Travel Insurance: What Your Policy Must Cover Before a Trip to Asia

Travel insurance is not on the list of documents required to enter Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia (Bali), Sri Lanka or the UAE — a visa or visa-free entry is granted without a policy. But without one, a single visit to a private clinic in Asia can cost more than the trip itself, and a medical evacuation after a serious injury has to be paid out of pocket. Here is what your policy must cover before you fly, what coverage limit makes sense, and what standard policies usually leave out. If you haven't picked a destination yet, start with our destination match, or look at the Thailand overview.

Do you need insurance for a visa to Asia

For short tourist trips to Asia, medical insurance is almost never on the list of mandatory documents for a visa or visa-free entry. That doesn't mean it's unnecessary — private healthcare in the region is expensive, and without a policy and an assistance line, arranging care is harder. Here is the requirement across the five destinations covered in this journal.

Insurance and visas: five destinations in Asia

For comparison, Schengen countries require a minimum coverage of €30,000, and since 1 January 2026 Georgia has made medical insurance mandatory for tourists (minimum 30,000 lari, with the contract in English or Georgian) — a clear example of how fast entry rules can tighten, even within the same region. Before any trip, check the current requirements with the relevant consulate or visa centre.

What a basic policy covers

Medical care and hospitalisation

A standard travel policy covers outpatient doctor visits, tests, prescribed medication and inpatient treatment for acute conditions — poisoning, injury, infection, or a flare-up of a condition that wasn't declared as chronic when you bought the policy. This is the core of any policy and where most claims on a trip actually happen.

Emergency dental care

Most policies include a separate line for emergency dental care: relieving acute pain, extracting a tooth, a temporary filling. Planned treatment, implants and cosmetic dentistry are almost never covered, even if the situation feels urgent to the traveller.

Evacuation and repatriation

Medical evacuation — transport from a remote area to a clinic with the right equipment — and repatriation, meaning your return home after treatment or in case of death, are usually part of a basic policy, but these are exactly the items with the highest limits. It's worth checking separately: an air ambulance from a remote province can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and without insurance that bill falls entirely on you.

Which add-ons to consider

Basic cover is enough for most trips, but for Asia it's worth checking a few add-ons and aiming for a sensible coverage limit. As a general guide: Schengen's mandatory minimum is €30,000, insurers typically recommend $50,000–100,000 for the US and Canada (not a visa requirement there, but a common recommendation), and a reasonable benchmark for Asia overall is $30,000–100,000 — the exact figure depends on trip length and activity level (a beach holiday versus active sports and diving).

Add-ons and typical policy limits

These add-ons aren't included in the cheapest default tariff — you have to request them separately when buying the policy, and their absence is usually what you discover only after a claim.

What travel insurance usually doesn't cover

Every policy has a list of exclusions, and across insurers it tends to look similar. Standard exclusions include:

• injuries and conditions sustained while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• flare-ups of chronic conditions that weren't declared when the policy was bought;
• pregnancy and childbirth (except life-threatening emergencies, and not with every insurer even then);
• treatment for sexually transmitted and mental health conditions;
• planned dental work and cosmetic procedures — implants, whitening, aesthetic treatments;
• injuries from extreme sports and activities, unless the matching add-on was purchased;
• treatment started without coordinating with the insurer's assistance line, if the contract requires it.

If your trip involves diving, mountain trekking, or renting a motorbike, this is exactly the kind of case where it's worth checking in advance whether the activity is covered by default or needs its own add-on.

What to do if you need to make a claim

The process is largely the same across insurers, and following it correctly is what decides whether costs get reimbursed:

1. Before visiting a clinic (unless it's a life-threatening emergency), call the assistance line listed in your policy. They will point you to a partner clinic and arrange the payment format.
2. Keep every document: receipts, discharge summaries, referrals, test results, boarding passes for flight-related claims — without them, reimbursement won't be processed.
3. Don't pay large bills yourself without clearing them with the insurer first — if treatment wasn't pre-approved, a claim can be refused even when the case is technically covered.
4. If the assistance line doesn't answer, record the time and method of contact (a call screenshot, an email), pay for urgent care yourself, and file a claim later with that evidence attached.

How to read the contract before you buy

Before paying for a policy, run through a short checklist:

• Coverage limit. Does it match the destination and the type of trip — some countries (Schengen, and now Georgia) set an official minimum.
• Policy period. Does it cover your departure and return days, not just the "clean" days in-country.
• Deductible. The portion you pay yourself on each claim — sometimes it can be removed for an extra fee.
• Exclusions list. Read it in full, not just skim it — especially the clauses on chronic conditions and sports activities.
• Accuracy of your details. Passport number and expiry, travel dates, even the Latin spelling of your name should match your tickets.
• Policy language. For some countries (Georgia since 2026, for example) the contract language is a legal requirement, not a formality.

It's worth cross-checking your dates and the weather while you're at it — see our guides on Asia's seasons in winter or picking a rain-free month.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need insurance for a visa to Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Sri Lanka or the UAE?

No — none of these destinations require a policy as part of the mandatory visa or visa-free entry documents. But without one, private clinic treatment and evacuation come out of your own pocket, which is why insurance is recommended by default.

What coverage limit should I choose for a trip to Asia?

A reasonable benchmark is $30,000–100,000, depending on trip length and activity level. For comparison, Schengen's mandatory minimum is €30,000, and insurers typically recommend $50,000–100,000 for the US and Canada.

Does Russian travel insurance work in Asian countries?

It depends on the specific product and insurer — some policies for trips abroad have regional or country restrictions. Check with the insurer before buying exactly what's included in the coverage area for your destination.

What does a standard policy not cover?

Most commonly: injuries sustained while under the influence, undeclared chronic conditions, pregnancy and childbirth (except emergencies), sexually transmitted and mental health conditions, planned dental work and cosmetic procedures, and injuries from extreme activities without the matching add-on.

What should I do if the assistance line doesn't answer during a claim?

Record the time and method of your attempt to reach them (a call screenshot, correspondence), pay for urgent care yourself, and keep every document so you can file a claim for reimbursement later with that evidence.

Entry rules and insurance requirements change by country — check the current conditions with your consulate, visa centre or insurer before you travel. A detailed breakdown of policy coverage and limits is available from Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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