Imagine you are an expat living abroad who has retired in a tropical paradise. You are having a lovely time of it when the unthinkable happens- you are the victim of an accident, or unexpectedly contract a disease, or some other health disaster strikes! Back in your home country, you would probably have health insurance in place to handle the high costs, but what about in your new home in your adopted country? Are you covered? The usual answer is, unfortunately, no, you are not, unless you have taken out a policy specifically intended for international use.
We never know when a health crisis might arise, so it’s always in our best interests to be prepared. One of the most popular countries people retire to is Thailand, and for many good reasons- safe, affordable, friendly, and the food is fantastic! But even in a paradise like this, things can go wrong, and although Thai hospitals offer top-notch world-class care and are very reasonably priced, the bills can add up, and fast! This is why it is highly recommended that expats acquire international health insurance for Thailand that will protect you in the event of a medical emergency, and make sure your bank account doesn’t become another casualty!
Wherever you choose to live in the world, private international insurance is a critical investment for all expats. It can be stressful to experience an unexpected illness or even just to receive routine medical care in a country where you aren’t fluent in the local language, where the culture may be quite different from what you are used to at home. This can make the already complicated process of checking into a hospital and finding the right physician a puzzle! Suppose that something happens and you require a specialist, for example, a knee surgeon, who are you going to turn to? Having an international medical insurance policy provides you with the guarantee that you will receive high-quality private health care regardless of what country you reside in, and whatever kind of local healthcare system is in place.
Depending on what country you choose to reside in, there is the possibility of signing up for local health insurance plans. This might be a good addition, but bear in mind that local insurance often has restrictions, some examples being a limited network of doctors you can choose from, or a limited geographic region, such as a major city, where you are eligible to make claims on your insurance. If you are visiting the countryside for the weekend and something happens, you might be out of luck! Having international coverage will often be a superior option to the local offerings because it gives you the freedom to be covered worldwide, so if you take a holiday in a different nation you are still protected by insurance
If you are an expat living in Thailand, check here for more information, and remember that wherever you are you should play it safe and be insured!
