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Travel Insurance when visiting Thailand

Turquoise waters, vibrant culture, lush jungles and Tuk Tuks

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Thailand should be on every global travelers’ radar as it offers a mix of white sand beaches, ornate temples, and lush forests. With so much to explore, you may want to consider the benefits of travel insurance for you and your travel companions.

With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance as soon as your trip is locked in and you're ready to go, or while you're on the road traveling around Thailand.

What’s Covered

World Nomads has two plans which cover an array of activities ranging from mountain biking to snorkelling, hiking, kayaking, surfing, scuba diving and more. Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you choose, World Nomads plans offer cover (up to the benefit limits) for:

Emergency medical: overseas emergency medical expenses at a hospital or medical centre if you suffer an unexpected injury or illness while in Chiang Mai.
Evacuation: approved overseas emergency medical evacuation to the most appropriate medical facility for treatment or repatriation back to your country of residence. Emergency transport is subject to approval from the 24-hour Emergency Assistance team.
Trip cancellation: has a sick or injured traveling companion put a stop to your Thailand trip? Your plan may be able to recover the unused, non-refundable travel expenses.
Gear protection: had your camera stolen while trekking in Thailand? Our gear coverage can help with replacing belongings swiped from under your nose. You’ll need a police report to submit with your claim as well as copies of the original receipts and supporting documentation.
Lost, stolen, or damaged baggage cover: we offer cover for baggage and items which you take with you or buy during your trip if they are stolen, damaged or destroyed, or if lost or damaged by a carrier. You must report all theft or loss to the police as well as to the common carrier, service provider or other local authority as soon as possible.
Coronavirus cover: we offer cover for some Coronavirus related events. To find out more click here.

Traveler tip 1: if you’ve suffered a theft, get a Property Irregularity Report or other incident report from the carrier so you can submit it with your claim, as well as a police report. You should also have copies of the original receipts for your valuables and any luggage tickets.

Why should I consider insurance for Thailand?

World Nomads has two travel insurance plans to choose from, Standard vs Explorer. Both plans can help if you suddenly up in hospital with a bad case of food poisoning, or if you’ve had bags or valuables stolen. A worst-case scenario is if you are badly injured and need to be repatriated back to your Country of Residence as this can be very costly.

Traveler tip 2: To travel to Thailand, you’ll need to seek permission using the Royal Thai Government’s online platform – Thailand Pass and be approved before entering. Requirements for a Thailand Pass include a vaccination certificate, a negative COVID test from three days before departure and travel insurance with a minimum coverage of US$50,213 (AUD$70,000). For the latest Thailand travel alerts and restrictions click here.

What to look out for when traveling around Thailand

Beware theft and pickpockets

While Thailand is amongst the safest places to travel, there is always the chance that you could be the victim of a theft. Make sure you keep a copy of your receipts as you’ll need proof of ownership for any claims should your items get stolen. All World Nomads travel insurance plans will have some baggage coverage if your bags and valuables are stolen or damaged. However, with any insurance plan, benefit limits, conditions and exclusions may apply.

Keep an eye on your gear 24/7

It’s very important that you NEVER leave your valuables out of sight. You can find out more about our travel cover for tech gear and other high value items here. Make copies of all key documents such as, passport, ID, travel insurance, receipts, vouchers, addresses, transportation tickets, and keep them separate from the originals so you’ll have proof of purchase if the originals go missing. Exercise caution in crowded areas and on public transport; padlocking your bags to the luggage rack if you’re on an overnight train or bus is always a good idea.

Surviving Thailand’s food markets

You're going to find a variety of delicious food while traveling in Thailand, but food preparation standards can vary. Gastro and its unpleasant side effects are one of the more common medical complaints our travelers have experienced while in Thailand.

Our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team can help you find a doctor, particularly useful in Thailand’s remote areas, where access to medical care is harder to come by. If your illness is serious, the team can arrange for an emergency evacuation. Hospitals in Thailand (especially around Bangkok or Phuket) are well-equipped to treat you even if they may seem less modern than facilities you’d find at home.

Here are some simple actions that can help in case of gastro:

Always wash your hands before and after eating or use a hand sanitizer.
Never eat anything that's been sitting around, even for a short while.
Don't drink tap water in Thailand – stick to bottled, boiled, filtered, or treated water.
If you lose more fluids than you can keep down, seek help and use rehydration sachets.

Riding Motorbikes and Scooters

It’s easy to rent a motorcycle, so it’s not surprising that we see everything from exhaust pipe burns to extreme injuries caused by crashes, which can sometimes be fatal.

If you choose to ride, be sure to select a travel insurance plan that covers motorbike and scooter use.

Depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you’ve selected, we may offer coverage for global travelers hurt in motorcycle accidents for:

Emergency medical expenses for treatment at the hospital or by a doctor at the local medical centre.
Evacuation to more suitable medical facility if it’s urgent, medically necessary and if you’re fit to travel.
Repatriation if you’re seriously ill or injured and unable to continue your trip.

For your coverage to take effect, certain conditions apply:

You must have a valid driver’s license from your country of residence and as required in the relevant country where you're traveling.
You need to comply with local laws and safety practices (wear a helmet, obey speed limits, and don’t drive drunk).

Traveler tip 3: if you’re intending to rent a car or motorbike you must check the licensing and local laws for the country you’re going to. You must also be adequately insured elsewhere, as you are not covered under this insurance for third party liability in respect of any mechanical or motorized vehicle.

If you need medical treatment, evacuation, or repatriation, you or a travel companion MUST contact our 24-hour Emergency Assistance team as soon as possible. Limits and exclusions to coverage will apply so read your policy carefully for full details.

For more details, or if you have a specific question about World Nomads insurance, please visit our online Help Center or contact us.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your policy wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Reconnect with the world with our travel insurance cover for some Coronavirus-related events

Itching to travel again?

Explore the world with our plans that provide cover for some Coronavirus-related (including COVID-19 related) events, including emergency overseas medical, evacuation, cancellation cover and more. Find out what cover applies to your Country of Residence, and the key benefit limits depending on which plan you purchase. Happy and safe travels!

Overseas medical expenses

If a qualified medical practitioner diagnoses you with Coronavirus while you’re travelling, we may offer emergency medical benefits to help you get back on your feet.

Standard plan:
$5,000,000

Explorer plan:
Unlimited

Medical transport & repatriation home

If you become seriously sick or injured during your trip (and it's not considered a 'pre-existing medical condition' as defined in the policy wording) we may be able to help with cover for medical transport to the nearest or most appropriate medical facility, or back home to recover.

Standard plan:
$500,000

Explorer plan:
$500,000

Funeral expenses or repatriation of your remains

If the worst happens and you die from Coronavirus while overseas, we offer benefits to help your family with the costs of a funeral overseas, or if available, bringing you back to your home country.

Standard plan:
$15,000

Explorer plan:
$15,000

Coronavirus Travel Costs section (cancellation and curtailment pre and on-trip)

Had to cancel your trip because you, a travel companion, or your close relative back home have been diagnosed with Coronavirus? Our cover may help with your cancellation costs.