Mandatory health insurance proposed for tourists as cross-border care costs rise

Thailand is considering introducing mandatory cross-border health insurance for international visitors, as authorities seek to address mounting financial pressures on hospitals in frontier regions.

According to Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, facilities along key borders – particularly near Myanmar – are facing rising levels of uncompensated care from foreign patients, including migrants, refugees, and those affected by infectious disease outbreaks. Umphang Hospital, located on the Thai–Myanmar border, has reportedly struggled to meet payroll obligations amid growing unpaid bills.

Government data shows that in 2024 alone, approximately 570,000 treatment visits by foreign patients generated Bt1.8 billion ($56 million) in unpaid costs, with 76% of these losses concentrated along the Thai–Myanmar border. A senior public health official said the proposed insurance requirement was intended “to ensure hospitals are not left bearing the financial burden of cross-border care without sustainable funding mechanisms”.

The proposal comes amid accelerating medical inflation across the Asia-Pacific region. As of 2026, healthcare cost inflation across Asia Pacific is now estimated to have reached around 14%, significantly outpacing the global average of just over 10%, according to the WTW Global Medical Trends Survey. While Thailand’s medical trend remains comparatively lower at approximately 10.8%, insurers continue to face sustained pressure, with 57% reporting expectations that elevated cost growth would persist in the near term.

Policymakers are also discussing the creation of a dedicated fund for foreign patient care, initially capitalised at Bt100–200 million, though questions remain around long-term sustainability.