Health insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners in Thailand

[luckyluke]

19 minutes ago, smedly said:

a recent change requiring you to maintain a minimum bank balance of 400k baht 12 months a year or other options involving income 

For 3 nationalities.

The others have still the Letter of Income/Affidavit option = no money in Thai bank; no monthly transfer of a minimum of 65000 ThB.

[Peterw42]

3 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

Hi Everybody, have a look at Thailife medical insurance company.  I can get 400,000 baht in patient and 40 baht outpatient coverage at the age of 75 years old for 41,800 per annum, which I assume can be paid monthly at 3,484.  Other policies quotes are either way higher than this and one of them has a couple of very poor reviews on Google - buyer beware!  Another one will not even download.  Not quite the "death knell" (excuse the pun) that I initially thought.  Cheer up you grumbling geriatrics, life, in my opinion is still better in Thailand.

This is Thaivisa, we dont let facts cloud a good argument.

 

A large percentage of expats have always had the 800k in the bank and have always had insurance. 

[rabas]

8 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Read the OP, it doesnt say anyone over 50, it says

 

"the new rule applies to both new applicants for the non-immigrant visa (O-A), which offers a stay of up to one year, and those wishing to renew their visa. Each renewal is valid for one year."

It does in the referenced article, first line, big font, then talks about O-A visas, etc. No mention of Martians, Thai or Martian wives.

 

HEALTH insurance has been made mandatory for foreigners aged 50 years and above seeking long-term stay in Thailand.

[Kerryd]

3 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

Has anyone obtained health insurance within Thailand? If so, did you have to provide your medical records from your home country or was a medical examination required by the insurer prior to the policy commencing?

I have a Health 1st policy issued through Bangkok Bank. When I first got it (in 2015) I didn't need an examination at all (massive thunderclap just happened - coincidence ?).

However, last year I missed the renewal date by a couple weeks (I thought it automatically renewed but apparently I was supposed to go into the bank and sign a paper or something). 

Anyways, I had to go do an exam. They were very good about it. I told them I used Bangkok-Pattaya hospital, they (the Bank's insurer) set up the appointment, a rep from the bank met me at the hospital and when it was done she paid the bill (I thought they would pick the hospital or use a clinic and that I was going to have to pay for it.)

Have to renew again next month. Will make sure I renew before the expiry date this time. I expect I won't need to do another exam. If so, great. A free medical check every year !

ps: The Health 1st (plan 1) more than meets the requirements noted in the news article and costs 29,000 per year.

pss: I note that the ThaiVisa link included in the original article leads you to a page that shows you different packages and their benefits, but no quotes. You have to contact them (or whoever the info is sent to).

[wensiensheng]

Having health insurance per se is not a bad thing. But the devil is of course in the detail, eg those with pre existing conditions and those who are too old to get it.

 

but is a 1 year visa really long stay? It doesn’t seem so long to me.

 

i am hoping this will not apply to ASEAN nationals, since I am one.

 

however, quite a few things seem to get passed by the government that eventually fall by the wayside, and i’m Hoping this will be one of them. Even if I had insurance, there is no way I would set foot in a government hospital. Shoddy doesn’t begin to describe the health care provided by them in my experience.

Edited May 14, 2019 by wensiensheng

[zaZa9]

 The Thai government have 'delivered' to their buddies that own banks.

They are now in the process of 'delivering' to their friends in Insurance.

Their mates in the Hospital/ Healthcare system will  next face a boom in business  , because if we farang have to be covered for outpatients , you can bet we will be using outpatients over  even the  seemingly smallest  issue.

 

Going by the fact that I read about some rule change or proposal to do so involving the farang almost every day in Thailand , it appears the Thai is obsessed with foreigners.

I cannot fathom why ...

[Peterw42]

1 minute ago, rabas said:

It does in the referenced article, first line, big font, then talks about O-A visas, etc. No mention of Martians, Thai or Martian wives.

 

HEALTH insurance has been made mandatory for foreigners aged 50 years and above seeking long-term stay in Thailand.

A misleading sensationalist headline and, as you say, later in the article says its for O-A visa.

[Mango Bob]

6 minutes ago, Longcut said:

It's not hospitals like Bumrungrad that the Thai government is worried about not being paid. Private hospitals have their own way of collecting money. 

 

The insurance policy must offer up to Bt40,000 coverage for outpatient treatment and up to Bt400,000 for inpatient treatment. 

 

This is one of the measures the government has introduced to ease the financial burden placed on state hospitals by foreigners, many of whom have not paid for treatment. 

What was said was NO hospital and I corrected it.  Also, BNH and Bangkok Hospital does the same thing.  I would only go to a Thai government hospital for minor care.  Not to have my heart valve replaced.

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, zaZa9 said:

Going by the fact that I read about some rule change or proposal to do so involving the farang almost every day in Thailand , it appears the Thai is obsessed with foreigners.

I cannot fathom why ...

You're wrong, it's only white folk the Junta want rid of.

Can't imagine the Burmese and Cambodian labourers being forced to buy insurance. 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Kasane said:

Some farangs think they are entitled aristocrats whose every need and desire should be satisfied by Thai people. These are the same farangs who, if they were in their own country, would be paying all life into their medical insurance, and even then only be a medical emergency away from bankruptcy. That's why these parasite losers are here.  

You've confused the word 'farangs' and 'Americans', all us western folk outside America get free health care from our governments.

 

[TigerandDog]

hate to say I told you so, but here it is exactly as I wrote in my post which was closed once this breaking news was posted.

 

[holy cow cm]

If they have a reasonable plan for everyone 50 - 100+ at the same premiums, then ok. Most people do not get sick and do not go to the doctor. 15,000 baht per individual is more than enough to support a long term foreign group here being the ones who get really sick to the ones who don't it would cover everyone. Ones who want the hoity doity hospitals like Bumrungrad etc can opt to pay more for that service. I do not require that. But also the answer would be a general nominal fee included in everyone's extension and then the tourist travelers air tickets put all into one fund to take care of all. No preconditions, no strings, just health care when absolutely needed. If anyone thinks it is only an O-A and its renewal, then don't hold your breathe. Renewal is like an extension and trying to play semantics will only create more aggravation. I don't like it either, but I can see it is straight across the board for all of us over 50.

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

No, only in America.  

 

And in American territories - nearest to Thailand is Guam. https://www.grmc.gu/

[brewsterbudgen]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You're wrong, it's only white folk the Junta want rid of.

Can't imagine the Burmese and Cambodian labourers being forced to buy insurance. 

And Burmese and Cambodians can't get long-stay OA or OX visas.

[Cabradelmar]

 

Just an example of what's offered in the marketplace https://longstay.tgia.org/ not that bad

Honestly, I hope there is an option to self-insure. That's my preference

[sniggie]

I'll add my two pennyworth to this potentially long thread. At the ripe old age of 73 I am likely to be adversely affected by this. Up until the age of 70 I used a higher end annual travel insurance (I know...) but this did not carry on over 70. I shopped around for health insurance and chose one at just under 2000 GBP per annum (75000 baht).  had to give all my health details and there were quite a few exclusions. The policy carried a combination of excess and co-pay to 5000 GBP. On the next renewal the premium went up by around 10%, n No Claims Bonus with health insurance apparently! On the second renewal (last year) the premium had jumped to 3000 GBP with no explanation. I declined to renew, not because I couldn't afford it but because I hate having the p1ss taken out of me. I shopped around and found another company who would insure me for around 2000 GBP. They didn't ask for any previous medical history, just stating that any previously occurring problem wouldn't be covered. So a relatively worthless piece of paper, then, but presumably enough for TI, one would hope. Now I wait for October and the next renewal notice. I wonder if I'm going down the same road again with massively increased premiums once again. Time will tell.      

[chuang]

I doubt it is the long stay but those on a tourist visa are mostly the ones who have problem paying for their

hospital bills...from what one reads in the media...

[Jumbo1968]

Whilst I agree having money in the bank to cover health problems or an Insurance Policy would the IO have the time or the knowledge to check if an Insurance Policy was valid !

[salavan]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You've confused the word 'farangs' and 'Americans', all us western folk outside America get free health care from our governments.

 

If your a UK non resident you don't get free health care in the UK unless you pretend not to be non resident

[davemos]

73 quoted 10000 $ a year Sawasdee Kap

 

[SuwadeeS]

Just remind everybody. Thai local people do not have such high fees for insurance. The insurance should first make equal fees. Without dual pricing!!!!!

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, Kasane said:

Another sad loser limey whose queen elizabeth has already drowned. 

Why don't you take your bitterness elsewhere?

[Peterw42]

Just adding up the things I will now be getting done on the 40k outpatients, 

Ears cleaned out

pedicure for the ingrown toenails

medicial for license

Saline drip and vitamin B injection for hangovers (its an actual treatment in some clinics)

Massages (written down as physiotherapy)

 

If the private hospitals know you have 40k to spend they will have day spas dressed up as legitimate medical treatments.

 

Edited May 14, 2019 by Peterw42

[flexomike]

3 hours ago, alfalfa19 said:

does medicare parts a and b work in thailand, does anyone know?

The answer is no

[holy cow cm]

8 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

 

Just an example of what's offered in the marketplace https://longstay.tgia.org/ not that bad

Honestly, I hope there is an option to self-insure. That's my preference

Terrible as we are talking basic health care here.

[elektrified]

3 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

Has anyone obtained health insurance within Thailand? If so, did you have to provide your medical records from your home country or was a medical examination required by the insurer prior to the policy commencing?

I've had medical insurance here for 12 years with 3 or 4 different companies. Never been asked for anything and never an exam.

 

If you have been treated in Thailand for an ongoing condition at a private hospital, they will find the record and may consider it a pre-existing condition.

[TKDfella]

I don't think this a surprise as on a related thread a little while back I mentioned that the General Hospitals were lobbying for change for long stayers. But I understood also that General Hospitals wanted to sell their own health policies (much like the Asian one (or an extension of it) but perhaps more expensive. I will to check to see if there is any info on the latter, though it would seem unlikely given the OP, and post again if there is any relevant news.

I don't have health insurance and at 76 years old it will be difficult to obtain at affordable price for the apparent requirement. Originally I was automatically covered, my wife being a Head Nurse, but not now as we are divorced. During 24 years in Thailand I spent 3 days in the general hospital for a vasectomy related problem (done 40 years ago) and visited the outpatients once. So I've been lucky enough not to require their facilities but of course, that it no guarantee of such a continued status.

[watso63]

Just spoke with my IO. He was aware of this but said it's for new applicants only. Business as usual for my next extension, fingers crossed????

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, salavan said:

If your a UK non resident you don't get free health care in the UK unless you pretend not to be non resident

Not true, anything that serious would make me return forever, so immediately resident again (and on benefits).

I'm currently facing a life threatening illness with no insurance.

Operation in Chiang Mai 60kbht, operation in India 30-40kbht (+16k flights).

It's actually cheaper to not have it done 'free' in the UK because of flight (40k) and accommodation costs (30k/month).

And the local costs are cheaper than the proposed yearly Thai insurance premiums.

Edited May 14, 2019 by BritManToo

[DUNROAMIN]

1 hour ago, 1DegreeN said:

If you follow the link from the longstay.tgia.org page to Viraya Insurance's website - https://www.viriyah.co.th/en/longstay-form.php#.XNoaJ44zZaQ it states that a Long Stay Visa is a 5 year visa - so perhaps this new rule is just for those with Elite visas and those of us on retirement/marriage extensions are covered by the income/money-in-the-bank requirement.

I think this applies to everyone. The rich mans "Elite" long stay visa's has always made it mandatory for health insurance since it was introduced.

"According to Nattawuth, the new rule applies to both new applicants for the non-immigrant visa (O-A), which offers a stay of up to one year, and those wishing to renew their visa. Each renewal is valid for one year."