Whether you can claim home nursing costs on insurance depends on your parent's individual policy. There is no single answer that fits every family. Most insurers look at three things: whether the policy has a benefit that matches the service, whether a doctor considers the service medically necessary, and whether the documents meet the insurer's requirements. A registered nurse performing procedures under a doctor's plan, physiotherapy, and a caregiver helping with daily routines are usually assessed under different benefits. The safest approach is to ask the insurer or your HR department in writing before you hire anyone.

Many families face this question as a parent is about to leave hospital. The doctor says your mother still needs wound care or physiotherapy at home. You know she has health insurance, or group cover through your employer, but you don't know how much can be claimed, and you worry that once you've paid, the claim will fail because a document is missing. This article explains which benefit each type of home service usually falls under, what to ask before hiring, which documents are usually needed, and how to prepare from day one so the claim goes smoothly.

Quick answer

  • Whether home nursing can be claimed depends on the policy, a doctor's view that it is necessary, and the documents. No service is approved automatically.
  • Registered nursing, physiotherapy and daily-living help from a caregiver usually fall under different benefits, so ask about each service separately.
  • Ask your insurer 5 things before hiring: which benefit applies, the limit and number of days, provider requirements, whether pre-approval is needed, and which documents are required.
  • OIC Registrar's Order No. 42/2566 (2023, for life insurers) lists the documents an insurer may request, as needed, for medical expense claims: the insurer's claim form, identification, a medical certificate or doctor's report, original receipts, and consent to disclose medical records.
  • KIN HomeCare issues receipts and medical certificates for insurance claims, subject to your policy's terms, for every service.
  • Tax deductions are a separate matter; check with the Revenue Department for that tax year.

1. Can you claim home nursing on insurance? The straight answer

Under some policies and in some situations, yes. The insurer decides according to the terms of that particular policy. Having health insurance does not mean every health-related cost at home can be claimed, because each policy sets out its benefits, exclusions and limits differently.

Thailand's Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) introduced a new health insurance standard from 2021 to make the format and benefit categories of health policies more standardised, but cover, limits and exclusions still differ between policies, and older policies may follow earlier formats. Examples of benefits the OIC lists include room charges, inpatient treatment costs, medical services directly related to the period before and after a hospital stay, and rehabilitation medicine after a hospital stay. That list of examples has no benefit called "home nursing" or "caregiver costs" as such. Families therefore need to check whether the policy has a benefit or rider that covers home services, and whether existing benefits are interpreted to include services at home.

What many families don't realise: the right question is not "Does Mum's insurance cover home nursing?" but "This service, provided by whom, ordered by a doctor or not, how many days after discharge, and under which benefit?" The more detail you give, the better the insurer can answer for your parent's case.

2. How each type of home service is usually assessed

Insurers usually assess by the nature of the work, not simply because someone came to the house. The principles below are for framing your questions to the insurer. They are not conclusions about any particular policy.

A registered nurse performing procedures under the doctor's plan

For example, wound care, changing a feeding tube or changing a urinary catheter. These are nursing procedures ordered by a doctor, so they are generally more likely to fall under treatment or medical service benefits, if the policy covers care outside hospital or after discharge. Ask whether a doctor's order stating the procedure, number of visits and time period is required.

Home physiotherapy

Some policies include rehabilitation medicine after a hospital stay. Ask whether this covers physiotherapy at home or only at a healthcare facility, what limits apply to the number of sessions or the time after discharge, and whether a rehabilitation plan from the doctor is required.

A caregiver helping with daily routines

Bathing, sponge baths, feeding, turning and walking are daily-living care. Many policies do not count them as medical treatment, but some plans or riders may include continuing-care benefits. Ask directly whether there is a caregiver or long-term care benefit. Don't assume either way.

Hospital sitting and hospital escort

Costs for a caregiver who stays with your parent in hospital, or accompanies them to appointments, usually depend on the specific policy terms. Some policies may have a private nurse benefit; ask what situations it applies to and what provider qualifications it requires.

3. Five questions to ask your insurer or HR before hiring

Ask before the service starts, and get the answer by email or in a message you can keep. A phone call helps you understand the overall picture, but when you actually submit a claim, a written record makes the conversation much easier.

A daughter talks on the phone and takes notes at a desk at home, with a closed folder beside her
Ask your insurer all 5 questions before the service starts, and note the staff member's name and the date every time
  1. Which benefit does this service fall under? Be specific: a registered nurse performing procedures, physiotherapy, or a caregiver helping with daily routines. Then ask for the name of the benefit or rider to claim under.
  2. What is the limit, and how many sessions or days? Per visit, per day or per policy year, and within how many days after discharge.
  3. What qualifications must the provider have? For example, must they be a licensed registered nurse or physiotherapist, or must documents be issued in the name of a healthcare facility?
  4. Is pre-approval required? In some cases the insurer may require the treatment plan to be submitted for approval before care begins. Without it, the claim may be harder to assess.
  5. Which documents are needed, and how do we submit them? Including who must issue the medical certificate and what it must state (for example the diagnosis, type of service, frequency, duration and why it is needed at home), whether receipts must be per visit or can be combined, and the deadline for submission.

For employer group insurance, ask HR or the broker who manages the benefit, because the terms follow each company's group contract. For civil servant medical benefits or social security, the rules are separate from private insurance; ask your agency's finance department, the hospital's patient rights office, or the scheme's own office directly.

4. Which documents do you need for a health insurance claim?

OIC Registrar's Order No. 42/2566 (2023) for life insurers says an insurer may request documents as needed, up to a set list, which for health insurance medical expense claims has five items. It does not mean every claim must include all five. The order requires insurers to attach it as an endorsement to policies issued from its effective date. Non-life insurers that sell health cover have their own rules, so check the endorsement in your parent's actual policy and confirm with the insurer.

  1. A claim form in the format the insurer specifies
  2. Proof of identity of the insured person issued by a government agency, such as your parent's national ID card
  3. A medical certificate or doctor's report stating the main symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
  4. Original receipts showing itemised costs, or a cost summary together with the receipts
  5. Consent to disclose the insured person's medical records

The order also states that, for policies it covers, once a life insurer has received complete documents it must assess and pay health insurance medical expense claims within 15 days. If there is reasonable cause to suspect the claim falls outside the policy's coverage, the insurer may extend this by up to 90 days from receiving complete documents.

Extra documents often requested for home services (ask your insurer first what they need):

  • The hospital's discharge summary, so the insurer can see which treatment episode the home service follows
  • The doctor's opinion or order that your parent needs that service at home, stating the type of service, frequency and time period
  • A service log with dates, times, tasks performed and the provider's name
  • Receipts per visit or per period, if the insurer requires claims to be submitted visit by visit

If your parent has just left hospital, the easiest time to get the discharge summary and the doctor's opinion on home care is before you go home. See other questions to ask the doctor in questions to ask before leaving hospital.

5. Preparing your claim from day one

Start collecting documents before the first service begins. Don't wait until the end of the month to gather them. Follow these steps in order:

A registered nurse hands an envelope and a folder to an adult son in the living room while his mother watches from the sofa
Ask for receipts and documents in the format your insurer wants from the first visit, and keep them together in one folder
  1. Photograph the policy's front page and benefit schedule and keep it on your phone, or ask the insurer for an electronic copy.
  2. Ask the insurer all 5 questions in section 3, noting the staff member's name, the date and any reference number every time.
  3. Request documents from the hospital before discharge: the discharge summary and the doctor's opinion on home services.
  4. Tell the provider when you book that you will claim on insurance, and explain the document format the insurer wants, such as per-visit receipts and the patient's name exactly as on the policy.
  5. Keep all originals in one folder, in date order, and make copies before sending.
  6. Submit on schedule within the policy's deadline, and follow up if you hear nothing after the stated time.

If a claim is declined, ask for a written explanation citing the policy clause, ask the insurer to review it with any missing documents, and keep the claim number and copies of everything. If you still feel treated unfairly, or have questions about policy terms, you can call the OIC hotline 1186.

If your parent has more than one policy, ask the first insurer before submitting whether it will return the original receipts or issue certified copies with a statement of the amount paid, so you can claim from the next insurer.

6. Can you claim a tax deduction?

Caregiver wages or home nursing costs are a separate matter from tax deductions. The Revenue Department's summary of personal tax deductions includes items for supporting parents, supporting a person with a disability or incapacity, and health insurance premiums paid for parents, each under its own conditions, but we found no item for caregiver wages or home care service fees. Conditions and limits can change by tax year, so check with the Revenue Department or its hotline 1161 for the 2026 tax year before filing.

Common mistakes families make

  • Hiring first and asking the insurer later. On submitting, you find pre-approval was required or the benefit doesn't apply. Always ask before starting, even when things are rushed.
  • Receipts issued in the adult child's name instead of the parent's. Some insurers need the patient's name to match the insured person. Ask the provider to use the correct name from the very first receipt.
  • No doctor's opinion that the service is needed, only receipts, so the insurer can't see how the service relates to treatment. Get the document from the attending doctor before leaving hospital.
  • Assuming every service falls under the same benefit. Nursing, physiotherapy and caregiver costs may get different answers, so ask about each one separately.
  • Throwing away original receipts or keeping them scattered. The OIC order lists original receipts as a core document. Keep them together in one folder from day one.
  • Not noting who you spoke to and when. If the answer at claim time differs from what you heard on the phone, you have nothing to refer back to.

When to bring in professional help

If the doctor says your parent still needs a nurse for procedures, ongoing physiotherapy, or someone with them all day after going home, planning the paperwork from the start makes claims easier for the family. KIN HomeCare issues receipts and medical certificates for insurance claims, subject to your policy's terms, for every service: caregivers, registered nurses, home physiotherapy, hospital sitting and hospital escort. We can also issue tax invoices. Claim payment is decided by the insurer under your parent's policy.

  • Registered nurses: per-visit procedures from 1,200 baht, such as wound care 1,200 baht, nasogastric feeding tube change 1,600 baht and urinary catheter change 2,200 baht, or a 12-hour nurse shift at 3,500 baht a day. See home nursing.
  • Home physiotherapy: 1,800 baht per session, first session 1,500 baht until 31 December 2026, a 10-session package 15,000 baht, available in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. Call 095-767-6307 (+66 95 767 6307). See home physiotherapy.
  • Caregivers at home: a 12-hour shift is 1,800 baht a day, a 24-hour shift 2,500 baht a day, monthly from 30,000 baht, and daily bookings have a minimum of 3 days. See elderly home care.
  • Hospital sitting and escort: hospital sitting is the same price as home care; hospital escort is 1,800 baht for 8 hours, with transport charged separately. See hospital escort.

If you can't decide between a nurse and a caregiver, see our comparison of home nurse costs versus a caregiver, and all prices on the pricing page. If your parent uses the Universal Coverage scheme and the doctor is considering treatment at home, read what NHSO Home Ward is as well.

Frequently asked questions

Can home nursing costs be claimed on health insurance?

It depends on the policy. Some policies have a benefit or rider covering nursing services after discharge, which usually requires a doctor's opinion that the care is necessary. Before the service starts, ask the insurer which benefit applies, what the limit is and which documents are needed.

Can elderly caregiver costs be claimed on insurance?

Mostly it depends on whether the policy has a caregiver or continuing-care benefit. Many policies do not count daily-living help as medical treatment, but some plans include this kind of benefit. Ask the insurer or HR in writing before hiring.

Can private nurse costs be claimed on insurance?

Some policies have a private nurse benefit, but its scope varies by policy. Ask the insurer whether it applies during a hospital stay, after discharge or at home, what qualifications the provider needs, and whether a doctor's order is required.

Can home physiotherapy be claimed on insurance?

Some policies include rehabilitation medicine after a hospital stay. Ask whether it covers physiotherapy at home or only at a healthcare facility, what limits apply to sessions or time after discharge, and whether a rehabilitation plan from the doctor is required.

Which documents are needed for a health insurance claim?

Under OIC Registrar's Order No. 42/2566 for life insurers, the insurer may request, as needed, up to: the insurer's claim form, proof of identity, a medical certificate or doctor's report stating the main symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, original receipts, and consent to disclose medical records. Home services may need extra documents, such as a doctor's opinion that the care is necessary.

My parent wasn't admitted to hospital, or only has accident insurance. Can home nursing be claimed?

That also depends on the policy. If there was no hospital stay, ask whether the outpatient benefit covers services at home. For accident insurance, ask whether post-accident treatment cover includes wound care or physiotherapy at home, and what doctor's documents are needed.

Can KIN HomeCare provide documents for insurance claims?

Yes. KIN HomeCare issues receipts and medical certificates for insurance claims, subject to your policy's terms, for every service, and can issue tax invoices. Tell our team when you book which documents your insurer needs.

Talk to the KIN HomeCare team

If you are about to bring your mother or father home and want to plan both the care and the insurance paperwork together, call us for a chat first. Send the list of documents your insurer asked for via LINE, and our team will help you work out what each service needs from day one.

  • Call 061-881-9399 (+66 61 881 9399) (caregivers · registered nurses · hospital sitting · hospital escort)
  • Call 095-767-6307 (+66 95 767 6307) (home physiotherapy)
  • LINE @KINHOMECARE
  • Get a caregiver or nurse estimate yourself with our service request form
  • Free consultation; caregivers and nurses come to homes nationwide; travel costs depend on the area and staff confirm them before booking.

Information as of October 2026 · This article is general information for families. It is not legal, tax or insurance advice; each person's cover depends on their policy and the insurer's assessment.

Written by Orrathai Boontuang, RN (licence 5311192883) · Medically reviewed by Dr. Kamolchat Choktanomsup (licence 40854) · Prices as of October 2026; please confirm with our staff before booking.