Canadians heading to Thailand could pay extra to visit under new rules

If you're planning a trip from Canada to Thailand sometime in the future, you might want to pad your budget for possible added costs.

Travellers from Canada and other countries could soon be required to have travel accident insurance before entering Thailand. Rising costs from tourists' unpaid medical bills have the government considering a move to make accident insurance mandatory, reports Bangkok Post.

While other tourists ensure that they're covered with health insurance before their trip, there are many who don't, leaving the country's health system to shoulder the cost. According to the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand absorbs around 10 million Thai baht, or around C$432,000 annually, in unpaid hospital bills from uninsured foreign patients.

Hospitals are required to treat tourists regardless of their ability to pay. Most incidents occur in Phuket and Chiang Mai, and the majority of incidents are due to alcohol and drug use and inexperienced tourists using motorcycles, often for the first time.

Currently, the government is considering a 300 Thai baht (C$12.98) entry fee for air arrivals. However, due to the mounting strain on the country's public health system, the focus is now on making it mandatory for tourists to pay for insurance.

Travel accident insurance is affordable, costing as little as an average of 1,100 Thai baht (C$47.58) for two weeks of medical coverage ranging from 3.6 to 9 million Thai baht (C$155,711 to C$389,279).

If the proposal is approved, Thailand wouldn't be the only country that makes it mandatory for travellers to have health insurance. According to the German Missions in Canada, travellers who need to apply for a Schengen visa must present a health insurance policy valid for their entire trip and with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR (approximately C$48,000).

The Government of Canada states that travel insurance should include health, life, and disability coverage, and include provisions for pre-existing medical conditions, medical evacuation, and repatriation in case of death.

This summer, outbound international travellers will be required to pay the increased passenger service charge starting on June 20. The fee is set to increase from 730 to 1,120 Thai baht (C$31.58 to 48.45).