Thai insurance companies offering Covid-19 coverage as foreign tourists prepare to return

[webfact]

Thai insurance companies offering Covid-19 coverage as foreign tourists prepare to return

 

Picture: The Bangkok Insight

 

The Bangkok Insight reported that Thai insurance coverage for foreigners has been worked out after meetings between various ministries and the Covid-19 authorities as Thailand prepares to welcome foreign visitors again.

 

Visitors will be able to buy coverage from 16 companies online before they travel. 

 

Premiums will depend on where the tourist comes from. High risk country coverage up to a year could set the visitor back 43,200 baht or around $1,300 to $1,400.

 

Dr Suthiphon Thaweechaikarn representing the insurers said that in order to get cover visitors must comply with all the other certification required such as certificate of entry, fit to fly and fit to travel health certificates.

 

Coverage will be in two sections – death related expenses arising from Covid-19 and treatment at hospitals and clinics. 

 

Coverage in the event of death for matters like funeral expenses and repatriation of bodies amounts to 3.2 million baht. 

 

The same coverage level is available for medical expenses.

 

Premiums will depend on where the traveler originates from and the length of time of coverage – minimum is one month and maximum is one year.

 

Those from countries deemed low risk will have to pay 1,600 baht to 14,400 baht.

 

Medium risk country coverage is 2,560 baht to 23,040 baht. 

 

High risk countries 4,800 baht to 43,200 baht.

 

Coverage is in line with all regulations issued by the government.

 

Source: The Bangkok Insight

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-09-03

 

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[Laughing Gravy]

Well I would be interested to see how this all works out.

[HaoleBoy]

Premiums will depend on where the tourist comes from. High risk country coverage up to a year could set the visitor back 43,200 baht or around $1,300 to $1,400.

 

Why "high risk countries"?  This only makes a difference for the first 2 weeks.  If you have to stay in quarantine, then after that all tourists are the same except people with pre-existing conditions.

[mtls2005]

6 minutes ago, HaoleBoy said:

Why "high risk countries"?  This only makes a difference for the first 2 weeks. 

 

Presumably because they are more likely, based on the insurance companies underwriters informed analysis, to become sick.

 

Guessing, based on the linked article, this is in support of the "Phuket - Safe and Sealed" plan?

 

 

Maybe they'll throw in a complimentary prison tour?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dcsw53]

Thai Visa - Can we have some consistency please. On the same page as this article is one from Gen Prayut. Tourists NOT welcome.

 

[Surelynot]

"........as foreign tourists prepare to return......." What on Earth makes them think that?

Edited September 3, 2020 by blackcab
Font normalised

[herfiehandbag]

16 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Well I would be interested to see how this all works out.

I would imagine that each case will be treated individually. A highly skilled team of assessors will assess how much they can screw from each individual, and then they will charge accordingly.

 

And fair is fair, gaining permission to be part of this scheme must have cost the insurance companies concerned rather a lot of money, which will have to be recouped!

Edited September 3, 2020 by herfiehandbag

[Shuya]

Sure tourists will line up happily to overpay for this scam, once borders might open. 

[steven100]

glad I got the 499 baht full coverage 5 mths ago. 

[yeahbutif]

The way I see this we all need insurance soon to be allowed back in to thailand.and won't make any difference on type of visa .or weather we need it to renew visa or not. So sound's to me only way not to need insurance is not leave....

[Sigma6]

14 minutes ago, steven100 said:

glad I got the 499 baht full coverage 5 mths ago. 

From your bank? Please check your policy limits - most of these cheap policies DO NOT cover up to 100000 US DOLLARS, which is the required amount. 

[DirtyHarry55]

That very expensive doubt any tourist will pay that.
They were offering COVID19 insurance in March for 500-1000THB
If they do want tourists to return they need to offer insurance a reasonable price

from what I understand all COVID19 patients are treated in government hospitals not private

so it's not like they have to cover Private Hospital higher costs.

 

 

Edited September 3, 2020 by DirtyHarry55

[petermik]

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

glad I got the 499 baht full coverage 5 mths ago. 

wait until you have a claim to make......

[pantsonfire]

Why so many mixed messages??  Emirates now fly to Thailand, companies now offering insurance for visitors, pm says no tourism.  Something is being lost in translation here

 

[JoePai]

Strange as AA Ins Brokers have been offering it for some time

[DirtyHarry55]

7 minutes ago, Sigma6 said:

From your bank? Please check your policy limits - most of these cheap policies DO NOT cover up to 100000 US DOLLARS, which is the required amount. 

100,000 is a bit Over The Top as well no way treatment will cost that in a Thai Government hospital or will Private hospitals be allowed to treat COVID as well?

[Pattaya Spotter]

It's not stated but do all these policies provide the minimum US$ 100k coverage amount?

[steven100]

 Much more expensive to get now that's for sure

Edited September 3, 2020 by steven100

[steven100]

52 minutes ago, petermik said:

wait until you have a claim to make......

no problem ... full coverage up to 3.5 million baht.  

[holy cow cm]

Throw away insurance at best. The real deal is that you will need to pay first and then be paid back. Now who has the money to do that? I do, but just saying as I would just still pay out of pocket as I always do. This way you keep the insurance and are still compliant to their BS.

[86Tiger]

This is crazy.

 

 

ETA:  they should just say out loud and up front "we don't want any foreigner coming to Thailand."   Stop with the hoops already.

Edited September 3, 2020 by 86Tiger

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

glad I got the 499 baht full coverage 5 mths ago. 

As did I, and I am sure many others. Ample cover for 12 months yes?

 

The point is, that whilst that cover is valid inside the country (although the acid test will be when one of us, as a foreigner, is unfortunate enough as to actually try and claim for it) it would not be accepted as a valid policy when attempting to enter.

 

This enables the small number of insurance companies who are approved who are approved to sell policies to foreigners wishing to enter (and whose owners are no doubt well connected and "deployed a lot of influence") to charge vastly greater premiums for shorter periods of cover does it not?

 

Not exactly an open market?

 

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:

Premiums will depend on where the tourist comes from. High risk country coverage up to a year could set the visitor back 43,200 baht or around $1,300 to $1,400.

 

Why "high risk countries"?  This only makes a difference for the first 2 weeks.  If you have to stay in quarantine, then after that all tourists are the same except people with pre-existing conditions.

 

Because if you test positive on arrival or while in quarantine, you will be hospitalized, even if asymptomatic; that is Thai policy. They want to be sure you have insurance to cover the cost of that. And it is more likley to happen if you cam from a high risk country.

[Sigma6]

1 hour ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

100,000 is a bit Over The Top as well no way treatment will cost that in a Thai Government hospital or will Private hospitals be allowed to treat COVID as well?

Well, it could if you are in the ICU on a ventilator for 3 or 4 weeks.

 

if you had good cover and had the choice between going private or government - its a no brainer really ???? 

[Sigma6]

58 minutes ago, steven100 said:

no problem ... full coverage up to 3.5 million baht.  

A years cover @ 3.5 mthb for 499b ???? 

 

which provider? Sounds an amazing deal

[mlkik]

36 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

Because if you test positive on arrival or while in quarantine, you will be hospitalized, even if asymptomatic; that is Thai policy. They want to be sure you have insurance to cover the cost of that. And it is more likley to happen if you cam from a high risk country.

I was about to get insurance with Pacific Health Thailand and they have informed me that my policy is only active once I have re entered Thailand. Therefore as there is a 15 day wait period I would not be covered under the policy if I tested positive in ASQ.

[Katipo]

3 hours ago, dcsw53 said:

Thai Visa - Can we have some consistency please. On the same page as this article is one from Gen Prayut. Tourists NOT welcome.

 

I don't think consistency matters. Articles about foreign tourists (numbers, Covid, etc) always get a lot of engagement from us, and the wackier the article the better.

 

 

[Bender Rodriguez]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Premiums will depend on where the tourist comes from. High risk country coverage up to a year could set the visitor back 43,200 baht or around $1,300 to $1,400.

why would a tourist have to buy A YEAR's worth of insurance for 31 days, while 14 in quarantine

[Bender Rodriguez]

meanwhile,  CAMBODIANS, LAOS & MYANMAR .... PAY NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scorecard]

Are the premium numbers mentioned for annual policies?

 

And are short term policies available (17 days, 3 weeks, 1 month etc., to cover folks coming back on repat. flights but after getting their affairs in order need to quickly return abroad)?