Thailand National Disaster Insurance: Flood Cover and Claims

Updated: 16 October 2026
Compiled by PrakanThai.com

The water has just gone down. The ground-floor wooden floor has swollen, the walls are stained, and the fridge and sofa are ruined. The news says the government's disaster insurance pays up to THB 100,000, but once you start filling in the form, the questions come: are your belongings covered, does flooding that started in late September count, and where do you claim?

This guide sets out the conditions of Thailand's national disaster insurance, which took effect on 1 October 2026: what it pays, what it doesn't, how to claim, and which gaps still need your own home insurance.

What is Thailand's national disaster insurance, and who is covered?

Short answer: It is a group policy the government pays for, covering about 30 million households with no need to apply. Cover runs from 1 October 2026 to 1 October 2027, for flood, windstorm and earthquake. It pays up to THB 100,000 per household per event for damage to the house, including a THB 10,000 initial payment for flood, and THB 10,000 if the home is cut off by surrounding water for more than 7 days in a row. Life cover pays THB 2,000,000 for death and THB 200,000 for total permanent disability.

The premium budget is THB 15,500 million: THB 15,000 million for the group residential policy and THB 500 million for the group accident policy. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) runs the scheme, the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) supervises it, and the participating non-life insurers assess and pay claims.

How much does it pay for a flooded home?

Flood includes flash floods and mudslides, windstorm includes lightning, and earthquake includes volcanic eruption and tsunami. If one event causes damage from several perils, the total is still capped at THB 100,000.

Which homes are covered?

• Homes with a house number under the civil registration law, with regular residents
• Homes without a house number that are permanently lived in and certified in the Department of Provincial Administration survey
• The home must be in an officially declared disaster zone or disaster-affected area and be damaged by a covered peril. A natural disaster alone does not trigger payment.

Which parts of the home does it pay for?

It pays only for the building and fixed installations, such as floors, walls, pillars, paint and wallpaper, and built-in cabinets fixed to the structure.

It does not pay for foundations, free-standing furniture, electrical appliances such as fridges, TVs, air conditioners and fans, water pumps, solar systems, household items and decorations, or vehicles. That is the gap your own home insurance needs to fill.

Worked example: a single-storey home flooded inside

• Walls, floor and built-in cabinets assessed at THB 60,000: you receive the THB 10,000 initial payment, then 60,000 − 10,000 = THB 50,000, for THB 60,000 in total
• If the house damage is THB 150,000, the maximum is THB 100,000. The remaining 150,000 − 100,000 = THB 50,000 is yours to pay or to claim from your own home insurance
• A fridge, TV and sofa worth THB 40,000 in total are entirely outside the national scheme

This example is for illustration only. Actual amounts depend on the insurer's damage assessment and the policy terms.

Is flooding before 1 October 2026 covered?

No. Damage before 1 October 2026, and damage from flood water that was already there before cover began, is outside the policy. People affected in that period receive normal government relief instead, in two main forms:

• Emergency advance funds, for example up to THB 88,600 per house for repairs and up to THB 35,700 per death for funeral costs, applied for at the local administration or Bangkok district office
• Cabinet-approved relief for floods from 15 May to 30 September 2026: THB 9,000 per household for a damaged home and THB 5,000 per household for water surrounding the home for more than 7 days, applied for through the Tang Rat app or the local administration

How do you claim?

1. Prepare documents: national ID card, photos of the damage, proof of ownership or residence, and a PromptPay account linked to your national ID number
2. Report the claim at ThaiNatCat.org, LINE Official @Thainatcat, the call centre on +66 2 012 5555, or a claim point in your area
3. Verify your identity with the ThaiD app, choose the type of disaster, enter the details, attach photos and documents, and keep the claim number
4. Submit actual damage details: to claim more than the initial payment, send the list of damaged property and its value within 30 days of the date of damage
5. Receive payment by PromptPay linked to your national ID number, within 15 days of complete documents

Watch out for scams. The scheme charges no fees, never asks for an OTP, and official SMS messages contain no links and never ask for bank account numbers or transfer slips. If in doubt, call the DDPM on 1784.

You already have home insurance. Do you still need it?

They do different jobs. The national scheme covers the building up to THB 100,000. Home insurance you buy yourself covers what the scheme doesn't, such as your belongings and damage above the cap, depending on the cover you choose.

A fire policy with added flood cover pays when water enters and damages the building, under that policy's terms. It does not pay when water only surrounds the home with no damage inside. For cover that includes contents, see Rak Ban home insurance with flood cover and Viriyah Home 999, covering the house and contents.

Want us to review your home insurance? What do you need to send?

Just 3 things

1. Your province and type of home, such as a detached house, townhouse or condo
2. The approximate value of the house and its contents
3. Whether flood water has ever reached your home

We compare plans that cover what the national scheme doesn't and send a written quote within one working day, in English or Thai. If one plan is better value, we say so. If the conditions differ, we explain before you pay.

LINE Official: @prakanthai · Tel. +66 2 459 2223

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to apply or pay a premium?

No. The government pays the premium and eligible homes are covered automatically. Treat anyone who asks for money to register or speed up a claim as a likely scam.

How many times can I claim in a year?

The THB 100,000 limit applies per household per disaster event. The group policy has a nationwide annual limit of THB 75,000 million.

Water surrounded my home but didn't get in. Can I claim?

Yes, THB 10,000 per household, if the water surrounded the home for more than 7 days in a row and the residents could not live normally. Less than 7 consecutive days does not qualify.

My car was flooded. Can I claim from this scheme?

No. Cars and other vehicles are not covered. Check your own car insurance, such as Class 1 with flood cover.

Are foreigners living in Thailand covered?

The life and disability cover applies to Thai nationals with a national ID number, and claims are verified with the ThaiD app and PromptPay linked to a national ID number.

Who approves and pays claims?

The participating insurers assess the damage and pay claims, supervised by the OIC. Prakanthai does not handle claims for this scheme, but we can explain the conditions and look after home insurance you buy through us.

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 from 1 to 16 October 2026. It is general information, not part of any insurance contract. The full conditions are set by the scheme's policy and government announcements; check ThaiNatCat.org for the latest details. 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.