Checklist Before Getting Health Insurance
Find how to buy the right family health insurance for you and your family as Expats living in Thailand.
Is It Necessary to Have Family Health Insurance While Living in Thailand?
You may assume that not having health insurance will not affect your finances in Thailand because healthcare is a lot cheaper than insurances in Western countries. It’s important to keep in mind, that healthcare costs will vary and depend on where you live and how much money you make. If you earn Thai baht or have a fixed income, paying for healthcare out of pocket isn’t always the cheapest option, especially if you or a family member requires serious medical treatment. That’s why family health insurance is here to help.
If you or one of your family members was admitted to a hospital, the costs on medical bills will slowly add up, vaccines, stitches, x-rays, check-ups, doctor’s fees and many other medical treatments can all be included in your family health plan.
Key Points
- Family health insurance ensures that you and your loved ones have access to the best healthcare without fear of financial strain.
- An Expat policy grants you full access to Thailand’s best healthcare facilities.
- Other insurances such as personal accident can also provide similar coverages.
Requirements to Buy Family Health Insurance in Thailand?
To qualify for family health insurance and the discount that comes along with family health insurance, you must meet a few basic requirements. Examine the list below:
Age of Family Members
To be eligible for insurance, you and your spouse must be between the ages of 18 and 65. Children must be under the age of 24. They must be enrolled in school if they are 18 or younger. If they are between the ages of 18 and 24, they must be unmarried.
Relationship
You and your partner must be legally married, in a civil partnership. Any children covered by your family plan must be your biological children, legally adopted children, or a child who rely on you for care. To obtain coverage for your child, at least one parent must apply for coverage as well.
Place of Residence
You and your family must spend at least 180 days in Thailand each year. The length of time varies according to the insurer. However, it appears that 180 days is the industry standard.
Number of Family Members
To be eligible for the family health insurance discount, you must have a certain number of family members on your plan.
The Same Plan For Everyone
All members of your family must be covered under the same plan to be eligible for family health insurance. For instance, if you are covered by one plan, your children must also be covered by the same plan.
What Are the Benefits of Family Health Insurance For Expats?
Family health insurance actually begins as individual plans, but the more people you add to the plans, the greater the discount you receive. It works in the same way that group health insurance does. When you purchase insurance for your family, you may receive a discount ranging from 5% to 20%, depending on the insurance company.
Each insurance providers has standards and procedures in place to ensure that you are covered and reimbursed in accordance with your plan. You may also receive international coverage for you and your family depending on the plan you choose. This way, you never have to worry about medical bills and medical attention when you travel to Thailand.
The majority of insurance policies have annual and coverage limits on how much your family is entitled to each year or visit.
What Coverage Does Family Health Insurance Offer?
Coverage options differ depending on the type of plan you select, but it is similar to a personal health insurance policy. Below are some of the most general coverage options, including additional add-ons, for family health insurance.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient coverage protects you and your family against costs such as hospital and operating room visits, nurse and doctor fees, surgical fees, rehabilitation, prosthetics and other medical expenses.
Outpatient Care
Outpatient care is typically covered by more expensive health insurance plans. If you choose outpatient coverage, you and your family will be covered for vaccinations, medication, doctor fees, therapy, and other services. There are two types of outpatient coverage: premium and standard. Premium plans provide full coverage up to a certain limit, while standard plans only cover you for a certain number of hospital visits per year.
Routine Health Checkups
You must purchase more expensive health insurance if you want additional coverage for routine health checkups. In this case, you and your family will be covered for full health screenings, PAP tests, prostate exams, and other early detection tests.
Maternity Care
When having a baby in Thailand, your wife is covered for pregnancy costs, including delivery costs, complications and newborn care. Some plans may require you to wait up to ten months before this coverage becomes available. So, if you intend to have a child make sure you obtain maternity coverage when your wife becomes pregnant.
Dental Treatment
Dental treatment is usually included in health insurance plans in some countries, but it is an add-on in Thailand. Dental coverage is only available with more expensive insurance plans. Checkups, general treatments, orthodontics, bridges, and implants are all covered under this plan for you and your family. You may have to wait nine months or longer for your family to be covered by dental insurance.
Accident
Accident coverage protects you and your family in the event of death, dismemberment, loss of sight, speech, or hearing and disability. Some policies may even cover you if you were riding or a passenger on a motorcycle which is a huge benefit in Thailand.
Health insurance plans are designed to meet your needs at various stages of life at a reasonable cost. Benefits such as surgery, both in- and out-patient, are just a few of the features of health insurance plans for your family.
What are The Cap Limits On Family Health Insurance?
Most insurance policies have annual and coverage limits that determine how much your family is entitled to each year or visit. The higher your premium, the greater your coverage and the higher your limits. There are four types of limits to consider when purchasing family insurance.
Annual Limits
As long as it is less than the limit amount, your annual limits cover almost everything. For instance, if your surgery costs 3 million baht and your annual limit is 32 million baht, you will be covered.
Maximum Limits
Your maximum limits apply to each treatment. Some insurers, such as Aetna and Pacific Cross, provide maximum limits for items such as hospital rooms, nurses’ fees, and surgeries.
Inpatient Limits
The annual limits for inpatient treatment change based on the policy you choose. In the table in the Plan Comparison section on some popular insurance plans for Expats in Thailand, you can find the typical limits for inpatient care.
Outpatient Limits
If you choose outpatient coverage, you and your family are limited to the amount of coverage you can receive each year. The typical outpatient care limits can be found in the table in the Plan Comparison section on some popular insurance plans for Expats in Thailand.