Expat Health Insurance upon first entering Thailand

[mglaser]

Hi,

My family and I will soon move to Thailand as my wife took a job there. I have insurance with my current employer but will be quitting just before I leave. My wife's new job will give us insurance in Thailand, but I don't believe it will start until later in August. Will insurance from the US be effective in Thailand for the time before we get the new Thai insurance? Is there a temporary insurance program for the lapse between coverage that an expat can get?

Thanks!

[Spaniel]

I think you should be asking your US insurance company if the policy will be effective. Look into buying a travel insurance policy to cover you and family until wife's policy starts in August.

[Sheryl]

Yes, examine your current policy - but even if the coverage continues for a period of tiem after you stop work, I am doubtful it will cover you in Thailand. Or if it does, it will be for emergencies only and you'll have to pay up front and get reimbursed.

You need to get the details of your wife's insurance as well - if it is just the Thai Social Security system for employees, it will not cover you, just her. If it is a private insurance policy, check the cap as for some reason many companies here provide policies with such low levels of coverage as to be worthless.

You can get travel insurance for the two of you at very reasonable cost to cover the interval between your arrival and the start of her policy (assuming it covers you both). Policies can be taken out for as little as a month and extended if needed. Google "travel insurance". An important consideration to look into is whether the company has a direct billing arrangement with any Thai hospitals, as with many travel policies you have t pay up front.