Why do I need travel insurance for Thailand?
When travelling, there is always a risk of accident, illness, crime, so it's important to protect yourself with an appropriate travel insurance policy.Â
As Thailand doesn't share a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia, you'll have to fork out the cash to pay for any medical treatments while travelling - unless you're covered by insurance. When selecting a travel insurance policy, also consider the potential costs that come with stolen, lost, or damaged luggage and travel documents, cancelled plans, or anything else that could go wrong on your trip.Â
How to choose the right travel insurance for Thailand?
When planning your Thai holiday, it’s worth considering the cost of travel insurance in your budget, and to ensure that your level of cover is adequate for what you plan to do while you’re there.
Simply choosing the cheapest option might mean that you’re not covered if something does go wrong. For example, if you think that you might hire a moped to explore the area around your holiday resort, you’ll need to ensure that you take out extra moped/motorcycle cover as part of your travel insurance.
By comparing travel insurance for Thailand with Canstar, you can easily see cover limits for medical treatments and the theft or loss of your possessions, as well as whether cover for motorcycles and mopeds is available as an optional extra.
What does travel insurance for Thailand cover?
Standard travel insurance policies cover most regular beach pastimes, such as snorkelling and kayaking, and more adventurous activities, such as paragliding, as long as it’s through a licensed operator.
Most general travel insurance policies for Thailand include cover for:
- Medical and dental treatment: This includes admission to hospital, medical treatments, emergency dental work and evacuation/repatriation to Australia.
- Stolen or lost luggage and travel documents: Covers the cost of replacing personal possessions or travel documents, such as passports, lost or stolen overseas.
- Cancellation costs: Covers costs incurred due to cancelled or changed plans outside of your control.
- Legal liability: Legal liability covers you for any accidental damage you cause to other people or their property while you’re on holiday, including any related legal fees.
- Optional extras: For example, riding a motorbike or moped, rental vehicle insurance excess, cover for individual high-value personal items, existing serious medical conditions, pet kennelling and loss of income due to serious injury overseas.
- Repatriation: Repatriation cover will meet the costs of returning a body home. Some policies also include funds to cover funeral expenses.
What isn't covered by travel insurance for Thailand?
General exclusions included in most travel insurance product disclosure statements include:
- 'Do not travel' warnings: Travel insurance will not cover you if the Australian Government has issued a ‘do not travel’ or a ‘reconsider travelling’ warning for your destination.
- Medical tourism: Thailand is a popular destination for cosmetic surgery. However, standard travel insurance will not cover you for expenses incurred due to any issues that arise from elective or cosmetic procedures.
- Reckless behaviour: If you intentionally put yourself, your property, or others at risk, any resulting losses are unlikely to be covered under your insurance. This includes leaving your possessions unattended where they can be easily stolen.
- Unreported items: Anything you lose must be reported to your insurance company as soon as possible, and thefts should be reported to the local police. Your insurance company may require a police report to verify your claim.
- Acting unlawfully: An insurance company is unlikely to pay any claim for a loss or injury incurred while you were breaking the law. It’s worth noting that Thailand has particularly strict laws concerning insulting the country’s monarchy, and it’s illegal to travel in the country without identification. Vaping and vape products are also against the law, as is smoking cigarettes on many tourist beaches.
- Riding a motorcycle or moped: Even if you take out additional insurance to cover yourself while riding a motorcycle or moped in Thailand, you must carefully read the small print to check what level of cover the policy provides. Often the cover is limited to less powerful bikes, under 200cc, and the driver must have a valid driver's licence to operate the vehicle. You must also always wear a helmet.
- Being under the influence: Any claims made for loss while under the influence of drink or drugs will be rejected.
- Pre-existing health conditions: Pre-existing, acute health conditions are usually not covered by regular travel insurance, although many insurance providers do offer specialised optional cover for those with serious health issues.
Never assume the level of cover offered by a travel insurance product; always check to see if your choice of holiday activity is covered and, if not, to arrange additional insurance so that you are covered if you need to claim.
Travelling to Thailand with a pre-existing medical condition
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it's worth taking a little extra time when choosing your travel insurance. When comparing suitable insurance cover, it's important to tell your insurer before you travel. A pre-existing condition is generally an illness, injury or medical condition that existed before you purchased your policy, although definitions vary between insurers.
Having a pre-existing medical condition doesn't necessarily mean you can't get travel insurance for Thailand. However, it can affect the level of cover available, whether you'll need a medical assessment and, in some cases, how much your policy costs.Â
What are the main travel risks in Thailand?
Thailand is a favourite holiday destination for many Australians, but like any overseas trip, knowing what risks you could face before you travel can help you be prepared.
Understanding these risks and checking your travel insurance covers the activities you have planned can help you travel with greater confidence. Below are the most common risks when travelling to Thailand:
- Road accidents: Road safety can be a concern in Thailand, with accidents involving scooters and motorcycles among the most common risks for travellers.
- Theft and scams: Petty theft, bag snatching and scams can happen in busy tourist areas, markets and on public transport.
- Severe weather: Thailand's rainy season (generally between June and November) can bring heavy rain, flooding and transport disruptions in some regions.
- Adventure activities: Before you book, check whether your insurer covers the activities you plan to do or whether you'll need to purchase optional extra cover.
How much does travel insurance cost for Thailand?
At the time of writing, the average cost of travel insurance premiums is $154 for a traveller aged 30, on a 14-day trip to Thailand (based on a selection of international policies rated in Canstar's 2025 Travel Insurance Star Ratings & Awards, November 2025, calculated October 2026.).
Prices for policies will vary depending on the provider and level of cover and inclusions that you need, plus your age and circumstances. You can compare travel insurance with Canstar to find cover that suits your particular needs and budget.
When should you buy travel insurance for Thailand?
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to buy travel insurance as soon as you've booked your flights or paid for other non-refundable travel expenses. This is because some benefits, such as cancellation cover, may begin before you leave Australia, meaning you could be covered for eligible cancellation costs if your trip is unexpectedly disrupted before departure by an insured event.
While, for the most part, you can purchase travel insurance closer to your departure date, waiting until the last minute may mean you miss out on cover for certain pre-departure events.
