Common myths & legends
Q) “Will the Embassy pay if I’m not insured?”
A) The FCO budget doesn’t allow for payments of this nature (if it did there’d be no need for anyone to have insurance!)
Q) “Why isn’t the embassy doing anything?”
A) Insurance is entirely an individual responsibility. For more information click here.
Q) “Will the Royal British Legion pay for former members of HM forces?”
A) Britain’s Ex Service charities will not act as surrogate insurers; the onus is on the individual to provide adequate insurance before embarking to the far-east.
Q) “Does the UK have a reciprocal agreement with Thailand ref healthcare?”
A) UK has reciprocal agreements with some EU & commonwealth nations, but not with Thailand.
Q) “Does my credit card company include travel insurance when booking flights/holidays online?”
A) Possibly, but it should be used in conjunction with a primary insurance policy due to its limitations.
Q) “Can I take a chance & pay cash?”
A) Bills of around £10,000 are commonplace; others can exceed £100,000.
Q)“Can you recommend a reputable insurance broker?”
A) The cover offered by IAG Global healthcare insurance (NZI) suits the requirements expected by westerners in Asia. Please contact us for further information.
For more information on travel insurance click here.
Q) “Will my insurers pay if I have a motorbike/Quad-bike accident?”
A) Probably not, common ‘ get-out' clauses include;
- Engine size (50 or 125cc being common ceilings with UK insurers)
- Was the rider/passenger wearing a helmet?
- Did the rider have aThai license or EU license supported by an IDP?
- Was the rider under the influence of alcohol/drugs?
Any of which can invalidate a claim.
An international driving permit (IDP) is available from provincial post offices in the UK at a cost of £5.50 per year; they're also available from the AA ( www.theaa.com )
Quad-Bikes cannot legally be used on a public highway
Q) “Will they pay if I've been diving?”
A) Possibly, but check the small print for;
- Depth restrictions,
- Qualifications,
- Gas used during dive,
- Breach of deco tables.
It's advisable to have dive-specific insurance if you're planning to dive.
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