Country Guides

Medical Cover in Thailand

If you're planning to relocate to Thailand, the chances are you will have accommodation and employment already organised, but have you thought about healthcare? Aetna Global Benefits (AGB) can provide all the information you'll need, and help arrange full health insurance for expatriates, whatever your personal circumstances.

Vaccinations

* You should consult your doctor before travelling for current requirements. All travellers should also ensure that their tetanus and polio shots are up to date.

Health Care

There are excellent international hospitals in Bangkok, but hospitals and clinics outside main urban areas are not always up to Western standards. Many hospitals require guarantee of payment for hospital bills before treatment, which can be expensive. Private medical cover is strongly recommended and you should keep copies of certificates with you if possible.

Other Risks

There is risk of malaria in areas towards the Burmese border. Seek advice from your physician before departure about anti-malarial drugs. Protect yourself whilst there against bites with repellent, and by wearing long sleeves and trousers. Dengue fever, also a mosquito-borne virus, is common especially during the rainy season (May to October). There is no vaccination available so avoiding bites is important. There have been outbreaks of avian influenza in Thailand leading to a handful of human fatalities. You should avoid coming into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds.

It's estimated that 1.4% of the Thai adult population is living with HIV/AIDS. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.

Petty crime isn't a big problem in Thailand, but be on your guard against pickpockets and bag snatchers when walking busy streets or travelling in open transport. Try to avoid losing sight of your credit card during transactions as credit card fraud has been reported too. There have been occasional incidents where visitors have had drinks drugged in tourist areas, so be careful about accepting drinks from strangers.