Travel insurance for Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand

Is travel insurance required for Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand?

As of October 2026, we found no official source saying any of the four countries checks for travel insurance at the border. Thailand is preparing a 450-baht tourist fee that would include medical and death coverage, targeted for early 2027 at the earliest; it had not been adopted yet^[3]. For Cambodia, the State Department's September 2026 advisory recommends insurance that covers medical costs and evacuation^[4], and the French government's advice states that any stay requires insurance covering hospitalization and repatriation, without saying it is checked at entry^[5].

What Medicare and Medigap cover abroad

In most cases, Medicare does not pay for care outside the United States: “You pay all of the costs,” says Medicare.gov, apart from a few rare exceptions. Medicare drug plans don't cover prescriptions bought abroad^[1]. Medicare does not cover medical evacuation either^[2].

Medigap plans may cover emergency care abroad^[1]. Per the CDC, they pay 80% of medically necessary emergency costs after a $250 yearly deductible, with a $50,000 lifetime cap^[2]. If you have private health insurance, check its international coverage before you leave: the CDC notes that travelers usually pay on the spot and are reimbursed later^[2].

Why medical evacuation coverage matters on the Mekong

A medical evacuation costs from $25,000 within North America to more than $250,000 for more distant and remote locations, according to the CDC^[2]. On the Mekong, the question comes up quickly in Laos: no major care is available there, and the French government advises seeking evacuation to Thailand in any emergency^[6]. According to the Australian Embassy, most patients who need emergency or specialist care are referred to Aek Udon hospital in Udon Thani, two hours from Vientiane^[7]. Outside the capital, the UK government notes that evacuation is difficult to arrange and very expensive^[8].

In Thailand, all hospitals require a guarantee of payment before treating patients^[9]. The Thai health ministry estimates unpaid bills from foreign patients at no less than 100 million baht a year^[10].

What to check in a travel insurance policy

Before you leave, check five points in your policy: the limit for medical expenses abroad, coverage for medical evacuation, including to a neighboring country, the length of trip covered, the deductible, and exclusions, especially for alcohol and for riding a scooter or motorbike.

Pierre-Marie Coupry

Editor-in-chief of the French travel site Bon Plan Voyage, where he has published since 2012. He checks every practical detail against official sources and proofreads everything before it goes live.

Our method