Millions of tourists travel to Thailand every year for its centuries-old culture, white sandy beaches, delicious food, floating markets, world-class hotels and vibrant nightlife—with around 800,000 of those tourists being Australians.
For Aussies thinking of heading to Thailand in the near future, it makes sense to invest in a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers you for all eventualities.
If you don’t know where to start, or are unsure of what you will or will not be covered for, then read on for our complete guide to travel insurance for Thailand.
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Medical cover
Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental
Cancellations
Yes, amount chosen by customer
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Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Medical Cover
Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs
Cancellations
$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited
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WAS Insurance
Medical Cover & Support
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Travel Insurance for Thailand
For travel to Thailand, you’ll need a policy specific to Thailand, or a worldwide travel insurance policy–but one that doesn’t include the USA, Canada, the Caribbean (and in certain cases Mexico and Greenland) as you won’t be travelling there. The cost of medical treatment at these destinations can be particularly expensive, which means premiums are higher.
Therefore, if you are travelling to Thailand, a worldwide policy that excludes North America will be adequate. To find our leading picks for comprehensive travel insurance policies, click here. You can also find out how to lower your travel insurance premiums in our guide to cheap travel insurance.
Do I Need Travel Insurance for Thailand?
While travel insurance is not mandatory for Thailand, it’s prudent to obtain a comprehensive policy before you go. Cover for medical expenses is highly recommended, in case of an accident or illness while you’re away.
Most good travel insurance policies offer unlimited cover for medical emergencies and may also include repatriation to Australia if necessary.
Be aware that you won’t be covered for any pre-existing conditions and you will have to flag these to your insurer before you travel, and they may be excluded from any claim.
If you need emergency medical assistance while in Thailand, dial 1669 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
Other coverage areas to consider when purchasing insurance include:
- Cancellation of your trip, curtailment or missed departure – make sure the maximum limits will cover the full cost of your trip (insurers will usually be clear in their terms and conditions about what reasons will be accepted so be sure to double check).
- Loss or theft of baggage and personal items (good policies should also cover cash). Again ensure the maximum limit will cover the value of your belongings.
- Personal liability cover covers you in the event you accidentally injure someone or damage property while on holiday. Most good policies should provide at least $1 million of personal liability cover.
When it comes to travel insurance for Thailand, cheapest often won’t be best. Check the levels of cover when comparing policies including individual item limits for your personal belongings.
Also review the excess you’ll be asked to pay. This is the first part of any claim you have to cover yourself. The excess can vary widely between different policies depending on your age, what you plan on doing overseas, and any pre-existing conditions.
Can I Get Extra Cover for Thailand?
Many travel insurance policies offer optional add-on extras, which you may need for your trip to Thailand. Make sure you want the cover, however, otherwise you could end up paying more for extras you don’t need.
If you’re planning on scuba diving or bungee jumping, or other activities an insurer might deem to be higher risk (be aware even horse riding is viewed as a risky sport by some insurers), you might be able to add adventure sports to your policy for an extra cost. Check that the activity or sport you want to do is covered.
If you’re backpacking in Thailand, perhaps as part of a longer trip, you might be better off looking into backpacker insurance or extended-stay insurance that will cover you for more than the standard 31 days.
There are also optional extras to cover expensive phones, laptops and other tech, in case of theft, loss or damage.
If you’re planning to undertake paid or voluntary work while you’re in Thailand, you may need to take out additional insurance, especially if the job involves manual labour, working at heights or with animals.
Are There Still Covid Restrictions When Traveling to Thailand?
Travellers entering Thailand from Australia are not required to show any proof of Covid vaccination or negative test results, and there is no need to download the mobile app to show vaccination records.
If you test positive for Covid and present with no or mild symptoms, you are not required to isolate. However, you should still take sensible precautionary measures and avoid situations that would transmit Covid to others.
If you have severe symptoms, or any questions related to Covid while you’re in Thailand, you should call the Thai Covid-19 Hotline on 1422.
Luckily, many travel insurance policies include coverage for Covid-19 within their medical coverage.
What Travel Insurance Won’t Cover for Thailand
No matter how robust your travel insurance policy, you’re unlikely to be covered if you injure yourself or others while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Similarly, your cancellation cover won’t cover you if you simply decide you don’t want to travel.
Most travel insurance won’t cover you for scheduled airline collapse, so if you’re concerned about this seek out policies which do include it or you can look into standalone policies.
Featured Partners
1
Cover-More Travel Insurance
Medical cover
Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental
Cancellations
Yes, amount chosen by customer
2
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Medical Cover
Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs
Cancellations
$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited
3
WAS Insurance
Medical Cover & Support
Unlimited* + 24/7 Support
Cancellation AND Disruption
Up to $40,000*
How Do I Find Cheap Travel Insurance for Thailand?
In addition to your own research, we recommend you check out our guide to our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance policies.
Remember, just because a policy is cheap, doesn’t mean it’s fit for purpose. Getting the level of cover you need is the most important thing.
If you’re likely to be travelling abroad more than once over the next 12 months, it may be more cost effective to buy an annual multi-trip policy rather than a single trip policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does travel insurance cost for Thailand?
The cost of travel insurance varies greatly depending on your age, the duration of your trip, the activities you will be participating in, and of course, the destination. For a broad estimate of how much travel insurance may cost for Thailand, Forbes Advisor Australia has reviewed a few quotes from different leading travel insurance providers.
A 30-year-old traveller going to Thailand for two weeks may be looking at approximately $150-$200, while a 60-year-old going for a month could be looking at approximately $290-$350.
Of course, if there are more travellers going on the trip together or an entire family, this may mean different costs per traveller due to discounts. As mentioned above, age, duration of trip and other conditions or activities will affect the price of your Thailand travel insurance, which is why the above quotes should be taken as a guide only.
What is the best travel insurance for Thailand?
Forbes Advisor Australia reviewed some of the leading travel insurance policies for Australians, however, these were not location-specific. Regardless, some of our top choices whether you are travelling to Thailand or elsewhere include Travel Insurance Direct, Allianz, Bupa and InsureandGo.
Do Australian citizens need a visa for Thailand?
No, Australian passport holders are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes. However, they are not permitted to stay in Thailand for a period exceeding 30 days each visit, and are only allowed to enter Thailand through land border without a visa twice per calendar year.
Should I buy travel insurance for Thailand?
While travel insurance isn’t compulsory for Thailand–nor any country–it is highly recommended by both the government and travel agents. By having travel insurance, you can rest assured you won’t be out of pocket if you require medical attention overseas, or for other unfortunate events such as cancellations or theft.
