Health insurance in Thailand
Plan your stay in Thailand with complete peace of mind, whether for work, study or vacation.
Whatever your situation and the reason for your stay in Thailand: a new secondment, retirement, internship, university exchange or simply a vacation, it’s important to think about insurance. What do you need to know about Thailand’s healthcare system? We tell you all about it!
Before you leave for Thailand, have you considered taking out health insurance? Mondassur allows you to cover all your risks by choosing a personalized international health insurance policy tailored to all your needs.
Student insurance Thailand
The insurance that covers your stay for your studies in Thailand.
From
27€
- Worldwide coverage
- Maximum age: 35
- Covers emergencies and accidents
- Covers hospitalization and routine medical care
- Up to €250,000 per year
- Standard dental and optical expenses up to €550
- Contraception coverage + vaccines
- Maternity care
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Repatriation assistance
- Civil liability
- Individual protection
Expatriate insurance Thailand
International health insurance to cover your expatriation to Thailand.
From
93€
- Worldwide coverage
- Minimum age: 14
- Maximum age: 65
- Covers hospitalization and routine medical care
- Up to €1,500,000 per year
- Maternity coverage up to €4,000
- Coverage of assisted reproduction up to €1,500
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Coverage of pharmaceutical expenses up to €370
- Optional dental and optical care
- Maternity plus option
- Prevention and well-being as an option
- Optional repatriation assistance
- Optional third-party liability
Travel insurance
Thailand
Health insurance to cover your trip to Thailand.
From
30€
- Worldwide coverage
- Maximum age: 85
- Covers emergencies and accidents
- Up to €500,000 per trip
- Covers loss, theft or destruction of luggage
- Repatriation assistance
- Travel assistance
- Civil liability
Any questions? Need advice?
Information about health insurance in Thailand
Political system: Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Bangkok
Surface area: 513,120 km²
Population: 71.6 million
Languages spoken: Thai
Currency: Baht
How does Thailand's healthcare system work?
In 2002, the Thai government passed a law on universal health coverage, enabling many Thais to take out insurance. Many insurers offer universal health cover to their employees. There are three protection schemes in Thailand, covering more than three-quarters of the population:
– The Civil Servants Health Insurance Scheme(CSMBS) provides health coverage for Thai civil servants and their family members (up to 3 children).
– The social security system(SSS) is financed by social security contributions from workers, policyholders and employers, plus additional contributions from the government.
– Universal health coverage(CHU): introduced in 2001 and managed by the Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire and implemented by the Ministry of Public Health, CHU has a network of over 950 hospitals and almost 10,000 health centers throughout the country. This universal coverage mainly targets Thai citizens not covered by the social security system for the private sector and the CSMBS for the public sector.
How do I consult a general practitioner or specialist in Thailand?
To consult a GP in Thailand, you’ll have to go to the hospital, as there are no independent GPs. If you’re looking for a consultation with a general practitioner, you may run into difficulties as there are too few GPs in Thailand. To obtain a consultation in the public sector, waiting times can be fairly long, given that over 80% of the population is treated in the public sector. That’s why it’s essential to take out private international health insurance, which will cover you for the more expensive private costs. The average cost of a doctor’s consultation in a private hospital is around 1,500 baht, or $45.
To consult a specialist, you’ll need to go to a hospital in the same way as for a general practitioner. Unlike in Western hospitals, you’ll usually be able to consult a specialist without first being referred by a general practitioner. Specialist consultations are free of charge.
Alternatively, you can contact your embassy to get recommendations of doctors in Thailand who speak your language.
Pediatric care in Thailand
There are many hospitals in Thailand with a well-developed paediatric service, and they can offer your children complete paediatric care, from vaccinations to medical treatment for certain paediatric symptoms. To consult a pediatrician in Thailand, you can make an appointment at a hospital or clinic with a pediatric ward. You can also consult the website of your country’s embassy in Thailand, which will be able to recommend expatriate pediatricians.
The emergency department in Thailand
The emergency number is 911, which will direct you to an emergency center staffed by police, firefighters and ambulances, depending on your situation. The voicemail that takes your call is in English, which is a real asset for making yourself understood more quickly.
To contact a public ambulance in Thailand, dial 1669.
For a public ambulance in Bangkok, dial 1646.
To contact a private ambulance (service only available in Bangkok) dial 1724 or 1719. The private ambulance service will take care of you faster than a public ambulance. However, private ambulance costs will be higher. Make sure you have some money on your phone line, as contacting a private ambulance also has a cost.
Each emergency medical service should be staffed by an English-speaking healthcare provider.
Some examples of popular hospitals in Thailand
Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok is one of Thailand’s most emblematic hospitals. It is one of the best hospitals in Asia, and is facing up to medical tourism. The hospital boasts state-of-the-art technology and qualified healthcare staff, including a large number of international doctors trained around the world. Accredited by the Joint Commission International for the treatment of numerous diseases in the fields of cardiology, stroke, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.
Krabi Nakharin Hospital in Krabi is also accredited by Joint Commission International. The hospital features a luxury service with different room types (VIP, deluxe, superior, etc.). Highly-developed, state-of-the-art equipment and an emergency department capable of handling large numbers of patients.
Most of Thailand’s best-known hospitals are in Bangkok, including Phyathai 2 International Hospital, Bangpakok International Hospital and First Fertility Hospital.
Examples of average prices for medical care in Thailand
These prices are relative to private hospitals; in public hospitals, the cost of medical care will be lower, but of poorer quality and with much longer waiting times.
– Appendectomy: $4000
– MRI: $300
– Echocardiography: $190
– Dental implant: $1720
Dental care in Thailand
Dental care in Thailand rivals that of Singapore.
Examples of dental treatment prices in Thailand at Bangkok Hospital:
– Standard dental consultation: between $45 and $60
– Surgical tooth extraction: between $90 and $215
To consult a dentist in Thailand, you can book an appointment on their website. To choose a good dentist, you can refer to expatriate testimonials or contact other expatriates in Thailand who can recommend a good dentist.
Maternity in Thailand
If you’re an expatriate and pregnant in Thailand, this is good news. The nature of the country is conducive to birth and growth. Your pregnancy will certainly be less stressful, thanks to Thailand’s simpler living conditions and more suitable climate. We advise you to turn to a private hospital or clinic. You can follow up your pregnancy with an obstetrician or gynecologist, who will visit you every week at the start of your pregnancy. The average cost of an ultrasound consultation is 3,000 baths or $92.
During delivery, you will be hospitalized for an average of 2 to 4 days. Depending on the hospital you choose and the type of delivery (natural or caesarean), you will pay between 40000 baths and 140000 baths, i.e. between $1220 and $4300. In Thailand, as in South Africa, Caesarean sections are very common. However, some doctors at Bumrungrad Hospital recommend natural childbirth.
Finally, you must register your child with the authorities in your country of origin within 30 days. If your child was born in Thailand and one of his or her parents is Thai, he or she will inherit Thai nationality directly. However, when the child turns 18, if he or she has two nationalities, he or she will have to choose, as Thailand does not allow dual nationality.
Why purchase health insurance for expatriates in Thailand?
It is strongly recommended that you take out private international health insurance in Thailand. There is a local social security system, but it only covers healthcare in the public sector. In Thailand, the only way to see a GP is to go to hospital. In the public sector, it will be very difficult to obtain a simple consultation with a general practitioner, as the majority of the Thai population only seek medical care in the public sector. Hospitals are overcrowded, waiting times are interminable and the quality of care is average. There is a huge gap between the public and private healthcare sectors in terms of quality of care, qualifications of healthcare staff, equipment technology and infrastructure. All Thais with the means to take out private health insurance treat themselves exclusively privately.
Which private international health insurance should I take out for Thailand, and for whom?
Our international private health insurance plans are beneficial to all types of profile. Their international coverage is more advantageous. Whatever the reason for your stay in Thailand, whether it’s for your studies, a professional opportunity or your retirement :
– If you’re a student in Thailand, on exchange for just a few months or for the whole of your studies, it’s vital to take out international student insurance that’s perfectly suited to your situation.
– If you’re an entrepreneur, expatriate or nomadic worker, you’re likely to be traveling in Thailand as well as in Asia. That’s why it’s essential to be covered when traveling abroad.
– If you are retired, to obtain an OA visa, you need to take out health insurance covering up to $100,000 USD of Covid hospitalization costs. Our retirement abroad insurance covers your Covid hospitalization costs up to 100%.
