Health Insurance While In Thailand

[Deekcon]

I will be visiting Thailand soon for a multi-month, open-ended, extended stay investigating retirement options. I need and want some kind of health insurance/travellers insurance. Is there any recommendations? I want to be able to be covered for treatment in Thailand in case of an accident or emergency in which I might need immediate and/or extensive and/or longterm care. I hear regular doctor visits are reasonable and can be done out of pocket. Any information that is related to my question is welcome as I am in need of answers to questions I don't even have yet. But in essence I don't want to be not treated because of a lack of coverage in an emergency situation. I will like help in knowing any insurance options or tips to save money or my life in case of accident or emergency. Thanks.

[lopburi3]

You might want to read through the insurance forum area while awaiting information - also your current age may help as it gets very hard to obtain anything in later years. Assume you do not have something now that you could continue? Travelers insurance may be less of a problem than full time for current plans but by same token as you get older getting into a full time plan will get harder.

[Deekcon]

I am 54 and in relatively good health. Thanks I will try to find the insurance forum.

[Deekcon]

Could mod switch to insurance in Thailand ?

[meand]

I would just carry a credit card on myself as "insurance".

[Godfree]

I've attached a 37-page report, Medical insurance in Thailand, that my company is about to publish. The links in this version are not live, nor is the video, but it the information is current.

I'd be grateful if you could give me some feedback on it. Are there any issues that it doesn't address, or questions unanswered, or lack of clarity, or ambiguity?

All the best

Medical insurance Report.pdf

[CaptHaddock]

Deekcon,

Are you sure that you need health insurance in Thailand? The usual reason for buying insurance of any kind is to offload a financial risk that you cannot afford to bear yourself onto an insurance carrier. So, for example, laptop insurance is probably a bad product for those who can afford to pay to replace a lost computer. On the other hand fire insurance is usually worthwhile since few people can afford to replace the house if it burns down. Healthcare costs in Thailand are a fraction of those in the US, for example. If you take the lower costs into account you may find that insurance is not worthwhile, depending on your ability to pay, of course.

[Sheryl]

Very much disagree with the above. While health care costs are lower in Thailand than in the west they can still be considerable (e.g. into the 6 figures) especially in case of a serious accident and/or care in a private hospital. Travel insurance is definitely well worth it.

The more complex question is what to do if you decide to retire in Thailand as local insurance policies are comparatively pricey (small pool of insured persons; Thai citizens having coverage through government schemes). Also depending on your age, getting a local policy may or may not be difficult. But for a temporary trip (s), travel insurance is a no brain er IMO. I personally use World Nomads for that.

[londoedan]

There's a similar thread going here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/576906-what-are-the-best-health-insurance-options/

that might be of interest to some of the posters and readers.

[londoedan]

The more complex question is what to do if you decide to retire in Thailand as local insurance policies are comparatively pricey (small pool of insured persons; Thai citizens having coverage through government schemes). Also depending on your age, getting a local policy may or may not be difficult.

If I can ask a question, what would be your advice for a person in their 50's or 60's retiring to Thailand, in relatively good health ?

I guess there's an awful lot of us in this demographic, living, or planning to live, in Thailand.

[Clipper747]

Hello maybe this site can help you, I have a policy with seven corners, they have many options to choose from. You can get a instant quote and purchase right online I find the rates very affordable . Hope this helps.

www.expathealthasia.com

[madmitch]

As Sheryl said, use travel insurance for the short term; it is so much cheaper, i.e. the duration of your initial stay, assuming you have a return flight booked. If you decide to stay, then you will have to seek out a proper health insurance.

[bobobo]

If You over 60 the insurance companies won't even speak to You I',m afraid...

[JeffreyMcCollum]

And bring bottled water just in case as well as tanks of air . . . .

Why ?

No mattter what you have done here, it will be less than the deductable back home.

Air is free, bottled water cheep and everywhere, they sky is not falling

If your that worried just stay home !

[canopus1969]

If You over 60 the insurance companies won't even speak to You I',m afraid...

Total rubbish, of course you can get insurance over 60

[laislica]

K-Bank offered me accident insurance for 2,500 Baht per year, until they realised I was 70, then they apologised and said I didn't look that old. LOL

[roars1111]

Probably the most popular health insurance company in Thailand, with many Thai companies and schools using them, BUPA is used by many expats as they offer a huge number of policies with all kinds of choices and at inexpensive prices.

At BUPA, they literally have health insurance policies beginning as low as 10 baht (33 cents) per day, for basic health care. They also offer Major Medical for anyone who succumbs to a major illness or accident. Policies cover in patient and daily care expenses, surgical fees, physicians fees, room and board, medications, personal accident etc. You can also get Maternity health insurance, which is often an extra coverage not included on a regular health insurance policy with BUPA.

BUPA even offers something called "Sunshine" care, which is a health insurance policy for foreign nationals who will be spending up to six months at a time in Thailand, and their rates are extremely competitive.