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Travel Insurance for Thailand

Travelling to Thailand for a much-needed holiday? Compare your travel insurance options with Savvy. 

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, updated on September 4th, 2023       

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Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30 Seconds

Whether you’re planning to lounge on its world-renowned beaches or indulge in curries and pad Thai, it’s always important to have peace of mind when you’re travelling to Thailand. If you’re searching for the right travel insurance cover for your next international journey, Savvy can point you in the right direction.

By comparing with us, you can find a policy which offers you the right protection, whether your flights are delayed, your luggage goes missing or you fall ill while overseas. We provide instant quotes from our partners, so you can consider their pros and cons and compare the cost of each policy. Before you take off overseas, compare your travel insurance options with Savvy today.

Do I need travel insurance for a holiday to Thailand?

You don’t necessarily ‘need’ travel insurance if you’re taking a trip to Thailand. However, it’s strongly recommended that you purchase a policy before you jet off to take a stroll along Walking Street or see some elephants up-close at Khao Yai National Park.

While Thailand may be known as the ‘Land of Smiles’ and can provide visitors with plenty of life-changing experiences, there are risks for tourists when visiting Southeast Asia. This is why it’s essential to compare with Savvy and get the best travel insurance for your holiday.

If you’re crossing the Timor Sea to experience all of what Thailand has to offer, some of the incidentals to watch out for include:

  • Political tensions: Bangkok and some other Thailand cities are prone to large-scale demonstrations and protests. These rallies can be unpredictable and turn into violent riots resulting in injuries to those involved and bystanders. Keep an eye on the local media, avoid travelling to regions embroiled in political unrest and follow directives from local authorities.
  • Terrorism: terrorism is a clear and present danger in many of Thailand’s bustling cities, such as Bangkok and Phuket. In previous years, explosions have rocked tourist areas in the country, resulting in injuries. Pay attention to the local directives and make sure you’re on alert when visiting landmarks, markets and places of worship.
  • Lèse-majesté laws: there are strict laws around criticising the ruling monarch in public, including on social media. Local authorities are heavy-handed when enforcing these rules, often resulting in the jailing or imprisonment of people found to have been critical of the King, Queen or other members of the royal family.
  • Violence: provinces across Thailand’s south including Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Yala are subject to frequent bombings and violence. If you’re travelling to the country, it’s best to keep your distance from these areas. Also, be wary when travelling close to the borders of Malaysia and Cambodia, which can also be prone to violence and explosions.
  • Assault: tourists are at risk of physical and sexual assault and drink spiking when frequenting bars, nightclubs and taxis across Thailand. It’s a good idea to never leave your drink unattended and to stick close to people you know when at clubs and bars.
  • Robbery: while you’re in a tourist hotspot or catching public transport you’re at an elevated risk of having your bag snatched or personal items stolen. Make sure you only travel with the essentials and leave any valuables at home or in the safe in your accommodation.

What’s covered by my travel insurance for my holiday to Thailand?

Depending on the policy and level of protection, travel insurance can help if you become ill or injured while travelling, lose your things, or suffer airline cancellations or delays. Some travel insurance benefits are:

  1. Overseas medical bills: travelling to Bangkok or other cities across Thailand come with a range of health risks, from high levels of air pollution to insect-borne diseases such as the Zika virus. So, it’s a good idea to take out travel insurance if you are struck down with an illness or even injure yourself and require medical attention. If you don’t have travel insurance, your stay in a Thailand hospital could cost you up to $4,100 per day.
  2. Evacuation or repatriation: if you're critically ill and your insurance company's physicians say you need to return home, they'll pay for your evacuation and repatriation. This includes if you need to leave ship on a trip, which may cost up to $100,000 without insurance.
  3. Cancellation: many travel insurance carriers may refund pre-paid deposits on hotels, flights, or excursions if you cancel your trip due to a covered occurrence. Illness, injury, or a sick or dying family member are among the valid reasons for cancelling a trip.
  4. Lost, stolen or damaged bags: most insurance providers will compensate or replace lost, stolen, or damaged baggage up to an agreed claim amount, which can reach up to $15,000.
  5. Individual items: taking a phone or laptop on your overseas or domestic getaway? Many insurance plans offer sub-limits for lost, damaged, or stolen property. For example, some may allow you to claim up to $3,000 for lost or damaged computers, cameras or smartphones.
  6. Travel delays: most travel insurance cover hotel, food, and other expenses if your flight is delayed longer than 24 hours. This includes delayed luggage owing to a delayed airliner.
  7. Personal liability: legal issues abroad may be costly. If you're held directly accountable for damage or injury, your insurance company may pay up to $5 million.
  8. Accidental death: if you die overseas in a covered accident, your insurance company can repatriate your remains. They may pay up to $25,000 for funeral or cremation fees.
  9. Optional extras: going white water rafting in Northern Thailand or scuba diving with whale sharks? Most travel insurance plans don't cover these activities automatically but offer supplementary coverage for an added premium.

However, most travel insurance companies won’t cover you for the following incidentals:

  1. Unapproved pre-existing medical conditions
  2. Lost possessions left unattended
  3. Breaking local laws and road rules
  4. Accidents caused by drug or alcohol use
  5. Travelling to a country against Australian government advice
  6. Travelling for medical tourism

What factors should I consider before buying travel insurance for a trip to Thailand?

It might be difficult to figure out which policy provides the most beneficial coverage for your next trip to Thailand. However, by comparing with Savvy, you may be able to make the experience of searching for the perfect policy a whole lot easier.

Premium cost

It is, of course, in your best interest to keep your insurance premium costs to a minimum. To avoid overpaying for your travel insurance, it is crucial to shop around and get the best possible policy at a price that works for you.

The type of policy you need

Numerous options exist for travel insurance, whether you're looking for single-trip, annual or one-way cover, so it’s important to consider your travel requirements. For example, if you’ll be taking multiple international trips across the year, an annual policy may be more suited to you than single-trip. Take a look at your itinerary, think about how often you’ll be flying and compare it with Savvy so you can get the best insurance for your trip.

What you’re doing in Thailand

Carefully consider which insurance company provides the greatest value and level of protection if you’re looking to partake in high-risk pursuits before signing up. If you’re planning to rock climb on the islands of Railey or Ton Sai or skydive over Pattaya, make sure you get a policy that covers you.

Claim limits

In most cases, the amount you may claim from your overseas travel insurance policy will be capped. Check if these limits are enough for your trip and the items you want to take with you by doing a side-by-side comparison of several brands with Savvy.

Inclusions and exclusions

When searching for the best international policy for your trip to Thailand, make sure you opt for a policy that best suits your needs. Before settling on one choice, do your homework and weigh what's included and what isn't. For example, a pre-existing condition you suffer from may not be automatically included under one policy, while it could be covered by a competitor.

Types of travel insurance

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Top tips for saving on your travel insurance to Thailand

Combine policies

You can get group policies from providers covering you and your partner, your extended family, and even your children or grandchildren. Most providers allow you to include up to 25 people under the same policies, which, if the costs are divided among the travellers, can save you money.

Consider increasing your excess

You can pay less for your travel insurance by increasing the excess you're willing to pay if you need to file a claim. A higher excess can help you save money in the long term, but it shouldn't be so high that it causes you financial hardship to pay it.

Only pay for what you need

There's no point paying for cover you're not going to use on your holiday. Before you purchase a policy, read the PDS and make sure you aren’t paying extra for add-ons such as rental car hire or cruise coverage if you don't have any intentions of either hiring a car or sailing across the seas.

Compare your travel insurance options

Using Savvy to help you decide lets you easily see which provider gives you the best coverage for the lowest price. You can compare policies side by side so you can weigh what's included, what's not included, the price of your premium, and any other essential factors.

Frequently asked questions about travel insurance for Thailand

Does travel insurance for Thailand cover me for COVID-19-related costs?

Yes – most travel insurance policies cover any COVID-19-related expenses, such as medical treatment while you’re in Thailand and the need to cancel your holiday if you test positive before you leave. However, cancellation due to COVID-19 isn’t usually available on basic policies. The risk of testing positive for COVID-19 is still quite high if you’re travelling to Thailand as of September 2022, so it’s best to wear a mask when possible if you’re worried about contracting the disease.

Can I take out travel insurance if I’m already in Thailand?

Yes – you can buy travel insurance if you’re already wheels up and headed to Thailand for your holiday. You’ll be afforded the exact coverage you would usually get if you purchased before departure. However, these policies have waiting periods of between 48 and 96 hours. This means that if you suffer a claimable incident inside this period, you won’t be able to make a claim.

When is the best time to buy travel insurance for Thailand?

Most people in the know will tell you the best time to purchase your travel insurance is when you know your travel dates. That allows you to be covered for the maximum amount of pre-paid bookings, such as those for hotels or tours if something unforeseen happens and you need to call off your holiday. There are also often sales on around holiday periods, such as Easter, Christmas and the End of the Financial Year, which means you could snap up a policy at a discount. In most cases, you won’t be able to get instant cover, as most policies have waiting periods of at least 72 hours.

How do I make a claim on my travel insurance if I’m in Thailand?

When you do it online, claiming on your travel insurance is a pretty easy process. When you go to your insurance company's website, enter your policy number and the email address that goes with it. From there, you can do the following:

  • Fill out your claim form with plenty of detail
  • Attach any documents, such as receipts, medical evidence, or proof of purchase
  • Submit your claim

 
The majority of the time, you should hear back from your insurance company within about ten business days. It's best to quickly answer any requests for more information to avoid slowing down the process.

How much will my travel insurance to Thailand cost?

The cost of your travel insurance to Thailand will be determined by a range of interchangeable variables, including:

  • Your age
  • The length of your trip and destinations
  • Whether you suffer any pre-existing conditions
  • If you need optional extras
  • The insurer you’ve chosen
  • The level of cover you have purchased
  • What part of Thailand (for example, you may not be able to receive cover if you’re travelling somewhere experiencing a natural disaster or terrorist attack)

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Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.

Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.

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