Health insurance and travel insurance

Health insurance is a topic that some expats try to ignore. Many who abhor the idea of the “nanny state” end up in Cambodia and, sticking to their guns, choose not to purchase insurance. It’s only when they end up in the hospital after getting into a moto accident that they learn the folly of their ways.
While Cambodia is not a very dangerous place, its roads are. And while basic medical care is quite inexpensive, there are many procedures that no one who cares about his health should have done here, and medical evacuation is very, very expensive. If you’re not insured for it, expect to spend upwards of $20,000 if you need to be airlifted to Singapore–and your transporters will expect to be paid up front.
Many expats get by using only travel insurance. For those who are in Cambodia for a short period of time and who have a national health-care system at home, this is a reasonable choice. Travel insurance is much cheaper than expat health insurance, primarily because it will usually only cover enough care to stabilize you. For example, if you’re in a serious car accident, travel insurance will cover your acute-care hospital bills but won’t cover the months of rehabilitation you’ll need. They will, however, send you home, so for those who have some kind of coverage in their home country, travel insurance can be a good option.