SafetyWing
Visitors & long-trips, up to age 69
A popular, flexible travel-medical subscription built for long-term travellers — easy to start and stop by the month. Covers up to age 69.
Visit SafetyWingHealth & travelinsurance
One of the most-asked questions among people in Hua Hin — and one of the most confusing. Here's a plain-English guide to what you actually need, how it works with Thai hospitals, and where to look. We explain it; we don't sell it.
This is general information, not financial or insurance advice— we're not a licensed broker and we can't recommend a specific policy for your situation. Always read the policy wording and, for anything you're unsure of, speak to a licensed adviser.
Some links below may become affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As with everything here, any income goes to local projects after costs — and it never changes what we tell you.
First: travel cover or expat health cover?
These are two different things, and mixing them up is the most common and expensive mistake.
Travel insurance
For trips. It covers emergencies, accidents and getting you home — but policies have a maximum trip length and generally won't cover ongoing or chronic care, or a stay that turns into living here. Right for visitors and long holidays.
Expat health insurance
For living here. Proper international or Thai health cover — inpatient, outpatient, ongoing conditions, renewable year after year. This is what you need if Hua Hin is home, and what most retirement visas expect.
Do you need it for your visa?
It depends entirely on the visa — and the rules changed recently, so a lot of what's online is out of date. Here's where things stand in 2026:
| Visa | Insurance required |
|---|---|
| Non-O-A retirement (1 year) | ฿400,000 inpatient + ฿40,000 outpatient coverThis lower figure was restored on 15 July 2024 — the old ฿3,000,000 (≈$100k) COVID-era requirement was rolled back. Many embassy and agent pages still show the old number; some applicants still over-insure to avoid an argument with an out-of-date consulate. |
| Non-O-X retirement (10 year) | ฿400k inpatient + ฿40k outpatient, plus the financial requirementsA few embassy pages still list the old ฿3,000,000 figure — confirm with your consulate before buying. |
| Non-O retirement extension (in-country: ฿800k deposit / ฿65k income) | No health insurance required by lawA key difference from the O-A visa — this is why many retirees use the in-country extension route. |
| LTR (Long-Term Resident) | USD 50,000 health cover — or Thai Social Security, or a USD 100,000 deposit held 12+ months |
| DTV (Destination Thailand) | No national insurance requirement (฿500k funds needed)Some embassies may still ask for a policy at their discretion. |
| Tourist entry | No mandatory insuranceThailand Pass was abolished on 1 July 2022. Insurance is strongly advised, just not required. |
Visa rules change and consulates vary — always confirm the current requirement with your own embassy or a licensed broker before you rely on it.
What to look for in a policy
- Declare pre-existing conditions
Not declaring something can void the whole policy when you claim. Be honest, even if it costs more.
- Medical evacuation & repatriation
Getting you to a bigger hospital — or home — can cost more than the treatment. Check it's included.
- Inpatient & outpatient limits
Look at the actual cover amounts, not just the headline price. A cheap policy with low limits can leave you badly exposed.
- Deductible / excess
What you pay before cover kicks in. A higher excess lowers the premium but raises your out-of-pocket cost.
- Direct billing (GOP)
Whether the insurer pays the hospital directly — see below. This is the difference between a phone call and a big deposit.
- Age & renewability
Many travel policies cap age or surcharge over 65, and some won't renew. Check you can keep the cover as you get older.
How paying at a Thai hospital works
Direct billing (Guarantee of Payment). With it, your insurer settles the bill with the hospital directly — you show your card and go. Without it, private hospitals can ask for a deposit up front (often cited around ฿200,000 for a serious admission), which you claim back later. Confirm your policy is accepted beforeyou're admitted where you can.
The UCEP 72-hour emergency rule. For a genuine life-threatening emergency, any hospital — public or private — must stabilise you for up to 72 hours without demanding payment first. One honest catch for foreigners: UCEP stops a hospital refusing or delayingemergency care, but if you have no Thai coverage you're still liable for the bill afterwards. It buys time and treatment, not a free pass.
Emergency numbers: 1669 (ambulance), 1330 (national health office). See our Emergency & Safety page for the full list.
Where to look
A few commonly-used options to compare for yourself — not a recommendation of any single one. Prices and cover vary by age and health, so always get your own quote.
For visitors & long trips
Genki
Visitors & long stays, up to age 69
A modern travel-health plan with straightforward monthly cover and worldwide options — a clean alternative to SafetyWing worth comparing.
Visit GenkiIMG Global / VisitorsCoverage
Travellers over 65
Where SafetyWing and Genki stop at 69, these specialise in visitor and senior travel-medical plans — the place to look if you're older.
Visit IMG Global / VisitorsCoverageFor living here (expats & retirees)
AA Insurance Brokers (Hua Hin)
Anyone wanting a local human to help
A brokerage with an actual Hua Hin office that arranges expat health cover, retirement-visa (Non-O-A) insurance, travel, car and home policies. If you'd rather talk it through with someone local who knows the visa rules, start here.
Visit AA Insurance Brokers (Hua Hin)Cigna Global
International expat health cover
One of the big international health insurers used by expats, with portable worldwide plans and modular cover you can build to your needs and budget.
Visit Cigna GlobalFigures here were accurate to the best of our research in July 2026, but insurance and visa rules change — if something looks out of date, please tell us with the Contribute button. This page is general information, not advice; we are not a licensed insurance broker.