Answered2 years ago
Do travelers need health insurance to enter Thailand?
Does Thailand require travelers entering the country to have some type of (globally accepted) health/medical insurance? Is it part of one of the requirements to pass through immigration either entering at BKK or at any of the border crossings? I'm a US citizen coming in at the end of October on a 60-day Visa Exempt. THANK YOU!
Answer summary
Travelers entering Thailand, including US citizens on a 60-day Visa Exempt, are not legally required to have health or medical insurance to pass through immigration. However, multiple comments highlight that having travel insurance is highly recommended due to potential health risks and the high costs of medical emergencies. While some travelers state there is no official requirement, others stress the importance of being insured for safety and peace of mind.
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Martin *********
I would never travel abroad without health/ travelling insurance. It’s usually so inexpensive anyway. (excuse me, if I duplicate posted.)
Claude **********
@Martin ********
the problem with an insurance is only good if you have an accident or get bite by a snake or a monkey but if you are over 65 like me ,they will always à find a pre-existing condition not to pay .ex high blood pressure ,prostate problem ,being over weight ext ext .Insurance company will check your medical file back to 20 years and if they fine any loop hole they will use it against you and want pay you they are expert in not paying ,they have and huge team of doctor and lawyer which are expert in the not paying policy .I am not talking of small claim I am talking about big claim 40 or 100 thousand or more .What they will do first they will bring you back to your country on private air travel and then search your medical history and if they find anything they will send you the bill .Insurance worth billions of dollars this is for a reason .Martin *********
I would never travel abroad without health and travelling insurance. It’s usually so inexpensive anyway.
Ellen *************
If you are an active person, things can happen on a holiday. Getting airlifted from a remote location or dying can put any family. You have back home into pretty steep upward of 100,000 USD. Spending 400 bucks on good travel insurance seems prudent, especially since you seem to keep repeating that, you have plenty of money… If you want to save money, save it on airfare or cooking in your room, you could get bit by a monkey, you could be hit while crossing the street, literally anything could happen.
Deb ********
@Ellen ************
or literally nothing could happen....Ellen *************
@Deb *******
aw, it’s cute how you think you’re clever! ☺️Deb ********
@Ellen ************
Well I wouldn't go so far as calling you names but if the shoe fits.... I don't trust insurance companies... I would sooner back myself.Ellen *************
@Deb *******
ok, so anyone that safeguards themself is a scaredy cat- cool. We’re all idiots. You do you. Happy travels 👍🏼Deb ********
@Ellen ************
Just not living life like a scaredy cat!
Andy *********
*****
baht for 2 nights in BangkokDeb ********
No
I never buy travel insurance. Bought the best when we travelled to Nepal. A
Stuff em! It's cheaper to go to hospitals and pay direct.
I never buy travel insurance. Bought the best when we travelled to Nepal. A
****
hotline from anywhere in the world they said. When we needed them. They didn't answer their phones!Stuff em! It's cheaper to go to hospitals and pay direct.
Ellen *************
@Deb *******
unless you croak or need to be airlifted from a remote location. You had a bad experience with one insurance company that you chose. That doesn’t mean that insurance is never prudent.Deb ********
@Ellen ************
It would be an extraordinary situation before I would use insurance again. And a lot of research.Ellen *************
@Deb *******
to each their own 👍🏼
Darin ********
Not required but you’re crazy not to have it, 60 days travel insurance is only $100-200.
David ********
OP@Darin *******
based on the journey's total price and coverage type it actually only adds $242 to a $3000 trip.
John **********
If you've recently travelled to a yellow fever location then you may need a certificate
David ********
OP@John *********
For me that may be still a year or two away (i.e. Panama, etc.).
Ling *****
No
Bart **************
No
Ricky ******
No one in intensive care 5,000 miles from home, ever said insurance...I don't need that.
David ********
OP@Ricky *****
even for trip delay or trip cancellation, or coverage for lost or damaged luggage it would be worth it.
Cliff *********
No, but you should protect yourself anyways….
Brian ********
Not required, but good travel insurance is a good idea anyways
Robert *****
During Covid it was a requirement. We bought it and got Covid. 300,000 baht hospital bill. Paid by insurance. The hospital stay was MANDATORY and for 10 days. Pragam 9 hospital.
Elías ********
Not a requirement per law, but, no offense, very much a requirement per common sense and economic intelligence.
Todd *********
@Elías *******
if you have any ‘economic intelligence’, you can afford to self insureElías ********
@Todd ********
and yet many people who have money think they need no insurance when traveling abroad, and then later have to spend US$100-200K for any "minor" emergency surgery out of own pocket. Of course they won't go bankrupt for that, but imagine spending that when you could have fully avoided it for just a few bucks.Todd *********
@Elías *******
hahaha, yes i sure have. And yes, if you are not from the States, you absolutely want to be insured in USA. By far, the world's most expensive healthcare. If there is one country that everyone should be insured for... that's the oneElías ********
@Todd ********
have you heard of the US?... Where a broken nail is "cured" for US$600, in cities as NYC, if you have no insurance at all.Todd *********
@Elías *******
no you don’t. Minor surgery didn’t cost you $200k anywhere.Elías ********
@Todd ********
I don't think, I know it by own experience. It was not in Thailand, tho.Todd *********
@Elías *******
You think minor surgery costs $200k when travelling?.... 🤣. Cmon man. Imagine not being knowledgeable enough to understand the risk that insurance companies make money on. It's ultimately a risk assessment. Take your premiums over an extended period of time and assess your personal risk factors. Understand how age and pre-existing conditions are going to affect premiums. For some insurance will make sense as the risk is enormous financial impact. For others, investing the premiums make more sense
T ****************
No
Armando **********
No
Greta *****
In one word NO. In two words 'Highly recommended '
Phil *********
Never travel without insurance, ever
Richard *****
Not a requirement but best to have travel insurance. Expect the unexpected!
Jeff *********
Nope
Brandon ************
There's no insurance requirement, though having your own personal insurance or travel insurance is highly recommended due to how dangerous the roads can be.
David *****
@Brandon ***********
in the absolute worst case, what would a hospital stay cost if you had to pay cash? Any idea. TIA.
Ralph *******
@David ****
I pad 12,000 baht as an outpatient. At the hospital for a few hours. Blood tests, x-ray and antibiotics given. No overnight stay. It’s not cheap.Ralph *******
@David ****
Yes. But if you have always lived in a country with state funded healthcare, it’s expensive. And on my pension, that’s a week’s income.David *****
@Ralph ******
12,000 THB? That’s only like $375. No offense…that would be dirt cheap in the US. I pay $15,000 USD a year in US for an hmo and that’s not counting out of pocket expenses. Just for the insurance.
Kool *******
@David ****
in the worst case, and this happens regularly enough that you see GoFundMes weekly, bills can exceed US$60,000+. The biggest incidences of this are people that actually have insurance, but violate the rules by driving drunk, with the attitude that nothing will happen to them, and then it does. A medical evacuation to your home country can be more than US$50,000 by itself. If the travel insurance fees are too much, then you shouldn't be here, as it doesn't cost that much at all.
Jo **********
@David ****
it’s very inexpensive but still high quality—not like the USADavid *****
@Marty ********
seems pretty reasonable to me
Marty *********
@David ****
Insurance is impossible to price for others because it depends on you age, your health status, your deductible, and coverage.I bought my policy when I was 62. I am 68 now. It is a 10 million baht policy with a 40,000 baht deductible. I pay 78,000฿/yr which includes a no claim discount.
David *****
@Marty ********
my deductible is $5000…175,000 thb. My annual premium is 525,000 thb.Marty *********
@Bob *******
Yes, with no insurance, the US is much more expensive. Insurance in the US is pretty expensive though my Thai policy is about the same price but with a 40,000 baht deductible. In Thailand I am paying the first 40,000 baht because healthcare here is so inexpensive.My US insurance policy deductible for an emergency room visit was $150 (5,150฿). I pay less than that for an emergency room visit in a private hospital in Bangkok without insurance.
People from countries with government health care of course have a different perspective.
Jo **********
@Bob *******
it’s a giant racket simple medical supplies like bandages have a 1500% mark up
Bob ********
Jo **********
@Bob *******
I was there for a business trip I had a small infection in my thumbnail. 5 minutes to see the doctor 5000$ USD. And after that one night in the hospital 30kBob ********
@Jo *********
I agree with Marty's comment (above yours) after living in Thailand for 23 years...You say that is inexpensive compared to the USA.. Wow!..USA must really be expensive, I've never been there but heard it was alright...but I never thought it was so much so.
I am Irish and living in Ireland now...Cheers.
Marty *********
@David ****
Earlier this year I paid 20,000 baht to stay 2 nights in a private room in a private hospital in Ubon Ratchathani. I was recovering from Dengue fever so there weren’t any medical procedures involved other than blood tests and monitoring.So you can extrapolate to a motorbike accident that requires surgery and a hospital stay of 2-4 weeks possibly in a more expensive or less expensive hospital. It could add up to 500,000-1,000,000 baht or $15,000-$30,000.
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