A fresh warning has been issued to expats and tourists about the importance of having health and travel insurance when staying in Thailand.

The warning comes after the British Embassy in Bangkok revealed that many of the people it helped last year did not have insurance.

An estimated one million British tourists visit Thailand each year, while according to stats released by the British Embassy in 2016, there are a further 55,000 Brits living in Thailand, including 10,000 retirees.

However, many Brits are visiting and living in Thailand without insurance.

In 2017, 50 percent of the people who required consular assistance after being hospitalised were uninsured.

And it isn’t only tourists who are uninsured. In 2015, with 80% of British residents in Thailand over the age of 51 were found not have medical insurance.

Furthermore, some expats living in Thailand mistakenly believe that they can get free access to medical care if they return to the UK, but this is not the case.

In 2015, changes were made to the way visitors from overseas are charged for NHS hospital care.

The changes also affect some former residents of the UK, including expats in Thailand who may now be required to pay should they have to return to the UK for treatment in an NHS hospital.

You can read about the changes to the way overseas visitors are charged for NHS hospital care here. (click on word “here”)

The British Embassy is now urging Brits in Thailand to make sure they have insurance and to also ensure they fully understand exactly what they are covered for.

(Source:-ThaiVisaNews)