If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, don’t forget your travel insurance. Getting the right form of insurance for your travels is an essential part of your trip planning. Travellers in Thailand who require medical assistance must pay for it. The South African embassy in Bangkok may offer support, but that won’t extend to financial support for medical expenses. Having the right insurance coverage is crucial because medical costs for travellers in Thailand can be high.
Cost of medical treatment in Thailand
- If you have a road accident, surgery and medical repatriation back to South Africa can cost between 405,000 to 710,000 rand.
- If you catch dengue fever, it can cost between 13,500 to 47,500 rand.
When shopping for insurance, make sure that it meets your needs and check carefully what the insurers cover. Also, check the policy exclusions. If you are going away on an extended trip, it’s worth noting that some insurance policies won’t cover you once you’ve been away from your home country for more than 30 days.
As part of your Thailand packing list, keep your insurance policy details with you. It can also be helpful to keep a screenshot of your passport details, policy number, and your insurer’s emergency assistance telephone number. Leave these details too with your travel partner or with friends or family in South Africa.
Safety first
Thailand is an amazing country in so many ways but, unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to road safety. Thailand has a poor road safety record with the country’s roads claiming a disproportionately high number of victims. A large percentage of these are motorbike accidents. If you’ve never ridden a motorbike or scooter before, think twice before hiring a vehicle in Thailand.
Helmets are compulsory for motorbike riders and drivers must ensure they have the correct licence and appropriate insurance. Travellers in Thailand who want to hire a car or motorbike will need a valid driving licence from their home country and an international driving permit. Travellers who don’t have the correct licences/permits may invalidate their travel insurance.
Useful links
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has developed the Travel Smart Application. The app (available on Android and iOS) provides support and information for South African citizens travelling or residing in foreign countries.
More information
