Thailand Floods: Disaster Insurance for Foreigners Explained
- Published: 17 October 2026
- Category: Insurance guides
Thailand Floods: Disaster Insurance for Foreigners Explained
Updated: 17 October 2026
Compiled by PrakanThai.com
A foreign neighbour reads that the government now insures every home, with THB 10,000 paid straight away after a flood. When water does get into his house, he opens the claims website and gets stuck at the first step: it asks him to verify his identity with the ThaiD app.
Thailand's national disaster insurance is a real help for Thai households, but foreigners should know where its limits are before the water arrives. This guide sets out what the scheme pays, what it doesn't, and which gaps need your own insurance.
Are foreigners covered by Thailand's national disaster insurance?
Short answer: Partly. The scheme covers the building of homes with a house number in officially declared areas, up to THB 100,000 per household per event. But the life cover of THB 2,000,000 and disability cover of THB 200,000 apply to Thai nationals with a national ID number, and claims are made through the ThaiD app with PromptPay linked to a national ID number. Furniture, appliances and vehicles are not covered at all.
What does the scheme pay, and what doesn't it?
| What is damaged | National disaster insurance | Where to look instead |
|---|---|---|
| Building, floors, walls, built-in cabinets | Pays: THB 10,000 initial, up to THB 100,000 in total | Damage above the cap: your own home insurance |
| Home cut off by water for more than 7 days in a row | THB 10,000 per household | – |
| Furniture, appliances, belongings | Not paid | Home or condo insurance that covers contents |
| Cars, motorbikes | Not paid | Vehicle insurance with flood cover |
| Death, disability | Thai nationals with a national ID number only | Your own accident or life insurance |
Full scheme conditions: Thailand National Disaster Insurance: Flood Cover Explained
You rent a condo or house. Who pays for damaged belongings?
The scheme covers only the building and fixed installations, which belong to the owner. A tenant's own belongings, such as a laptop, TV, clothes or furniture you bought yourself, are outside the scheme. Without your own insurance, you bear that loss.
Some condo plans accept unit owners only, such as Bangkok Insurance condominium insurance. If you rent, tell us, and we'll look for a plan the insurer will consider.
Worked example: water enters a ground-floor condo
- A foreign unit owner has THB 30,000 of damage to walls and built-in cabinets and THB 70,000 to furniture and appliances: 30,000 + 70,000 = THB 100,000 in total
- The THB 30,000 of building damage falls within the scheme's scope, if the unit meets its conditions and the owner can verify identity through its system
- The THB 70,000 of furniture and appliances is entirely outside the scheme and needs condo or home insurance that covers contents and flood
This example is for illustration only. Actual amounts depend on the damage assessment and the policy terms.
Buying your own home or condo insurance: what to check
- Is flood covered, and what is the flood limit compared with the main sum insured? Many plans cap natural perils per year
- Does it cover contents, or only the building?
- Flood waiting period: some plans don't cover flood in the first days of a new policy, for example 7 days
- Vacancy rule: some plans don't cover a home left empty for more than 60 days in a row, which matters if you spend months abroad
- Who can buy it: some plans accept owners only, others accept tenants
Examples of plans with flood cover: Rak Ban home insurance with flood cover and Thaivivat home and condominium insurance.
Your car was flooded. Can you claim?
Yes, if your vehicle insurance covers flood, as many Class 1 plans do in their schedule of cover. 3+ and Class 3 do not cover flood damage to your own vehicle. For claims numbers and car-lifting services, see Where to file a flood claim.
What can you do before the water comes?
- Photograph and video your home and valuable items while they are undamaged, as evidence for a claim
- Keep copies of your passport, lease or title deed, and insurance policy somewhere high or on your phone
- Move electrical appliances up high, and move your car to an official or building-designated parking area
- Check whether your existing policies cover flood, and for how much
Who should foreigners contact in a flood?
- Medical emergency: 1669
- Tourist Police, English-speaking: 1155
- Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation: 1784
- National disaster insurance: call centre +66 2 012 5555. If you don't have a 13-digit Thai ID number, call to ask about the claim channel first
Want us to review your home or condo insurance? What do you need to send?
Just 3 things
- Whether you own or rent, and whether it's a house or a condo
- The approximate value of your belongings
- How many months a year you are in Thailand, and whether flood water has ever reached your home
We check the conditions with the insurer and send a written quote within one working day, in English or Thai.
LINE Official: @prakanthai · Tel. +66 2 459 2223
Frequently asked questions
I rent a house. Can my landlord claim?
The building belongs to the landlord, who makes the claim under the scheme's conditions. Tell your landlord straight away and send photos of the damage.
When does the national disaster insurance cover start?
From 1 October 2026 to 1 October 2027. Damage before cover started, and damage from water that was already there, is outside the policy.
If I buy home insurance while the flood is coming, am I covered?
Some plans have a flood waiting period on a first policy, for example 7 days, and damage in that period isn't covered. Buy before the rainy season.
Can foreigners buy accident insurance in Thailand?
Yes, if you live in Thailand legally and your age and occupation meet the plan's criteria. See Personal Accident Insurance for Expats in Thailand.
Who approves claims?
For the national scheme, the participating insurers assess and pay claims, supervised by the OIC. For home insurance you buy yourself, the insurer decides. Prakanthai, as a broker, coordinates and follows up for you.
Note
This article is compiled from statements by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), the Thai General Insurance Association and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, as reported in the media, and from insurers' product information, as at 1–17 October 2026. It is general information, not part of any insurance contract. The full conditions are set by the policies and government announcements. Claims are assessed and paid by the insurer. Prakanthai.com is a non-life insurance broker, not an insurer, licence no. 5104000004, serving customers since 2004. Read the policy in full before you decide.