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The Ultimate Guide to International Health Insurance: Considerations, Companies, Policies & Pricing

The table below provides a snapshot of the cover available from the top 6 international medical insurers.

Please bear in mind that the type of cover, level of cover and excess is dependent on the plan and the option.

Clicking on ‘get a quote' will take you directly to the site of the insurer.

Plan Options

Silver, Gold and Platinum with optional modules.

Global Select/Fusion/Hopper, Patriot America (Silver, Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum).

Essential Care, Essential Care Plus, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Elite Plan.

Core, Core M1, Core M1 and M2,Core M1, M2 and M3.

Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige and Prestige Plus.

First Class Plus, First Class Business Class and Visa Economy.

Policy Maximum (coverage)

$1,000,000 to $3,000,000 per year.

$5,000,000 to $8,000,00 lifetime per individual.

Bronze: $1,500,000 Silver: $2,500,000 Gold: $4,500,000.

Annual maximum: GBP 1,000,000.

$1,200,000 to $4,800,000.

$1,000 to $7,500,000.

Eligibility

All nationalities, all ages.

U.S. and non U.S. citizens up to age 74.

All nationalities, all ages, as long as you sign up prior to age 70.

No minimum entry age. Max age is 79.

All nationalities, ages 18-70.

Minimum age of 6 weeks to a maximum of 75 years. Children under 7 must be insured by an adult who is also insured under the same policy.

Coverage Area

Worldwide or worldwide excluding the U.S.

Worldwide excluding China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore & Taiwan.

Worldwide, but you can exclude U.S. to save money.

Worldwide

Worldwide, or you can exclude the U.S.

Treatment area limit option is not available to residents in Singapore.

Home Country Coverage

Up to 3 months of home country coverage.

12 months. Up to 6 months for U.S. citizens.

Flexible.

Some

Can choose.

Unclear.

Doctor Visits

Included

Included

Bronze only if post-hospital treatment. Silver and Gold both covered.

100%

Included but not in Standard Plan.

Included

Wellness Checkups

Included (routine health checks, vaccinations, etc.)

Covered on all plans except Bronze. Better plan equates to higher allowance.

Not in Bronze. Included in Silver and Gold.

Can include; depends on plan selected.

Included, but not in Standard Plan.

Excluded

Hospitalisation

Semi-private or private rooms, depending on plan.

Included: semi-private and private rooms.

Included in all plans; amount depends on plan.

100%

Included

Hospital cash allowance $750.00 to $1,000; depends on plan chosen.

Intensive Care

Included

Included

Included

Paid in full

Included

Included

Prescriptions

Included

Included

Included in Silver and Gold plans only.

100%

Included

Included

Dental

Accidental included in all plans. Additional services have 3-24 month coverage waiting period.

Full cover, with some excess depending on plan option.

Routine dental treatment (6 month continuous policy waiting period) in Gold only. In-patient emergency restorative dental treatment included. Out-patient emergency dental treatment. depends on plan.

Accident-related dental treatment; Dental treatment that is required in hospital after a serious accident is paid in full; can include dental and vision in add on modules

Included in Prestige Plus only.Comprehensive and Essential will pay for dental treatment due to accidental cause and TCM treatment.

Excluded (except as necessitated by accidental injuries to sound and natural teeth).

Vision

Included at 100% for Platinum plan, limits on other plans.

Check-ups and materials covered under most plans.

Not specified

Can include vision in add on modules

Included in Comprehensive, Prestige and Prestige Plus.

Not specified.

PreExisting

To be reviewed pending results of underwriting; certain special exclusions may be added to your plan.

Included in Silver-Platinum. Platinum provides full cover, otherwise, approx $5,000 per period of coverage up to a $50,000 life-time maximum after 24 months continuous coverage.

Not specified

May cover depending on circumstances.

There are options to cover pre-existing conditions.

Excluded

Maternity

10 month cover wait period. Different coverage for Bronze, Gold and Silver.

Included in Platinum Plan, otherwise, an optional add-on is available.

Included in all plans except Essential Care; Coverage depends on plan.

Maternity may be available depending on plan; a 12 month cover waiting period applies.

Included in Prestige and Prestige Plus only.

Excluded

Mental Health

100% paid for Platinum, $10,000 Gold, $5,000 Silver.

Covered under Gold, Plus & Platinum on Global Select/Fusion after 12 months continuous cover.

Covered under the Elite plan only, not the essential plan. 24-month continuous cover required.

Not covered under Core plan but is covered under Core Cover & M1, Core Cover M1 and M2; and Core Cover M1, M2 and M3.

Not included in Standard plan.

Excluded

Evacuation / Repatriation

Paid in full.

Included. Coverage amount depends on plan.

Included all plans.

100% Must be pre-approved by Bupa Global.

Included all plans.

Unlimited

Deductible

$0 -$10,000 depending on the plan.

$100 to $10,000, 50% waived within PPO network.

Depends on plan.

Depends on plan.

Depends on plan.

Depends on plan

Renewable

Lifetime renewable.

Before age 65. After 65, up to age 74/79/or no restriction depending on plan.

Lifetime renewable as long as you join prior to age 70.

Lifetime renewable.

Automatic renewal.

Lifetime renewable

Cancellation

14-day money back guarantee.

15-day free look period with full refund.

30-day money back guarantee.

One month’s prior notice.

100% of the trip cost.

14-day free look with full refund

PPO Network

Available or Cigna will help find a provider.

Your choice of doctors or use of PPO.

Your choice depending on plan.

Your doctor of choice within network.

Your doctor of choice within network.

Available or Pacific Cross will help you find a provider

Administrator

Cigna

IMG Global

Neuron LLC

Bupa

IEMAS International Medical Assistance Service

Pacific Cross

Under writing

Cigna

Sirius International

Allianz Group and AGF underwrites its Global plans.

Bupa

American Modern Home Insurance Company.

Pacific Cross

Rating

A (A.M. Best)

A (A.M. Best)

AA (Standard and Poor)

B++ (A.M. Best)

A (A.M. Best)

A+ – BBB Rating System

Review / Best For

Good international plan for individuals living abroad. Senior-friendly. Flexible plans help lower costs on non-essential cover items, but deductible can be high on lower plans & country coverage is weaker than top competitors.

High industry rating and renowned for good customer service/paying out. Flexible plans for all ages, singles and families. Available worldwide. Recommended option for expats seeking cover when in their home country too. US Coverage included .

Renowned for Good customer service and reliable payouts. Good option for expats (not over 70), though international health insurance plans do not provide cover in the USA.

Excellent on best plans, average on lower plans. Somewhat expensive with ad-ons and home country coverage. Trusted brand reputation.

Simplistic cover . Two plans available: IPMI International private medical insurance, or travel insurance. IPMI offers better coverage for medical. Doctor’s visits and wellness checkups not included as standard.

Worldwide health insurance cover with lots of exclusions except on the most expensive plans. Largely targeted at those with residency in Thailand who travel<./p>

This table is subject to copyright ©. No copying or reproduction of this table is allowed without written consent.

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So you've compared the policies of the top companies, but before you choose a plan, let's be clear on what international health insurance in Thailand really means.

First up, it isn't travel insurance. If you need that, go here.

This is comprehensive medical cover for expats, and for those who work from country to country.

It differs in that the policies provide better cover, not the measly amounts offered by local insurance, which might be okay for local cover, but not for the top hospitals with the best medical care, and certainly not for when visiting other countries where medical costs are higher, or when visiting your home country.

International medical insurance in Thailand provides broad, continuous cover, and flexibility on aspects such as returning home for considerable periods of time, and specific health conditions.

Why All Expats On Long-Stay Will Need Health Insurance

You may have heard the rumblings recently regarding a new rule set to come in this July (2019).

All foreigners, aged 50 and above, living in Thailand on a long-stay visa will have to buy health insurance.

The new regulation will require expats on the long-stay Non-Immigrant O-A visa (retirement) to have health insurance that provides 40,000 THB coverage for outpatient treatment and 400,000 THB for inpatient.

The reason for this is quite simple: the treasury claim that in 2018 foreigners racked up 308 million Baht in unpaid medical bills. So going forward those with a long-stay visa will have to produce proof of their health insurance for their visa renewal.

Aside from this forthcoming mandatory requirement, let's face it, you really should have great cover anyway.

Get a quote using the companies in the table listed above. For the record, I'm with Cigna.

So let's get to grips with the policy cover that make for a good health insurance plan in Thailand – for you personally.

By this I mean that not everyone has the same requirements. You don't want to pay for inclusions you don't need, but similarly you don't want to shortchange yourself and end up not covered should the worst happen.

So let's start with the top ten key considerations when choosing a policy.

international health insurance

Don't end up like this dude!

10 ‘Must Consider' Points When Choosing International Health Insurance

1. Company Reputation

This is arguably the most important consideration. You don't want to get ripped off, period. So it is best to go with a bigger company with a proven track record of coverage, rather than one with dirt-cheap rates and a handful of dubious personal testimonies.

2. Customer Service

You need your questions answered without any – excuse me – bullsh**. You don't want to get passed from department to department and get a “we'll call you back” when something critical has happened.

The company needs to be available for you when you need them. And you want staff to be professional and understanding of your needs.

You need multilingual (English-speaking) advisers offering 24/7 support.

You want action taken quickly. You want staff to be able to quickly comprehend what your situation is and understand the appropriate action required. You want a company that will allow a friend or family member to call on your behalf if you are unable to.

Some companies are better than others at customer service. So make sure you choose a company that can meet your needs. Yes, this usually does mean paying that bit more.

propose a risk. A passion for tobacco, alcohol or recreational drugs could drive up your premium. Consider giving up before you get a quote 🙂

thailand-international-healthcare

3. Your Lifestyle/Habits

Hey, we all have vices. Life is indeed more pleasurable with them. But try telling the insurance guys you smoke two packs and drink a bottle of whiskey a day … hmmmm.

When they find out, these pleasures will drive up the cost of your premium.

In the game of insurance, your personal habits, which could cause potential health hazards, are instrumental in the amount you will pay. So it might be wise to kick the smokes and bring down those monthly payments.

4. Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Bad ticker? Had an accident you've had to claim insurance for previously?

Maybe there's an outside risk of spontaneous combustion that runs in the family since your great-great-great grandfather had a curse placed on him in Victorian times!

Of course, age always drives up a premium, and ill-health comes with age. You might be very healthy, which will lower your premium, but you will pay more the older you get because insurance companies fear frequent, expensive claims.

Ongoing conditions will drive up your premium. Consider pre-existing conditions when choosing a policy, and make comparisons on this basis if you think you could be a liability.

5. How Claims Will Be Handled

You need to cover your bill at the hospital immediately. You've just crocked your ankle on a bad pavement in Bangkok (a common occurrence for the unwary). You're on the phone trying to make your claim and it feels like you need to hire a secretary with all the documents that want emailed over.

We have all heard horror stories of insurance companies not paying claims in Thailand. So a big part of choosing the right policy is being able to get your help when you need it.  That's why it's called insurance, doh!

Choose a company that handles claims in an effortless manner, no matter where you are. That means being able to call at 3 am from Nakhon Nowhere and get the thumbs up to have that leg seen to. Again, comparisons are important here.

6. Hospital Inclusion: Inpatient/Outpatient Care

There are a number of scenarios that can play out if you have an accident or become ill. You might like to consider what the most likely ones are.

How often have you been in hospital over the last decade? Are you more likely to have an accident that requires outpatient care than becoming ill that requires inpatient care.

This will help you decide on the level of coverage.

I'll never forget the first week my brother visited me in Thailand he cut his finger really badly while washing up. He is super healthy an unlikely to get so ill he needs to be hospitalized, but on this occasion he required some hefty outpatient care.

While we never plan on having an accident, it is always better to err on the side of caution in terms of hospital coverage. You do not want to fall prey to a hefty hospital bill. And Thailand isn't as safe as your home country.

Additional outpatient coverage is usually only a few dollars more, which is money well spent.

7. Home Country Coverage – Are Trips Back Home Covered?

Consider whether or not you'll need home country coverage.

You might need to leave Thailand for a few months, or be sent home unexpectedly from work. Your visa might expire, or you might need support from your immediate family and friends and need to fly out quickly. 

It makes sense to get a policy that covers you while visiting home, or indeed other countries.

On a bleaker note, check to see if the insurance company will cover the cost of airfare if repatriation is required. You wouldn't want to saddle your already bereaved family with the bill of having to have your body flown home.

8. Dental Care and Vision

It is now commonplace for people to specifically travel to other countries for cheaper dental care.

While dental care is often cheap in Thailand, major dental surgery can still run you a heavy bill.

And eye care certainly isn't cheap in Thailand.

Most basic insurance policies don't cover either of these areas. These are niche areas of health insurance, so check the policy to see if a visit to an optometrist and dentist is covered.

9. Evacuation/Repatriation

In politically hostile environments, there could come a time when it gets too dangerous to remain, especially if you have kids.

No one likes considering the following, but it has to be done when you're considering the in's and out's of expat insurance.

Similarly, severe weather or a natural disaster could prompt a quick exit too.

Is this covered? Make sure you check. This tends to be covered under travel insurance, but some policies offer bolt ons for travel.

As mentioned previously, if you get sick and you need out from your country of residence, you need to know you will get the assistance you need.

Moreover, if you die abroad and you want to be buried or cremated back home, you'll need cover for that.

10. Maternity Plans

Maternity brings with it numerous requirements that can be costly when living abroad. But will the costs outweigh paying extra on your policy?

You will need regular visits to the doctor, a mid-wife, perhaps specific advise from a nutritionist, coverage for any wages you may lose from not being able to work, and of course the big moment of birth.

Everyone would like such extensive coverage, but maternity plans are typically NOT covered in basic plans but included on higher, more expensive plans.

Some companies cover for maternity issues better than others, and some will be able to tailor different bolt-ons for you.

If maternity cover is what you need, it may be worth weighing up what it will cost you in cash in Thailand over paying a higher insurance premium.

thailand-international-healthcare

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  2. Bubba says

    The Thai government may want to rethink its position on this insurance requirement soon. IF the average retiree spends 300,000 baht per year and 1,500 retirees decide not to renew or can't renew their visas due to lack of insurance, that will far exceed the amount of money that the government is paying on unpaid medical bills.

    Add to that, with China's bans on tour group travel due to the Wuhan virus, the Thai government will be surprised at the size of the deficit that they will be facing for 2020. The government is already talking about shut-downs due to deficits..
    Reply

  3. John H says

    I have Cigna International plan which looks like the same benefits/coverage as you listed above (3m THB per year coverage). This policy is set up by my ex-employer (I'm retired) and is renewable annually. In early January 2020 I was refused my Non-Immigrant O-A visa extension because I didn't have one of the "Thai" insurance policies dictated by Thai Immigration. Is Thai Immigration now accepting international medical plans?
    Reply

  4. Andreas Whittell-Rudeberg says

    I have an O-A entension untill sep 2020 and is now on visit in my home country Sweden.If I return to thailand now and can I be stopped at immigration for not having a health insurance? Or will they let me in without and I can wait buy insurance untill it's time to extend in sep 2020?
    Reply

    • Peter says

      Your OA extension will remain valid until sept 2020, and you will not be queried for health-insurance when re-entering Thailand. You will however need a Re-Entry Permit to re-enter. When re-applying for an OA extension when your present one almost expires, you will need thai IO-approved health-insurance. When you already have international insurance (or thai insurance that is not IO-approved) you could exit Thailand and apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa, which on extension does not require the thai IO-approved insurance but is further exactly the same as your present OA extension.
      Reply

  7. Troup Dresser says

    I'm a 73 year old American living in Thailand with a Thai wife who's been getting retirement visas for many years. Now, I understand that I must have Health Insurance to secure my next visa in September 2019. I live here in Prachuap Khiri Khan full time and want to stay. If I get really sick I'm inclined to go back to the US and get help from the US Veterans' Administration. I'm a disabled veteran and get my medical help there for life. What I would like is the least expensive Health Care Plan I can get to qualify for a retirement visa. So, what have you got?
    Reply

    • James E says

      It also depends on whether you want actual coverage or just the minimum to satisfy Immigration. I've seen some 40K/400K policies for not much. Check out Thai Visa Protect they've got a 1.2MBaht plan that includes medivac and offers numerous discounts for getting a higher deductible. For me, at 65, I could get that plan with 300KBaht deductible for about US$750/year. If you want actual coverage then the plans TTL shows are probably the way to go although at a much higher premium.
      Reply

    • kelvin says

      The new requirement is only for Non O-A visa = this is a visa that you apply for in the USA
      A non O visa is the one you get in Thailand

      Each year you renew your Visa and so check in your passport what type you have

      Dont worry!!!
      Reply

      • James E says

        Nope. If you get an O-A or O-X you've got to get health insurance. If you live one of the places where you can get a regular O visa for the purpose of retirement (i.e. not the US) no health insurance is required. Max has got some good comments on using the plain "O" option. I'm not sure how the 90-day stay restriction works with that one.
        Reply

  8. Kelvin Bamfield says

    At the moment the cover only applies to Visa O-A and that is normally issued in your country before coming to Thailand

    The other Visa is the X visa and this is for the investment of 3 million baht

    So far these are the only Visa's that will require health care insurance -

    No need to speculate until there are changes as in Thailand there is always Plan B
    Reply

  9. Kelvin Bamfield says

    At the expat club where I go every Sunday, you can get an insurance discount with club membership. Also, you can load the policy by requesting that you pay excess should something happen. ie agree to pay 40K or so if there is a claim.

    Also, I understand that somewhere in all this there will be a provision for "well healed" retirees that have a few million in the bank and agree that they will not be a burden on the Thai hospital system.

    The system does need a serious overhaul and maybe a "means" test should be applied. ie. You own a condo or 2 and so no rent, one produces income?, pension income, interest earned in the bank = calculated to see what you need to stump up each year for an "extension of stay" then the applicable insurance policy attached (good luck with that one as pre-existing and age are a huge factor)

    Also, the hospitals were all asked to forward their costs for procedures and medical drugs, etc. to the Government. Many did not and now are taking action to stop or protract the need to report. All in all, this may not eventuate in July and may be amended and there are too many Rumsfeld known unknowns.

    TIT- just wait
    Reply

  10. Robert Booth says

    I currently have international medical insurance for impatient only. If i add outpatient care then my medical insurance will rocket and get far more cover than the 40,000baht required.
    Is there somewhere where i can just get the 40,000 cover required to fulfil the new government requirements.
    Thanks.
    Reply

  11. Jon Grah says

    A recent rule may require health insurance or travel insurance for those wanting to obtain a non-immigrant O-A long stay retirement visa (not to be confused with non-O). I imagine you have already received an uptick in search traffic.

    Can you make sure your list is up to date, with an emphasis on those over 50 years old (and even 70) who need cover to meet the new requirements?
    Reply

  12. Dave in Udon says

    A newspaper article on the proposed med insurance requirement for O-A visa extenders...

    https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2018/12/23/thailand-healthcare-insurance-foreigners-thai-cabinet-immigration-visa-extensions-expats-medical-conditions/

    This article is more specific than that of The Nation. Govt Cabinet approval is needed, not that of the legislature. Specifically for O-A, but I question when Non-O will follow. Cabinet approval seems more like a sure thing...

    Internet searches will quickly reveal that kiosks have been set up at airport and land border crossings for Tourist visa holders to buy med insurance. I can't find an official source to verify that it's required, but the fact remains that the investment was made to effectively make it so.

    Now, if it were only so easy for those of us here many years, possibly with disqualifying ailments, and aged 75++.

    I ran across this link to the Thai General Insurance Asian mentioned in the above article:

    https://longstay.tgia.org/

    It lists some Thai and also int'l companies whose offerings will just satisfy the proposed requirements. Some will accept new enrollees up to age 100. In my case for age 78, the premiums are abt 110,000 B.

    In The Thailand Life article are listed 6 recommended companies, of which one, Cigna, will accept enrollees up to age 100. It's coverage is much more robust at just under twice the cost. There is also a rather expensive add-on for OPD, which I would decline in favor of a cheaper option of bank "accident insurance" from SCB or Bkk Bank.

    Nevertheless, this TGIA website answers the doubt in my mind as to whether the govt would present a solution to this O-A med insur quandary, and it appears the insurance people have done so in a very unexpected but satisfactory way...
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I think at some point it is inevitable because of the rising cost to the healthcare system of those who are unable to afford care. What I object to is being presented with a list of companies that you have to purchase from, because clearly there is a commission/kickback scheme going on here and that's anti-competitive and no doubt serves the interests of those in government positions who have shares in the said companies. Why not just introduce a basic government healthcare scheme that all expats/retirees purchase as standard, and then if people want top notch private care they can pay out for that if they want.
      Reply

    • Kelvin Bamfield says

      yes this will be interesting as one shoe dont fit all

      plus after the election there is some issue about the popular vote versus the seats won - so who will govern?

      the insurance for expats and travelers will become a reality - but in what form? Age, pre existing, etc. will all come into play

      having talked with many hospitals here the same story appears in that the hospitals are left with many debts run up by foreigners as if there is an emergency then the hospital is required to fix the injured party to a safe point where they can be transferred - if not then the hospital has to wear the bill

      whatever you do always have travel insurance!!!
      Reply

      • James E says

        It will be interesting to see if the rules will take into account any existing overseas coverage not from a Thai company. Here in the US it is possible for retirees to get a Medicare replacement policy (called Medicare Advantage) for little or no additional premium. Most of these policies will cover overseas emergency care up to the point where the patient is stable enough to be transported home. It's possible to add a MedEvac policy to this coverage for much less than the cost of additional health care coverage for just Thailand. I'm afraid this is going to open a can of worms that will be difficult to enforce, almost impossible to police, and end up driving even well-heeled retirees away due to the additional layer of bureaucracy that will have to be dealt with.
        Reply

  14. Thoma says

    I used the Health Insurance Chart you provided to receive a few quotes based upon my current age (67.) The lowest to come back was $380.00 a month. Was wondering if any of your followers in the same age range (if any) might have a provider providing lower rates for service their happy with. Thanks.
    Reply

    • Vic Rollins says

      I'm in a similar situation to Thoma. 66 with wife (not Thai) and 8 yo son. Outpatient ad hoc care and meds are affordable and paying $300-$400 US / month is steep. Does anyone have experience with minimal inpatient care cover for accident and major illness? I have seen policies in the range of $1,000+/- per year for guys my age but not sure if any are OK.

      I'm seriously in the market as we enter a new year. Best of luck to all.
      Reply

  15. JC says

    Hi,

    Very good article. Can somebody give me some heads-up. I am planning to retire in Thailand soon. I am now 56 years old. I know that it’s all related to personal circumstances. But I would like to know I which cost range I have to think. Who can provide me some numbers? Cost per month please.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi JC, as you note, all circumstances are different so it's hard to say what the monthly cost would be. It also depends on how comprehensive you want your cover. If you click here you can go to Cigna and get an instant quote based on your circumstances that will give you a rough idea of what you'd be looking at.
      Reply

  17. AC says

    Thank you for your article. Is there a "local insurance" just for Thailand ?
    I need cover just for hospitalisation, no life insurance or other add on.
    I am 55 years old, and will be retiring in Thailand in 2017.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi AC, policies generally offer international cover to some degree, but the issue with this is that the cover offered is usually not enough for more expensive countries. For example, I previously had Bupa Thailand cover for my daughter, which was fine inside Thailand, but if say we travelled to Singapore, I'd have to take out extra cover or additional travel insurance because the cover was calculated on Thai hospital costs and as such wouldn't be enough to cover a hospital bill in Singapore. In fact, once I had bolted on the add ons, the local policy wasn't much cheaper than the GlobalFusion International plan on a worldwide policy. This one is very affordable on the Bronze and silver plans, and if you take some excess of say $250 it gets much cheaper. This way you will have cover in all countries. Here's the link to the quote page. Let me know if you have any questions.
      Reply

      • Joe Johnson says

        If you consider these worldwide plans affordable you could probably afford to retire in a more developed country. keep in mind that most looking to retire in Thailand are doing so because they haven't enough assets to retire in the U.S. or similar. Personally, most of these plans would absorb 1/3 of my monthly retirement income excluding savings. I'm sure many are in the same boat when looking at Thailand for retirement.
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          I agree it can get expensive, but some are actually quite affordable because the market is very competitive now. The price is dependent on how comprehensive you want your coverage and any existing conditions you have, etc. It will also depend on factors like whether you require coverage for visiting back home and for for how long. Those looking at staying the majority of the year in Thailand for the foreseeable future won't need as many add ons and quotes will naturally be cheaper.We do have to accept though that as we age medical insurance gets more expensive, and as a retiree in a country like Thailand it is a necessary expense. There are tons of nightmare stories of those holed up in a Thai hospital, unable to leave because they can't pay the bill -- and ten the person's family ends up with the financial burden.I'm a complete wuss when it comes to being sick and hate nothing more than government hospitals. I'd rather sacrifice some other luxuries and have great cover so if I am sick it is in comfort and in the hands of competent medical staff. Try a quote from Cigna here as they tend to have reasonable options.
          Reply

          • Joe Johnson says

            You brought up another point I'd like to query you on. I did get a quote from Cigna and one of the questions asked was where do you plan on residing in retirement. I responded Thailand and the premium was still around $500 for decent coverage, with no dental or vision. Seems a bit of a rip off if that premium only relates to care in Thailand which is a fraction of the cost of care in the U.S.. Also, in relation to this question can you tell me how competent the Dr.s are in Thailand for critical care matters, say cancer or open heart surgery. My wife, who is Thai, seems to think the Dr.'s there are just as good if not better, something I find hard to believe.
            Reply

            • TheThailandLife says

              It's never going to be cheap, but That wouldn't just relate to care in Thailand, I'm sure. It would be international; so when you visit back home and other countries. The question regarding where you are residing does determine the cost, and residing in Thailand means the cost will be higher on all insurance plans. For example, my life insurance premium is more expensive in Thailand than the UK. When I queried this I was told that I have more chance of dying in Thailand than in the UK; more chance of death, illness, accident, etc. Second and third world countries are cheaper to live in, but with that comes a higher risk of illness and death. With some tweaks you can probably get that quote down. Forget the dental coverage; I pay for mine and it's very reasonable compared with back home.In terms of your wife's opinion, I'd tend to agree. The top doctors in Thailand generally study abroad; most certainly when it comes to cancer and open heart surgery. My wife recently had to go for a breast cancer check on a lump she had and the facilities and level of attentiveness was just as efficient as what I'd seen my mother have done in the UK. Of course, you're always going to come across a bit of "Thainess" now and again when dealing with any organisation here, but that comes with the territory. My daughter was born here in a private hospital too and, without going into detail, if it wasn't for the doctor recognizing some serious problems on our final pre-term checkup and rushing my wife in for emergency cesarean, she and my daughter may not be here now.
              Reply

    • Paul says

      Hello, I am not sure where to put this question as it is about mental healthcare in Thailand. From what I've read the major cities have mental hospitals and out patient treatment centers for therapy and for medicine. My question. In Thailand, does family have the legal right to petition a court to force someone to take medicine for a psychotic episode if their previous medicine stops working or if patient believes that medicine is not needed? In Philippines, family can step in. But it is based in mental hospitals in the PI, not a robust out patient treatment system there.
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        I'm not sure about petitioning a court to make a person take their medicine, but far as I know, a family can have a family member sectioned if that person is a threat to the safety of the family or themselves. I would assume a police report would be needed as evidence of the person's threatening behaviour.
        Reply

    • Dave in Udon says

      Hi AC,

      I just contacted Cigna using the link in this blog. Was pleasantly surprised that they would deal with me at age 78.

      The first plan presented was called Local Choice or something like that, meaning Thailand coverage only. The quote for my age was $507/mo. This can be reduced considerably right there online by paying qtrly or annually, and by increasing deductible and co-pay on the spot. Nice website. I got the quote down to $4995 annually.

      Many thanks to the author here...!
      Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hey Steve, yes, or Cigna. I am in a similar position to you. I know these health insurance policies can be a hell of a lot of info to take in, so feel free to give me a shout with any questions you have.
      Reply

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