What insurance options are available for cremation and repatriation of remains from Thailand to Australia?

Oct 20, 2024
a month ago
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone have insurance that upon you death will creamate you in Thailand and send your ashes back to Australia, or send you back in a box, cheers.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original question seeks information on insurance policies that can cover cremation in Thailand and repatriation of ashes back to Australia. Discussions suggest that standard travel insurance often includes repatriation costs in the event of death. Seeking local funeral services is recommended, along with writing a will to outline these wishes. Some members point out the importance of ensuring funds are available for these services, and various scenarios surrounding death in a foreign country are touched upon. The complexities of the process, including the need for identity verification and arrangements with consulates for next of kin, are discussed as well.
Garry ********
I don't think an insurance company would include all of this in a policy, probably take a death policy for X amount of money than put it in a will or stipulate it to your family that the money from that particular policy is for this purpose. But yeah expecting the insurance company to sort it all out, I think is highly unlikely.
Terary **********
I mean... After you're gone. Does it really matter?
Chan *****************
@Terary *********
It does, you dont want to leave a burden to your family and friends after you gone right ?
HarryHappy *********
Marry your Thai gf and as wife, she will sort everything cheaply!
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@HarryHappy ********
if I have a thai wife or girlfriend there will be nothing cheap about anything
James *******
Give me 150k baht I can arrange for you.
Henrik *****
Many travel insurences include repatriation, dead or alive.
Jim *********
Have you looked into Neptune one time cost for life no matter where you travel they will cremate and ship home. I don’t know if it available everywhere
Greg *********
@Jim ********
Is that a SCI thing?
Jim *********
@Greg ********
SCI ? It’s just a cremation service I have to take care of it no matter where I may travel or at home.
Eric ******
Wow. All these comments, and only TWO people even tried to answer the original question.🤦🏻‍♂️. It's OK to say "I don't know" (I don't😁). But some of the stupid irrelevant comments.🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ The travel insurance might be worth checking into though. And that was a good point that insurance would only cover for "accidental" death, is that what you were referring to, or any scenario where you passed away? Hope everything is alright.
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric *****
yes you gotta love the Facebook experts that either don't read the question fully or don't understand it
Joe **********
I've just written a letter addressed to the Thai embassy stating that if I die here my partner has the right to cremate me here and dispose of my ashes however he sees fit. It's enough.
Ron **********
@Joe *********
do you mean your home country's embassy here in Thailand,Joe ?
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Russell *******
Can you give your body to anatomy school, in Thailand?
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Russell ******
last time I looked at donating a body it must not of had any broken bones or scares on the body, so I'm out because I have lots of both
Russell *******
@Peter *******
strange as it dissected anyway . Maybe not here in Thailand.
James *********
@Russell ******
I checked a couple of years ago and the answer then was "no"
Russell *******
@James ********
that's a shame.
Cee *******
In my experience with someone i know who died overseas: If you die overseas your consulate will contact the person named in your passport (there is a back page where we are meant to write emergency contacts ). If no contact in passport they then contact the home country and try to trace family.

A next of kin is often asked to come go the country to identify and action any next steps.

The country won't just burn and put u in a zip lock and post you without formalities by living kin and they will exhaust measures to find next of kin as step one.

Having the funds set aside for any body repatriation and any written will with a copy given to next of kin is a good idea for anyone over 18.
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Peter ********
Who cares when I die I'm dead and hopefully before that happens I have a wonderful time in soi cowboy 😃
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter *******
ueah I don't care much I just don't want to underground in the cold earth even when I'm dead
James *******
@Peter *******
eww such a life living for hookers.
Elías ********
There are many plans including that. But nornally they're open only to the people of that country, I mean, if you're an UK citizen for example, most UK insurance companies will include the body repatriation to the UK. Mine includes that, if I'm not mistaken, but it's a Korean company.
Elías ********
(as Korea is my "home" country)
Tim *********
You need a savings plan
Kate *******
Most travel insurance will include repatriation costs in the event of a death.
Kathy ************
You’re coming to a land of relaxation. You shouldn’t be thinking of death 💀

Set something up with family in Australia. No need to think about before it happens
Cee *******
@Kathy ***********
it is a gift to those you love not to leave them with a huge cost and huge stress amid the grief let alone countries away from them.

Planning for such is an adult caring thing to do
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kathy ***********
well it it can happen in a heartbeat especially when you ride a motorbike in Thailand
Tony *********
@Kathy ***********
he might as well think about it before it happens because he won't be able to think about it after it happens. 😄
Kathy ************
@Tony ********
exactly 👍

I’ve done the same

I plan full retirement here but the kids are getting lots from my estate. They know my funeral arrangements

But where I’m living at the time They will have to make cremation plans at that time
Kathy ************
@Tony ********
why think of it at all

Whoever your leaving your estate to let them deal with it 🤣
Ellen *************
@Kathy ***********
small stuff!? Someone having to deal with all of those details- in their grief, desperate to try to do it right to honor you? That’s sort of unfair isn’t it? People feel very pressured trying to figure out what decision to make that would be appropriate or pleasing to the dead person. I know I have emptied my house and gotten rid of all my belongings so my kids won’t have to deal with going through stuff and getting rid of stuff. My wishes are clearly laid out so siblings don’t have to worry about and argue about what they think I would have wanted. It’s a very considerate and loving thing to do for your family, to have a plan. It’s also why I’m getting cremated -I don’t want to be in the ground someplace where people have to feel bad about not going to visit that site. Burn me. It’s a fraction of the cost of funeral and burial and then anyone can have a little bit of me if they want. It’s just about being thoughtful to the people you love?
Tony *********
@Kathy ***********
some people like to plan ahead.
Kathy ************
@Tony ********
I like to plan a head but life’s to short to sweat the small stuff
Richard ********
Good question
Paula *********
Set up a will. Have it detailed in that.
Chris *******
Best to have a local will.

We have local Thai wills and foreign registered wills in our home country.

Matching our requests.
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
thankyou
Janelle *****
Chris *******
@Janelle ****
you have an attorney prepare one.
Janelle *****
@Chris ******
thanks can you recommend your Thai attorney?
Kitty *******
Kevin ********
You just need to arrange and pay for what services you want. Im too tall for the standard burning box that they use and my wife used to joke she would just cut my legs off no problem.It will cost at least 12 -20,000 for service ,thats if you want the food,alcohol,fireworks,parade through village etc. I have put money away so the fireworks maker will put my ashes in a 6 inch mortar shell and blow my ash to hell or wherever im going.
James *********
@Kevin *******
Blown to Smithereens, not a bad way to go!
Steve **********
@Kevin *******
the greatest idea in the world, thanks
Steve *********
@Kevin *******
Here’s Johnny!! BOOM 💥
Andrew *******
@Kevin *******
gotta have a plan lol
Werner ************
Your family will be contacted to decide how to dispose of your remains, this could be via your family in Thailand or a will etc

If you’re alone in Thailand and no overseas family the body would likely be disposed of according to local government regulations and a holding period for collection of your body
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Max ********
@Werner ***********
the question was is there an insurance that will cover all this.
Andy **********
Ashes is a euphemism. It's ground up bones that have been through a cremulator. These aren't commonly found in Thailand. Typically things like long bones, vertebrae, bits of skull, will still be quite visible afterwards. It's the relatives who collect the bits for an urn, not undertakers. If you want a box of ashes to be sent to Australia it's quite possible that it's a shoe box full of dirt. I helped my wife transfer the remains of her parents and brothers (the temple was expanding, and they needed to clear the cemetery. She kept referring to bones. I thought this was a mistranslation. But, yeah, there were a lot of bones being fished out of urns and sacks.
Cubi ******
Never heard of this but it could be added to ur will.
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cubi *****
that is not what I asked
Cubi ******
@Peter *******
i said never heard about this and I know it's not what u ask. Just like 90 percent of the other responses. I still say adx to your will anyway.
Xia *****
all International travel Insurance includes, be sure to buy it before u leave for BKK.
Heath ***********
@Xia ****
you ever make a claim? I had 2 worthless policies.
Xia *****
@Heath **********
of course u cannot claim as we r still alive...TT
James *********
@Xia ****
I've done it twice, insurance paid both times 😵‍💫😂
Heath ***********
@Xia ****
good luck when it's needed
Ryan ****
@Xia ****
nope it depends on excess , premiums ,fine print and definitions.
Xia *****
@Ryan ***
of course, it depends on your budget and coverage u select...
Pete *******
@Xia ****
not so, only in the event of accidental death.
Detlef ***********
Actually this , is in my opinion, a good topic to discuss!⁉️🤔 For example , you die in Thailand , without a Thai will , what happens ⁉️🤔 So many other scenarios to investigate realizing everyone's circumstances are different ⁉️.
Jennifer ******
@Detlef **********
I'm registered with my country's embassy in Thailand so they know I am here. In case of emergencies that needs evacuation like war etc or death, they will contact my immediate family back home. If your home embassy has such service, it makes sense to do so.
Detlef ***********
@Jennifer *****
awesome Jennifer ! Great insight ! Tk you !
Mike *****
If I am not mistaken, Thailand practices cremation as an SOP. And most countries also prefer any deaths to be cremated first and the ashes to be repatriated. The method of repatriation will also involve the next of kin to come, confirm identity of the deceased and then accompany the ashes back. And then upon reaching country of origin, to properly also register the death.

Reason is that someone has to confirm the identity, and cremate to avoid bringing any diseases and or pathogens overseas and also at the country of origin, someone has to handle the logistics also.

Not saying that we cannot employ a funeral service to handle everything but the problem will be the receiving and logistics in the home country. Just my 2 cents though.
Darren ******
Are you ok?
Anthony ******************
Depends on what documents and why you need them. Suggest you engage the services of a Registered Migration Agent, What country is your passport?
Anthony ******************
If that is all you want write a will Set aside the funds to cover the cost.
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anthony *****************
that's not what I asked
Greg **********
@Peter *******
I thought your question was pretty clear, but looking at the comments, maybe not. 🤣
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *********
that's the trouble with Facebook it's a breading ground for morons
Sheen ************
@Peter *******
so why are you posting here when you have such contempt
Peter ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sheen ***********
because I was in the belief that I might get some quality answers but obviously it's full of fucking morons
Pat ****
@Peter *******
you mean you didn’t know ?🤣
Anthony ******************
@Peter *******
I think the issue was with your post. Suggest you review it.
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