Overview
Pre-existing Medical Condition Insurance in Thailand
CCW Global and our local insurance partners can arrange a range of Thailand and International health insurance solutions that can include coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.
Pre-existing conditions are often one of the most complex aspects of medical insurance, both in Thailand and elsewhere around the world. Understanding how these conditions are defined and treated by insurers is essential when selecting your health insurance plan, as the existence of a pre-existing condition can impact you for many years into the future.
On this page, we will explain what qualifies as a pre-existing condition, and outline how various Thailand and international health insurance options approach coverage for these medical concerns.
Understanding Pre-Existing Conditions
A pre-existing medical condition is generally understood to be any illness, injury, or health issue that showed symptoms, received treatment, or which was known to the policyholder before the start date of any health insurance plan.
Because insurance is meant to cover future risks, and not existing facts, many insurers (both in Thailand and internationally) will exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions under their health insurance offerings. If a condition already exists at the time of application, it is no longer a potential risk, but a certainty. As such, that condition may fall outside standard coverage terms.
This being said, not all Thailand health insurance providers follow the same approach. CCW Global and our Thailand insurance partners work with a range of leading international underwriters; some of whom may offer plans that include coverage for pre-existing conditions, either immediately, after a waiting period, or under specific terms.
If you need coverage for a known condition, a Thailand health insurance advisor can help you explore available options tailored to your health situation.
Coverage
Pre-existing Condition Insurance in Thailand
Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions under a Thailand health insurance plan can differ significantly based on the insurer and the specific policy you select. While some providers may offer full protection, others may apply limitations, or deny coverage altogether.
In general, Thailand insurance companies tend to manage pre-existing conditions in a few common ways. These include applying permanent exclusions, imposing waiting periods before coverage begins, charging additional premiums (also known as loadings), or offering limited benefits for the condition in question. The exact approach will depend on the insurer’s underwriting guidelines and your personal health history.
Understanding how each insurer addresses pre-existing conditions is essential when choosing a plan.
Explanation
Insuring Pre-existing Conditions
Excluding the Condition
The most typical method used by Thailand health insurance providers to manage pre-existing conditions is to issue a permanent exclusion for the condition in question.
When a condition is excluded, your policy will not cover any treatment, medication, or consultations related to that specific illness. In many cases, related or secondary conditions may also be excluded if they are deemed to stem from the original issue.
Because permanent exclusions are the default approach for most local and international insurers in Thailand, it’s vital to arrange your health insurance before developing any long-term or chronic medical conditions. Once a diagnosis exists, obtaining comprehensive coverage for that issue becomes significantly more difficult, or even impossible.
Coverage with a Moratorium
A moratorium, often referred to as a waiting period, is another common method used by insurers in Thailand to assess pre-existing conditions.
Under this approach, your medical history is not immediately underwritten. Instead, if your pre-existing condition remains completely inactive (meaning no symptoms appear, no treatment is sought, and no medication is taken) over a fixed duration (typically 24 consecutive months from the policy start date), the insurer may agree to cover the condition under the policy moving forward.
If the condition stays dormant throughout this moratorium period, it may be included in your coverage upon renewal. However, if any symptoms arise or treatment is required during the waiting period, the moratorium resets, and the condition remains excluded.
Coverage with Increased Cost
A less frequently used approach for managing pre-existing medical conditions under a Thailand health insurance plan is to allow coverage of the condition in return for a premium loading.
In simple terms, this means that the insurer agrees to provide protection for the pre-existing condition, but your overall premium will be increased to reflect the additional risk being taken on. You will pay more than expected for your health insurance protection in this instance.
Coverage of a pre-existing condition through a premium loading is typically assessed individually and offered on a case-by-case basis. Not all insurers in Thailand will extend this option, and whether it’s available often depends on the nature and severity of the specific condition being declared at the time of application.
Coverage With Medical History Disregarded
The simplest and most comprehensive way to secure coverage for pre-existing medical conditions under a Thailand or international health insurance plan is through a Medical History Disregarded (MHD) benefit.
An MHD benefit removes the need to declare any pre-existing conditions when applying for coverage as all conditions are automatically accepted by the insurer for coverage under the plan. The drawback, or limitation, to obtaining this type of protection is that it is normally reserved for Group Health Insurance plans with 10 or more members. However, CCW Global and our Thailand Insurance Partners can source MHD coverage to groups as small as 5 people.
With Medical History Disregarded benefit in place, all existing medical conditions across the group are covered, and even benefits that usually come with a waiting period, like Maternity or Dental coverage, can often be included immediately. This offers a robust, worry-free solution for companies or organizations seeking comprehensive medical protection for their employees.
Consultation
Thailand Health Insurance Consultations
If you have a pre-existing medical condition and would like to arrange a consultation regarding a Thailand or international health insurance plan which is able to provide coverage for that condition please complete the short form here.
A Thailand health insurance advisor from CCW or our local insurance partners will contact you with a detailed quotation comparison illustrating all the options best suited to your specific situation.
Alternatively, you may also Contact Us.
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