Thailand offers a captivating lifestyle, but unexpected healthcare costs can quickly disrupt your paradise. Securing the right expat health insurance is crucial for every expatriate, whether you have freshly relocated to Thailand or a long-time resident. With the right coverage, you can enjoy your time in Thailand, knowing you can access top-quality healthcare whenever you need it.
Plain and simple, your health insurance choice today can significantly impact your future. A plan without lifetime renewal might leave you in a tough spot if your insurer decides not to renew it. Choosing the right policy can offer reassurance and dependable healthcare options.
To help you navigate this minefield, we’ve created this guide to walk you through everything you need to know to make informed decisions for your expat insurance in Thailand — from understanding the pros and cons of the different solutions out there, to the questions you should ask about international coverage.
What’s an Expat Health Insurance in Thailand?
An Expat Health Insurance for Thailand is a specialized type of health insurance designed for individuals living and/or working in Thailand (outside their home country). Unlike standard domestic health insurance, expat plans typically offer:
- High Coverage: Expat policies often come with high sum insured limits, ensuring comprehensive financial protection against significant medical expenses.
- Private Healthcare: Most expat plans provide access to private healthcare providers, offering shorter wait times and more personalized care, with more advanced facilities.
- International Coverage: A key feature of expat insurance is its global coverage. This means you’re protected beyond your host country.
By investing in a robust expat health insurance plan, you can safeguard your health and financial well-being while living abroad.
Is health insurance mandatory for expats in Thailand?
In some instances, health insurance is mandatory to obtain specific Thai visas.
Expats for whom health insurance is mandatory
Retirement Visa: OA Visa and OX Visa holders
O-A visa and O-X visa are long stay visas (respectively 1 year and 5 years) for foreigners aged 50 and above wishing to retire in Thailand. Since these are retirement visas, employment in Thailand is prohibited.
Health insurance is mandatory to obtain a retirement visa in Thailand. This requirement, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to ensure foreign retirees have adequate medical coverage for unexpected emergencies.
Note that immigration laws are subject to change. To ensure a smooth retirement visa application, it’s highly recommended to consult the Thai embassy in your country for all visa requirements including the specific health insurance type you need.
More about health insurance for retirement visa in Thailand
LTR Visa (Long Term Resident Visa) holders
The Long Term Resident Visa (LTR) allows high-potential foreigners to live, work, and do business in Thailand for 10 years, with the option to renew. This visa caters to four categories: wealthy individuals, pensioners, remote workers, and highly skilled professionals.
To ensure access to healthcare during their stay, Thailand requires applicants to demonstrate financial security through either a health insurance or a deposit into a Thai bank account.
More about Thailand’s Long Term Resident Visa (LTR Visa)
Expats for whom health insurance is not required
As mentioned previously, not all expats require health insurance as part of their visa requirements. Starting with those who are looking to work in Thailand must obtain a work permit (dependents can get a dependent visa accordingly). Smart visas and Elite visas are also available for those eligible. These visas don’t require any specific health insurance, however it’s crucial to ensure a good medical cover to have access to treatment should anything arise.
More about Thai Visa: Requirements and How to Apply
Why should expats get insured in Thailand ?
Thailand’s allure is undeniable but the reality of healthcare costs can quickly dampen the enthusiasm. Health insurance is a must for expatriates living in Thailand.
Here’s why: high healthcare costs, particularly in private hospitals, can quickly drain your savings. An Expat Health Insurance acts as a financial safety net, ensuring you receive quality care without breaking the bank.
Limited access and limited coverage of Thai Social Security
Foreigners employed in Thailand are eligible to participate in the Thai Social Security (SSO). However, it’s essential to consider the potential limitations of this coverage.
Limited Hospital Choice: Social Security typically restricts you to a specific public hospital for treatment. This can limit your access to specialists or preferred facilities.
Potential Wait Times: Public hospitals in Thailand can experience congestion, leading to longer wait times for appointments and treatment. In some cases, it can take half a day or longer for an appointment, and arranging treatment could take months.
Variable Quality of Care: While public hospitals offer essential services, the overall quality of care may not always meet everyone’s expectations. Furthermore, there can be a language barrier, as public hospitals may not have a dedicated English speaking department to help with translations.
Remember: Social Security offers a basic level of healthcare coverage. It may be a suitable option for some, but others might prefer the flexibility and potentially higher standards offered by private health insurance.
More about:
Thailand Hospitals – Government vs Private Hospitals
Thailand Universal Health Care for Expats
Pampered services for expats at private hospitals in Thailand
Private hospitals in Thailand cater to international patients with a range of services. These include English-speaking staff, multilingual translators (Japanese, Chinese, etc.), and even airport pickup for those traveling specifically for medical treatment.
More about Hospitals in Thailand
Rising cost of private healthcare in Thailand
Thailand boasts world-class medical facilities and expertise, attracting patients from across Asia and beyond. While the country excels in medical tourism, it’s important to note that healthcare costs is definitely on the higher end within Asia, and actually driving medical inflation up. This is primarily due to the availability of latest treatments and advanced medical technologies. Despite this, Thailand remains a cost-effective option for quality medical care. Compared to many Western countries, Thailand offers significant cost savings while maintaining high standards.
More about:
Cost of major surgeries in Thailand
The Five Most Common Causes of Hospitalization in Thailand
How Much Does Cancer Treatment Cost in Thailand?
Beware of Healthcare Dual Pricing for foreigners in Thailand
It’s important to be aware of dual pricing practices in Thailand’s healthcare system. Some hospitals, including top private facilities in Bangkok, charge foreigners significantly more for medical services than Thai nationals. This discrepancy is often attributed to translation fees, but actual costs may vary widely.
Who can buy expat health insurance ?
Contrary to its name, expat health insurance isn’t just for foreigners. Thai nationals can also benefit from these plans, which often offer higher coverage than traditional domestic insurance policies.
Here are the main eligibility criteria:
- Entry Age Limit: Until 60-70 years old (for entry) depending on Insurance Provider
- Nationality: there is usually no restrictions on nationality nor should there be any pricing discrepancies between nationalities.
- Residency requirements: Applicants have to declare their main residence as this will impact eligibility to purchase the plan. In some instances, your main residency can impact the premium to pay. For instance: cost of medical care in Vietnam is cheaper than in Thailand so health insurance premium for comparable benefits are likely to be cheaper in Vietnam than Thailand. Some insurers only consider foreigners with a work permit to prove the residency.
What options are available for expats in Thailand?
Private Health Insurance from Thai companies (life & non-life) / Domestic
Onshore health insurance refers to plans purchased directly from Thai insurance companies. These policies often offer advantages such as superior local service, in-depth knowledge of the healthcare system, and easier access to care. Additionally, they are regulated by Thai laws and the Thai Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), providing strong consumer protection.
Notable Thai companies offering expat health insurance
AXA, Pacific Cross and April are some well known providers in Thailand. LUMA is also a top end brand offering comprehensive health insurance plans, which are insured by Navakij, an Insurance Company registered under Thai laws and operating for more than 80 years.
Private Health insurance from companies outside Thailand / OFFSHORE
Offshore health insurance plans are offered by international providers. These plans provide portability, allowing expats to maintain coverage while relocating to different countries. However, they often have limitations such as potential language barriers when coordinating with local hospitals, and challenges with direct billing to healthcare providers. Additionally, with the lack of regulatory, there’s a higher risk of the insurer withdrawing from the Thai market, not honoring claims and the possibility of policy cancellations, when compared to onshore options.
Notable non-Thai companies offering expat health insurance (i.e. offshore)
International health insurance providers like Cigna, Vumi, AXA, and Allianz offer coverage in Thailand. However, as offshore insurers, they may have limited services within the country, such as a more restricted Direct Billing Network to none. Additionally, they are not regulated by Thailand’s Office of Insurance Commission so in case of dispute, the insured needs to go to a Foreign Court where the Insurance is registered.
Group Insurance (and employee benefits)
If you’ve ever had group health insurance covered by an employer, you know there are some obvious advantages and disadvantages. A big plus is that the company pays for the policy. On the negative side, an employee does not typically have the option to customize the policy according to his or her individual needs. And if you leave your job, you’ll lose coverage. If you are legally working in Thailand you will be eligible to receive health benefits from the Social Security System, however, if you wish to access internationally acclaimed hospital care and doctors you will need a high coverage private plan.
What about the not-so-obvious advantages to employee health insurance in Thailand? If the company you work for is large enough, you may be covered for pre-existing conditions. This is a major benefit to those who have chronic diseases or health problems.
It’s also worth noting that outpatient care (OPD) can be included in your policy as part of your employee benefits. This, however, can be both a pro and con. If you buy a personal policy out of your own pocket, adding OPD coverage can double your monthly premium. So while it is true that business health insurance offered by your employer can save you money on outpatient care, the levels of OPD (and inpatient care (IPD) as well) are typically lower and it may not be much of a benefit. Will it be enough to cover your insurance needs? It depends on your health, age and the level of cover you’re comfortable with.
Company budgets for employee benefits vary significantly. While some companies offer robust coverage to attract and retain talent, many smaller companies can only afford to provide a limited protection. Additionally, not all plans extend to employees’ families. To bridge the gap and topping up your health coverage, consider purchasing a private insurance policy and perhaps adding a deductible to help manage costs.
Pros of Group Insurance
- Paid by the employer – your company covers part or all of your premium.
- Pre-existing condition cover – depending on the size of your company and policy, you may be covered for your pre-existing conditions.
- Often adequate for routine healthcare – such as outpatient visits for seasonal flus; and some policies may even offer dental care.
Cons of Group Insurance
- Potential loss of coverage – you may not be able to get another private insurance policy when you leave if you contract a serious condition during your employment – as this condition will be considered a ‘pre-existing condition’, which if severe enough will be rejected by most companies.
- Development of new pre-existing conditions – conditions developed during your employment, even minor ones, will be considered ‘pre-existing’ so they can be excluded from coverage when you apply for another insurance policy.
- Non-customisable for individual needs – the coverage may not be adequate for the needs of you and your family. You need to consider if the limits are high enough to cover hospitalizations, medical emergencies, accidents and other serious illnesses. You need to also consider whether the coverage will be available at the locations where you want to have treatment. For example, if you’re an expat and want to have treatment in your home country. Or if you’re Thai, you may have a preference for medical treatments abroad, such as in Singapore. You may also wish to cover your family and children on your health insurance plan and employee benefit may not extend to this.
Companies offering group insurance in Thailand
PMI (middle-range sum insured and benefits): Tokio Marine, Muang Thai Life, LMG, Sunday
IPMI (international plans with high sum insured and additional benefits): LUMA (insured by Navakij), Axa, April
We provide consultations to Groups, explore Corporate solutions with LUMA
Our recommendation: Get Both Private and Employee Coverage
The bottom line is, you need to ensure you or your family are covered against critical illnesses and accidents in the long term. What you should get will depend on your personal circumstances.
For example, say you’re a short term expat residing in Thailand. You have access to a benefit package provided by your employer and a good healthcare system in your home country that fully covers you. In this case, your company plan may be enough (provided you are ok with the levels of coverage).
However, if you’re planning to be a long term resident of Thailand, you should plan for the long run to ensure you’re fully covered regardless of your employment status. In this case, it will be worthwhile to send in applications and purchase a second insurance policy that complements the plan you have with your company. Many companies will already offer adequate outpatient care coverage, so sometimes the only thing you’ll need to look for are essential plans, which are designed to cover the less frequent, more serious and more expensive illnesses/accidents.
Many expats will obtain a private expat health insurance in Thailand, in addition to the cover offered by their employer. Doing so provides you with all the advantages of both types of policies, with the only downside being the additional cost.
Essential Tips: How to choose the right Expat Health Insurance for Thailand?
Select the Appropriate Level of benefits
Typical expat health insurance plans structure
Here we will explore the most common health coverage plan options selected by expatriates in Thailand and what to look for in each plan option.
Health insurance plans favoured by expats generally fall into the following categories:
- Plans with inpatient cover only
- Plans with inpatient and outpatient cover
- Plans with inpatient and outpatient cover + other benefits such as dental care, vision care, maternity and health checkups
Expat Health Insurance with inpatient cover only
Plans that include only inpatient cover are often referred to as an essential or a basic health insurance plan. These plans typically only cover expenses when you are hospitalized overnight or during the day (also known as daycare or daycase).
Inpatient cover is often labeled as ‘essential’ for good reason as any event requiring inpatient treatment will often be a cause of trauma and can potentially be very costly. You need to ensure you have good coverage to ensure you have access to the treatment you need at the facility you are comfortable with.
Coverage of inpatient only, or essential plans, will typically include hospital expenses such as:
- Cost of the room (as well as nursing charges & food)
- Diagnostic tests (e.g. MRI, PET scans)
- Doctor’s fee and medications
- Cost of surgeries and cost of operating room
Here are a few scenarios where you may be hospitalized, either overnight or as a daycare patient:
- Major accidents requiring long stays in an intensive care unit
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
- Gastrointestinal issues as a result of food poisoning
- Sports injuries requiring MRI investigations
To ensure you have a good inpatient cover, ensure limits of the plan’s coverage are sufficient for:
- Serious illnesses (e.g. cancers)
- Major accidents
- Medical facilities in your area or medical facilities you are comfortable with
Expat Health Insurance with inpatient and outpatient cover
Some people will want to be covered for all health risks – not just major ones. Because of this, some expats prefer to have plans with both inpatient and outpatient cover. Outpatient refers to medical services not requiring a stay overnight in a hospital or as a daycare. Plans with both in- and out-patient cover are often labeled as comprehensive options.
In addition to cover for inpatient medical expenses, comprehensive packages will typically cover hospital expenses such as:
- Consultation & doctor’s fees
- Diagnostic tests
- Prescribed medications
Here are a few scenarios where you may need outpatient care:
- Seasonal health risks
- Chronic conditions requiring long term treatment with regular supervision
- Minor surgeries like cryotherapy, electrocautery, and curettage among others.
Outpatient care in Thailand is generally affordable and buying a comprehensive package will cost more than an essential package. Nevertheless, it may be worthwhile to purchase such a plan as it would be typically difficult to upgrade from an essential to a comprehensive plan with outpatient cover once you develop a new medical condition, especially a chronic condition requiring long term supervision and support. This is because health insurance companies will typically consider these problems as ‘pre-existing conditions’ and will exclude them from your policy; even if you have been with the same insurance company.
Comprehensive Expat Health Insurance with added Benefits
Many medical insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage that extends beyond traditional illness treatments.
These additional benefits may include (and the list could go on):
- Dental care
- Maternity care
- Vision care
- Health checkups
- Alternative medicine (e.g. acupuncture)
To access these additional benefits, most health insurance plans require outpatient coverage. It’s rare to find plans that offer preventive services or elective treatments without including outpatient care.
Does the plan offer cover for Health check up?
Comprehensive health insurance plans often include health check-ups as part of their outpatient benefits, often bundled with vaccinations. These annual check-ups are essential for preventive healthcare.
However, for those without this coverage, numerous hospitals in Thailand offer competitively priced health check-up packages. Depending on individual needs and budget, opting for these packages might be more cost-effective than paying a higher premium for insurance coverage that may not be frequently utilized.
Does the plan offer Maternity cover?
Coverage for pregnancy and child delivery can be added as Maternity Benefits.
It’s essential to note that there’s usually a waiting period before coverage kicks in, and existing pregnancies are generally not covered. While maternity benefits primarily focus on the mother’s care, limited newborn coverage might be included for a short period after birth. Remember, your newborn will need their own health insurance policy.
Key considerations for Maternity Coverage:
- Benefit Coverage: Estimate the total cost of maternity care at your preferred hospital and compare it to your insurance coverage. Ensure the plan adequately covers anticipated expenses.
- Waiting Period: Understand the duration before coverage kicks in.
- Delivery method: Understand if there are different coverage limits for normal and cesarean deliveries, including emergency C-sections.
- Coverage Limits: Determine if benefits are per policy year or per pregnancy. Some plans offer a cover per policy year meaning that you could claim benefits twice for the same pregnancy if it overlaps 2 policy years.
- Complications: Check if complications of pregnancy and/or delivery are covered, including specific coverage limits and conditions.
- Assisted pregnancy: If this is the case, clarify with the provider if the maternity covers pregnancies resulting from assisted reproductive technologies (like IVF).
More about:
Does the plan offer Dental cover?
Dental coverage varies significantly between insurance plans. While some policies offer basic care like check-ups and cleanings, others extend to more complex procedures such as fillings, extractions, and orthodontics.
It’s essential to consider waiting periods, which can differ between types of dental treatments. For instance, orthodontics often have longer waiting periods compared to routine check-ups.
Does the plan offer Vision cover?
Vision care benefits can include eye exams, prescription glasses, and contact lenses. Some policies may have restrictions on covered services like lasik, so carefully review the policy details to determine the extent of your coverage.
Understand the exclusions
Exclusions means what is not covered by the health insurance. Ultimately it depends on the insurer chosen but most policies will exclude the following:
- Pre-existing conditions: anything that arose before policy started. This includes chronic conditions that started before the start of the policy.
- Treatments that are not medically necessary
- Cosmetic procedures
- Treatments that are not recognized in the country
- Injuries sustained during the commitment of a serious crime
- Injuries sustained from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol above legal limit
More about: Health insurance exclusions: Pre-existing conditions
Choose the Area of Coverage
Many of Thailand’s health insurance policies may mention that they offer worldwide coverage, however, this is often referring to medical emergencies only. If you would like to get medical treatment abroad, you may be denied coverage. For this reason, check the policy carefully to see if you will be allowed to have your treatment outside of Thailand for non-urgent medical procedures, such as a planned surgery. Below are four of the most common areas of coverage found in many insurance policies.
Ask yourself these questions for the upcoming year.
- What’s your budget? The more countries included in your policy’s area of cover, the more costly it will be. You can make your premium more affordable by limiting the amount of countries in your area of cover. Enquire with your insurance company for a range of quotes.
- Will you be travelling for extended periods of time? If you need to travel for an extended period of time, either for work or leisure, then it may be wise to ensure those countries are included in your area of cover. However, many insurance plans offer coverage for medical emergencies & accidents for treatments outside the area of cover. For example, LUMA offers 60 days coverage for medical emergencies and accidents outside the area of cover, meaning if you’re travelling for less than 60 days, you’ll be covered.
- Do you want the option to be treated elsewhere? For expats, if your home country is not included in the area of cover and you’d like to be treated there, then it’s worth talking with your insurance provider about adding the option to your policy. Whether you’re an expat or a local, you may also want the option and flexibility to be treated by the best doctors, wherever they may be.
For trips outside your chosen coverage area, you may want to explore travel insurance options. However, it’s important to note that travel insurance often doesn’t cover pre-existing medical conditions.
More about: Travel Insurance from Thailand
Cost of expat health insurance in Thailand
The cost of a health insurance plan is influenced by various factors:
Impact on cost of insurance: Level of Medical Cover
The more comprehensive the cover is, the more expensive it will be. An inpatient only plan will be more affordable than a plan with Outpatient cover and Health benefits such as Dental.
The sums insured per department will also come in play: the higher the benefits, the more expensive the insurance premium will be.
Last, the zone of coverage greatly affects the premium. In a country like Thailand where healthcare does not come cheap and medical inflation is getting on a double digit trend ; having a Thailand only cover might come at the same price as a policy with same sum insured but extended to the rest of the South East Asian region (excluding Singapore where costs of healthcare are greater than those of Thailand). As such, a plan that covers Singapore and other countries where healthcare is expensive; will cost more than a restricted geographical cover.
Impact on cost of insurance: Age when policy starts
Age is a significant factor influencing insurance premiums. Older individuals typically face higher premiums, especially those over 50. As we age, health conditions may develop, which can lead to exclusions or increased costs when seeking new coverage. To ensure comprehensive and affordable coverage, it’s advisable to secure a health insurance policy early in life, before potential health issues arise and limit future options.
Impact on cost of insurance: Community Rating vs Experience Ratings
In the world of health insurance, two primary methods are used to determine premiums: community rating and experience rating.
What is Community Rating
Everyone within the same specific group (same age band for example) pays the same premium, regardless of health status or claims history.
What is Experience Rating
Premiums are based on individual claim behavior. Individuals who claim a lot will pay higher premiums.
Community rating promotes equity, while experience rating incentivizes healthy behaviors.
Impact on cost of insurance: Premium increase
Health insurance premiums go up every year and reasons include:
- Age: As you get older, your risk of health problems increases, so your premiums go up too.
- Medical Costs: Healthcare costs are rising, and this is reflected in higher insurance premiums.
- COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic led to increased healthcare costs, which has also affected insurance premiums.
- Rising Health Issues: More people are dealing with chronic illnesses including cancer. This means higher healthcare costs and higher premiums.
How to buy a private Health Insurance in Thailand?
Contact a broker or insurer directly
The process and premium will be the same whether you go through a Broker or go directly to the Insurer.
A broker can compare different providers and plans for you while going directly to an Insurer will only get you plans from the same brand.
At LUMA, we’re dedicated to helping you find the best health insurance plan. We compare our offerings to industry leaders to ensure you make an informed decision. If our plans don’t meet your needs, we’ll work with our partners to find the most suitable option.
Expat Health Insurance application process
Submit application form with medical declaration
The Application form is a declaration and is part of the insurance contract together with the policy wording and policy schedule.
- Application form: personal information and medical information.
- Policy Schedule: all benefits and limits, information of your specific insurance policy including dates and specific underwriting terms.
- Policy Wording: all the terms and conditions of the policy.
Wait for Underwriting process
Underwriting is the process insurance companies use to assess the risk associated with insuring an individual. When you apply for health insurance, the insurer reviews your medical history and lifestyle factors to determine the likelihood of you filing claims.
Potential Outcomes of the Underwriting Process
- Standard Policy Terms and Rates: If you’re deemed a low-risk individual, you’ll typically be accepted with standard terms and rates.
- Exclusions: The insurer may exclude certain pre-existing conditions or specific treatments from coverage.
- Loading: An additional premium may be charged if you’re considered a higher risk, such as due to specific health conditions or lifestyle factors.
Review terms of acceptance
To ensure you fully understand your insurance coverage, you may be required to acknowledge specific terms and conditions (to sign a confirmation letter with your underwriting terms for example). This is to clarify what’s covered, what’s not, and the extent of your coverage.
Payment
To activate your policy, you’ll need to pay the premium upfront. Payment methods and fees can vary by provider. While annual bank transfers are common, split payments and credit card payments may incur additional charges.
Our Tips to select your Expat Health Insurance in Thailand
We hope that this guide has provided you valuable information to navigate through the complex system of health insurance in Thailand for expats. Here are a few additional tips for you to make your decision after reviewing the plans and benefits offered by different insurers:
- Review their Medical Network and Direct Billing services
- Customer Service: How easy or not is it to get in touch with Support Teams? It might be easy to buy but will you still benefit from support in case of need?
- Service language
- Claim process: can claims be submitted online? How long does it take to get reimbursed?
- Premium Payment methods: from a few hundreds USD per month to thousands per year; a health insurance could impact your cashflow so check if there’s any facilitated payment method to ease that burden.
- Other value added services on offer: Second Medical Opinion, Access to Medical Team etc
- Other consideration: Policy holders in Thailand can deduct their Thai Personal Income Tax
