Travel Insurance for a Thailand Vacation (2024)

Americans visiting Thailand should consider travel insurance, even though the country does not require it. A Thai vacation can be expensive, requiring trans-Pacific airfare, hotel stays, and transportation within the country. Also, the State Department warns travelers that U.S.-based health insurance may not work and that many medical treatment providers in Thailand only accept cash payments.

Events in Thailand beyond your control could interrupt your trip. For example, floods can occur due to heavy rains in both the north and south of the country, and riots and protests are possible during elections. These issues, alongside the dangers of road and water travel, could leave you with sunken costs or pricy medical bills if you do not have a travel insurance plan.

You may have some trip cancellation coverage from the credit card used to purchase your tickets or make reservations, and your U.S. health insurance could pay for certain overseas emergencies. You need to confirm this and use travel insurance to fill the gaps and limit risks.

Here are the five types of travel insurance you might need.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

Cancel for any reason (or CFAR) coverage is different from standard trip cancellation insurance. As the name suggests, you do not have to provide a reason before you cancel your trip when you have this type of insurance policy.

A traditional travel insurance policy has exclusions. For example, you may not be able to cancel unless you have a verifiable illness or if your destination experiences a natural disaster. Scheduling issues or a change of mind are unlikely to be covered by insurance.

Because of the costs of long-haul flights and hotels or vacation rentals in Thailand, CFAR coverage can be a worthwhile addition to a standard travel insurance policy.

Gear Theft Protection

The State Department lists crimes like bag or backpack snatching, pick-pocketing, and non-violent robbery as among the most common problems for tourists in Thailand.

Gear theft protection insurance covers your camera, phone, laptop or other electronic devices.

Other travel insurance policies may have gear protection coverage. However, you could find limits in the fine print. For example, the policy might cap payouts for gear theft at $1,000.

Gear theft protection insurance is worthwhile if you bring lots of devices or equipment, and their value is higher than the coverage amounts on your other travel policies.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

Medical expenses can have a real impact on your Thailand vacation. Travelers have to pay for all medical care costs received at local Thai hospitals, and many of these places only accept cash payments. The U.S. Embassy does not assist or provide care, so travelers with healthcare emergencies need to pay out of pocket or use travel medical insurance.

Travel insurance for medical emergencies covers care for an accident, injury or unexpected illness. In some cases, you might decide you need to return home to get better care. Medical evacuation coverage pays for the flight to a hospital in the U.S. or another location with the level of medical service you need. This policy may also cover repatriation if you die during your trip.

Rental Car Protection

Thailand’s leading newspaper, the Nation, counted 939,713 road accidents in the country in 2022. Rentals in the U.S. are often covered under your vehicle insurance policy, or the agency lets you purchase insurance when you rent. This is not the case in Thailand, meaning you may be liable for repairs.

The State Department warns that rental scams involving all types of vehicles are common in Thailand. You may be stuck with a bill for repairs for seemingly minor scratches or dents.

Rental car protection can help protect against major accidents and annoying minor damage claims.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance covers the cost of your tickets, reservations, and other pre-booked parts of your Thailand vacation. However, the insurance company only covers cancellations beyond your control.

Here are examples of acceptable reasons to cancel a trip:

• A jury duty summons or a subpoena to appear in court
• A death in the family
• An unexpected illness requiring treatment or ongoing care
• A natural disaster or unrest in your destination in Thailand
• Military deployment

You need to read the fine print when you buy travel insurance. Policies don’t usually cover pre-existing conditions or known medical problems. Also, coverage does not necessarily depend on price. Cheap travel insurance options may offer the same limits as more expensive options, so it always pays to look at the fine print.