How to Pick the Best Travel Insurance for Your Trip to Thailand
Your dream trip can quickly become a nightmare without travel insurance.
Do You Need Travel Insurance In Thailand?
Thailand is one of the top tourism destinations in the world. You might think that since Thailand is a tourist-friendly country, you won’t need travel insurance. However, unwanted situations can happen anywhere, at any time, no matter how safe you think your destination is. Common mishaps such as luggage loss or flight delays can have a considerable effect on your trip. Therefore, having Travel Insurance is essential for your holiday in Thailand. With travel insurance, you will always be protected if something unwanted happens. It assures you that you have a safety net if you face any financial risks and losses.
Key Points
- Travel insurance is important because unexpected situations can occur during your vacation in Thailand, causing both frustration and financial consequences.
- If the coverage you need isn’t included in the plan, you can always get add-ons.
- While travel insurance can cover you for a lot of essential things, it’s important to remember that it won’t cover you for everything.
Why Should You Buy Travel Insurance In Thailand?
Still feeling apprehensive about getting travel insurance? Below are some reasons to purchase travel insurance:
- Extreme Activities – If you are planning to try extreme activities like zip-lining, mountain biking, scuba diving, or maybe Muay Thai during your trip to Thailand. It’s always better to have travel insurance as another layer of safety.
- Scams – Like in many places around the world, scams can happen in Thailand, especially in tourist areas. You might encounter fake travel agents, fake airport taxis, or corrupt police officers while travelling around the country, which may cause you a significant financial loss.
- Traffic Accidents – The road can be a dangerous place no matter where you are in the world, and Thailand is no exception. In big cities like Bangkok, the streets can be filled with cars and motorbikes. Whether you are a pedestrian, ride a motorbike, or drive a car during your stay in the country, there are always possibilities of getting injured.
- Food Poisoning – You’re in Thailand, so it’s only natural that you try the country’s famous cuisine. However, if you choose the wrong street food or restaurants, and they turn out to be unhygienic, or if the food turns out to be spicier than you can handle, you might be in trouble.
What Options Do You Have?
There are various travel insurance options you can choose to suit your needs and budget. Below are some of the options:
Single Trip Travel Insurance
As its name suggests, single trip travel insurance is a type of travel insurance that protects you for one trip to Thailand. It’ll cover when you leave home, travel for a time, then return home, such as a one-time vacation, a single business trip, or a cruise trip. Also, there is typically no age limit to this type of travel insurance, making it a good choice for those over the age of 60 years old.
Annual Travel Insurance
If you go on more than five separate trips a year, an Annual Insurance policy is perfect for you. This type of insurance provides coverage for your travels for an entire year, no matter how often you travel. Frequent travellers will benefit from this type of travel insurance, as it saves you time and money with unlimited coverage. You don’t have to go through the hassle of applying for travel insurance every time you plan to go on a vacation because you are covered for every trip you make during 12 months.
Group Travel Insurance
Group Travel Insurance is a type of travel insurance covering a group of people travelling together. This means that your entire group is covered under one policy. It usually covers a minimum of 5 people, so you and your group don’t have to worry about getting individual travel insurance. Having travel insurance for the whole group rather than each person getting an individual policy can save money and time. It’s hassle-free and easy since all your members are covered in a single policy and premium, whether you plan a fantastic holiday in Thailand with your friends, a wedding trip with your family, or going on a business trip with your colleagues.
Common mishaps such as luggage loss or flight delays can have a considerable effect on your trip. Therefore, having Travel Insurance is essential for your holiday in Thailand.
When Should You Purchase Travel Insurance?
It is best that you purchase travel insurance before you depart for Thailand. Some travel insurance companies insure you after you start your journey. However, most travel insurance with trip cancellation cover will protect you from the time you purchase your insurance. Therefore, you should buy travel insurance at the same time you buy your tickets.
Don’t let anything stop you from exploring new experiences. Get travel insurance and fully enjoy on your unforgetable Thailand trip.
What to Consider When Buying Travel Insurance?
Before purchasing travel insurance, there are several things you need to consider in order to make sure that you get the best coverage to suit your need. Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors to consider.
Coverage
The most important thing you need to understand is what the travel insurance covers. The most important coverage is medical covers. However, it’s important that you consider coverage for other things too. For example, if you plan to try scuba diving while you’re in Thailand, make sure that the travel insurance covers you for it. Below are the most common covers that travel insurance offers:
- Trip cancellation and curtailment.
- Flight delays.
- Property damage.
- Medical expenses.
- Emergency medical evacuation.
- Lost, stolen, or damaged bags.
Exclusions
While travel insurance can cover you for a lot of essential things, it’s important to remember that it won’t cover you for everything. That’s why it’s so important that you read the fine print. Here are some of the things typically excluded from travel insurance:
- Injury, illness, or other unwanted situations that occur due to drugs and alcohol.
- Injury that occurs while you’re riding a motorbike or scooter.
- Terrorism.
- Extreme sports, such as Muay Thai, scuba diving, and jet skiing. However, you can purchase add-ons for an extra fee to get covered for these types of activities.
Conditions
Each travel insurance policy comes with conditions. Some of the most common conditions are as follows:
- Pre-existing conditions – if you have pre-existing conditions, your travel insurance might not cover it. This means that you will have to pay out of pocket should you need treatment in Thailand for pre-existing conditions. However, you can get special plans designed for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
- Cancellations and Non-Extensions – if you cancel your trip due to unexpected situations, you may be reimbursed for your travel costs. However, if you cancel the trim because you change your mind about it, you will not be covered unless you buy an add-on policy called Cancel For Any Reason.
Requirements
Not everyone can buy travel insurance. Most companies only offer it to those who are younger than 70 years old. Furthermore, if you are from a specific country, travel insurance companies can refuse to cover you. As a result, it is best to inquire about the insurance company’s age and region requirements when purchasing travel insurance.
How To File a Travel Insurance Claim
Making a travel insurance claim is a pretty straightforward process. First, you need to visit the insurer website or contact them to get the necessary forms. Then, you’ll need to collect evidence of your expenses, such as medical forms and receipts. You might also need to send in a copy of the police report from when you reported your stolen belongings if you file a claim for theft. For baggage delays, you have to get a letter from the airline to confirm the delay. Once you’ve filled out the forms and gathered the evidence, you can then send them to your insurer.