Thailand Travel Insurance
There is an old adage that says ‘if you can’t afford travel insurance you can’t afford to travel.’ I’m not sure who said it (probably somebody in the travel insurance industry!) but it is still a truism.
I can’t recommend one particular company over another one, all I would suggest is that you are adequately insured for your own particular circumstances. For instance, the insurance requirements of a retired couple on a two week vacation are likely to be very different to those of a twenty-year-old backpacker.
I’m pleased to say that the visitor statistics to this website reveals I have readers from all over the world. As I say, I can’t recommend one particular company over another and as I normally purchase my insurance from UK-based companies that is of no use to visitors who live in the USA or Australia. World Nomads is the only company I’ve found that offers insurance suitable for residents of most countries. That said, I have to admit that I have never used them myself and can’t say how good they are, but their website is concise and easy to follow. I guess we never find out how good an insurance company is until it comes to actually putting in a claim. The World Nomads policy enables claims to be made online and so you don’t have to wait until you return home and is therefore well-suited to those spending an extended stay in Thailand. Even if you don’t take out a policy with them, the World Nomads site is worth a visit for its free Thai language guide for your i-pod.
There is an article on travel insurance here from a UK newspaper, the Daily Telegraph. Although the article is aimed at UK residents, there are some suggestions towards the end of the article which are pertinent for anybody visiting Thailand regardless of your country of origin.
The key points are that visitors should have cover for medical insurance and personal liability. The writer of the article recommends that any policy should cover up to ₤2 million (USD 4 million) for medical costs, ₤1 million for personal liability (USD 2 million) and ₤1,500 cover for personal belongings and baggage (USD 3,000). In addition, your insurer should provide you with a 24-hour emergency helpline (ideally a toll-free number). For your part, it is advised to be honest about any pre-existing or current medical conditions when applying for any policy as failure to do so may prejudice any subsequent claim.
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