Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing yet again this issue of accident insurance, medical insurance associated with tourists in Thailand. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Tourists must be insured before entering. Quoting directly: "Thailand is pushing for regulations that would require International tourists to obtain accident Insurance before entering the country as rising unpaid medical bills and accident risk place a mounting strain on public health care."

Now if you recall, going back a while, this whole issue associated with insurance initially actually came up when discussing Retirement Visas; I'll get into that in another video I'm making contemporaneously with this one. But there has been sort of policy thinking I guess I should say or thinking in policy circles that that whole issue should be applied in a more broad manner pertaining to folks that are in Thailand that could end up accruing medical bills and then leaving those medical bills unpaid. Quoting further: "At Vachira Phuket Hospital, the financial burden is already apparent. Dr. Weerasak Lorthongkham, the director of the hospital, which serves 400,000 registered residents and more than 1 million visitors, said the facility absorbs high unpaid costs each year. Quote: "Each year, we absorb about 10 million baht in treatment costs for foreign patients without insurance,” he said." He pointed to recurring patterns among tourists particularly inexperienced motorcycle use and substance consumption. Quote: "Many visitors come to Phuket and try riding motorcycles for the first time which increases accident risks." Quoting further: "Dr. Weerasak recalled a severe case involving a Russian tourist who suffered a spinal injury and required long-term care. Quote: "The patient could only move his head. The treatment cost more than 1 million baht, and there was no payment. The family could not be reached, and the Embassy could only assist administratively," he said.” Quoting further: "The hospital ultimately arranged and funded the patient's return home, he said. Quote: "This is not a single case. It happens across nationalities." Quoting further: "Such cases reflect a broader national trend. The Ministry of Public Health estimates unpaid medical bills from foreign patients amount to at least 100 million Baht annually, with major tourism hubs such as Phuket and Chiang Mai most affected."

Yeah, again I discussed this in other videos some time ago I admit, primarily in the context of Retirement Visas. Again, I'm making another video contemporaneously with this one where we discuss that in a little bit further detail; basically the differences between Retirement Visa types and insurance coverage associated therewith. 

That said, for purposes of this video, the thing to take away from it is I think it's likely we're going to see some kind of "Insurance" requirement. Now as a practical matter, it may end up coming about in the form of what can only be described as an entry tax or travel tax, tourist tax, what we have discussed in the past regarding the possibility that they add some sort of fee onto tickets, things of this nature for folks that are coming into Thailand from abroad. And if you're only going to be here for a short term, then basically there could be some extra amount of money that would be added to one's ticketing price in order to get into the country. 

Exactly how this all plays out remains to be seen, so we'll certainly be keeping folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.