BANGKOK, 24 August 2018: The British Embassy Bangkok has reiterated its travel warning that UK visitors to Thailand should take out comprehensive medical insurance before leaving the UK.
Thai Visa.com, which says it has teamed up the embassy to share messages to both British tourists and expats in Thailand, released details of the latest warning.
It said a fresh warning has been issued to expats and tourists about the importance of having medical and travel insurance when staying in Thailand.
According to Thai Visa.com the “warning comes after the British Embassy in Bangkok revealed that many of the people it helped last year did not have insurance.”
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports annual data around 1 million British tourists visit the country.
There are also an estimated 55,000 British residents in the country on work-related visas, long-stay or retirement visas.
Travellers using travel agency services, or booked on tours sold by UK tour operators, who in turn use the ground services of local travel firms in Thailand, are covered by various insurance policies covering accidents.
But considering the high costs of medical treatment at international hospitals at popular tourist destinations they are also advised to top-up their medical insurance and check the small print.
In most cases, hiring a motorbike, or driving without having an international driving permit and a valid UK driving licence (both are required by police), will void insurance cover in the event of an accident.
The British Embassy warned that many British citizens living in the country on long-stay visas lack adequate medical insurance. It pointed out that in 2017, 50% of UK citizens, who required consular assistance in Thailand after being hospitalised, were uninsured.
According to Thai Visa.com in 2015, 80% of British residents in Thailand over the age of 51 were found not to have medical insurance.
Some expats living in Thailand also mistakenly believe that they can get free access to medical care if they return to the UK, but this is no longer the case, the embassy warned.
In 2015, changes were made to the way visitors from overseas, particularly from non-EU countries are charged for NHS hospital care.
(Source: Thai Visa.com)
