What is the fundamental difference between a trip to foreign countries on a package tour and independent tour organization? In the first case, the ticket already includes insurance, but in the second, the tourist will have to draw up a document on his own. If the opportunity arose to visit such warm, but unusual for a Russian person countries, such as Thailand, then the topic of purchasing a policy should be taken care of in advance. What insurance to choose for a trip to Thailand? The options for where to buy, reviews of different companies are below.
Insurance company and assistance - which is more important?
Many have been familiar with the concept of an insurance company (organization) for a long time. But the definition of assistance (from the English assistance) is still quite unusual. In fact, everything is extremely simple: assistance is something like the acting body of an insurance company, one might say, a branch. In the event of an accident, it is this unit that will deal with the injured (contact), that is, pay for the tourist's treatment.
When choosing a particular company, it is worth evaluating how strong the relationship between the parent organization and the above unit is. It is best to have business with those organizations that work in a coordinated connection. Only then can we safely rely on a simple, understandable and prompt service in the event of an insurance situation.
In some cases, the assistant has the ability to make decisions independently and act without constant confirmation from the administration. Thus, only a few insurance companies work. However, not everything is so simple: a limit of up to $ 1,000 is set for such freedom of action for divisions, while insured events requiring high costs must be agreed directly with the parent company.
The following departments are included in the rating of the best assistants:
- Mondial Assistance.
- Euro-Centr (ERV).
- Axa assistance (AXA) and others.
In addition, when concluding an insurance contract, it must be borne in mind that not every hospital can cooperate with the chosen assistant. The problem also lies in the fact that such problems occur mostly in small towns, which are not particularly popular with tourists. Before choosing assistance and concluding an agreement, it is necessary to clarify the presence of hospitals (with which there is cooperation) at the destination.
Those tourists who still have not decided whether insurance is needed in Thailand should find out how the climate and food differ from Russian. After a detailed review of such issues, all doubts will disappear. A health insurance policy for travel to Thailand is required.
Where can I buy insurance: online service
Shopping on the Internet has long been commonplace. People buy a wide variety of goods on the Web: from household appliances, electronics and furniture to food. In the vastness of the Network, everything is sold, including insurance in Thailand, and to buy a policy, you do not even need to leave your home - just a few clicks.
The prices of policies on the official websites of companies and aggregators vary significantly, so it is better to first look at all the options, and only then make the final choice. Travel insurance for Thailand is a guarantee of adequate medical care if necessary.
So, you can view offers, choose and buy insurance on the following resources:
- "Compare.ru".
- Cherehapa.
- Tripinsurance
The first option is equipped with a call center and a hotline, operators in real time can tell you the best options and help with the purchase. In addition, it offers almost the widest selection of different types of insurance. The organization professionally accompanies the solution of all issues on the topic of insurance until the receipt of the policy on hand.
The second website offers customers not so many options, but has a simpler and more intuitive interface. In addition, this is a ubiquitous resource that has long established itself on the positive side in many countries.
The third option works directly with one of the leading assistants - Mondial Assistance. The order and payment of the insurance policy of this company is carried out through the World Wide Web, and the finished documentation is received by the customer by mail.
Which insurance companies are recognized as the best?
The list of insurance companies is really impressive, so a tourist can think for a long time about which insurance to choose in Thailand. Below is a list of options for companies and their assistance. It is only necessary to take into account that the parent organization and the unit are not always directly connected.
Several options working in conjunction (head office - specific unit):
- ERV Travel (Euro-Centr). The leading division of the company is located in Europe, so the service is appropriate: Euro-Centr is recognized as one of the best. Insurance in Thailand, issued by this organization, even provides for accident options such as falling off a bike or complicating pregnancy. The best choice is to order through the Cherehapa website: this way you can save a significant amount of money by getting the same set of services. By the way, this option will cost even less than the Accord insurance in Thailand.
- Tripinsurance (Mondial). In this case, the order and purchase of insurance is carried out through Tripinsurance. This organization has excellent assistance with which no one is working in Russia now, which means the offer is exclusive. The option has a lot of advantages: the company offers not only short-term service, but also annual insurance, and the order of the policy after the flight to Thailand is also an added convenience. Of course, such an agreement will cost a little more, but medical insurance in Thailand will be issued taking into account almost any of the possible accidents.
- VTB (GVA). This option is recognized as the most budgetary possible. Although tourists themselves do not say much about GVA assistance, they can still be used. Moreover, when choosing this particular unit, it is imperative to act through VTB, the least negative reviews can be traced here. Insurance to Thailand through such a bundle can be quite reliable.
Insurance cost
The cost of applying for a policy varies, depending on the options included and the service company. At the same time, economy options are often somewhat more complicated than expensive ones. Travel insurance for Thailand is also calculated based on the age of the tourist. Some companies set an increased coefficient for children, especially under the age of three years, but you should not save on the policy. For example, the same “Consent” issues a policy for a child up to a year worth five times higher than the usual. That is why at the moment this insurer is not very popular with tourists, especially with children.
In addition, the number of days spent on vacation is taken into account. Travel insurance for Thailand will also include additional options in the form of extreme sports or motorcycling. By the way, it is necessary to take into account that if an accident occurred while driving a bike, but the victim was drunk at that time, the costs of treatment are not covered. In general, outdoor enthusiasts should take advantage of such an option as travel insurance in Thailand with the inclusion of additional services.
On average, the pricing policy among the proposals is as follows:
- 7 days: outdoor activities - from 697 rubles, without adventure - from 568 rubles;
- 14 days: outdoor activities - from 1394 rubles, without adventure - from 1137 rubles;
- 30 days: outdoor activities - from 3967 rubles, without adventure - from 2436 rubles.
According to the data, insurance coverage is 30 thousand dollars. Price is per person.
Important Nuances
Many companies may not give out insurance if the border has already been crossed. That is why it is necessary to worry about the purchase of the policy in advance or at the time of registration choose the item “I already travel” (if offered). In addition, if you are staying in Thailand for more than 30 days or traveling on a regular basis, it will be easier to select the “Annual policy” mark.
It is advisable to purchase the option of baggage insurance, because the situations are different, especially at airports. Thus, insurance for a trip to Thailand with luggage may be very useful. By value, by the way, such a policy is slightly different from the standard.
Be sure to take into account the desire to relax actively, in particular, riding a motorcycle. Riding without a license in Thailand is punishable, and if the victim was without a license and drunk, the insurance company will not cover the costs of treatment.
Before signing an agreement with the organization, it is necessary to carefully read all the points.
Additional options - is there a need?
Undoubtedly, if a tourist is an adherent of a quiet and relaxing holiday, then additional services are useless. But if you want to get all the emotions from the resort, it is better to attend to the acquisition of a full package of services that will maximize the safety of the traveler. By the way, for children, when calculating the cost of insurance, it is worth rearranging the coverage from $ 30,000 to $ 50.
In addition, it is important for everyone who goes on vacation to Thailand to know that alcohol is not drunk during the time of an injury or other accident by the insurance company, and medical care is not paid. Not so important, a glass of beer or an impressive amount of spirits was drunk. Upon admission to the hospital, tests are performed, the results of which will show doctors whether there is alcohol in the patient’s blood.
Accidental health insurance in Thailand itself involves payment upon return to your country. The death of a tourist is paid in the amount of 100% of the sum insured, but bruises and fractures usually amount to about 10-15%. The medical expenses themselves while in Thailand will not cover the policy.
What you must pay attention to
There are some aspects that should not be ignored. These include: insurance for the current day, the acquisition of a franchise, the number of insurance days, etc.
Not all organizations provide current day insurance. When filling out an order for a policy, many are faced with this. The policy begins to operate the next day. By this move, companies protect themselves from those who like to take out insurance while on the move.
Be sure to carefully read the list of cases that will be recognized as insurance. This step will allow you to not be left without medical care when an insured event occurs. For example, some organizations do not insure against overheating in the sun and food dermatitis.
It is also necessary to agree on the issue of deductible - the amount that is paid by the victims themselves in the event of an insurance situation. An account in excess of this amount of funds is paid by the company itself. Honey. insurance in Thailand with a deductible is somewhat cheaper.
The amount of coverage for child insurance should be from 50 thousand dollars. In case of injury or a sharp deterioration in the baby’s health, he is urgently transported to a good hospital and treated accordingly.
You should always check the number of safety days. The validity of the insurance can be confirmed for a year, but stay in the country is allowed only 30/60/90 days. In this way, bank card insurance is especially famous.
As a rule, insurance in Thailand may not take effect immediately after acquisition, but after a certain time. A similar measure is applied by insurance companies against unscrupulous customers who purchase a policy immediately after the occurrence of an insured event.
Can I get insurance on the spot?
Of course, the option of acquiring an insurance policy upon arrival in Thailand is possible, but it is worth considering that insurance will come into force only on the fifth day. That is why it is better to resolve the issue of insurance in advance.
Service for travelers already has many inconveniences. On the same day, no one will insure the tourist , and some sites and companies do not even inform about the terms of entering the policy into their rights if it was purchased after the start of the trip.
Insurance directly with Thai organizations has many nuances. The main disadvantage is a higher tariff than Russian companies. In addition, the acquisition of a Thai policy makes sense only if you plan to stay in the country for a period of more than a year. The Thai insurance plan is often distinguished between outpatient and inpatient care. There are also restrictions in terms of the provision of medicines and the provision of a separate ward.
Among the disadvantages is the fact that such an agreement enters into full force after 30 days from the date of signing. Until this time, only accident insurance is available.
What to do in case of an insurance situation?
Before going to the hospital, you need to inform the organization itself in which the policy was issued. For this purpose, emergency numbers are indicated on the document itself. Describe to the operator as accurately as possible what exactly happened. Employees will provide the address of the nearest hospital that cooperates with the insurance company.
In addition, operators sometimes try to dissuade a client from visiting a doctor, so they often have to report that the situation is critical and waiting can turn out to be very unpleasant consequences.
To visit a doctor, you will need a passport and a previously printed out policy.
Rating of insurance reviews
Before making a choice, it is better to look at reviews about insurance companies. Health insurance for traveling to Thailand should be selected taking into account all factors.
The rating of the reviews is as follows:
- Tripinsurance takes pride of place. Many tourists annually choose this particular company. Mondial Assistance - the best insurance in Thailand, reviews about the division are extremely positive. The representative staff of the company is available in many travel agencies, solving problems with insurance fits in the shortest possible time.
- ERV is in second place (assistant - Euro-Center). Most positive reviews leave no doubt about the reliability and integrity of the company in relation to customers. True, there is such a nuance as compulsory registration of a policy only from your country of residence. This insurance in Thailand (reviews confirm this fact) is relatively expensive, but the stability of the organization allows you to choose the best quality.
- “Consent” takes the third position in the rating. In Russia, this is practically the most popular insurance in Thailand, and reviews are generally more positive than many other organizations. In 2016, the company entered into a cooperation agreement with Balt Assistance.
Many families, going on vacation to Thailand, often enter into an agreement with different insurance companies for themselves and their children. This is due to the fact that in some organizations it is possible to call a doctor at home, which can be extremely necessary in case of a child’s illness. For an adult, as a rule, a policy without such an option is enough.
Clients describe many cases when on vacation in Thailand a small child fell ill in a family. Mother and baby are first taken to a local hospital, if the child’s condition does not improve, the family is transported by plane to Bangkok, to the best specialists. Undoubtedly, such reviews increase the degree of customer confidence in insurance companies.
Some large organizations have their own online forums where anyone can ask a question of interest. Employees of the companies constantly monitor forums and answer questions of potential and existing customers. Including reports on controversial situations.
Finally
As can be seen from the results of ratings and reviews of tourists on the forums, the best insurance for Thailand is presented by several companies, the list of which is given above. Each traveler can choose the conditions that will best meet his requirements in terms of cost, leisure activity and other criteria.
Before rushing into the pool, it is advisable to allocate time for studying proposals, monitoring reviews and forums about specific options. Only after studying all the necessary documents and finding out the nuances, it is worth making final conclusions about which insurance is better.