Whether insurance is compulsory in Thailand in 2025

Thailand’s visa-free regime, which allows foreigners to stay in the country for up to 90 days, is stimulating the tourist flow. More and more travellers go on holiday to Phuket, Samui, Pattaya and other Thai resorts. Unfortunately, people often go to Thailand without insurance, believing that it is not necessary. Let’s find out whether you need medical insurance to enter the country, what risks it covers and whether you can do without it.

Insurance requirements

If you use the visa-free regime to enter Thailand, it is not necessary to have a medical insurance policy – no one will demand it at the border.

Do you need to buy travel insurance for travelling to Thailand?

Even if medical insurance is not necessary for visiting the country, it is always better to buy it, because the cost of medical services for non-residents is high in almost all countries of the world.

It is believed that medicine is cheap in Thailand. Prices are really not the highest, especially if you compare with the countries of Europe or the USA. However, they are not at all imperceptible for the budget. Here are approximate prices of medical care in Thailand in state clinics:

• Ambulance call – $60;

• X-ray – $75 for 1 picture;

• primary doctor’s appointment – $20;

• ULTRASOUND – $150.

For example, emergency surgery on a leg after a fall from a moped and an open fracture cost a tourist $7000. It is better to buy a policy and not worry about force majeure circumstances

What the insurance policy covers

The options that are included in a policy depend on the company and its price. Here’s what’s included in the most inexpensive insurance:

• Outpatient treatment – up to $50,000;

• doctor’s call – up to $50,000;

• hospitalisation up to $50,000;

• transportation of remains/repatriation, $50,000;

• telephone costs – up to $100;

• transport to doctor or hospital – up to $50,000;

• emergency dentistry – $200;

• medications – up to $50,000;

• risks associated with treatment for coronavirus infection (COVID-19) – up to $50,000;

• emergency medical care – $50,000.

That is, even the most inexpensive policy will cover, for example, emergency surgery, treatment of an injury or acute toothache. Then what is included in an expensive insurance policy? A policy that costs 1.5 times as much as the basic policy will additionally cover:

• pregnancy up to 12 weeks – $50,000;

• third party visit – $1,000;

• flight delay – $2,000;

• medical equipment – $50,000;

• exacerbation of chronic illness – $2,500;

• allergy assistance – $50,000;

• sunburn assistance – $50,000;

• loss of documents – $300;

• telemedicine – $50,000;

• child evacuation – $50,000;

• legal assistance – $5,000;

• provision of an interpreter – $300.

When choosing a policy, you should consider and compare different companies. It often happens that the difference in price is quite small, and the options included in the policy are much more.

Please note that the policy covers emergency situations. Insurance will not cover, for example, planned treatment, check-up or consultation on a chronic disease without exacerbation.

What is not included in the insurance

Each contract has its own peculiarities – be sure to check before taking out insurance what is included and what is not. But everywhere you need to specify the peculiarities of your trip, for example:

• you’re a pregnant girl;

• you plan to ride a bike;

• you’ll be doing sports or activities – you’ll need to specify what you’ll be doing.

If, for example, you do not specify that you will be riding a moped and have an accident, the insurance company will deny coverage. Also, the insurance company will not pay for medical treatment or legal assistance if:

• the insured was under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

• the person was self-medicating;

• the injuries were self-inflicted and self-consciously inflicted.

Also, it will not be considered an insured event if a person was driving a vehicle without having the right to do so. For example, you have indicated in the insurance application that you will ride a motorbike and you have rented a motorbike in Thailand

Where and how to buy insurance

Insurance policy for travelling to Thailand can be bought online in a couple of minutes.

Be sure to look out for an assistan – this is the company that will organise your treatment directly in Thailand. Many good reviews have:

• Eurasia Assistanse;

• Global Voyager Assistanse;

• Balt Assistance.

It is not necessary to print out the policy, but save it in your smartphone. Also write down the number of the insurance company in your phone book in advance, so that you can contact them quickly in case of an unexpected situation

How to use the insurance

The main rule when using insurance is to inform the insurance company in advance and follow the recommendations. If you are injured, fall ill or any other insured event, do not self-medicate or go to a doctor on your own. The plan of action is as follows:

• Contact the insurance company at the number provided.

• Explain what has happened.

• Keep in touch with the manager.

• Follow the company’s recommendations and instructions.

If the insurance manager referred you to one clinic and you decide to go to another clinic on your own, you will be denied payment for treatment. And vice versa, if you follow the recommendations of the insurance company, your personal manager will be in parallel with the doctors and the clinic.

We hope that you will not need insurance on your trip to Thailand, but it is better to have a policy and not need it than vice versa.