Health Insurance For Thailand Expats
Expats in Thailand will want to secure top health insurance for the duration of their stay abroad. Most expats prefer private health insurance, and there are state-of-the-art private hospitals for expats in cities like Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Long-stay expats are required to have health insurance.
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There is much to learn about what types of insurance you should consider as an expat, what types of policies are available in Thailand, what health insurance the Thai government requires of expats to enter their borders, and where the best healthcare facilities can be found.
Have no fear, Pacific Prime is here! We are an international insurance brokerage and have helped thousands of customers find the right health insurance for their needs around the globe, including in Thailand!
This article is a touchpoint to guide you in the direction you need to find your answers. We have many links to additional resources about health insurance in Thailand, and we highly recommend you check out our additional articles that will go into more depth about their topic.
But for now, let’s jump into the basics of expat coverage in Thailand!
Health Insurance In Thailand For Expats
Expats seeking health insurance in Thailand can choose public or private coverage. Public insurance is organized by a governmental social security scheme for those who are employed in the country. Private companies also provide coverage and offer access to facilities of a higher quality.
Many legally working expats and digital nomads can qualify for public insurance. If you choose to go that route, your care will be subsidized and you’ll be assigned a single hospital where you can be treated.
Despite the public charges being more affordable than those in a private hospital in Thailand, expats may be charged more than their Thai counterparts because of a dual-pricing system in the country.
To help manage those fees, most expats get insurance from a private insurance company.
Below is a list of the 2023 top 7 insurance companies in Thailand:
As a brokerage, Pacific Prime partners with each of these insurance companies. We can negotiate with them on your behalf to get you the best plan possible.
Whether you’re an American or a Russian or from anywhere else in the world, we can help you find Thailand insurance!
You may also want to consider Thailand’s prescription medication costs without insurance and whether or not you can afford it.
Learn more about health insurance for foreigners in this article.
Thailand Health Insurance For Long-Term Visitors
Long-term visitors to Thailand, such as expats or digital nomads, will want to find health insurance with international coverage, 24/7 customer support, guaranteed renewability, direct billing, and inpatient and outpatient coverage. You’ll also want to consider your pre-existing conditions.
There are a variety of plan options for long-term visitors to Thailand. Here are a few possible choices, though there are many more health insurance plans:
- Family Plan: Perfect for all ages and occupations and can provide coverage for you, your spouse, and your children. You can get coverage for any injury or illness.
- Dental Plan: Having a dental plan in a foreign country can dramatically help reduce your healthcare costs. Coverage can include routine checkups and major treatments, such as tooth adjustments or root scaling.
- Expat Plan: An expat plan can be customized to meet all of your family’s needs. Coverage could include pre-existing conditions, maternity care, newborn care, dental and vision, emergency evacuation, and more.
Learn more about Thailand health insurance for long-term visitors in this article.
Thailand Health Insurance For Seniors
Seniors should look for health insurance plans in Thailand that provide coverage for any pre-existing health conditions they may have. They may also want to pay attention to where they can get treatment and if there’s an age when coverage ends.
Getting health insurance in Thailand for seniors is very important for an expat, especially since Thailand won’t accept U.S. Medicare.
Before you agree to any plan, you should first answer these questions:
- Does this plan have an age limit, and if yes, what is it?
- How and to what extent will the insurer provide coverage for my pre-existing condition(s)?
- Will my chronic condition(s) be covered?
- How do I make claims on this policy?
- How do I renew my policy?
- What is the annual premium inflation rate, and can I afford it?
- In what locations can I receive treatment?
- Can I change aspects of my policy? If yes, how and when?
- What is this insurer’s reputation for how they treat senior customers?
Learn more about health insurance in Thailand for seniors and retirees in these two articles.
Thailand Health Insurance For Tourists
Tourists are not required to have health insurance when traveling to Thailand, however, there are benefits to getting short-term coverage for your quick trip. These types of plans can cover anywhere from 1-12 months, and there is often an option to upgrade if you exceed 12 months.
Short-term health coverage grants you the choice to decide in a medical emergency abroad if you receive treatment in the closest medical facility or if you’d prefer to be relocated to your home country.
They also often provide the highest levels of coverage which can grant you peace of mind while you’re away. Get a free quote for short-term coverage or travel insurance today!
Learn more about health insurance in Thailand for tourists and travel insurance in Thailand in these two articles.
Migrant Health Insurance Scheme In Thailand
In 2001, the Thai Kingdom introduced a migrant health insurance scheme. This program is a voluntary scheme that allows undocumented migrants and their dependents to seek healthcare treatment in Thailand public facilities. It is funded by annual premiums paid by workers.
The goal of this scheme was to solve the problem that undocumented migrant workers aren’t eligible for public health insurance through the social security program, so they either pay out of pocket, piling up high charges, or forgo needed medical care.
Learn more about Thailand’s migrant health insurance scheme in this article.
Mandatory Health Insurance For Expats In Thailand
Expats planning to retire or live in Thailand for 1 – 10 years must comply with the mandatory health insurance laws of the Kingdom. Non-Immigrant visas O, O-X, O-A, Long-Term Resident visas, and Thai Elite cards are only approved to applicants who provide proof of having sufficient Thai coverage.
When applying for these visas, expats must send in their insurance policy documents to prove their plan will provide insurance within Thai borders.
Learn more about mandatory Thailand health insurance for expats in this article.
International Health Insurance In Thailand
International health insurance guarantees expats they will have health coverage not only in Thailand but in any country of the world. This type of plan is perfect for expats, digital nomads, or frequent travelers to expect to tour around the world while living in Thailand.
Pacific Prime’s international health plan can be completely tailored to your needs. That means the benefits, limits, and levels of coverage can fit within your budget, meet your needs, and bless you with peace of mind.
Our plans can include:
- Specific activity coverage (such as skydiving, etc.)
- Direct billing
- Flexibility
- Inpatient and outpatient coverage
- Renewable policies
- Affordable premiums
- Relationship with the major insurers
- Top-up plans to make up the difference of what your employer doesn’t cover
Learn more about international health insurance in Thailand in this article and get a free quote right now.
Universal Health Insurance Coverage In Thailand
Thailand’s universal health insurance program has received world recognition from the World Health Organization. This scheme provides healthcare coverage to the majority of the Thai population, and it is funded through taxes and social security programs.
This program has provided an increase of positive medical care for those in poverty and very few medical needs across the Kingdom remain unmet.
Learn more about universal health insurance coverage in Thailand in this article.
Best Healthcare Locations In Thailand For Expats
Expats may find that the best healthcare locations in Thailand are in larger cities, such as Chiang Mai and Bangkok, where they have access to top-tier facilities and medical equipment. There is a division between the public clinics and hospitals and the more deluxe private clinics and hospitals.
In general, expats prefer to use private hospitals because they have higher-quality treatment and more English-speaking professionals. When selecting where to live in Thailand as an expat you should consider which medical facilities you want to be close to.
If you choose to live in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, you will want to become familiar with the information in these two articles:
Learn more about the best private hospitals in Thailand for expats in this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What travel insurance should I get when traveling to Thailand?
If you’re traveling to Thailand and wondering which travel insurance you should get, the answer depends on what you need. Some plans include coverage for trip cancellation, delayed departure, personal belongings and lost luggage, replacing lost documents, personal liability, and emergency care.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this article. You’ve now learned a snippet into a variety of topics related to health insurance for expats and digital nomads moving to Thailand.
We would recommend looking into the Thailand health insurance plan we offer here at Pacific Prime to help you see what choices are available, as well as to take the above links to read more deeply into each topic.
Another free resource we love making available to you is our free insurance quote generator. With it, you can plug in a variety of potential coverages in a variety of countries to discover an estimate of how much your premiums might cost. Check it out today!
And if you have any questions that you can’t find an answer to, shoot a quick message or make a call to contact an international insurance expert so you can learn what you need to. We’re here to help!
Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
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