Answereda year ago

How can we transition our travel insurance while staying long-term in Thailand?

Travel Insurance Expat Insurance Thailand Long-term Stay Visa Family Travel

Anonymous *************

asked Jul 25, 2025

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We're here until October on a tourist visa will then complete DTV in australia before returning. 

How have others transitioned their travel insurance? Do we need to cancel our normal policy and transition to expat insurance? 

For context we are 31 and 32 with a 2.5 year old. 

We've got a 12 month lease and car here. From australia.

Answer summary

The poster is currently in Thailand on a tourist visa and is uncertain about transitioning their travel insurance as they plan to stay until October before heading back to Australia. Multiple commenters suggest reapplying for coverage in Australia upon return and checking the conditions of existing travel insurance, especially regarding long-term stays. Recommendations include obtaining quotes, considering expat health insurance, and being aware of coverage limitations such as time restrictions per trip.

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Wannikea *********

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@Robert ********

a year ago

Wesley ********

Check your travel insurance, they probably don’t cover you under conditions like long term stays, one way stays, or even flights not originating or returning to your home country.

a year ago

Trevor *******

Very carefully check the conditions of any travel insurance - often they will have a time limit per trip of anything from 90 days to some policies might give up to 180 days - even annual travel insurance policies will still have a limit any one trip with the intention you will need to return home before the next trip.

Maybe look at expat health insurance - only cover medical but can be for a full 12 months and more.

a year ago

Ricky ********

Best to get some quotes to compare. Happy to help

a year ago

Sam ******

I would reapply for 12 months of coverage once you are back in Australia

a year ago

Heath ********

You will have to make sure its the right insurance.

Personally my commonwealth credit card gives me free travel insurance for 12 consecutive months. Thats what I do

a year ago

Heath ********

Your welcome guys. It was my intuition to led me to researching this scenario as well, I almost cancelled my comm bank stuff due to fees, and then I stumbled across this best case scenario, technically on a dtv we are tourists and have to return to Australia especially if all our ties are there 😉

a year ago

Anonymous *************

@Heath *******

we are currently with covermore i didn't think they would cover us long term but might check thank you

a year ago

Trevor *******

@Heath *******

just check small print - usually the policies provided with credit cards will limit how many days a trip can be - usually 90 days and then cover ceases - yours might be longer but I doubt it will allow 365 days for any one trip

a year ago

Anonymous *************

@Trevor ******

your right we have an ANZ CC i called them yesterday and you need a return flight booked to australia (which we dont have) among other things that we did tick those boxes

a year ago

Trevor *******

Anonymous participant thank Heath Bridge for the wake up call.

a year ago

Trevor *******

Anonymous participant my understanding was the cover attached to credit cards had a lot of limitations however from what I have found over the weekend as long as you tick all their boxes you should be ok - minimum spend, and have a returned flight booked - easy to book a flight and just make Flexi if you're not 100% sure if return date.

I went away from fancy cards and rewards a few years ago but I've just upgraded over the weekend - the $300 annual fee is nothing compared to the cost of buying long term travel insurance and/or expat medical cover

a year ago

Trevor *******

Hey - Heath - I did some checking and you're spot on - I spent 50 years in the insurance industry so always sceptical and very different to what's available in the normal travel insurance market - I even checked the trip duration with Covermore and they have confirmed up to 365 days. Did a lot of business with Covermore over they years and the maximum they normally give is 180 days so the ComBank Smart Credit card you have is great. Length of journey can differ depending on what card people have and which Bank - I checked a few other Banks and most Banks only give a maximum of 6 months.

a year ago

Heath ********

Thanks for the tip ill share this though and I did talk to the bank as well.

a year ago