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.
Regardless of your length of visit to Thailand you should have insurance cover, particularly medical insurance and personal liability cover. If something goes wrong during your visit to Thailand you will be left with the bill to pay. Your embassy will not bail you out financially. I agree with travel experts who recommend the following levels of cover:
- medical costs up to USD 4 million (GBP 2.5 million)
- personal liability up to USD 2 million (GBP 1.25 million)
- personal belongings and baggage up to USD 3,000 (GBP 2,000)
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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