Travel & digital-nomad insurance

Why it matters here

A private-hospital stay is the scenario this page is for. Motorbike accidents are common, and they are often excluded unless the policy says they are covered and you hold a valid licence. Confirm that in the wording you buy. Thai law needs a motorcycle licence (for visitors: home licence plus an IDP with the motorcycle category) and a helmet for rider and passenger (PRD, helmet rules). This page does not quote premiums or coverage limits.

Three types

• Short-trip travel insurance — a few weeks, one country or a region, then it ends.
• Nomad subscription — monthly, built for people who stay or hop. SafetyWing and Genki sit in this group.
• Expat health — annual international health cover if you are settling in.

Retirement O-A: health insurance of at least 3,000,000 THB (or 100,000 USD), including COVID-19 treatment, for the whole stay is required (Embassy Oslo). DTV: insurance is not on the official DTV checklist, but some embassies may ask for extra documents (thaievisa DTV).

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing sells two nomad plans (SafetyWing plans):

• Essential: travel medical insurance for new, unexpected illness or injury abroad (hospital, surgery, medication), plus travel delay, lost checked luggage and emergency evacuation. Bought for 5 to 364 days at a time (what Essential covers).
• Complete: fuller health insurance, renewable, including routine care and no coverage restrictions in your home country, per SafetyWing's plan page.

How it works for a Thailand stay (Essential):

• Ages 14 days to 69, for people travelling outside their home country. You can buy it after you have already left (who can get it).
• Pay as a subscription every 28 days (up to 364 days), as one payment for 364 days, or for fixed dates. Adventure Sports and Electronic Theft add-ons are only available on the subscription options (plan options).
• Home-country visits: on the 28-day subscription, up to 30 days per visit per 90 days of cover (15 days if your home country is the US), and only after 90 days of active cover (home-country coverage).
• Scooters and motorbikes: above 50cc (as rider or passenger) you need the Adventure Sports add-on, a helmet, and a valid licence for that vehicle class; drunk driving, racing and damage to vehicles or other people are never covered (motorbike rules).
• Not covered includes pre-existing and chronic conditions (except limited emergency cover), mental health disorders, and routine check-ups or visa medical certificates (exclusions list).

Visa insurance: SafetyWing's pages we checked do not say the plan meets any Thai visa requirement. Insurance is not on the official DTV checklist, and other visas (e.g. retirement O-A) have their own rules. See Visas and check with your embassy.

Prices depend on age and plan; see the current price on SafetyWing.

If you sign up through this link, the provider may pay us. Affiliate disclosure.

What to read in the policy

• Motorbike / scooter: covered, and with what licence
• Pre-existing conditions
• Deductible
• Medical evacuation
• Scuba, if you will dive