GeorgeCross

2 minutes ago, sirineou said:

I was also confused and  I finally got a handle on this, with the help of some very nice members and their replies in this threads and a couple of PMs.

It seems that this whole issue is a "tempest in a teacup"  The insurance requirement  is only fo A-0 visas and not for extensions so , simply convert to an Non IM -O visa and you are good to go

assuming of course one is fit enough to make it to the border, a consulate and back again ????

as per:

33 minutes ago, The Man Who Sold the World said:

There are many falang in assisted care facilities who are not insurable

i have seen this first hand though one would hope they would be able to get some kind of medical exemption (too sick to fly or something)

29 minutes ago, The Man Who Sold the World said:

By the way, just how does a resident falang "skip out" on a hospital bill anyway? They always hit me up before I'm allowed to leave the facility.

well the most obvious way is by not leaving the hospital in a state to pay the bill either through never recovering or dieing

2 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

It could very well be that they want to reduce the number of people coming to Thailand to retire but as a responsible entity- you have to  allow those who are already here and came in years ago under a different set of regulations the possiblity of remaining.  Anything less thant that is cruel and heartless and IMO illegal.  Does the Thai Government really want to be responsbile for  aging  westerners denied extensions of stay and being deported to an unknon fate.   Some of these people have no family at all in the birth country.

 

No responsible entity would enact a law or regulation that was retroactive. 

well they have a recent history of doing just so. recent example being 800K in the bank to 800K in the bank for half year and 400K for the rest. nothing retroactive there. why would adding an extra document be any different? in their eyes you either qualify or it's your choice/problem. 

also re: grandfathering in every other document it seems to have its own section and yet with this document there is none

sorry guys i think you are clutching at straws, this is not being grandfathered, IMO all OAs must have insurance upon entry or extension after tomorrow whenever they were granted

6 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

The Police order  both in English and Thai refers specifically to  the change affecting the O-A issued  after 31 October 2019.  IMO if it was being applied retroactive- it would specifically state  it was applying to anyone holding an O-A Visa or extension prior to  and after 31 October 2019.

you know i keep reading that section and to me it reads as how they will now handle extensions and entrances after 31 October 2019 NOT when it was issued.

i just can't see how you guys are reading it as such, to me it reads as "shall abide by the following practices ... effective from ..."

it says nothing about WHEN the O-A was issued

please correct me if i am wrong?

9 minutes ago, lkv said:

You forgot the other scenario.

 

"You have insurance certificate?"

 

"no"

 

"ok, today you no enter thailand and you go back home country"

yeah that too

5 hours ago, Rimmer said:

Yes also suspect Asian Hornets, having been stung by them several times from nests in the garden I can say it is most painful and lasts for a couple of weeks after being stung.

I remember we once had a hasher stung several times by these guys he was in so much pain and went into shock he had to be hospitalized.

i got stung twice by them and it was insane - like being hit by a taser, pure white out, couldn't see for about 5 seconds before my head cleared, was just running blind though the jungle, probably 50 times more painful than a standard western bee sting, with a weird sensation like it punched you

17 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

Even the Thai version  uses the term -applies only to the O-A Visa...    However, an exact translation of the Thai text may reveal some of the nuances that were missed 

 

IMO- I just can't believe that this change is going to be applied retroactively to anyone who has an O-A Visa or extension prior to 31 Oct 2019.  The utter unfairness of applying it retroactively  creates diffuclt challenges for not only the expats but the Immigration offices.

it creates no problems for immigration offices:

"you have insurance certificate?"

"no"

"cannot do extension. next!"

"but .blah.blah.. but .order.#.blah.blah."

"NEXT!!"

it will be no different than this years: "you have TM30?" 

55 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Yes. 

 

I believe the order states that all O-A visas, arriving in Thailand after Nov 1, will be stamped in to the end date of the insurance. 

 

The question of what they choose to do at that point if people arrive without insurance is very open, they could stamp people in for a short window 7 - 30 days for example, and tell them to buy the insurance and extend incountry (not needing money seasoned), they could issue a 30 day VOA, they could deny entry, etc etc. All of those options or even no enforcement could be applied. That said I think 'stamped in to the end date of the insurance' is a part of the arrival rule for ALL OA based arrivals after that date. Thats my guess. 

i don't personally see how it will be any different from denying tourist visa holders entrance if they think they are working, if anything it will be worse because in these cases they will know the retiree has no insurance.

29 minutes ago, Timwin said:

Pattaya region...easily 60 percent less tourists than during the last boom times of 2011-2015 and spending a lot less per tourist. Less and less westerners. Especially young adults are not coming anymore to spend six months to two years in Thailand.

 

Some Chinese groups but they only buy something from local 7-11s at best. Add to that dirty beaches making things even worse.

but don't 7000 or so of them go to koh larn every day?

thats way more than westerners on walking street, even during the boom times

i think health insurance may only be an issue after you come back to thailand not on the way out or at CM immigration

no-one has any idea whats going to happen on re-entries yet i think

good. we just sold our house we'll hold off on that transfer just a bit longer then..

51 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

20,000.  An interesting point of view and understandable given the nuttiness that is going on and seeming to get worse every year.  But breaking the law and risking deportation and being barred from returning is probably not the best approach. 

if you are going to leave anyway though what do you have to lose!!

its a mistake Thailand keeps repeating, they think they are so special that everyone is just clamouring to keep returning here but the truth is once the shine has worn off only family would drag one back

2 hours ago, JAS21 said:

Ex Pat Den have just published this ... https://www.expatden.com/thailand/mandatory-health-insurance-rules-for-retirees/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A+Guide+to+Thailand+s+Mandatory+Health+Insurance+Rules+for+Retirees&utm_campaign=Published%3A+A+Guide+to+Thailand+s+Mandatory+Health+Insurance+Rules+for+Retirees

 

might be of interest to someone

from the linked article:

Quote

What if I Can’t Buy Health Insurance? 

The Thai government is changing the financial requirements and will soon update retirement visa holders. 

But if you can’t buy health insurance for whatever reason, you should expect to have to show more money in your bank account when you apply for your new retirement visa. 

This is to make that you have enough money to pay for your medical bills if you don’t have health insurance.

This rule is not set in place yet. Soon, we may see changes in retirement visa requirements. Visa requirements may be separated between those who have health insurance and those who don’t.

they better hurry up, the new rules kick in in 2 days and retirees may soon be flying home through no fault of their own other than being too old or too sick to qualify for insurance ????

Quote

"we understand if you do have an extension of stay on a non-oa you do require mandatory insurance"

source: thaivisaprotect

and contradicting thaivisa.com/ubonjoe (sorry!)

aaaaaghhhhh this is crazy, 2 days away and NOBODY knows what the hell is going on

6 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Page 2 of the english translation 

 

"Criteria for consideration of granting an aliens extension of stay"

 

"6 Only for an alien who has been granted a non immigrant visa class O-A, must buy a Thai health insurance online, which covers the length of stay in the kingdom with no less than 40,000 baht coverage outpatient and no less than 400,000 baht inpatient coverage via the website"....

I just cant understand how that can be read any other way than it applying for extensions of stay incountry.  Is there some understanding of the Thai version that I am missing ?? Does it read differently there ?? 

364114635_InsuranceO-AVisaNewPoliceOrder.pdf 1.87 MB · 0 downloads

yeah reads the same to me, also saw this earlier on FB. not looking good ????

58 minutes ago, tgeezer said:

Put the money in the bank and extend for retirement. 

not for me i am married, i am trying to help my elderly neighbour who currently doesn't qualify for insurance and is rightly in a panic, poor guy

so just to clarify, existing O-A holders do need insurance for their 1 year extensions?

and what about those refused insurance for being too old and/or with pre-existing conditions?