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How To Get Life Insurance In Thailand As An Expat

How To Get Life Insurance In Thailand As An Expat

You can get better peace of mind as an expat in Thailand with life insurance that follows you wherever you go. It means you can stop worrying about what could happen to your family if you pass away.

However, finding the right life insurance for expats can be confusing. You may need a policy that could pay off your mortgage in Thailand or back in your home country and cover your children’s future university costs. You want an insurance provider with stellar customer service ratings – so your family will have a straightforward claims process if you pass away. 

William Russell has been providing international insurance specifically for expats since 1992, so we understand what makes a comprehensive life insurance policy for you. Read on to find out what to look for in a life insurance policy and how to become a William Russell member.

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What to look for in a life insurance policy in Thailand as an expat

Before signing on the dotted line for a new life insurance policy, consider these crucial details:

1/ Level of coverage

First, check the payout amount to figure out if it’s enough to take care of your family members in your absence. Consider any future expenses, like paying off a mortgage in Bangkok or wherever you’ve invested in real estate, from Europe to Asia and beyond, or even future education costs for your kids. Life insurance policies are usually a multiple of your salary (such as 5x your salary).

2/ Areas of cover

Both business and pleasure can take you across borders. If you regularly travel outside Thailand, it’s essential to find a life insurance policy covering you worldwide. If you don’t, your family won’t be able to claim if you pass away in a different country.

3/ Efficient customer support

If you pass away, your loved ones deserve an empathetic and efficient service. Before committing to an insurance policy, it’s worth checking if the insurance provider uses outsourced call centres or if they provide dedicated support for each policyholder. Platforms like Trustpilot and Feefo can be valuable in gauging other customers’ experiences.

4/ Early-pay out for terminal diagnosis

Some insurers might pay your lump sum early if you get a diagnosis with a projected lifespan of a year or less. This can give you peace of mind, so you can prepare your finances. You could use it to take special family trips or pay off your mortgage before your time comes.

5/ Expat insurance specialist 

Losing a loved one is stressful enough without additional paperwork to fill in because the policyholder was an expat. Make sure you’ve got a policy with a pain-free claims process. An insurance provider focused on the unique needs of expats will already be familiar with what’s required in your country – which can simplify the claims process.

William Russell has been a trusted name for expatriates since 1992. Our life insurance policy includes all the above and more. Read on to find out how to become a member and why you should trust us with your family’s financial future.

How to get life insurance in Thailand with William Russell

You can use our online quote tool to get an estimated price for your life insurance with international coverage in less than 2 minutes.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Head to our online quote tool, and let us know your country of residence and age.
  2. Pick the ‘life benefit’ in your insurance selection.
  3. Choose ‘Thailand’ and select an insurance amount. You can choose up to 20 times your salary but not over US$2,000,000.
  4. You’ll see your monthly price. With William Russell, you can pay for your life insurance policy monthly, quarterly, biannually, or yearly.

Our team will contact you to discuss your plan. If you’re ready to start immediately, complete the application and send it to our team. We might ask you to complete a medical exam before we can start your policy.

What you get in a life insurance policy from William Russell

When you choose life insurance through William Russell, you’re investing in peace of mind for you and your loved ones. But what makes us different from other insurance providers? Here’s how we stand out:

Financial security for your heirs

With William Russell, you can insure your life for up to 20 times your annual income. For instance, if you earn an annual income of US$50,000, you could get life insurance up to US$1,000,000 – which your family would receive as a single payment.

You can also nominate beneficiaries no matter where they reside. And, instead of the Thai baht, you can even pick your preferred major currency (sterling, dollars, or euro) for your premium and lump-sum payouts for greater financial well-being.

Global financial protection

Your base might be in Thailand, but life’s adventures could take you anywhere. That’s why we go beyond borders to give you international coverage.

Our life insurance plans will insure your life globally, with only a few exceptions, ensuring that wherever your travels take you, your family’s future remains secure.

Trustworthy policies  

We pride ourselves on our transparency and reliability. Governed by the Financial Services & Markets Authority in Belgium and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, we’ve been a trusted name since 1992, serving members in more than 150 countries. Over 93% of our members renew their William Russell life insurance policies each year, reflecting our commitment to our clients.

Personalised customer service

Rather than leaving your beneficiaries navigating automated calls in their time of need, as a William Russell member, your family will have a direct point of contact with a dedicated claims manager.

In the event of your passing, we’ll treat your family with compassion, empathy, and respect. Your family will get 12 months from your passing to file a claim. This gives them time to cope without unnecessary pressure.

Our members appreciate our human approach to
customer service – as shown by our 4.45/5 Feefo rating

One-time health checks

You may need to take a medical check-up before we start your policy. However, once it’s active, we’ll reimburse you up to $US750 for these tests.

Even if your medical condition takes a downturn soon after you’ve joined, we won’t ask for additional tests or alter our initial decision.

Early payout for terminal illness

If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a prognosis of less than a year, you can receive your insurance amount up to 12 months in advance as a single payment. This means you can make crucial decisions for your family’s future – like relocating closer to loved ones or settling important financial matters.

Additional coverage for unexpected accidents

Accident insurance compensates you if a severe event affects your capacity to work and disrupts your life.

For example, if you found yourself in an accident (such as a car crash) and sustain significant injury, the coverage from William Russell’s accident benefit could grant you up to US$500,000. This financial assistance would support you in making necessary life adjustments, such as relocating or modifying your home to accommodate your needs.

International life insurance to suit your expat lifestyle

We can cover expats in Thailand on long stays of six months or more. Our life insurance members include:

  • Digital nomads
  • Couples or single expats working abroad
  • Self-employed entrepreneurs working abroad
  • Businesses or groups of employees

We also create straightforward policies that are easy to understand and written in plain English. So even non-native English speakers can quickly comprehend our policies.

Want to know more about living in Thailand?
Check out our full guide to moving to Thailand for expats

What’s covered by William Russell’s life insurance plans?

Our life insurance mainly covers common causes of death. Yet, there are some exclusions. Be sure to review exceptions before starting your policy:

Cover Cause of death
Covered Common causes of death (cancer, heart attack, accident, illness)
Death while you’re living & working abroad
Death while you’re in your country of nationality
Covered after one year Suicide
Not typically covered Death from a pre-existing medical condition
Death from negligence, illegal activity, or drug or alcohol abuse
Death due to war or terrorism in a country the British FCDO advises its citizens not to travel to
Death not reported to us within 12 months
Death while you’re in Iran, Libya, North Korea, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, or any country or region where the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has advised its citizens to leave

If you have any queries about our coverage, don’t hesitate to contact our team.

Looking for international health insurance in Thailand?
Discover how to get expat health insurance in Thailand

Frequently asked questions

Expats in Thailand aren’t legally obligated to have either life or health insurance plans.

However, many expats (especially those with families) take out both life and private health insurance policies for high-quality medical care, access to private hospitals, and greater financial security.

Expats in Thailand have access to various health insurance companies. Many choose to go with specialist providers, like William Russell, who focus specifically on expat health insurance coverage.

The best life insurance depends on your coverage needs and budget constraints. Here are five popular insurance companies and providers frequently considered by expats in Thailand:

  • William Russell
  • AIA Thailand 
  • BUPA Thailand
  • AXA Insurance Thailand
  • Muang Thai Life Assurance

Trust William Russell with your life insurance in Thailand

If you’re an expat in Thailand, a life insurance plan with William Russell offers a safety net for your family members if you pass away.

You can rely on us to stand by your family and make sure they are financially taken care of. 

Secure your family’s future in Thailand and beyond

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