Reviewed 2026-10-31. General independent information; check current official immigration, financial and medical guidance before acting.
Expert take — Cost of Asia editorial team With some Thai local policies, the age at which you buy fixes how long you can renew: Allianz Ayudhya's Superior Health and Care Plus renew for life only if bought before 60 and kept continuously; buy after 60 and renewal ends at 80. If you are in your late 50s and plan to stay, buying a local policy now can be worth more than the premium saving of waiting. Whatever plan you choose, ask for the maximum renewal age in writing, not just the entry age.
Commercial transparency: Cost of Asia has no contracted partner in this category. Providers are compared on published criteria, and no provider has paid for inclusion. If this changes, affiliate links will be labelled.
Thailand gives expats two real options. Thai local plans, sold by insurers licensed in Thailand, are usually cheaper and bill private hospitals directly, but they require you to live in Thailand for much of the year and often have tight age rules. International plans cost more, follow you if you travel or move, and are more flexible about age.
This page is for retirees, families and remote workers living in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or elsewhere in the country. We cover the visa rules first, because for some visas insurance is a legal requirement rather than a choice, then compare five options we could verify.
At a glance
| Best for | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget local cover bought before 60 | Allianz Ayudhya (Superior Health) | Lifetime renewal if bought before 60, deductibles up to 200,000 baht |
| Under-70s who want long renewal | Luma (Hi 5 and Prime) | Renewal to 99, per a broker summary |
| A wide range of tiers and direct billing | Pacific Cross | From BDMS-network plans to 50 million baht per confinement |
| Applicants over 70 and frequent travelers | Cigna Global | No maximum age to apply or renew |
| High limits and maternity | Allianz Care (Care range) | Plan limits up to about US$5 million |
Which Thai visas require health insurance
Rules as published, checked on 31 October 2026. They change, so confirm with the embassy or immigration office handling your case.
| Visa | Insurance rule |
|---|---|
| Non-Immigrant O-A (retirement, applied for abroad) | At least US$100,000 or 3 million baht, covering general illness and COVID-19, for the whole stay. In force since 1 October 2021. |
| Non-Immigrant O-X (10-year retirement) | The Thaiger lists 400,000 baht inpatient and 40,000 baht outpatient per year, noting some embassies now ask for 3 million baht |
| LTR (all routes we checked) | At least US$50,000 of hospital cover in Thailand with 10+ months remaining, Thai social security, or a US$100,000 deposit held 12 months. Travel insurance is not accepted. |
| Non-O retirement extension | No insurance requirement, according to The Thaiger |
| Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | Not on the document list, per Allianz Ayudhya and Issa Compass |
Three details trip people up. First, the Royal Thai Embassy in Madrid says a foreign insurer is acceptable for the O-A, provided it completes the official certificate. Second, if an insurer turns you down, that embassy accepts a rejection letter plus proof of 3 million baht held for two months, on top of the usual financial requirement. Third, for O-A extensions inside Thailand, The Thaiger reports that immigration generally expects a Thai policy from the long-stay list, and that acceptance of foreign certificates varies by office. The Thai General Insurance Association runs a long-stay portal that links to participating companies.
How we chose
- Published limits per confinement or per year
- Entry and renewal ages, stated separately
- Visa fit: whether the plan meets O-A or LTR minimums
- Evacuation and area of cover
- Residency rules and pre-existing condition treatment
Sources: Allianz Ayudhya's plan pages, Cigna and Allianz Care documents, broker summaries from Pacific Prime where insurers do not publish full terms, and official Thai visa pages. We do not publish premiums because they depend on age, deductible and health. For a rough sense of scale, Thailand Starter Kit reports that local long-stay plans can cost under 20,000 baht a year with high deductibles, while standard international plans can exceed 100,000 baht a year. Checked on 31 October 2026.
1. Allianz Ayudhya — best for budget local cover bought before 60
Who it suits
Allianz Ayudhya General Insurance is a Thai public company selling Allianz-branded cover. Its Superior Health plan has three tiers, with limits of 2, 5 or 10 million baht per confinement. Plans 2 and 3 accept applicants from 15 days to 65 years old. Deductible options of 30,000, 50,000, 100,000 or 200,000 baht per confinement apply to inpatient cover; Allianz Ayudhya says a deductible can cut premiums by up to 60%. Optional outpatient cover of 30,000 or 50,000 baht a year is available.
Cover is worldwide excluding the US, where only accident injuries are paid. Allianz Ayudhya's page for foreigners also lists higher-limit plans, including Beyond Care at up to 30 million baht.
Trade-offs
The renewal rule in the Expert take is the big one. The Care Plus brochure also states that chronic and pre-existing conditions are excluded, and it applies a 120-day waiting period to conditions such as tumors, hernias and cataracts.
Check before you commit
- Confirm whether your chosen plan meets the O-A minimum on its own, or whether you need a combination of policies.
- Ask how a deductible interacts with day-case procedures and outpatient visits.
2. Luma (Hi 5 and Prime) — best for under-70s who want long renewal
Who it suits
Luma's site identifies it as LUMA CARE CO., LTD., a holder of Thai broker licenses. Its plans are underwritten by Thai insurers. Broker Pacific Prime's summary (updated July 2026) describes Hi 5, open from newborn to age 70, with a 5 million baht annual limit and up to 1.25 million baht of worldwide emergency cover outside the US. Prime, for applicants under 70, offers annual limits of 10, 30 or 50 million baht. Both plans are described as renewable to age 99.
Pacific Prime says both meet the O-A and LTR minimums by their annual limits, while the O-X requires an outpatient add-on. Optional outpatient comes as 40,000 baht with 50% co-payment, or 200,000 baht with none.
Trade-offs
You need about 180 days a year of residence in Thailand. Older reviews often praise Luma's Long Stay Care plan for over-70s; Thailand Starter Kit reported in September 2026 that Luma had stopped actively selling it.
Check before you commit
- Ask which insurer underwrites your policy and read its wording.
- Confirm deductible options; the broker summary does not list figures.
3. Pacific Cross — best for a wide range of tiers and direct billing
Who it suits
Pacific Cross is part of a regional insurance group operating since 1949, according to Pacific Prime. Its Thai range runs from Standard tiers, limited to BDMS hospitals on some versions, up to Ultima. Pacific Prime's 2025 summary lists per-confinement limits of 3 million baht on Premier Plus, 10 million on Maxima Plus and 50 million on Ultima Plus. Its 2026 summary describes all plans as lifetime renewable.
Trade-offs
Applicants must live in Thailand at least six months in any 12. Evacuation is described as domestic-only on Standard and Premier tiers, and worldwide on Maxima and Ultima. All figures come from a broker, not the policy wording.
Check before you commit
- Ask for the maximum entry age; neither summary gives one.
- Confirm the evacuation scope of your tier, and whether the plan is on the long-stay list if you need it for a visa extension.
What would this move really cost you?
Use your own rent, insurance, transport and visa assumptions. Compare options before committing.
4. Cigna Global — best for applicants over 70 and frequent travelers
Who it suits
Cigna's February 2025 product summary sets no maximum age at purchase or renewal, and Cigna markets a Senior plan for people 60 and over. Silver carries a US$1 million annual maximum, Gold US$2 million, and Platinum is shown as paid in full. You choose worldwide cover with or without the US, and add outpatient, evacuation, and vision and dental as modules.
Trade-offs
Premiums can change at every renewal and rise with age. Evacuation is not part of the core plan. For an O-A application, Cigna would need to complete the embassy's foreign insurance certificate; for an in-country extension, check your immigration office's practice first.
Check before you commit
- Make sure the evacuation module is on your quote.
- Ask Cigna whether it will sign the Thai foreign insurance certificate before you buy.
5. Allianz Care — best for high limits and maternity
Who it suits
Allianz Care's Care range, launched in November 2025, offers plan limits of about US$1.35 million (Base), US$2.7 million (Enhanced) and US$5 million (Signature). Maternity is on Enhanced and Signature after a 12-month waiting period, and medical repatriation is in all three.
Trade-offs
Allianz said the range launched mainly in the EU and UK, with Asia-Pacific plans to follow, so a Thailand resident may be quoted a different plan. Expatica reports a maximum application age of 75; get it confirmed.
Check before you commit
- Ask which plan family is sold to Thai residents.
- If you choose moratorium underwriting, recent pre-existing conditions are excluded until you go 24 continuous months without symptoms or treatment.
What to check before you decide
- Visa fit: O-A needs US$100,000 or 3 million baht; LTR needs US$50,000 and refuses travel insurance.
- Both age limits: entry age and maximum renewal age.
- Residency: local plans need you in Thailand roughly six months a year.
- Deductible: a high deductible lowers premiums but leaves you paying for smaller admissions.
- Pre-existing conditions: full medical underwriting tells you what is excluded up front.
- Direct billing: check your nearest private hospital is in the insurer's network.
FAQ
Is Thai health insurance required for expats?
Only for some visas. The O-A and LTR set minimum cover; the DTV and Non-O retirement extension do not, based on the sources we checked. Many expats buy cover anyway because private hospital bills are paid out of pocket otherwise.
Can I use international insurance for a Thai retirement visa?
For the O-A applied for abroad, yes, if the insurer completes the official certificate, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in Madrid. For extensions in Thailand, The Thaiger reports offices generally expect a Thai long-stay policy.
What is the best health insurance for expats over 70 in Thailand?
Choice narrows sharply. Luma's plans close to new applicants at 70 and Allianz Ayudhya's Superior Health at 65. Cigna states no maximum entry age.
Do Thai local plans cover me outside Thailand?
Some do, within limits. Allianz Ayudhya's Superior Health is worldwide excluding the US; Luma's Hi 5 includes worldwide emergency cover up to 1.25 million baht.
How much does expat health insurance cost in Thailand?
It depends on age, deductible and health. Ask for written quotes at two deductible levels and compare them in our budget calculator.
Related guides
- Thailand cost of living
- Expat health insurance: the complete guide
- Best health insurance for the Thailand retirement visa
- Thailand retirement visa
- Best hospitals for expats in Bangkok
- Budget calculator
Sources
- Allianz Ayudhya: Superior Health Plus — limits, entry ages, renewal rule, deductibles, outpatient, area of cover
- Allianz Ayudhya: Care Plus brochure — renewal rule, pre-existing exclusion, waiting periods
- Allianz Ayudhya: health insurance for foreigners — plan range, visa notes, DTV
- Royal Thai Embassy Madrid: O-A insurance requirements — O-A minimum, foreign insurers, rejection alternative
- The Thaiger: health insurance for retirees (Aug 2026) — O-X amounts, Non-O extension, O-A extensions
- TGIA long-stay insurance portal — participating companies for O-A and O-X
- BOI: LTR Wealthy Pensioners required documents (Jun 2025) — LTR insurance options
- BOI: LTR Work-From-Thailand Professional required documents (Jun 2025) — LTR insurance options, travel insurance refused
- Issa Compass: health insurance and Thai visas (Oct 2026) — DTV
- Thailand Starter Kit: mandatory insurance rules for retirees (Oct 2026) — indicative premium ranges
- Thailand Starter Kit: Luma Long Stay Care review (Sep 2026) — plan status
- Pacific Prime Thailand: Luma plans — Hi 5 and Prime details, visa fit
- Luma: Asia Care First page — company name, broker licenses
- Pacific Prime Thailand: Pacific Cross plans (Jul 2025) — limits, founding year, residency rule
- Pacific Prime: Pacific Cross Thailand (Aug 2026) — renewability, evacuation by tier, BDMS-only tiers
- Cigna Global Health Options product summary (Feb 2025) — limits, age, renewal pricing
- Cigna Global Senior Plan brochure (Nov 2024) — 60+ plan
- Allianz Care: new Care range announcement (19 Nov 2025) — maternity, repatriation, markets
- Allianz Care: Care plans — plan limits
- Allianz Care: switching insurers — moratorium rule
- Expatica: Allianz Care review — reported maximum application age
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