Private health insurance is very popular among expats living in Thailand, as it gets you comprehensive coverage, access to top hospitals & doctors, and short waiting times. However, there are some things to take into consideration before taking out a plan.
When it comes to your health, you can’t afford to sign up with a dubious insurance provider. Check that the company has a large number of online ratings, and that most of them are positive (>80%). By choosing a well-known and reliable company, you know you’ll be able to trust them when you need them.
Before enrolling in any service, it’s important to check if your plan has been approved by the Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC) of Thailand. This way, if you ever stumble upon any kind of dispute, it will be much easier to solve.
With private insurance, you can decide how much coverage you want. The main decision here is the policy maximum for in-patient care (hospitalisation). Trustworthy providers like Cigna Global Health Thailand will start with a cover of 35 million baht (approximately 1 million USD) as hospital treatments can be quite expensive in Thailand.
Out-patient care (GP and specialist visits, diagnostic tests, etc) can and should be added to your plan: it doesn’t increase that much the cost and is extremely useful.
An important consideration is which hospitals, clinics and doctors are part of your plan’s network of providers. Aim towards companies with a broad network so you’ll have an easier time accessing healthcare in your area. Also, if you have any favourite doctor or facility, check in the policy brochure if it's included.
Many expats spend significant periods of time in their home country - or any other countries around the world. For them it is important to take out a plan that covers them outside of Thailand as well. International insurance providers typically provide coverage within Thailand, in Asia or Worldwide (excluding or including USA).
Some companies are especially geared for remote workers and digital nomads, such as Safetywing . They offer comprehensive coverage (including Covid-19, just like any other illness) whether you are in your home country, in a new country or even travelling abroad.
The idea is to pick a company that has a proven track record handling claims and can process them with ease. Ideally, they should be able to pay the provider directly when getting treatment in their in-network facilities.
Unless you speak Thai, you’ll need a provider with English-speaking (or multilingual) team available 24/7. They should also be experienced and professional, so they can point you in the right direction or take action quickly in case of emergencies.