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You are here: Home / Travel / My Personal Travel Insurance Recommendations (includes over 70s)

My Personal Travel Insurance Recommendations (includes over 70s)

Traveling is an incredibly rewarding experience that changes your perspective on the world, on life, and on yourself.

It's exciting and, once you've booked, all that's on your mind is taking off starting your adventure.

But while traveling is a largely positive experience, things can go wrong.

You're stepping into the world of the unknown, and with that comes an element of danger.

Whether you break your arm trekking, or have your camera stolen while enjoying a drink with friends in a bar, you need to protect yourself with reliable travel insurance.

I've travelled for over 14 years now, throughout SE Asia and all over Thailand.

I've seen everything from motorbike accidents in Chiang Mai to baggage lost in Luang Prabang and travelers cheques stolen in Vietnam.

Along the way I've met numerous travelers whose plans were ruined because they didn't have adequate insurance, and I don't want that to be you.

To help protect your travel plans, I'm going to tell you what you need to look for in a travel insurance plan, including some little-known information that could invalidate your policy.

I'll walk you through genuine policy quotes from my recommended companies, and provide options for cover for over 70s, too.

best backpacker travel insurance thailand

Contents

  1. Key Considerations
  2. Return Flight Date Rule
  3. My Recommendations
    • SafetyWing
    • True Traveler
  4. Policies for Over 70s
  5. Choosing Your Policy
  6. Covid-19 Cover
  7. In Summary

Travel Insurance: Key Policy Considerations

The temptation is to just go with the cheapest quote and think, “That'll do”!

After all, the odds of something bad happening are pretty slim. But why risk your health and belongings during the trip of a lifetime?

Peace of mind is everything when it comes to travel. These moments will be moments to remember, for the rest of your life.

I'll cover these policy points below as part of a review of each company, but as a quick top-level overview, consider the following:

  1. Personal Accident Cover: Sufficient medical cover is of course necessary, but also consider personal accident cover. This will compensate you if you're temporarily or permanently disabled, and on some policies will cover loss of income.
  2. Expensive Items Cover: I always travel with an expensive MacBook. You, on the other hand, might have an expensive camera to document your travels. Make sure these items are covered under the policy, as some cover has a ceiling for expensive belongings.
  3. Adventure Sports: Will you be partaking in any risky sporting activities like mountain climbing or deep sea diving? You might need extra cover for these activities as they fall outside of the category of general activities.
  4. Return Date: Another key policy point to look out for is whether or not the insurance company requires a return date when taking out the policy.

The Return Flight Date Rule

Not having a return flight date invalidates most policies and is something commonly overlooked.

This is because the majority of insurance companies create policies aimed at short-term holiday-makers with a set return date. Moreover, those entering Thailand without a visa (on a 30-day exemption stamp) require a return flight date, anyway.

The thing is, you might not want to book a return date, as most travelers to South East Asia and beyond are adventurers looking for more than two weeks on one beach.

In addition, perhaps you have a return date in mind but might want to extend your trip and take out another policy while traveling.

Again, the problem is that the majority of companies do not insure people who are already traveling.

So with all this in mind, you need a travel insurance company that understands the flexible needs of backpackers and long-stay travelers.

And having been there, done it and bought the t-shirt, so to speak, I know the two best companies to use to ensure you are covered, even without a return flight date.

My Thailand Travel Insurance Recommendations

I’m going to walk you through my two top recommendations, both of which cater for backpackers, long-stayers and standard holiday tourist travel. I have personally used both companies over the years.

The example quotes are based on the following criteria:

  • Home country: UK
  • Travel duration: 3 months
  • Cover: Worldwide (excl. US & Canada)
  • Age: 39

Obviously your criteria will be different, but this will give you a good idea of the type of quote and level of cover to expect.

Option 1: SafetyWing

My first recommendation is SafetyWing.

I started using this insurance company a couple of years back because of its policy flexibility, transparency and ease of use. It's super easy to take out a policy and really easy to understand what's covered.

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, SafetyWing is a travel medical insurance company. It provides coverage for travelers, expats, and digital nomads for unexpected medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other travel-related issues in more than 190 countries worldwide.

SafetyWing also provides assistance services, such as help with finding a doctor or hospital and arranging for medical transportation.

The company offers a range of insurance plans that can be customized to your needs, including coverage for preexisting medical conditions and adventure sports.

Pricing

When you head on over for a quote you'll see that the standard quote is for 4 week's travel, but this can be amended to cover any length of trip. The good news is that it is highly affordable for 1-3 month trips, which tends to be the duration bracket my readers fall into.

The cost of SafetyWing travel insurance depends on a number of factors, including the destination you are traveling to, the length of your trip, your age, and the type of coverage you need.

Of course, for this article I'll look at a quote for coverage in Thailand.

As you can see below, the quote is $135 (USD), for a 3 month (90-day) trip. That's £111 at the current USD-GBP exchange rate.

safetywing quote

This policy has a standard $250 excess, which means you pay the first $250 of the claim. That's approximately £200.

What Does SafetyWing Cover?

The policy is comprehensive and generous in its coverage, giving you peace of mind on a range of potential outcomes. Here's the important stuff:

  • Medical expenses: Coverage for medical treatment and hospitalization due to injury or illness while traveling. Max limit up to $250,000.
  • Emergency evacuation: Coverage for transportation to a medical facility or to return home in the event of a medical emergency. Up to $100,000, or up to $25,000 for a pre-existing illness or condition.
  • Emergency dental treatment: up to $1,000 for the onset of acute pain, as long as you seek treatment within 24 hours.
  • Physical therapy or chiropractor: up to $50 per day.
  • Unexpected quarantine due to Covid-19: Up to $3,000 per certificate, and $6000 lifetime limit.
  • Trip interruption: Coverage for expenses related to interrupting or canceling a trip due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or a natural disaster. Up to $5,000.
  • Trip delay: Coverage for expenses related to delays caused by unforeseen circumstances, such as missed connections or severe weather.
  • Baggage loss: Coverage for the loss, damage, or theft of luggage and personal belongings while traveling.
  • Accidental death and dismemberment: Coverage for accidental death up to $25,000 paid to a beneficiary.
  • Personal liability: Up to $25,000 for third person injury or liability.
  • Robbery and abduction: Lifetime up to $10,000 and $1,000 cover per personal belonging.

[Important] Motorbike Accident Cover

The likelihood is that you will ride a motorbike/moped, or be a passenger on one, in Thailand. Now given the number of accidents we hear about involving foreign nationals, it goes without saying that you must have cover.

As we've seen in recent times, many travelers have come unstuck after an accident because their insurance company has turned around and said you're not covered. True, you should always read the small print, but most people rightly expect this to be covered.

The good news is that SafetyWing does cover motorbike/moped accidents. Here is the exact wording:

In case of an accident, while riding a motorbike, moped, or scooter, you are covered for your own eligible medical expenses as long as you are properly licensed for the area where you are driving and you are wearing proper safety gear such as a helmet. Driving while intoxicated and racing are excluded. Personal liability is excluded for operating any vehicle.

The bottom line is that you must have a license to ride, and that must be accepted in the country you are traveling in. I am from the UK and my license is accepted in Thailand, as most licenses are. But do check!

Making a Claim with SafetyWing

So you had a fall and sprained your wrist. Luckily you are insured, but will the company pay out?

It's all well and good a policy being competitively priced, but what you really want to know is whether the company will cover you in the event of a claim.

SafetyWing has a very good reputation when it comes to claims.

Here's a couple of recent review left by customers who made claims:

safetywing review A

safetywing review B

To initiate a claim with SafetyWing, you will typically need to do the following:

  • Login to your account and being a claim. If you are filing a medical claim, make sure to attach
    • (a) your medical report (a note from your doctor which include symptoms, diagnosis and treatment),
    • (b) a detailed invoice outlining what you paid for and (c) proof of payment or receipt.
  • Wait up to 3 business days for a confirmation email that your claim is in processing. Your claim should take less than 45 days to be processed
  • If approved, you will receive the reimbursement to your bank account by a wire transfer. If your claim is less than the USD $250 deductible and this is your first claim, your refund will be subtracted from your deductible and there will not be a reimbursement until your total claim amount for the certificate period (max 364 days) is more than $250.

If you have any questions about the claim process or need help initiating a claim with SafetyWing, you can contact the company directly for assistance. It's always a good idea to review the details of your insurance policy before you travel to make sure you understand what is and is not covered, and to familiarize yourself with the procedures for making a claim.

+ Get a quote from SafetyWing here

Recommendation 2: True Traveller

Next up is True Traveller.

True Traveller covers every country in Europe. If you are from the US, Canada, Australia or other, use SafetyWing.

Like SW,  True Traveller has a streamlined offering that is transparent and easy to understand.

The company offers three policy types, with the ‘Traveller' option the most popular.

The excess for each policy is 125, 75, 35, respectively. Essentially, the less you pay the higher the excess.

There's a handy feature that simply allows you to turn the excess down to zero and compare the two prices.

Let's start with the excess on:

true traveller insurance

With excess – cheap as chips

Now, here's what the prices look like with the excess at zero.

best-travel-insurance-cover

Without excess – still very good

Medical cover on the ‘Traveller' and ‘Plus' packages is more than adequate, as is personal liability.

You can exclude the baggage cover to make the quote even cheaper. I always keep that in as I think it's an important inclusion for any trip.

There is an additional option for trip delay coverage.

You also have a choice of 3 activity packs to include in your policy.

The ‘Traveller Pack', which covers 91 activities, is included as standard, but if you're doing outdoor pursuit courses you might need the ‘Adventure Pack'. Or if you're flying an airplane, you'll need the ‘Extreme Pack'!

Winter sports is an optional extra too.

Website tip: Hover over the ? sign to see all included activities in a given package.

policy add ons

I'm sure you'll agree that this is great value. £137.57 ($181) on the ‘Traveller Plan'.

That works out at £1.52 ($2.00) a day!

Even with the ‘Extreme Pack' included, which most people won't need, the ‘Traveller Plan' comes in under £168 ($221).

[Important] Motorbike Accident Cover

Like SafetyWing, True Traveller does provide cover for motorbike accidents, but you must adhere to the following:

You must have the correct licence in your Country of Residence to drive a motorcycle or cover is not available. If you are from the UK, you are only covered if you have either a full Motorcycle Licence, or in the absence of that you have taken a Compulsory basic training (CBT) course in the past two years. A helmet must be worn when riding a motorbike.

Making a Claim with True Traveller

The good news is that TT gave a good reputation when it comes to claims and reimbursing customers. Have a look at this testimonial sent to me by a TheThailandLife.com reader (cheers Achim).

true-traveller-review

A real testimonial from one of my readers

To check this wasn't a one-off, I browsed their Trustpilot reviews and found so many other positive stories. One that caught my eye was this:

I was unfortunately hospitalized in Nepal with an undiagnosed tropical disease and TT paid out for everything I required at the time including hospital costs as an inpatient for eight days and hospital fees as an outpatient for three weeks after, enabling me to continue my trip.

This is an eventuality I hadn't considered. This chap came down with an unidentified tropical disease, and True Traveller paid for all the care so he could continue his trip.

There would be nothing more upsetting than having to pull out of a great adventure due to illness, and this story shows True Traveller go above and beyond with their customer service.

+ Click for a True Traveller Quote

Travel Insurance Policies for Over 70s

Option 3: Insure My Trip

Some insurance policies have a maximum age restriction of 70, and most don't take those aged 75 and over.

This is the reason why I get so many emails from seniors saying that they've been hunting around and can't find cover for their age.

Don't worry, though, all is not lost, you can get cover.

In this situation I recommend Insure My Trip.

This is an online broker service that scans all available policies from numerous providers and returns relevant results based on your criteria.

Below are a few quotes I got from Insure My Trip with the following criteria:

Destination: Thailand
Travel Dates: 03/26/22 – 04/09/22 (2 weeks)
Traveler age: 75
Total trip cost: $2,500 (I entered an approximate figure based on a hotel for $125 a night plus a $750 flight).

The system returned 19 quotes in total, ranging in price and level of cover. Anything under $200 at age 75 is an absolute steal in my opinion.

insure-my-trip-quote

+ Click here to get a quote from Insure My Trip.

* Bear in mind that the companies you are quoted from on IMT may require a return flight date for the policy, and may not offer cover if you are already traveling, so you wouldn't be able to extend. However, if you are over 70 then you probably have a fixed flight date, anyway.

Choosing Your Policy

Generally speaking SafetyWing is slightly cheaper than True Traveller, though if you pay that little extra you can get a lower excess. My advice would be to get a quote from both and see how they stack up.

If you are participating in extreme sports then you need to deep dive on the policy terms and see if your particular activity is covered. And don't forget, you will need a license that covers you to ride a motorbike up to 125cc, as this is usually what the smaller rental bikes are in Thailand.

By the way, if you're reading this and panicking because you've already left home and forgotten to get ravel insurance, or because you decided that going home sucked and you've opted to travel for longer, you're in luck.

Both of my recommendations will cover you while you are traveling in Thailand. True Traveller even has an ‘Already Traveling?' box to tick on the main quote page.

In Summary

It's important not to overlook travel insurance cover, especially in a country like Thailand.

Saving a dime here or there just isn't worth it, because this policy will protect you in the event of an accident, illness, lost luggage or missed flight.

Save your haggling for the Thai street markets and give yourself peace of mind with a solid policy from a reputable provider.

We've all read the stories of foreigners without travel insurance having terrible accidents in Thailand (usually on a motorbike). They find themselves stuck in a government hospital, wracking up a massive bill that they can't pay, and end up having to start a fund raising page to get home.

Don't let that be you. Policies are very affordable, especially when compared with the entire cost of your trip.

Safe travels.

+ Get a Quote from SafetyWing

+ Get a Quote from True Traveller

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Lana Scott says

    July 29, 2022 at 1:00 am

    Whoa! My understanding is that there is no longer an insurance requirement to enter Thailand (since July 1, 2022.)
    While it's sensible to purchase health insurance, are you saying it's a requirement?? I need to know about this because I'm due to travel on Sept.1.
    Reply

    Jul 29, 2022 at 1:00 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 29, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      Travel insurance is not compulsory for Thailand. Me, personally, I never travel without it. It's a very small cost considering the protection it gives you.
      Reply

      Jul 29, 2022 at 4:43 pm

  2. Leonard Levine says

    April 22, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    TAT now has a website which if I understand the phrase "within 15 days" means I'm dead in the water.
    Step 1: Registration for the Certificate of Entry (COE). Results for pre-approval may take three days.
    Step 2: Flight booking on either a repatriation flight or semi-commercial flight. Tickets must be purchased within 15 days after receiving the pre-approved COE.
    Step 3: Book and submit confirmation of the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel booking within 15 days after receiving the pre-approved COE. Any ASQ accommodation booked via the “Entry Thailand” system will automatically report the booking status to the COE system, or upload proof of confirmation in the “Entry Thailand” system.
    Step 4: Purchase and submit proof of a COVID-19 health insurance policy within 15 days after receiving the pre-approved COE. Any COVID-19 insurance policy booked via the “Entry Thailand” system will automatically report the booking status to the COE system, or upload documents in the “Entry Thailand” system.
    Step 5: Check the COE status and prepare additional documents before travelling.
    Step 6: Prepare for the journey by downloading and registering with the “Thailand Plus Application”, complete the Thailand Health Declaration, or T.8 Form, as well as prepare other relevant documents for entry into Thailand.
    Learn more about the “Entry Thailand” online platform at http://www.entrythailand.go.th/journey/1.
    According to Steps 2,3 and 4, you must book your travel ticket, book your ASQ hotel and get your health certificate within 15 days of getting your COE. I booked my RT flight on April 16th, booked my ASQ hotel in late March and will receive my COE in May. Does this mean I can't enter Thailand on June 16th?
    Reply

    Apr 22, 2021 at 9:39 pm

  3. JamesE says

    April 18, 2021 at 11:32 pm

    Leonard, I couldn't Reply directly to your post for some reason. Yes. That would work fine. The important thing is not the signatures, my coverage certificate has none as well, it's the stamp in the bottom middle of your example and the coverage limits for COVID-19. My agent issues a certificate that specifically states that coverage includes Thailand which he says helps. It also doesn't have to be a Thai company. I'm in the US but my coverage is through Hey Mondo, a Spanish company, and underwritten through AXA also in Spain. I had no problem getting my COE and entering Thailand back in January.
    Reply

    Apr 18, 2021 at 11:32 pm

  4. Leonard Levine says

    April 18, 2021 at 1:57 am

    James E. Here is a sample health certificate letter on AXA letterhead. Notice that it has no signatures! Only the name of the policyholder. the policy number, the amount of coverage for any COVID-19 virus-connected medical problems.

    Link to letter.

    If such a letter were written on ____letterhead, with the same information, by an American health company.would Thai immigration accept it if the policyholder could show his membership card with the same policy name and ID?
    Reply

    Apr 18, 2021 at 1:57 am

  5. DaveeB says

    June 28, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    I understand that to travel to Thailand the travel insurance policy must specifically state that it includes $100,000 treatment for Covid-19 should it be contracted whilst traveling. I've drawn a blank in finding such cover; are you aware of any insurance companies that so so?
    Reply

    Jun 28, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      June 29, 2020 at 3:19 am

      I don't know of any company covering a country that has travel restrictions due to Covid-19, but I know that the Safety Wing remote insurance covers pandemics and gives you health insurance in any country. But isn't cheap; starts at around $153 a month.
      Reply

      Jun 29, 2020 at 3:19 am

      • DaveeB says

        June 29, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        Many thanks for the feedback. I've found a broker in Thailand that has quoted £210 a month for a My Travel policy with April International that includes Covid-19 cover for up to $100,000. Cigna have quoted £250 for more general inpatient health insurance worldwide cover less USA that also includes cover for Covid-19 (verbally confirmed with a sales agent). Prudential Thailand quoted me £185 a month but for 3M Baht inpatient cover in Thailand only. I'll check out Safety Wing Remote insurance and continue the research!
        Thanks again ...
        Reply

        Jun 29, 2020 at 6:11 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          June 29, 2020 at 6:30 pm

          Hi Dave, I just replied to the email you sent and included the email of my broker, just in case he works out cheaper for you on this.
          Reply

          Jun 29, 2020 at 6:30 pm

  6. James E says

    June 14, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    So, here's my take on insurance: Never bet against the house. Most people are governed by fear - they see a news article or hear a story about something bad happening somewhere and immediately project themselves into that scenario. They want to be protected against eventualities which are so unlikely to happen that an organization - the insurance company - is willing to take a 100:1, or 1,000:1, or 10,000:1 bet that they won't. You're the one putting the money on the table but they're the one who always take it off. The reason is that they have the statistics and you don't. They know how many times luggage gets lost - it's down around 0.02%. They know how frequently people end up in the hospital. They know how often a reservation is denied or planes are canceled. They know all this and yet they are still willing to take the bet. Because, from a statistical point of view, they always win. If you have any doubts that this is true have a look at any publicly traded insurance company's financial statement. Sure bad things happen and they happen all the time but consider even statistically impossible things - like winning the lottery - do too (sadly never to me, but I'm dealing with it). Now, this is not to say you should never be protected. You might have a medical condition or a business need that dictates extra financial protection is needed. But this is because you *know* that, in your case, the statistics are not the same as for the typical traveler. But, absent those conditions, you will get much better protection for your money by getting a quote and paying yourself the premium. That way you'll be - statistically speaking - on the winning side of the bet. Now, this advice is not applicable if you are required by law or regulation to carry an extra insurance policy but that's a different subject.
    Reply

    Jun 14, 2019 at 9:25 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      June 15, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      You're absolutely correct...but I never bet against sod's law.
      Reply

      Jun 15, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      • James E says

        June 15, 2019 at 10:32 pm

        Which was, indeed, first codified by the Lloyd's underwriters in the 1600s. And, under which they have been raking in the big bucks ever since. Insurance is one of the scams perpetrated upon us under the worst-case scenario effect of whatever gene expresses empathy. We see or hear of something bad happening and immediately put ourselves in their shoes while at the same time completely ignore the overwhelming weight of the good things that happen to everybody else. It could be argued that the global economy has been built of a foundation of fear. My two favorite examples are bicycle helmets and anti-bacterial hand soap. There is no evidence that the use of bicycle helmets reduce the total number of deaths and injuries sustained by bicyclists. However, bicyclists who fall and hit their heads *believe* that the helmet protected them. AND (in a study in NSW) bicycle helmet use actually increased other kinds of injuries, like broken arms. I've read that this could be attributed to kids not learning the true consequences of risky behavior early on and being even less able to assess risk as they age. The hand soap thing is a true Law of Unintended Consequences rearing its ugly head type thing. Antibacterial hand soap is better at killing bacteria than regular soap - in a laboratory setting. However, it is not better than regular soap at removing bacteria by washing your hands. Which, it can be stated without irony, is the purpose of washing your hands in the first place. The unintended side-effect is that antibacterial soap actually provides an environment that selects the strongest germs for survival and in short order leads to an increase in the bacteria population that is basically immune to its effects. People still buy it by the tanker-full because they believe it protects them. Similarly, insurance. People buy it because they think it protects them. But you are still going to get mugged and spend hours dealing with the police, your MacBook Pro is still going to vanish off the luggage cart, and your vacation is still going to be ruined when Mt. Pinatubo forces your return flight to be rerouted into Caracas. You still have to deal with that mess in exchange for a pittance of a check. But, since those bad things don't happen with any statistical certainty, NOT buying insurance will still net you more money to cover the bad things that MIGHT happen than the insurance company will pay out if you do buy into their scheme. Insurance companies know this but they're not going to tell you.
        Reply

        Jun 15, 2019 at 10:32 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          June 16, 2019 at 1:25 am

          Not convinced about helmets. Though controlled studies would be unethical to prove your theory. For me a broken arm is better than a fractured skull and potential brain damage. Children in particular are at great risk of head injuries from falling off scooters and bikes. Anyway, that aside... I agree that most people will never need to use insurance and I could probably buy two new MacBooks for all the insurance I've taken out. But I don't want to be that guy in a Chiang Mai hospital who can't leave because he owes thousands in medical bills after being hit by a drunk driver. I'd rather just pay the 100 odd quid travel insurance and know that if I fall ill after a dodgy curry, I will be well taken care of.
          Reply

          Jun 16, 2019 at 1:25 am

  7. Daniel says

    October 2, 2018 at 9:03 am

    I hear mixed stories on the need for insurance in Thailand. Some say medical care is so inexpensive that better to self insure (which I guess is another way of paying out of savings). Here in the US medical care is so unbelievably expensive - even a couple of days in a hospital can cost a fortune. Short of heart surgery can medical care in Thailand be that expensive?
    Reply

    Oct 02, 2018 at 9:03 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      October 2, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Hi Daniel,It really depends on your requirements. If you are on a short or long stay holiday, or you stay in Thailand for the majority of the year but always return home once or twice a year, then travel insurance that covers long trips of more than hundred 180 days will probably suffice.However, if you are an expat who rarely returns home, then you will need medical insurance. You can get local medical insurance from a company like BUPA Thailand, for example. For around 5 to 20,000 Baht per month - depending on your age and any pre-existing conditions - you can get good cover that will enable you to access private hospitals.That said, some people want medical insurance that will cover them in Thailand, in other countries that they may visit on holiday, and cover them when they visit back home. It really depends On your requirements and your budget.If you want a rough idea of what proper medical insurance cover will cost you, fill out this quote generator here: It takes 2 minutes.
      Reply

      Oct 02, 2018 at 4:08 pm

  8. Chris says

    December 25, 2017 at 8:03 am

    Try finding insurance if you are over 65 and you only bought a one way ticket. The travel insurance business is a racket and you are better off self-insuring and just foregoing it.
    Reply

    Dec 25, 2017 at 8:03 am

  9. Robert Abrey says

    November 26, 2017 at 11:40 am

    I agree World Nomads is a good company but they will not insure people 60 and over
    Reply

    Nov 26, 2017 at 11:40 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      November 27, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      Yes, True Traveller does insure over 60's but doesn't cover the US.
      Reply

      Nov 27, 2017 at 6:32 pm

  10. Jaro Kovaricek says

    November 25, 2017 at 12:11 pm

    Hello. Many thanks for your useful advice on many topics. In the "bad" old days I used to travel without fixed itinerary, just went as it suited me. However, nowadays I can't find a travel insurance offering this kind of freedom. They always ask for the fixed days of start and return with the air tickets booked accordingly. Do you know any insurance company being more liberal in this regard? Thank you.
    Reply

    Nov 25, 2017 at 12:11 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      November 26, 2017 at 5:00 am

      The majority of insurance companies require you to have a return or open ticket booked to take out a policy. Most people don't read the terms and conditions and take out the policy without the return ticket, which invalidates the policy.

      Both my recommendations do not require your return ticket to be pre-booked or booked to take out a policy. This is a primary reason I began using these companies, because I often just book one way. Another reason is that they will insure me while I'm travelling, should I extend my trip. Just enter your proposed start and return dates.
      Reply

      Nov 26, 2017 at 5:00 am

      • Jaro Kovaricek says

        November 26, 2017 at 11:48 am

        Thank you
        Reply

        Nov 26, 2017 at 11:48 am

  11. Neil says

    October 24, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    I am wondering what insurance company you recommend for foreigners resident in Thailand?
    The policy should include, say, 60 days travel in Asia.
    Reply

    Oct 24, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      October 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm

      You can try World Nomads. I just ran a quote for 40 days travel in Asia for a male under 66 years old and it came back at $184. You can select that you are a resident in Thailand.
      Reply

      Oct 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm

  12. Stephanie says

    September 6, 2017 at 3:12 am

    Thanks so much for this! Would you still recommend this if the trip is only 2 weeks? Will be traveling (alone) from Bangkok to Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai to Krabi.
    Reply

    Sep 06, 2017 at 3:12 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      September 6, 2017 at 4:02 pm

      Yes, these recommendations are good for both short and long term trips. I extended my insurance while traveling by taking out a one week policy, just to give me some more time.
      Reply

      Sep 06, 2017 at 4:02 pm

  13. Anders says

    July 19, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    Thanks for this article and all other helpful tips, makes life much more easy for us with limited knowledge :-) Thanks
    Reply

    Jul 19, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 19, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      No worries Anders, thanks for reading.
      Reply

      Jul 19, 2017 at 3:57 pm

  14. AS says

    April 5, 2017 at 8:15 am

    Looks like True Traveller doesn't cover US Citizens.
    Reply

    Apr 05, 2017 at 8:15 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      April 5, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      That's correct, they cover Europe. Try World Nomads instead. They are really good.
      Reply

      Apr 05, 2017 at 3:25 pm

  15. Geoffrey says

    August 8, 2016 at 6:39 am

    I want to get travel insurance for my Thai girlfriend to visit UK. Any recommendations?
    Reply

    Aug 08, 2016 at 6:39 am

  16. Lesley says

    January 21, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    So happy to have across this. I tossing up now between TT and WN, there's not much in the quotes so it's down to preference really. I don't have a return flight date and I'll be doing trekking and diving. I also just bought a new MAC so I want to make sure all this is covered. Thanks for your tips. I'll be back to read your blog when I hit Thailand in March.
    Reply

    Jan 21, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      January 21, 2015 at 11:06 pm

      Glad it helped you out Lesley. I'm with TT at the moment but my policy is up soon so I'll be comparing again!
      Reply

      Jan 21, 2015 at 11:06 pm

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thethailandlife

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I recommend getting a quote from Cigna for international Insurance, and then comparing that with local insurance premiums on Mr Prakan.

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To keep your data secure you should use a VPN when using public WIFI and when accessing internet banking and other sensitive information online. I use both Vypr VPN and Nord VPN.

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