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Health Insurance for Thailand Expats is often overlooked with most expats either having a insurance policy that simply doesn’t really fit their lifestyle, doesn’t provide the correct coverage or protection, or they are paying too much for health insurance coverage they don’t need while living in Thailand.
But unfortunately too many expats in Thailand fall into the category of being able to mumble some excuse for not having any health insurance all together.
I never get sick, Im Healthy, I don’t need it.
Staying healthy and never getting sick is great, and its even better for keeping your health insurance premiums low, but its never a excuse for not having any health insurance. If you truly never get sick or make visits to the doctor you can opt for a inpatient only health insurance plan, which will be cheaper than full coverage and only cover you for those unexpected emergencies that could quite possibly be life threatening and require you to stay overnight in the hospital or even a medical evacuation.
When you take a taxi or ride a motorcycle you are at risk, Remember Thailand has one of the highest road accident and traffic accident fatality rates in the world.
In certain rural areas of Thailand you may also be exposed to mosquitos carrying dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.
Thailand is a beautiful country to explore but the risks of accidents happening or exposure to diseases and dangerous creature bites is something you should definitely be aware of.
And although you may feel healthy, you never know when an unexpected condition or disease may occur.
Im covered by my credit card or travel insurance policy.
Credit card and travel insurance policies provide basic travel insurance for short-term trips
If you have a minor accident in Thailand then you may have to get approval from the travel insurance company or even pay the bills yourself and then reclaim those costs from the travel insurance company.
If you have a major life threatening accident in Thailand you still might need to get approval from the travel insurance company before any treatment is carried out or any medical evacuation is arranged, and the travel insurance will only cover the costs to get you stabilised and safely home and not any further ongoing treatment you may need.
A good health insurance policy will ensure you are taken well care of by any hospitals in Thailand, they recognize international health insurance companies and will give you the best possible care knowing in fact that the medical bills are covered directly by the health insurance company.
If you are involved in a life changing accident that results in you needing a lifetime of costly medical care, the health insurance company will be responsible for the required care while you continue to be insured by that insurer, unlike a travel insurance policy that is only valid for the short-term.
It is possible in the short-term but if you’re away from your supposed home for an extended period of time you may find any claim on travel insurance is rendered invalid. A general rule of thumb for travel insurance is no more than 90 days in one country or one year away from the home country, although this can vary.
Health insurance is too expensive, I cant afford it.
Regardless of your age or income your health and wellbeing is your number 1 asset. Without your health and wellbeing you may be unable to work or live comfortably.
There are many health insurance policies on the market available to expats living in Thailand some of which are very affordable that provide coverage that could possibly be life saving.
Having a insurance policy that based on individual coverage only in Thailand can be significantly cheaper than a global coverage policy, but make sure you are covered where you need to be.
If I get sick ill go back home.
Commercial airlines do not allow anyone to board a flight if they are sick or seriously injured.
If you are seriously injured your only option would be a Medevac emergency evacuation with a medical team and pressurized plane, these cost on average $100,000 – $250,000 per trip.
I have savings to cover any medical bills.
If you are unconscious or comatose, who has access to your money to pay the bills ? How can you be sure you have enough savings? Do you have proof that you an pay ?
In a life or death situation you really don’t want to be waiting on a international wire transfer before you receive needed medical treatment.
I get health insurance from my employer.
Your employer may provide you with health insurance or include you in their group insurance policy, but what happens when you leave your job or change employer ?
If you have a medical emergency or a medical condition arise while you are in-between employers, you would not be covered and would have to cover those costs yourself.
Also any health conditions that were covered by or occurred during your previous insurance policy may not be covered by your new employers insurance policy, whereas if you had your own insurance policy you could continue that policy regardless and ensure any health conditions continue to be covered without relying on a employers insurance policy.
Finally when you retire from that company you might find it difficult to find a new insurer that will agree cover you, most insurers will not cover any pre-existing conditions and charge a higher premium for the same level of cover.
If you had maintained your own personal policy your insurance you could avoid these pre-existing condition exclusions and higher premium worries.
Health Insurance for Thailand Expats is often overlooked with most expats either having a insurance policy that simply doesn’t really fit their lifestyle, doesn’t provide the correct coverage or protection, or they are paying too much for health insurance coverage they don’t need while living in Thailand.
But unfortunately too many expats in Thailand fall into the category of being able to mumble some excuse for not having any health insurance all together.
I never get sick, Im Healthy, I don’t need it.
Staying healthy and never getting sick is great, and its even better for keeping your health insurance premiums low, but its never a excuse for not having any health insurance. If you truly never get sick or make visits to the doctor you can opt for a inpatient only health insurance plan, which will be cheaper than full coverage and only cover you for those unexpected emergencies that could quite possibly be life threatening and require you to stay overnight in the hospital or even a medical evacuation.
When you take a taxi or ride a motorcycle you are at risk, Remember Thailand has one of the highest road accident and traffic accident fatality rates in the world.
In certain rural areas of Thailand you may also be exposed to mosquitos carrying dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.
Thailand is a beautiful country to explore but the risks of accidents happening or exposure to diseases and dangerous creature bites is something you should definitely be aware of.
And although you may feel healthy, you never know when an unexpected condition or disease may occur.
Im covered by my credit card or travel insurance policy.
Credit card and travel insurance policies provide basic travel insurance for short-term trips
If you have a minor accident in Thailand then you may have to get approval from the travel insurance company or even pay the bills yourself and then reclaim those costs from the travel insurance company.
If you have a major life threatening accident in Thailand you still might need to get approval from the travel insurance company before any treatment is carried out or any medical evacuation is arranged, and the travel insurance will only cover the costs to get you stabilised and safely home and not any further ongoing treatment you may need.
A good health insurance policy will ensure you are taken well care of by any hospitals in Thailand, they recognize international health insurance companies and will give you the best possible care knowing in fact that the medical bills are covered directly by the health insurance company.
If you are involved in a life changing accident that results in you needing a lifetime of costly medical care, the health insurance company will be responsible for the required care while you continue to be insured by that insurer, unlike a travel insurance policy that is only valid for the short-term.
It is possible in the short-term but if you’re away from your supposed home for an extended period of time you may find any claim on travel insurance is rendered invalid. A general rule of thumb for travel insurance is no more than 90 days in one country or one year away from the home country, although this can vary.
Health insurance is too expensive, I cant afford it.
Regardless of your age or income your health and wellbeing is your number 1 asset. Without your health and wellbeing you may be unable to work or live comfortably.
There are many health insurance policies on the market available to expats living in Thailand some of which are very affordable that provide coverage that could possibly be life saving.
Having a insurance policy that based on individual coverage only in Thailand can be significantly cheaper than a global coverage policy, but make sure you are covered where you need to be.
If I get sick ill go back home.
Commercial airlines do not allow anyone to board a flight if they are sick or seriously injured.
If you are seriously injured your only option would be a Medevac emergency evacuation with a medical team and pressurized plane, these cost on average $100,000 – $250,000 per trip.
I have savings to cover any medical bills.
If you are unconscious or comatose, who has access to your money to pay the bills ? How can you be sure you have enough savings? Do you have proof that you an pay ?
In a life or death situation you really don’t want to be waiting on a international wire transfer before you receive needed medical treatment.
I get health insurance from my employer.
Your employer may provide you with health insurance or include you in their group insurance policy, but what happens when you leave your job or change employer ?
If you have a medical emergency or a medical condition arise while you are in-between employers, you would not be covered and would have to cover those costs yourself.
Also any health conditions that were covered by or occurred during your previous insurance policy may not be covered by your new employers insurance policy, whereas if you had your own insurance policy you could continue that policy regardless and ensure any health conditions continue to be covered without relying on a employers insurance policy.
Finally when you retire from that company you might find it difficult to find a new insurer that will agree cover you, most insurers will not cover any pre-existing conditions and charge a higher premium for the same level of cover.
If you had maintained your own personal policy your insurance you could avoid these pre-existing condition exclusions and higher premium worries.
Karaoke. It’s as Chinese as xiaolongbao and herbal foot massages. And it’s huge here. Every KTV joint in town has the standard mando-, canto-, k and j pop, but you’ll have to dig deeper to find your own karaoke gems.
Here’s a rundown of the top five places to belt it out in Shanghai. First, the Big Three: Shanghai Gecheng, Haoledi, and Party World. Most of their locations are 24-hours and take reservations, so it’s a good idea to call and reserve a room, especially if you intend on singing on weekend nights of public holidays
Note: all Karaoke chains charge different rates depending on the hour in the day and the size of the room. You might want to consider warming up your vocal chords early— prices are much cheaper in the morning.
Haoledi: The best Chinese song selection of the three chains. However, if you select an older English song, don’t expect to see the actual music video, but rather a blonde, buxom girl prancing in a sea of tulips. Getting a VIP card offers a considerable discount and the chain offers special promotions and member coupons periodically. You are not allowed to bring outside food and drinks in (though people smuggle in their munchies anyway), but Haoledi does have its own supermarket that you can order from. Average spending: RMB50 per person
Party World: Boasts the best selection of English songs of the three big chains, especially for oldies, classics, and show tunes. Bathrooms are located in or next to the KTV rooms, which is convenient for those long sessions. For an extra RMB40 or so, you can run to load up your plate at their buffet between songs (the buffet goes until 9pm, but they also have an a la carte menu). On average, Party World is more expensive than other KTV chains, but their sound system is a few notches above the rest. Average Spending: RMB85 per person
Shanghai Gecheng: It’s called “Song City” for a reason. Out of all the KTV places we’ve been to, Shanghai Gecheng has the craziest winding tunnels that twist and turn without end. The entire place is decked out in glass, black leather, and geometric lines to give a futuristic feel to your singing experience. If you’re lucky, you may be able to sing in a room equipped with a spinning disco ball and manually-controlled lighting effects. So-so sound system overall, but Shanghai Gecheng has a decent buffet. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to call ahead to book a room on weekends, especially if you’re going to the one in New Century Plaza at People’s Square. Average Spending: RMB50 per person
J.C. Billiards & Club: As the J.C.’s head designer told us, J.C. is mainly a pool place. But calling it a “pool place” doesn’t really cover it— it’s huge, almost cavernous, with plushy sofas dotting the premises, a fully stocked bar, and two swanky private rooms with their own karaoke machines plus pool and games tables. The rooms are perfect for those who like to multitask—you can belt out a ballad and play a round of pool at the same time. J.C.’s hardware and service are excellent—the owner Jennifer will mix and mingle with customers whenever she’s free. Consider it if you want to splurge on a RSVP-only private party; but be warned, the minimum spending for the small private room is RMB2000, plus added hourly charges. Average Spending: RMB184 per person
Fame Karaoke Club: We saved the poshest, most exclusive place (with a price tag to match) for last. Unlike the Party Worlds of Shanghai, there will be no hour-long waiting lines here. Fame’s brochure describes the décor as “full of personalized and perverse yet mysterious.” Language incoherence aside, that does well summarize this crème de la crème of karaoke clubs quite nicely. From the Dali-esque paintings on the walls to the polished, gold chrome decorations and velvet sofas, Fame channels a mixture of Shanghai bling, Victorian-era vibe, and unbridled high-tech opulence. Their smallest standard room can accommodate 8-10 people, and every private room in Fame features its own design and furnishings. The deluxe room and Grand Salle feature a bar area, high tables, a DJ podium, stages and dance floors with checkerboard flooring and get this — fog machines. Every room also comes with its own personal “butler.” Their catalog of songs is impressive — last time our editors managed to dig up some classic tracks by Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan, and the Kinks.Average Spending: RMB278 per person
Also, remember to check in with the bars you frequent for karaoke and open mic nights as well as one-night-only KTV events.
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