UPDATE: Coming to Thailand? Check your insurance and ASQ fine print.

A concerned reader sent us this information, based on his experiences in the ASQ when he arrived in Thailand. We publish them with good faith but would urge everyone to check their insurance situation, whether they’re currently in ASQ or might be in the near future, to check your individual circumstances. AXA has also responded to the comment, we provide that information in BOLD.

“Under current Thai ASQ rules, anyone who fails the RT-PCR test in quarantine is sent to hospital, even if they have no symptoms. The ASQ quarantine fee (paid in advance to the hotel) does not cover the hospital costs. So insurance is required.

1. I checked with AXA Thailand, as they offer an insurance policy for US$100,000 to meet the Covid-19 insurance laws. They told me this does NOT cover hospitalisation without symptoms, even after failing the covid-19 tests that are required in quarantine. I believe the odds of anyone who fails the test in quarantine having no symptoms are at least 50% and in this case their insurance will be invalid. The policy is not fit for purpose!

(AXA have responded to this claim… AXA will cover for the hospital expense necessarily incurred if an insured person is tested positive for COVID-19 regardless of the showing of symptoms. The claim payment is subject to the insured person satisfying the other terms and conditions of the policy.)

2. Most UK insurers offer travel insurance cover for “Emergency Medical Care”. As being sent to hospital merely for failing a test is not an emergency, then they do not cover being sent to hospital from ASQ.

3. Some UK insurers invalidate all of the medical cover, as any visitor to Thailand is “awaiting tests for an undiagnosed condition”, because they require RT-PCR tests.”

AXA has further provided this information…

• Meet the 100,000 USD health insurance requirement of application for Certificate of Entry (COE) to Thailand

• Cover 3.5 million THB of medical expense including COVID19 and 1 million THB of Personal Accident, choice of period 30,90,180,270 and up to 365 days

• Coverage starts immediately a‑er clearing immigration in Thailand and include the period of 14-day Alternative

• State Quarantine (ASQ) and Alternative Local State Quarantine (ALSQ)

• No waiting period , no deductible

• Provide insurance certificate including COVID-19

Reference: https://www.axa.co.th/en/axa-sawasdee-thailand-travel-insurance

The bottomline on all this is ASK questions, check your insurance coverage and get everything in writing.