The hospital in Phuket wants a deposit before treating my husband. Is that normal?

Yes. Private hospitals in Thailand commonly ask for a deposit or an insurer's guarantee of payment. Call the insurer's emergency line first; if there is no insurance, call us and we can talk through options, including a move to a less expensive hospital or an earlier transfer home if it is safe.

Is it cheaper to bring the patient home than to stay in a Bangkok hospital?

Sometimes. It depends on how long they would otherwise stay and how they would need to travel. We can give you the transfer cost so you can compare it with the hospital's estimate.

Can you collect a patient from Koh Phangan or Koh Tao?

The first step is usually a boat or short flight to Koh Samui, Surat Thani or Phuket. We plan that leg with the local clinic, then fly the patient home from there.

Does travel insurance cover complications from cosmetic surgery?

Many policies do not. Check the wording or ask the insurer directly before assuming cover. We can quote privately if needed.

Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai

Medical Repatriation from Thailand to Australia

Thailand's private hospitals are some of the best in Asia, and Australians who end up in one usually get good care. What surprises families is the bill. Private hospitals in Bangkok and Phuket charge private prices, intensive care adds up quickly, and the hospital will want to know who is paying from the first day.

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What situations do Australians face in Thailand?

That makes the timing of the trip home a medical and a financial decision. Moving a stable patient sooner can save a great deal, but only if it is safe. Our job is to give you a straight answer on both.

Hospital costs and deposits

Private hospitals often ask for a deposit or an insurer's guarantee of payment on admission. Without travel insurance, families can face large bills within days, which is one of the main reasons people call us from Thailand.

Motorbike accidents

Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Chiang Mai all see many scooter crashes. As in Bali, insurers often check licences and helmet use before accepting a claim.

Complications after planned surgery

Australians travel to Bangkok and Phuket for cosmetic, weight-loss and dental procedures. Infections and blood clots afterwards are a common reason for a transfer home, and many travel policies exclude them.

Island and diving injuries

Patients on Koh Phangan, Koh Tao or the Phi Phi islands usually need moving to Koh Samui, Phuket or Bangkok first. Divers with decompression illness need a low cabin altitude for the flight home.

How do hospitals in Thailand handle discharge for a transfer?

The large private hospitals, such as Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, have international patient departments that deal with air ambulance teams every week. They will prepare an English medical report, imaging on disc and a fit-to-fly letter, usually within a day of being asked.

Before discharge, the hospital will want the account settled or a guarantee of payment in place. If the patient's visa ran out during the admission, the hospital can write a letter for Thai immigration, and the overstay fine is usually paid at the airport. We help families get these letters ready before departure day so nothing holds up the flight.

Commercial stretcher or dedicated jet: which is right?

Seated with a medical escort

Many patients from Thailand fly home seated with a nurse escort, often in business class. Direct flights from Bangkok to the east coast take about eight and a half to nine hours, and from Phuket to Perth about six.

Commercial airline stretcher

Some airlines offer a stretcher on Bangkok flights with notice and the airline's medical approval. It is far cheaper than a jet for a patient who must lie flat but is otherwise stable.

Dedicated air ambulance jet

For unstable or ventilated patients. A long-range jet flies Bangkok to the east coast nonstop in about nine hours; smaller jets stop once in Darwin.

Because the flights are long, we look carefully at how many hours the patient can safely spend in the air before recommending an option.

How stretcher repatriation compares in cost

What documents are needed?

We need the passport, the English medical report, imaging and the insurer's claim number. For surgical patients, we also need the operation notes and the surgeon's name, so the Australian team knows exactly what was done.

For motorbike accidents, keep a copy of the rider's licence, any police report and photos of the scene with the claim papers. If you are paying privately, ask the hospital for an itemised account in English.

Which routes do we fly from Thailand?

All routes we fly

The most common routes home from Thailand:

Last reviewed 9 November 2026. Read alongside official travel advice: Travel advice: Thailand (Smartraveller, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade); Travel insurance (Smartraveller, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade); IATA Medical Manual (International Air Transport Association); Am I fit to fly? Guidance for passengers (UK Civil Aviation Authority).

International medical repatriation guide