Medical Insurance in Thailand

Godfree Roberts

• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• eBook ISBN: 9781456623920
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Insurance

FOR EXPATRIATES LIVING IN THAILANDILLUSTRATED GUIDE to medical insurance in Thailand. EXPLAINS seven insurance strategies: from no insurance to full coverage by an international carrier, with sample rates and exclusions.VIDEO of expats discussing their insurance in ThailandILLUSTRATED with charts, comparative prices, and live links to insurers.FULL DESCRIPTION OF THAI HOSPITALS, their hierarchy, standards of care, and certifications.STORIES by people who have used, refused to use, and failed to use medical insurance in Thailand.THE 37-PAGE REPORT was compiled with participation of Thailand residents, insurers, doctors, and hospitals.

1. Carol’s Insurance Letter

Thank you for the newsletter, Life in Thailand. I found it very helpful. Do you have an issue with info on affordable health insurance? I have been making enquiries about this subject and have had quotes of from about $11,000 - $22,000/year. There goes living in Thailand for half the price!!

I'm sure there’s a better way. We are both healthy at the moment, though I have a couple of minor conditions that I'm not anticipating needing any treatment for.

However, we don’t want to risk not having any health insurance so would appreciate knowing what other retirees in Thailand on a limited budget (like an age pension) are doing for this.

Cheers,
Carol (Australia)

This book is about Carol’s choices.

2. Visitor Insurance

Even if you’re planning to live here, consider buying Thailand visitor insurance until you get your permanent visa.  The Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT, as it’s fondly known here) organized super-affordable, bite-sized coverage for visitors and every hospital in Thailand accepts it.

TAT worked out a deal with Thailand’s top medical insurers: Muang Thai, Chao Phaya, Siam City and Krungthai Panich Insurance and they now jointly offer instant travel insurance exclusively for foreigners visiting Thailand. Its online, convenient, and provides instant coverage. Immediately after you make your online payment the insurance policy arrives in your inbox.

Premiums start at 650 Baht and the highest sum insured is 1,000,000 Baht ($33,000 USD). To give you a sense of local costs, a friend who spent almost 3 weeks in hospital and had 3 surgeries on his ankles after a crash paid a total of 400,000 Baht ($12,600). That’s less than the surgeon’s fee for one ankle surgery in New York, let alone 3 weeks in hospital!  Coverage includes:

● Accident

● Trip cancellation

● Loss or damage of baggage/personal belongings

● Accommodation fees if the airport is closed

● 24-hours coverage during the trip

● Anyone aged 1-70 is insurable

● No medical examination required

● The choice of individual trip cover plan or annual cover plan is yours.

● Cover up to 60 days any one trip both in individual trip cover plan and annual cover plan.

● Allianz Global Assistance 24-hour emergency assistance by phone.

The Downside

Like most travel insurance, visitor insurance has exclusions. You’ll have to buy extra-special, (comparatively) extra-expensive insurance. That goes for motorcycle riding, too. Jumping off balconies into pools...you get the picture. Driving every day in a tourist Mecca – Chiang Mai – I see tourists doing suicidally stupid things every day; stuff they’d never dream of doing at home. Hence the ‘exclusions’. Read your policy carefully before you hire that cute-looking scooter.

Click Here to Study or Buy Thailand Travel Insurance On Line

Click Here to Download the Claim Form

Visitor Insurance Coverage

Coverage per Trip//Sum Insured (Baht) Plan 1//Sum Insured (Baht) Plan2

1. Loss of life, dismemberment (hand, foot), loss of sight or total permanent disability during the trip from accident// max. 1,000,000//max. 2,000,000

2. Medical expenses from accident and sickness// Actual cost but not exceed 1,000,000// Actual cost but not exceed 2,000,000

3. Trip Cancellation// Actual cost but not exceed 15,000// Actual cost but not exceed 30,000

4. Trip Curtailment// Actual cost but not exceed 15,000// Actual cost but not exceed 30,000

5. Hijacking (2,000 Baht for each 12 hours)// max. 20,000// max. 40,000

6. Travel delay (more  than 6 hours)// 3,000 per day max. 12,000// 6,000 per day max. 18,000

7. Loss or damage of baggage and personal belonging// Actual cost but not exceed 12,500// Actual cost but not exceed 25,000

8. Baggage Delay// Actual cost but not exceed  7,500// Actual cost but not exceed 15,000

9. Personal liability// Actual cost but not exceed 750,000// Actual cost but not exceed 1,500,000

10. Travel assistance service*// max. 10,000,000// max. 10,000,000

Premiums (Including VAT & Stamp Duty)

Period of Insurance// Premium (Baht),Plan 1// Plan 2

1-7 days// 650// 1,100

8-14 days// 1,000// 1,750

15-30 days// 1,400// 2,850

31-60 days// 1,750// 3,150

Annual Trip// 6,900// 12,000

Coverage for each trip starts when you pass the inbound immigration ID or Passport checkpoint and ends when you leave the outbound immigration ID or Passport checkpoint.

Assistance Services

● Pre-trip information such as inoculation, weather, exchange rate.

● Telephone medical advice

● Medical service provider referral

● Emergency medical evacuation/repatriation of mortal remains

● Guarantee of medical expenses incurred during hospitalization

● Lost of luggage/passport assistance

● Embassy referral

● Service provided by. Telephone [phone]

Making Claims

To make a claim call Allianz Global Assistance Thailand: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]. If you’re hospitalized, call as soon as you can so that they can approve your medical costs. And, of course, carry your policy with you – whether electronically or printout – at all times.

Watch This Video

Medical Care in Thailand: What can you expect from Medical Care in Thailand? How good are the doctors and dentists, really? Watch a couple who've moved from the UK to Thailand compare the two systems' costs and quality.

3. No Insurance

Change nothing, become disabled, and die. If that's your intention, keep in mind that someone will have to clean up after you – so at least carry local ID with a contact number and your nationality so someone can contact your embassy.

Or register with yo...

Table of contents

• 1. Carol’s Insurance Letter
• 2. Visitor Insurance
• 3. No Insurance
• 4. Self-Insurance
• 5. Get Healthy
• 6. Go Minimal
• 7. Get a (Government) Job
• 8. Normal Health Insurance
• 9. Travel Insurance
• 10. Thai Insurance Companies
• 11. Thai Hospitals
• 12. Thai Hospital Hierarchy
• 13. Medical Tourism
• 14. Real Hospital Costs
• 15. Applying for Insurance
• 16. Medical Mediation
• 17. Insurance Contacts
• 18. FAQ
• 19. If You Have a Road Accident
• 20. Questions for Your Broker
• 21. Health Factors
• 22. Contact Us