[Update] Travel Health | cigna travel insurance thailand – Sonduongpaper

Precautions Along the Way

Traveling comes with a whole new set of things to think about. The following can help you stay healthy and enjoy your trip as much as possible.

Tips for flying

Flying isn’t always fun. But you can take steps to make it easier and to feel better during and after your flight.

• Pack anything that may cause problems at security—such as gels, liquids, sharp scissors, or pocket knives—in the luggage you plan to check. For an updated list of what isn’t allowed in carry-on luggage, see the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm.
• Wear roomy, comfortable shoes that slip on and off. These are easy to remove when you go through security at the airport. They will also be more comfortable if your feet swell on the plane.
• Walk around the plane during flights to prevent dangerous blood clots during long periods of travel. Sitting still for 4 hours or more slows down the blood flow in your legs and raises your blood clot risk.
• Take steps to prevent jet lag, such as drinking plenty of liquids and changing your sleep schedule to the new time zone.
  • Sleep Problems: Dealing With Jet Lag

If you have a fear of flying, talk to your doctor. He or she may recommend medicines, hypnosis, or breathing, visualization, and relaxation exercises to help you feel less afraid.

Water and food safety

Contaminated water and food are the most common cause of illness in travelers.

Drinking water

• Don’t drink tap water if it may not have been properly treated.
• Don’t brush your teeth with tap water.
• Drink beverages made with boiled water, such as tea and coffee. Canned or bottled carbonated beverages (including bottled water and soft drinks), beer, and wine are also usually safe.
• Don’t accept ice in drinks. It may be contaminated.
• Dry the opening of wet cans or bottles before taking a drink.

Travelers to backcountry areas of North America should also take precautions with water. Even though the water in high mountain lakes looks sparkling clear, it may be contaminated with Giardia intestinalis, the parasite that causes giardiasis. Take simple precautions to avoid this illness, such as boiling the water.

Food

• Avoid raw fruits (unless you wash and peel them yourself), raw vegetables, and raw or undercooked meat and seafood.
• Try to eat steaming hot, well-cooked food.
• Don’t get foods or drinks from street vendors.
• Make sure dairy products have been pasteurized.

Taking these precautions with food can help prevent infections, like tapeworm.

To learn more, see the topic Food Poisoning and Safe Food Handling.

Swimming and water sports

Swimming in contaminated fresh water, such as ponds or rivers, can expose you to diseases. Even swimming pools with inadequate chlorination pose a risk. Talk to your doctor if you plan on doing recreational water sports—such as white-water rafting, adventure racing, or kayaking—in tropical and backcountry regions.

To prevent fungal or parasitic infections and injuries, do not go barefoot. Try to keep your feet as clean and dry as possible.

Although sea water is usually safe from disease, swimming or diving in sea water can still be dangerous. Avoid swimming or wading in sea water near a river, estuary, or other outlet from inland. Swimming when you have an open cut or sore can also increase your risk of getting an infection. In developing countries, sea water around big cities and other populated areas may not be safe. For more information, see the topic Marine Stings and Scrapes.

Insect-borne disease

Mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and ticks all spread disease. These diseases include:

Malaria is the insect-borne disease of most concern to travelers in tropical and subtropical regions. Although antimalarial medicines kill the malaria parasite in the bloodstream, this protection isn’t complete. Take protective measures along with taking antimalarial medicine.

Ticks inhabit many regions, including Europe, Canada, and the United States. Although it is rare for travelers to contract diseases from ticks, some of the diseases are serious. For information on how to prevent tick bites, see the topic Tick Bites.

Here are some tips that can help you avoid mosquitoes and other insects:

• Use DEET or other insect repellents on your skin.
• Sleep under a bed net to prevent insects from biting you while you sleep. Permethrin or deltamethrin insecticide sprayed on bed nets will protect against mosquitoes for weeks to months.
• Use products that contain 0.5% permethrin on your clothing and outdoor gear, such as your tent. You can also buy clothing already treated with permethrin.
• Use mosquito coils. The smoke from these slow-burning coils repels mosquitoes.
• Wear light-colored and loose-fitting long pants and long-sleeved shirts. This is especially important from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes that spread malaria and other diseases bite. Insect repellent applied to clothing is effective for longer than it may be on the skin.

Do not use home remedies like eating garlic, rubbing garlic on your skin, or taking vitamin B. They do not prevent bites.

Sun and heat exposure

Many travelers underestimate the sun’s strength and overestimate the amount of protection their sunscreen offers. This can add up to at least an uncomfortable sunburn and other skin damage.

Steps you can take to protect yourself from the sun include using sunscreen and wearing a hat and sunglasses.

Heat can also cause problems such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Sometimes it’s hard to keep cool while you are active in a hot environment. But you can take steps to prevent heat-related illness.

• Before you travel to a hot environment, you can improve your ability to handle heat. Start by exercising for a short time in the heat. Then for the next 2 to 3 weeks, slowly increase the time you exercise in the heat.
• If you are not used to the heat, limit the amount of time you are out in the hottest part of the day.
• Drink plenty of water. Losing 2% to 3% of your weight through sweat increases your risk of a heat-related illness.
• Do not drink alcohol. It increases your risk for dehydration.
• Some medicines can make a heat-related illness more likely. If you take medicines regularly, ask your doctor for advice about hot-weather activity and your risk for heat-related illness.

Injuries

Although disease is a big risk while you are traveling, you should also be aware of the risk of injury.

• Motor vehicle accidents. They are a leading cause of injury among travelers. Bad roads, poor driver training, and crowded roadways can make driving dangerous in other countries.
  • Learn local driving customs and road signs.
  • Try to travel during daylight.
  • Always use seat belts.
  • Ask taxi drivers or other hired drivers to slow down or drive more carefully if you feel unsafe.
  • Wear helmets and protective clothing when riding motorcycles or bicycles.
• Animal bites. Take care around dogs and other animals. Dogs in developing countries may bite, and

  rabies

  is a concern. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the bite with clean water and seek medical attention immediately.

• Wounds. Most wounds sustained in developing countries carry a higher risk of becoming infected. If you get even a minor wound, clean it as soon as possible with large amounts of warm, clean water. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a bandage.

If you haven’t had a tetanus shot in 10 years, you should get a booster dose before you leave on your trip. But if you don’t get a tetanus shot before you leave, you should get one after an animal bite or an injury that results in a break in the skin.

Altitude

Altitude sickness happens when you can’t get enough oxygen from the air at high altitudes. This causes symptoms such as a headache and loss of appetite. The best treatment for altitude sickness is to go to a lower altitude. But if you have mild symptoms, you may be able to stay at the higher altitude and let your body get used to it.

Steps to prevent altitude sickness include eating breads, grains, and pasta and not flying directly from low altitudes to high altitudes. You may also be able to take medicine to prevent altitude sickness.

Scuba diving safety

You will learn about safety in your scuba diving certification class. If you plan to get certified while traveling, find an experienced, certified teacher that you feel comfortable with. Several groups, including the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), certify instructors and dive shops all over the world.

If you are a new diver, it is best to go with an experienced guide, also called a dive master. Most accidents and problems occur when divers ignore the rules and push their limits. Here are some general diving rules:

• Only dive if you feel comfortable.
• Use equipment that you are familiar with and that is in good repair.
• Know what to do if something goes wrong.
• Always dive with a buddy.
• Go down and come up slowly. Don’t hold your breath.
• Know and follow recommended depths and time limits.
• Allow enough time between your last dive and your flight home.

Other concerns

• The motion of cars, planes, trains, boats, or ships can make some people sick. If you know that you get motion sickness, pack medicines to prevent it.

  To learn more, see the topic Motion Sickness

• Air pollution can pose a serious threat to those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. When air quality is poor, avoid the area or stay indoors as much as possible.
• Sexual activity can lead to

  sexually transmitted infections

  . Practice safer sex and use condoms to prevent infections.

(Updated November 01, 2021)

Travel Insurance to Enter Thailand

With Thailand very slowly reopening to visitors, one of the latest requirements for visitors is the mandatory COVID-19 insurance plan for foreigners that covers the traveler for a minimum of $50,000 (the Thai policies generally cover 1.75 million Thai baht). In addition to all the requirements, the traveler needs to obtain a certificate of entry (COE)/Thailand Pass and a valid visa. This health insurance is another level of security to make sure that the traveler can cover all costs in case they are diagnosed with or die from COVID-19 during their stay in the kingdom.

Thai immigration officials are notoriously fastidious when it comes to paperwork, and will only accept policies from certain providers. Luckily, a consortium of insurance providers in Thailand offers COVID-19 insurance for foreigners planning to visit Thailand which will be accepted by immigration, and these policies can be purchased easily online. Although this could be seen as another opportunity to make some easy profits for the insurers the policies are quite reasonably priced, depending on a few factors; let’s take a closer look.

Why COVID-19 Insurance Is Required?

Whilst it may seem like just yet another hassle for beleaguered foreigners wanting to enter the country, there is good reason for the government to implement this requirement. One of the main reasons is that almost all standard health and travel insurance policies will not cover the insured against pandemics, hence will not cover you for anything to do with Covid-19. And with the costs of hospital treatment and possible repatriation, especially when considering the additional quarantine requirements to do with COVID-19, the Thai government is concerned about being lumped with a huge number of unpaid hospital bills from foreigners who come down with COVID-19.

The public health ministry of Thailand has quoted a figure for unpaid hospital bills of 448 million Baht ($14.9M) for the year up to September 2019, a huge sum. And with the threat of the coronavirus, they are concerned about this and don’t want to be stuck with another huge bill right when the economy is struggling because of the effects that the virus has had on tourism and exports. In essence, the requirement to hold one of these policies is an additional layer of security for the Thai government who is already dealing with a hammered economy as a result of the outbreak and subsequent decimation of the tourism industry which provided around a fifth of the country’s GDP.

Buy Now COVID Insurance for Travel to Thailand. CLICK HERE

What is the COVID-19 Coverage?

The COVID-19 insurance policy will cover the costs of isolation, quarantine, testing, and treatment, and the possible costs of repatriating your body in the unfortunate circumstance of you succumbing to the virus whilst in Thailand. It will also cover the cost of any medications prescribed to you as a result of being infected with the virus. The more comprehensive policies will also cover you for any losses incurred as a result of you catching COVID-19 such as lost travel bookings and trip cancellation or curtailment, be sure to check the small print of any policy before purchasing and, as always with insurance, don’t just opt for the cheapest policy.

Ultimately, most of these specialized insurance policies will comprise of three key components:

• Medical coverage. As mentioned this is a comprehensive package with a cap of a minimum of $50,000, covering all treatment costs associated with being infected with the COVID-19.
• Life insurance coverage. In an unfortunate circumstance of the insured dying from their confirmed COVID-19 infection, this covers them for a total of $50,000 which will be paid to the beneficiary stated in the policy.
• Any additional, unforeseen out-of-pocket expenses that arise as a result of you being infected with the virus. This could include lost travel bookings, flights, or any other expenses that arise from travel disruption or curtailment because of you becoming infected with the virus.

You must ensure that you retain the certificate of insurance as this will need to be shown to prove that you have the coverage, without it, you will not be granted entry into the country. Also, it should be noted that this policy will be in addition to any general health insurance policy that you may require to obtain your visa or retirement extensions.

COVID-19 Travel Insurance Provider

Unlike the mandatory health insurance for retirees, the COVID-19 insurance may be provided by an international insurance provider or by Thailand-based insurance providers. One of the COVID-19 insurance providers is AXA Thailand. They provide Inbound Travel Insurance for those who wish to secure Travel Insurance that covers COVID-19 as required for inbound travelers.

How To Purchase COVID-19 Travel Insurance?

This insurance is required to be allowed into the country so you will be purchasing this before you travel. The easiest way to buy your policy is online from one of the above providers who will then provide you with the all-important certificate of coverage to present to the authorities when you arrive (and you will also need to present it to the airline before they will allow you onboard). It’s quick and easy to do online, and you can choose your length of policy from 30 days to one year. Be sure that the policy covers the entire period that you are planning to stay in Thailand or you may be refused entry.

You may purchase COVID-19 travel insurance within few minutes. Check the link below:

Fast and Easy. Buy COVID Travel Insurance.
CLICK HERE

COVID Insurance Thailand Cost: Is It Expensive?

In a word, no, but it depends on a few factors. Although this is yet another burden and expense for foreign citizens trying to enter Thailand, it’s quite affordable. You can expect premiums to start from as little as 4,000 Thai baht for a 30-day policy. For the tourist visa or the non-immigrant visa application, the 90-day insurance coverage will cost 8,000 baht to 14,000 baht. As with all insurance policies, the premium will be determined by your circumstances, in this case, one of the most important factors is whether the country you are flying from is considered to be high or low risk for the virus.

Get your COVID-19 travel insurance within few minutes.

Thailand COVID Insurance Requirement

The Thai Government has made it mandatory that foreign citizens entering Thailand have insurance coverage in case of medical need during their stay. The insurance coverage becomes effective immediately upon your arrival in Thailand. Several foreigners have been reported to test positive for COVID-19 during their stay at the ASQ Hotel in Thailand. The COVID-19 Insurance Thailand for Foreigners completely covers their medical costs up to 3.5 million THB. You can purchase the insurance online in minutes using the Buy Now feature below. You will immediately receive the policy by email.

Summary

The cost of treatment for COVID 19 in hospitals in Thailand ranges from 700 USD to 1,000 USD per day, depending on the hospital. There may also be additional costs of staying in the intensive care unit (ICU). For foreigners who are positive for COVID-19, the cost of treatment and other medical expenses will be covered by the travel health insurance package. It is important to make sure that your insurance for Thailand covers the whole duration of your stay. Therefore, it is essential to purchasing the best and reliable COVID 19 travel insurance for foreigners entering Thailand.

Sample COVID-19 Insurance Certificate