Thailand offers free health insurance for tourists

On February 15, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) and the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEM) jointly announced a 50 million baht (nearly 34 billion VND) grant for international tourists who have accidents while traveling in Thailand. The maximum insurance coverage is one million baht (nearly 678 million VND) per tourist in case of death, 500,000 baht (nearly 340 million VND) in case of treatment for injuries caused by accidents, and 300,000 baht (more than 200 million VND) in case of permanent disability such as loss of vision or internal organs.

MOTS Minister Sudawan Wangsupakijkosol said tourists will be financially supported to cover medical expenses in case of accidents or injuries. The latest move is part of efforts to ensure the safety of tourists, increase their confidence in visiting Thailand, and thereby attract more visitors.

The money is used to support tourists in each specific case but will be refused to pay if the incident arises from the tourist's carelessness or intentional violation of the law.

The conditions for receiving this medical aid are that visitors must have a valid passport, and arrive in Thailand between January 1 and August 31 on a tourist visa or for tourism purposes only. MOTS has implemented the "Thai Tourist Safety" (TTS) system, where visitors can register their information online before arriving. The government will rely on the information declared on TTS to screen and decide whether visitors are eligible to apply for assistance. The collection of tourists' personal data is carried out in accordance with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act, according to MOTS Deputy Permanent Secretary Mongkon Wimonrat.

To apply for the Thai government’s disability insurance program, visitors can apply at the Tourism and Sports Office, nationwide, or at the Tourist Assistance Centers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. They can also email their applications to tourismcompensation@mots.go.th or mail them to MOTS.

NIEM Secretary-General Atchariya Pangma said pooling government resources would help tourists receive timely emergency medical care, helping to boost visitors' confidence in Thailand's safety standards. "Tourists will get the maximum benefit," Pangma said.

The Tourist Police are also running new initiatives and applying technology to further ensure the safety of tourists, such as cracking down on overcharging and fraud, and strictly enforcing the law. "All of this is aimed at increasing the confidence of tourists coming to Thailand," said Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pheuk-um.