Health Insurance in Thailand? In the Context of Covid-19

[Damo]

Hey everyone, new to the forum. Been training for about a year and just had my first fight in February. Once this whole Covid thing is over I’m planning on going to train in Chiang Mai for a year. I’ve just been wondering what everyone has done about health insurance/how you go about getting it as a foreigner over there/if it’s crazy expensive and not worth it, etc. Any advice on health insurance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone! 

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

These are really great question. Damn, I wish I knew. Hopefully some will pop on. I wonder what kind of screening would be involved. If the government will subsidize any plan or approach just to stabilize the situation, or if this is pretty much impossible at the moment, even world wide.

[buddhasoup]

I hope this might be helpful. I have corresponded with the agent below and he has been (unlike some other agents that provide health insurance in Thailand) very responsive. The provider has a form that needs to be completed re: medical history, and then there are a number of policy options. Some of my friends in CNX have insured through Pacific Cross, and recommend it. I hope this is helpful: 

--------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jamie Edwards <jamie.e@th.pacificcrosshealth.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 4:34 AM
Subject: Re: Health Insurance Enquiry
To: Karuna Foundation <karunasiam@gmail.com>
 

Dear Michael, 

Currently, the lowest plan to best suit the OA visa requirement is our Standard Extra Plus plan. I have attached the brochure. We fully underwrite every policy allowing our clients to have a direct billing network across 360+ hospitals throughout Thailand allowing cashless treatment, not pay and claim. We have higher plans with better amounts of coverage (all attached). You must have outpatient included in whatever option you choose. 

If annual premium is a big concern we have ways to reduce the cost by adding what we call a deductible/excesses to the plan. This means you would pay the first amount of the deductible and we pay the rest. We take deductibles for Standard Extra plans and above.  

We have the no claims potential as well which is 10% the first year, 15% second and 20% third year ongoing.  

If you would like to apply you would need to complete the application form attached (please make sure every part of the form is filled in and any conditions underlined) and return with a passport copy. Once we receive the application a firm offer will be provided within 3-5 days of receipt.    

I hope this information is helpful and please let me know if I can be of further assistance or you have any questions. 

Kind regards,

Jamie.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

I asked Assist Thai Visa about insurance once and they sent me a list. I can't look at those things very well, I've never had insurance so understanding premiums and deductables and all that isn't something I'm familiar with. They're based in Chiang Mai, so you can go to their office when you move there (contact with them before is of course fine). We used them for our visa when we were in Chiang Mai, good group.

I've seen news about how pandemic insurance in Thailand is no longer offering lump-sum payments, but I don't know if these companies also insure non-Thais or not. I would assume they do, in order to have the news be available in English, but I don't know anything about what they are or whether having insurance on an "international" level is better.

[LaWzssts]

I think it would be much cheaper to pay for medical insurance than to pay money for hospital care. A day in the hospital can cost over $1,000, and that's a lot of money.