Suppose that you are one of the thousands of happy expats who has retired in a tropical paradise like Thailand. Your life is perfect until the unthinkable happens- you are injured in a traffic accident, or you are stricken with a disease, or you suffer some other unforeseeable health crisis! If you were back in your original country it’s pretty likely you would have health insurance in place to help soak up the high costs of care, but what about now? Do you have coverage? The answer to this question is too often “no”, especially among those expats who have already been living in Thailand for many years.
Why Expats Should Prepare Before A Crisis Hits
Because a health crisis could strike at any time, it’s really in your own best interests to be prepared in advance. Thailand is one of the most popular countries people like to retire in, and much has been written on its many attractions! But even in this lovely paradise things can go wrong, and even though Thai hospitals offer high quality world class care and are fairly reasonably priced, those bills can add up quickly! Because of this, the Thai government has now decreed that there be non o insurance requirements in Bangkok and the rest of the county for anyone applying for a resident non o type visa! This is now mandatory for expats, and it is a wise decision because it will protect you in the unfortunate event that you suffer a medical emergency, as well as ensure that you can pay your bills to the Thai hospitals.
Private International Health Insurance Explained
While required in Thailand, it’s good sense to invest in private international health insurance wherever you choose to reside in the world. It can be highly stressful to come down with an unexpected illness, suffer an injury accident, or even simply stop into a clinic for a routine checkup when you live in a country where you can’t speak the local language fluently, or where the culture is unfamiliar to you. The already complex process of checking into a hospital and locating the proper physician to treat your particular problem is made that much more difficult when you are doing it in a foreign land! Obtaining an international health insurance policy helps guarantee that you will receive the high quality care you need no matter what country you are residing in.
Cover becomes even more important when a move abroad turns permanent, which is why anyone considering retiring to Thailand should sort their policy long before they book a one-way flight.
Should You Add A Local Health Plan?
Sometimes there are options to sign up for a local health insurance plan, which might be a good addition to your overall coverage, but keep in mind that it will have restrictions, such as access to a limited network of doctors, or being applicable only in a limited geographic area like a major city. Suppose you are on an up-country tour, or enter a neighbouring country, if something happens you might not have coverage! Maintaining an international health insurance plan will be your best option because it gives you worldwide coverage, so you will be protected wherever you go.
Already Living In Thailand? Check Your Requirements
If you do happen to be an expat already living in Thailand, be sure to check here for the insurance requirements and get coverage!
Want to know about “Integrating the Game Ready Ice Machine Into Your Physical Therapy Routine” Check out our “Health” category.
What Should An Expat Health Policy Actually Cover?
Look past the headline benefit figure and read four things: the inpatient limit, the outpatient allowance, the treatment of pre-existing conditions, and the emergency evacuation cover. Evacuation is the one people forget, and it is the clause that matters most if you live somewhere with limited specialist care. Also check the geographic scope — a policy that excludes your home country can leave you uninsured on a long visit back.
Is Local Insurance Enough On Its Own?
Local plans are usually cheaper and work well for routine care in the country that issued them, but they tend to carry lower limits and stop at the border. Most long-term expats end up with an international policy as the backbone and treat any local plan as a top-up for day-to-day treatment rather than a replacement.
