Travel Insurance for Thailand: 2025 UK Guide

Thailand is the UK's favourite long-haul destination — and the country that generates more travel insurance claims per visitor than almost anywhere else. Most claims are avoidable. This guide explains exactly what to look for in a Thailand travel insurance policy.

Minimum cover for Thailand

• £5 million+ medical cover — Bangkok private hospitals charge Western prices
• Repatriation — air ambulance from Bangkok to the UK can exceed £80,000
• £3,000+ cancellation per person
• Activities cover for snorkelling, scuba, kayaking and elephant trekking
• 24/7 UK assistance line — vital across a 6-hour time difference

The moped problem

Around 40% of all Thailand insurance claims involve a moped or scooter. To be covered you almost always need:

• A full UK motorbike licence (a CBT, provisional or car licence is not enough on most policies)
• A helmet, worn correctly
• To not be under the influence of alcohol

If you're tempted to "just rent one for the day" in Phuket or Pai with a UK car licence — don't. A serious crash without cover routinely leaves UK travellers with £30,000+ bills and a GoFundMe page.

Hospital costs in Thailand

Public hospitals are cheap but basic. Most UK travellers end up in private hospitals (Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, BNH) where prices are similar to a US private hospital — easily £500/night for a room before treatment.

Dengue and other tropical illnesses

Dengue fever is increasingly common, especially in the rainy season (May–October). It's covered as standard medical — there's no exclusion for tropical illness. The same goes for food poisoning, which is the single most common medical claim from Thailand.

Diving and the islands

Standard cover usually includes scuba diving to 30m with a qualified instructor or your PADI certification. Tech diving, cave diving and dives below 30m need a specialist add-on. The boat ride to dive sites is covered as travel.

Full Moon Parties and alcohol

Any incident involving alcohol or drugs is excluded. That includes the inevitable Full Moon Party falls on Koh Phangan. If you're going, stay sensible — claims are routinely refused for "intoxication".

FCDO advice

Always check FCDO advice for Thailand before you fly. Travelling to a region the FCDO advises against (occasionally the deep south) voids your cover.

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