Best Travel Insurance for Thailand: Review of Options in Australia [2025]

Thailand has long been a favourite destination for Australians heading away on holidays, with an estimated 800,000+ travellers heading there each year pre-pandemic. While these numbers dropped during the pandemic, they are steadily returning.¹

Whether drawn to its white sand beaches and turquoise waters, natural jungles, vibrant cities buzzing with life and colour, delicious cuisine, or even for medical tourism, Thailand is a delightful mix of calm, chaos, old, and new. Yet just as you spend ample time deciding what to pack and how to best access your funds while away, the same consideration should be given to organising travel insurance.

This guide breaks down why travel insurance is essential for Thailand and reviews some of the top-rated providers, policy options, and essential inclusions. Supporting you in choosing the right coverage that fits both your needs and your budget, this will help to ensure peace of mind and that your trip is as enjoyable as possible. We'll also introduce to you Wise Travel Card that can help you save on international transactions with currency conversions at mid-market exchange rates.

Table of contents
5 providers for travel insurance for Thailand 1. Budget Direct 2. Cover-More 3. 1Cover 4. Southern Cross Travel Insurance 5. Allianz

Do you need travel insurance for Thailand?

While not mandatory for travellers, as with all destinations, travel insurance is strongly recommended for Thailand. This is particularly relevant given that recent data indicates Thailand was the top destination for travellers seeking consular assistance with illness and hospitalisation in 2023-24. The same data showed Thailand as the second-highest nation for consular welfare requests from Australians.²

Importantly, while consulates will always do their best to assist, they cannot cover or reimburse your medical costs, emergency repatriation, or any losses due to theft, scams, or similar. As such, it is vital to secure adequate travel insurance before you depart.

Additionally, as a nation where mosquito, food, and water-borne illnesses can be quite common and where travellers frequently engage in high-risk adventure activities and moto riding, it pays to be prepared for the unexpected.³

What is the best travel insurance for Thailand from Australia?

It’s not possible to name a single best policy or insurer for Thailand, as what constitutes ‘best’ for one person may not be the same for another. Instead, what is best for you will depend on your unique personal and travel circumstances. Various factors must be taken into account, including your age, trip length, planned activities, any existing medical conditions, and more.

To help you find the right policy, we suggest considering the following:

• Ensure the policy covers your age group and the full length of your trip
• Check if travel companions or family members are included or if they need to be added
• Review how pre-existing conditions are handled as some insurers include them while others may charge more or require assessments
• Make sure your planned activities, from moto riding to adventurous things like parasailing, are covered as needed
• Understand the excess amount you’ll pay if you need to make a claim and when you will need to pay this
• Confirm the policy provides adequate medical coverage and emergency evacuation
• Look for 24/7 emergency assistance as a benefit in case you need urgent help while in Thailand

How much is travel insurance for Thailand?

As with any international trip, the cost of travel insurance for Thailand depends on your individual travel plans and coverage requirements. If you're over 65 or have pre-existing medical conditions, you can expect higher premiums. Longer stays or trips that include adventurous activities may also increase the cost.

While it may be tempting to simply look for the cheapest travel insurance for Thailand, this should not be the deciding factor. Instead, ensuring you have the right policy with the right level of cover you’re comfortable with based on the experiences you’re planning in Thailand, should be the focus.

5 providers for travel insurance for Thailand

To help you compare travel insurance for Thailand and find a policy that fits your needs, we’ve highlighted options from some of Australia’s leading insurers. Whether you're after cheap travel insurance for Thailand or prefer more comprehensive protection with extra benefits, there are a variety of plans to choose from.

To give you a better sense of what’s available, our comparison includes both basic and comprehensive policy options from each provider, so you can see how coverage and value stack up.

1. Budget Direct

Recognised for its award-winning insurance and great value, Budget Direct offers a variety of policies, including travel insurance that combines affordability with key benefits.⁴ For Australians planning a trip to Thailand and elsewhere, their cover includes:

• Round-the-clock emergency and medical support, backed by a global team of doctors, nurses, case managers, and travel specialists
• Optional add-ons, allowing you to tailor your policy based on your plans and preferences
• Online discounts and a simple online claims process, so you can manage your insurance wherever you are

Coverage	Essentials Plan⁵	Comprehensive Plan⁵
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 1000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	AUD 2000	AUD 5000
Luggage and personal effects	AUD 5000	AUD 10 000
Travel Delay	AUD 1000	AUD 2000
Cancellation	AUD 5000 (can be adjusted)	AUD 10 000 (can be adjusted)
Personal liability	AUD 2.5 million	AUD 5 million
Moto and adventure activity cover	Moto and some activities included, optional add-on for other activities	Moto and some activities included, optional add-on for other activities

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 07 April 2025

2. Cover-More

With more than 35 years of experience and around 15 million travellers covered annually, Cover-More is one of Australia’s most trusted names in travel insurance.⁶ Their dedicated support and global reach make them a strong choice for those heading to Thailand. Key features include:

• 24/7 medical and emergency assistance, delivered through specialised centres in Australia, the UK, Canada, and Argentina
• Flexible policy options that let you tailor coverage limits and add extras like adventure activities or gadget protection
• A range of cover levels, helping you find the right balance between cost and coverage for your trip

Coverage	Basic Plan⁷	Comprehensive Plan⁷
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	Nil	AUD 6000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 5000
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Depends on level of cover chosen	Depends on level of cover chosen
Personal liability	AUD 1.5 million	AUD 2.5 million
Moto and adventure activity cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 07 April 2025

3. 1Cover

Focused on essential coverage that’s affordable and straightforward, 1Cover is an award-winning insurer offering a simple selection of policies to suit different budgets and travel needs.⁸ Their benefits include:

• 24/7 emergency assistance, wherever you are in the world
• Quick, hassle-free online claims submission and processing
• Clear pre-existing condition declarations, with the option to pay extra for cover where needed

Coverage	Basic Plan⁹	Comprehensive Plan⁹
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	Nil	AUD 6000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 5000
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Depends on level of cover chosen	Depends on level of cover chosen
Personal liability	AUD 1.5 million	AUD 2.5 million
Moto and adventure activity cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 07 April 2025

4. Southern Cross Travel Insurance

A subsidiary of New Zealand's Southern Cross Group, Southern Cross Travel Insurance has been providing coverage to Australians since 2009. While relatively new to the Australian market, they’ve already insured over 6 million travellers.¹⁰ Their offerings include:

• 24/7 global emergency assistance for help wherever you are
• Simplified claims submission and processing, along with a dedicated support team for claims
• A variety of policy options to fit different budgets and coverage preferences

Coverage	Medical Only Plan¹¹	Comprehensive Plan¹²
Overseas Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs	Unlimited coverage	Unlimited coverage
Overseas Emergency Dental	AUD 2000	AUD 2000
Hospital Incidentals	AUD 3000	AUD 3000
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 25 000 for luggage AUD 1000 for documents
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Nil	AUD 2500 (can be increased)
Personal liability	AUD 1 million	AUD 1 million
Moto and adventure activity cover	N/A	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 07 April 2025

5. Allianz

With over a century of experience insuring Australians across various sectors, Allianz is a globally recognised brand, known for its partnership with the Olympics and being a preferred insurer of Westpac.¹³ When it comes to travel insurance for Thailand and beyond, Allianz offers:

• Flexible policy options to cater to a range of budgets and travel preferences
• A huge number of activities covered as standard, making it ideal for adventure seekers
• Customisable coverage limits, so you can adjust protection for valuables like tech devices or jewellery

Coverage	Basic Plan¹⁴	Comprehensive Plan¹⁴
Overseas Emergency Medical Expenses and Hospital Costs (including incidentals and dental)	AUD 20 million	AUD 20 million
Overseas Emergency Assistance (including repatriation)	AUD 20 million	AUD 20 million
Luggage and Travel Documents	Nil	AUD 10 000 for luggage AUD 5000 for documents
Travel Delay	Nil	AUD 2000
Cancellation	Depends on level of cover chosen	Depends on level of cover chosen
Personal liability	AUD 2.5 million	AUD 5 million
Moto and adventure activity cover	Optional add-on	Optional add-on

Please note: Coverage limits are subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions as outlined in the PDS.

As seen 07 April 2025

Things to keep in mind

Traveling in Thailand offers a wealth of incredible experiences, but it’s important to be mindful of the health and safety challenges that can occur there when choosing insurance. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Motorbike & Scooter Cover. Many insurance policies for Thailand exclude coverage for motorbike accidents unless you're licensed in your home country, wearing a helmet, and hold an International Driving Permit (IDP). Always check the fine print.
• Medical Tourism. Thailand is an increasingly popular destination for medical tourism, but most travel insurance policies don’t cover elective procedures or treatments. You may need to investigate local insurers such as AXA or MSIG travel insurance Thailand to access cover for this.
• Natural Disasters. Thailand is prone to floods, storms, and other natural disasters. Ensure your policy covers such events for cancellations, travel delay, and evacuation.
• Upfront Medical Costs. Healthcare standards and facilities can differ between regions and be very expensive. You may be asked to pay for treatment upfront, especially in private hospitals, so ensure you have ample medical coverage.

Heading to Thailand? Get more Thai Baht for your AUD with the Wise card

When planning your trip, it's crucial to consider how you'll spend in Thailand. High foreign transaction fees or unfavorable exchange rates can quickly inflate your travel costs. The Wise card is a simple way to save up to 7x when you're spending internationally. You can spend in 150+ countries at mid-market rate — basically the rate you see on Google. With no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.

Simply create a Wise account for free, order a card and top-up AUD to get started. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as make some free ATM withdrawals each month for when you're abroad. You can get digital cards and add to your Google or Apple Pay wallet for instant use. Spend directly with the Wise account in AUD and let auto-conversion do the trick or convert in advance to your desired currency. You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account and spend the currencies you hold for free.

Wherever your travel takes you, the Wise card makes spending money abroad cheaper and easier.

🚀 Get your Wise card

---

This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://wise.com/au/compare

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

---

Sources:

1. DFAT - Thailand Country Brief
2. Smartraveller - Consular Report 2023-24 pg. 8
3. Smartraveller - Thailand
4. Budget Direct - About
5. Budget Direct - Policy Comparison pg. 4
6. Cover-More - About
7. Cover-More - Policy Comparison
8. 1Cover - About Us & Policy Comparison
9. 1Cover - Optional Adventure Cover
10. Southern Cross - About
11. Southern Cross - Medical Only Policy
12. Southern Cross - Comprehensive Policy
13. Allianz - About
14. Allianz - Table Of Benefits pg. 8 - 14

Sources checked on: 07 April 2025