

does it make sense to start a Thai health insurance policy although not really needing it yet?

If all you want is a Thai health insurance policy vs other foreign policies, I say YES.

It appears to me that Thai health insurance policies to do cover pre-existing conditions. So buy it as far in advance when you are very healthy (and young) before the beginning of any health issue arises.

I don’t know what policies are available now but I got mine 8 years ago at age 62. The policy covers me up to age 90 with premium increases every 5 years. So far the increase has been reasonable. Part of my premium includes life insurance which I stop paying at age 80 and get a full refund of the insurance premiums if I make it to age 90. I figure I can use the money to buy a nice motorized wheelchair. 😁

To keep the cost down I only have hospitalization coverage with no deductible. Used it twice for eye surgery without any problems

Edited May 16May 16 by statman78

I had health insurance in AIA that increased every 5 year. I started at the age of 63/64. Then the price was below 40k baht (it is always combined with life insurance, you decide how much). After turning 75 the premium is increased to 100k baht, and the cover reduced to 50k bath (another way to say we don’t want you as customer any more). So I stopped.

Together with the health insurance you also can get an accident insurance, but after 75 that one is no longer available.

For a senior foreigner living in Thailand my advice would be to save some extra money and be self-insured. For any affordable insurance there is a limit to how much they will pay.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Good quality insurance may well be worth it, but even that will become unaffordable for most eventually, of course cheap poor quality insurance isn't a good idea, best people do good due diligence before signing up

Yes, therefore I said look for quotations. Important: it's life time!? Until you die?

Most do not cover any pre existing conditions and even if they say after 2-3 years, it may take much longer and then they will only give you partial coverage on your pre existing conditions once they finally approve it. So do what you’re doing and research the fine lines especially.

20 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

No different policies

My travel insurance will relocate me back home if something serious happens, where I also have private health insurance with priority.

That is why I will keep this setup until the age limit, through 69 years.

And for me a similar health insurance plan at 57 will cost me around 3000 euro more or less

At 69 years old, you are at the absolute maximum age limit for both of these nomad insurance subscriptions. For a 69-year-old traveler, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Essential costs $196.84 USD per 4 weeks, while Genki Traveler costs approximately €135 to €168 EUR ($145 to $185 USD) per month, depending on your exact travel zones and deductibles

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

My travel insurance will relocate me back home if something serious happens, where I also have private health insurance with priority.

Have you read the small print? usually you have to be in the home country for 180 days before you travel, if you have big claim they may/should check your passport

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Important: it's life time!? Until you die?

Not a chance in hell it will cover until you die of old age, eventually premiums become unaffordable and you cancel

Edited May 16May 16 by scubascuba3

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Have you read the small print? usually you have to be in the home country for 180 days before you travel, if you have big claim they may/should check your passport

This is nomads Insurance, I'm on 75 days yearly travel Insurance from Norway, my credit card got 90 days, and so far everythime I stay longer I do nomads Insurance. But next year I do not plan to travel frequently back and forth and nomads insurances can be signed while traveling and are monthly based, no matter how long you stay.

You pay by month, and when you reach 365 days you have to renew the contract, and every new condition is going to be preexisting condition, and that can be a problem If you do not have a back up as me with health care in Norway

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

This is nomads Insurance, I'm on 75 days yearly travel Insurance from Norway, my credit card got 90 days, and so far everythime I stay longer I do nomads Insurance. But next year I do not plan to travel frequently back and forth and nomads insurances can be signed while traveling and are monthly based, no matter how long you stay.

You pay by month, and when you reach 365 days you have to renew the contract, and every new condition is going to be preexisting condition, and that can be a problem If you do not have a back up as me with health care in Norway

Yep annual travel insurance can work if you stay per the policy doc, but it means going home a few times a year. I know someone who uses travel insurance to come here, one day the company won't pay the claim when they look at his passport.

Travel insurance is mostly accident insurance and you can get that in Thailand anyway

Edited May 16May 16 by scubascuba3

On 5/15/2026 at 1:49 PM, pdebuck456 said:

Hi,

Bit of an odd question maybe!

Background:

I travel very regular to Thailand (roughly 7 or 8 times a year), hold a 1 year extension based on marriage (with obviously a multi re-entry).

Total stay in country is maybe between 3 and 4 months per year. Own a condo in BKK.

So at his time I remain fully covered by a (very extensive) travel insurance policy. With extra whistles and bells making sure for example motorbike accidents are fully covered (when driving legally of course).

However sometime in the not so distant future the stays in country will become longer, and there will be a point when I will lose the coverage from the travel insurance (single stay cannot be over 90 days for that insurance).

Not sure exactly when that will be.

Question now is as follows, does it make sense to start a Thai health insurance policy although not really needing it yet?

I am looking at for example advantages towards insurance premiums which might be lower when you are longer with the same company?

Along with possible issues starting cover while a bit older?

I am now in my fifties and as a guestimate will start needing Thai local insurance when I'll be somewehere early sixties.

In my homecountry it does make a rather big difference, the policy I hold now (having been with them well or over a decade) has a roughly 40% lower premium compared with what I would need to pay when starting the exact same policy now.

Differences get even higher the older you are!

the younger you are the lower the yearly premiums will be ..

and if no claims are made ( usually 2 years ) you earn more discounts

you can also chose various deductables plus in patient or out patient variables ..

Those hospital charges in case you need a serious interventions or treatment could cost you an arm and a leg

and leave you brock, so yes, insure yourself, better being safe than sorry.

On 5/15/2026 at 3:55 PM, howerde said:

I would get a good international health insurance(not travel) from your home country it will be more expensive than a Thai policy, Thai policies can add exclusions later long after you take out the policy, this would certainly be banned in Europe and i would Say Australia.

But can foreigners start / hold health insurance policies with Thai Health insurers?

6 minutes ago, scorecard said:

But can foreigners start / hold health insurance policies with Thai Health insurers?

Yes with an extension of stay or visa, unless things have changed you could not get one with a tourist visa or visa exempt, i have seen adverts for health insurance on facebook for people on DTV visa which is a tourist visa, tread carefully, they are quick to take your money, but the fine print will trip you up, look only at the major insurers, i would always suggest a good international policy from your home country, where you have a decent ombudsman, and make sure you tell them every little thing you have had including tests you have had