A maze of rules surrounding Thai health insurance for foreigners
In Thailand, each visa or residence permit has its own health requirements, which can be a complicated matter for foreigners. The call for clarity from the British insurance industry was recently reinforced when an injured Briton in Thailand was denied free hospital care.
Jonathon Cobb, a 28-year-old Briton, broke his arm and suffered facial injuries in a motorcycle accident in Pattaya. He told the Pattaya Mail that he was advised to go to a local hospital because he believed the Thai government provides free medical care to foreigners on tourist visas. The government subsidy would cover up to 28.000 million baht, or about £XNUMX, depending on the severity of the injury or death.
However, at the hospital, Jonathon was told by the administrative staff and police that he was not eligible for this government subsidy and that he would have to pay the costs himself. The Health Insurance for Non-Thais (HINT) scheme specifically excludes coverage for “negligence, intent, illegal acts or risky behaviour”. In Jonathon’s case, the situation was complicated by the fact that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. In the end, his family in the UK paid the bill of 300.000 baht, the equivalent of 7.000 pounds. In addition, he had to pay the rental company 30.000 baht, approximately 700 pounds, for the damage to the bike.
British insurer Worldwide Travelling said the Thai scheme mainly provides compensation for death or loss of limb or organ, but that the bureaucracy is unclear. For example, a website of the Thai Ministry of Tourism refers to a registration link that appears to have been hacked. The actual administration of the claims is said to be the responsibility of the Tourist Police Bureau and the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, although many foreigners are unaware of this. The central medical fund, with a budget of 50 million baht and valid until the end of 2024, appears to have been barely used so far, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Increasing need for health insurance for foreigners
With the increasing number of tourists in Thailand, adequate health insurance is becoming increasingly important. Worldwide Travelling states that the requirements for health insurance in Thailand are due for an update. For example, there is now a visa that is valid for five years, the Destination Visa Thailand. This visa technically falls under the category of “tourist visas”, but only allows an initial stay of 180 days and probably does not qualify for free accident coverage.
The Elite or Privilege visa, which lasts from 5 to 20 years, does not require health insurance. However, the Long Term Residence visa, which lasts for 10 years, does have insurance requirements: holders must have at least US$50.000 in health insurance coverage or US$100.000 in Thai bank accounts for a longer period. Different rules apply to foreign retirees: those holding an OA annual visa are required to have continuous health insurance, while this requirement does not apply to those holding the comparable O visa type. The difference lies in the issuance: the OA visa is initially issued by a Thai embassy abroad, while the extension of the O visa is arranged locally with the immigration police.
In addition, there are also annual renewals that do not require health insurance, such as renewals for foreigners who are married to a Thai partner or who have a permit to learn Thai. However, employees with a work permit from the Ministry of Labor contribute a small portion of their salary to access Thai social security.
Conclusion
The current regulations for health insurance for foreigners in Thailand are confusing and have many exceptions. With the increasing number of international visitors and the growing group of foreign residents, there seems to be an urgent need for clear and accessible information about the available medical coverage. This way, as a foreigner in Thailand, one can be better prepared for unexpected medical expenses and one does not remain dependent on difficult procedures and unclear rules.
Source: Pattaya Mail
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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Riding around on a motorcycle without proper travel insurance and without a helmet is asking for trouble. It's your own fault... No pity!
It remains a mystery to me that people leave their home country uninsured and then also think that the costs of their accident will be reimbursed while they tour around without a helmet and/or the correct driver's license on motorcycles that they have only viewed from a distance "at home".
Insurance companies worldwide strive to collect premiums and then use the small print in the event of illness, accidents, etc. to avoid having to pay out.
By the way, I don't understand why Thailand doesn't have minimum requirements for travel insurance for tourists.
Must be me…
Someone from the Netherlands is never uninsured in TH, see: rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/zorgverzekering/vraag-en-antwoord/hoe-ben-ik-voor-zorg-verzekerd-als-ik-op-vakantie-ben-in-het-buitenland https://ap.lc/SeRdC
If you want to have all unexpected and possible costs reimbursed, then travel insurance is recommended. Whether the UK also has a basic health insurance that covers costs abroad is unknown to me, but it could be the case in the case of the Brit in the article.
In the United Kingdom, the NHS – National Health Service – is the basic health insurance. This does not cover medical costs in countries such as Thailand.
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/#:~:text=The%20UK%20Global%20Health%20Insurance,a%20local%20resident%20would%20pay.
In that case, the man in the article made a mistake on 2 levels, namely he did not take out additional travel insurance in the UK before leaving for TH. He should or could have known that the NHS does not apply in TH. The other is that he apparently conveniently assumed that TH would pay his sickness/accident costs. No. Would the NHS do that for a Thai in the UK? I think the same rule applies.
What I also find so strange is that foreign tourists, also those from NL, rent a scooter/moped, and think that with those 125cc cylinders they do not need a driver's license. After an accident therefore no compensation, neither that of the hospital nor that for all material damage.
That is indeed strange, if you come from the Netherlands you are obliged to take out travel insurance, you can arrange this through your own health insurance, for example UNIVE and they will pay everything.
It will cost you a few tens of euros per year and it is more convenient and cheaper to have continuous travel insurance.
You don't have to worry about anything else except taking the correct papers with you.
because that's also where things sometimes go wrong.
There is no such obligation, Boonya. Of course it is wise...
Boonya, I am also with UNIVE and have an additional module, not only for travel but also for other coverage, because the basic insurance covers up to the Dutch rates and also in Thailand higher rates can apply. In addition, I have a travel and cancellation policy for other inconveniences that can occur.
Hans, Perhaps the Thai government's thinking is that imposing too many entry requirements on tourists (such as mandatory travel insurance) will discourage potential tourists from visiting Thailand.
Priority is: raking in tourists. The 'rest' will sort itself out.
The thinking is probably: Let the tourists come, after accidents that require medical care/hospitalization, we just won't let them go until the bills are paid.
As in this article. Even the police got involved.
Damn, it's 2024 and does everyone really have to take into account the losers who don't know that they can only travel with insurance? Yes, they are still there, just from the UK, a while ago someone from Down Under, unfortunately uninsured or underinsured, not a cent to spare, their world is coming to an end and they hold out their hand via crowd funding...
But you shouldn't set conditions per country, then they will pass your country by. That should be done for example as an ASEAN region; but there they look askance at each other's tourism... So the problems will remain for a while...
Indeed Erik, I also do not understand why people consciously choose to travel uninsured. If the price of insurance makes the difference, then I would think that you should stay home….
I just experienced it, I had Thai life insurance, everything according to the rules, but the employee at the insurance company Ms Pui did not pass on my history in order to obtain the policy anyway.
Result, in June this year cancer was diagnosed, had already been with the insurance for 8 months, it was quite urgent to prevent metastasis, no costs were covered and was even thrown out of the insurance, had no insurance anymore, had to pay all costs myself 1.3 million baht.
According to my lawyer, this often happens with Thai insurance, and Thai law also provides these options.
So watch out for this lady and insurance
Thai Life insurance Lady PUI
Phetkasem Road ,next to Bangkok bank and Hua Hin Heart clinic Dr Polpat
Now please don't take it personally, but if I were in your place I would have flown back to Belgium or the Netherlands and it would not have cost you anything, just the ticket and the stay in a hotel for normally only a maximum of two months.
If he still had the option to return, that would indeed have been a better solution.
But why only max 2 months? In Belgium he can stay as long as he wants, or even re-register if that would be more practical. It takes a mouse click so to speak.
I don't know the Netherlands.
RonnyLatYa, Netherlands ditto. Register (you must have an address) and then take out mandatory health insurance. Mandatory acceptance, although non-acute medical treatment may have a waiting period.
If you have to appeal to the Long-Term Care Act (WLZ), a waiting period of max. one year applies upon return to the Netherlands. This law regulates heavy, intensive care for vulnerable elderly people, people with a disability and people with a mental disorder. This is provided in a nursing home or occasionally at home if there are facilities for this.
As soon as a deregistered pensioner arrives in Belgium, he is insured with a mutuality (health insurance fund). He does not actually have to register again. This is an advantage that is often used to have an annual medical check-up during a visit to Belgium.
But I also know of people who say that this means that expensive insurance in Thailand is not necessary at all, because if necessary they can return to Belgium to receive treatment there.
However, they often overlook the fact that you may not be physically able to return and then of course the problems start.
I only found some summary information about the HINT mentioned in the text.
This gives me the impression that the scheme is not aimed at tourists.
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/life-insurance/thailand-to-roll-out-public-health-insurance-for-foreigners-in-2024-470808.aspx#:~:text=Thailand's%20Ministry%20of%20Public%20Health,Thai%20individuals%20in%20the%20country.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2704041/health-insurance-for-non-thais-coming
The reason why I never wanted to settle permanently in TH is precisely because TH does not have a clear transparent health care system. The insurances are all good as long as you do not need them. The stories that I have had to experience and hear with all kinds of insurances defy all imagination. Even the Thai people who have little or no resources can shake it when they are confronted with serious illnesses. A broken arm or a sprained foot will certainly be possible, but serious life-threatening illnesses are rarely or not really addressed at all. I have seen many die in Isaan with the only medical help being the magic potions of the monks who were then also charged for without scruples.
TH is for me a nice country to stay as long as you are healthy and let this be the most important thing at a certain age. I do stick to my limited stays and take a good EU travel insurance for that.
I agree Fred.
Years ago, before I retired, I also planned to move to Thailand permanently. But in the end, after taking everything into consideration, I decided not to burn any bridges behind me and to alternate between Belgium and Thailand.
The fact that we both (Thai woman with Belgian nationality) are medically well insured is the main reason behind it. A return ticket actually costs me less than a Thai annual insurance for both of us in Thailand, and of which you can indeed only wonder whether when the time comes you are also covered for that particular condition (if you were not already excluded) or the cost picture.
Travel insurance such as AXA premium https://www.axa.be/nl/particulieren/gezin/reisverzekering or Assudis Exellence 21/24 https://www.assudis.be/nl/products already give the possibility of longer stays. Even Solidaris Vlaanderen as a mutuality gives you the possibility of a possible longer stay in Thailand with a coverage of 3 months starting on the day of the medical intervention.
For your last paragraph Ronny…as far as the condition/hospitalization does not fall under the medical history. Kind regards, Roger.
Not with a travel insurance that was taken out in Belgium, which includes AXA Premium, Exellence21/24 or your mutual of course. History should not be a reason to exclude you from this.
This does happen with insurance in Thailand.
Certain causes, alcohol, dangerous sports, etc. can be a reason not to pay out and you are also not allowed to go to Thailand with the intention of receiving treatment there.
Hi,
So if I read it correctly, you can take out travel insurance with Assudis and extend it to 24 months. What happens after those 24 months? Can you simply extend it for another 24 months or do you have to take out a new insurance policy and then extend it again to 24 months?
Best regards,
Jan
Ask your insurer, they should be able to answer that.
I didn't read all those details either.
I currently have the AXA Premium and it is automatically renewed every year. Each trip can't last longer than 6 months but that's fine for us at the moment
I currently have KBC and pay 108€ (VIP formula 1 million per person per year per situation) per year for 3 people (me, wife and brother), for 2 people it is 71€/year. We can stay away for 4 months and from the 5th month we pay 60€/month extra. I am very satisfied, last year my mother was hospitalized, called on a Sunday at 11:40 and at 16:3 my brother had his ticket in his mail where he had the choice in advance to choose from XNUMX flights to return.
Everyone chooses what they want and I am perfectly happy with mine…
The Thai healthcare system is fine in itself. That is not the problem. It has everything to do with how the insurance industry deals with people and policies. The insurance industry in TH is based on profit, and illnesses/disorders and ailments are profit models. Only profit principles apply, and not mutual solidarity as in NL. In addition, healthcare in NL is taxed, which means that deficits in the healthcare system can be eliminated with tax money, depending on political choices.
TH has a completely different financing system. In TH more than 47 million people, three quarters of the Thai population, use the 30 baht scheme, recently extended to every affiliated hospital and pharmacy for those people. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2814029/30-baht-scheme-expands-its-network
Those who can afford it also have private Thai health insurance in addition to or in addition to it.
Civil servants and their immediate relatives are insured by the government.
Permanent employees and their immediate families also have additional insurance from their employer. People in the informal sector via the Thai SSO: https://www.sso.go.th/wpr/main
Most people, generally speaking, start their physical and medical history from a young age, and are then known to their insurer. They grow into a policy with their illnesses, ailments and conditions, as it were. For those in the know: the https://www.ilo.org/ has very positive words for the Thai 30 baht system: ILO Social Protection Department | Thailand: Universal Health-care Coverage Scheme
Foreign pensioners cannot participate in the Thai health insurance system. And rightly so. No country can compete with the ever-increasing costs of any national health care system. A small country like the Netherlands is already struggling with huge deficits. The UK NHS is completely bankrupt, millions are uninsured in the US. The Australian Medicare also requires additional insurance. On the other hand, these pensioners enter TH at a later age, have had no part in any TH build-up or fiscal input during their working life. They are expected to be able to put 400 or 800K in THB in a bank, and in addition a monthly income that makes many an Immigration officer look with dismay every year.
Foreign pensioners are thus dependent on private insurance, but experience exclusions in their policy for existing or latent illnesses, ailments and conditions, even retroactively. As mentioned, because of the profit motive and the profit model. Which means that someone who has ever smoked will not be heard if they have lung complaints, and someone with high blood pressure will have to pay for their later heart disease treatment themselves. There is always a reason to not have to make a payment. The older a pensioner to be insured, the greater the risk of a decline in health and therefore higher premiums. And if you do not read the policy carefully, even no payment at all. No insurance at all is also possible, because many companies do not go beyond an age of 70 at the latest upon registration. And then consider that most providers operate from the EU/UK/US. Only a few Thai providers have an 'expat' offer at higher premiums, but intended for foreigners working in TH.
Maw: it is not the Thai health care system, but how in TH the international insurance world thinks they have to make their move. That is why I do not participate in that, and put aside what I normally would have had to pay in NL in premiums, deductible and ZVW contribution monthly. More people should do that!
Mostly agree with your vision...but the 30beth insurance leaves much to be desired. My mother-in-law recently had to cough up 22.000 tb in Roi Et to be able to undergo the non-stone/gallstone laser after a week instead of within 3 months...while she was in severe pain. There are many doctors and also lawyers who are real scammers. Kind regards, Roger.
What also strikes me sometimes is that, while you hardly read anything about what medical insurance covers, people mainly look at themselves.
It seems to me that the partner is often forgotten when it comes to insurance. You get the impression that she has to be satisfied with her 30 Baht card.
I wonder whether people will be prepared to pay for those costs if the 30 Baht ticket proves insufficient and more serious interventions have to be paid for.
I want my wife to be well insured and to receive the necessary care at the same level as I do.
I know that partners who work for the Thai government or have worked in that field are better off, but I'm mainly talking about those who don't.
Indeed and many forget that. It is not because in many cases the partner is 15 or 20 years younger that he could not get sick... an accident can never be ruled out and that makes no distinction between old or young.
That is why we have concluded the Excellence 21 contract for couples with the option of a slightly longer stay.
We also doubted for a long time, but as we got older and the ailments slowly started to rear their heads, we were glad we kept our place in BEL.
Despite what people may say, the BEL healthcare system is still top. Best specialists in the world and especially at very affordable prices and especially for all those who have hospitalization insurance.
I totally agree with you, dear Ronny. In this kind of reaction to the Thai insurance system it is usually about your own skin. For my wife I have a first class premium insurance with a Thai company of her choice and as is known by her brother among others, who works as a doctor in a CHM hospital. For myself as written in my reaction to @fred
I canceled my insurance when I had to sign a POA (Power of Authorney) form.
Any actions that the attorney has been done in accordance with this power of attorney, I shall acknowledge, agree and take responsibility regarding as if I had done by myself. As evidence, I hereby sign in the presence of the witness.
I'm not going to sign a carte blanche that makes me responsible for everything someone else does.
A lousy piece of English by the way.