Health insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners in Thailand

[gk10002000]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Asked about foreigners who cannot buy health insurance because their health risks are considered too high, Nattawuth said relevant authorities might consider requiring them to have higher deposits in bank accounts so as to make sure that they have enough to live in Thailand.

Vague but obviously leaves open the possibility of a money grab, with or without due process.  You owe the hospital... they seize your bank account money.  Now, since they did that, you may no longer have the proper amount(s) 800k or whatever in the account, so your extension will be denied!  Slippery slippery slope

[Chrisswe]

This 800.000 bht fixed in the bank 

FOR WHAT PROPOSE ?????

[gunderhill]

1 hour ago, Benroon said:

That would make good sense 

 

i wonder when the health insurers see this the premiums get ‘tweaked’ upwards - get it sorted sharpish!

AS  I already keep 3  million readily  at hand I see  no need  to "sort  it sharpish"  unless forced to do so and Im only 56 with no health issues

[Time Traveller]

1 minute ago, Mister Fixit said:

We who have a proper national medical health system, as most civilised Western countries have, DO pay for it.  In the UK it's called National Insurance which is deducted from people's salaries at source.  Patients do make a contribution to the cost of prescribed medicine from their family doctor, but no cost to visit the doctor.  All meds and treatment in hospitals are entirely free and funded by all.  

 

Did you seriously think that the entire UK population just got doled out medicine and treatment without any sort of payment whatsoever?

Did you not read the post I replied to?

It was saying that people paying out of their own pockets - as Americans mostly do as they don't have universal healthcare - makes them a parasite. But somehow those who don't pay - non Americans - are not parasites. 

Not sure why you don't think US has a proper medicl health system. It does. The only difference is the User pays.

So let me dumb it down for you. Socialized medicine is paid for by WORKERS, while the non worker parasites get it for free. In America, no money, no medicine.

Say what you want about Americans, but they sure ain't medical system parasites as you suggest.

[mtls2005]

Can I get the policy they require for Burmese workers?

 

Or the insurance policy most Thais have?

 

 

 

 

[the guest]

Long overdue, they should extend this to tourists as-well. Scrap the VOA, and ensure that all visa applications include valid insurance. EU visa applications require mandatory insurance, don't see why thailand should be any different.

[Pravda]

Potential Farang real estate crash. Looking to buy condo on the cheap.

[Dario]

59 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

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).

I cannot see Bangkok Bank insurance policy "more than meeting the requirements noted in the news article and costing only 29'000 Baht per year".

Can you show us a link?

[Pattaya46]

Quote

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

So is there somewhere any official announcement? 

any date of application?

or is it just one more rumour-thread? 

[Jingthing]

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." 

The elite card visa requires health insurance? Link please.

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[Time Traveller]

5 minutes ago, oslooskar said:

Where did I state, or imply, that I expected otherwise?

 

it was implied by your statement that you were a descendent of Aristocracy and meant as a light hearted jibe about how foreigners get treated by thai immigration 

[Olmate]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never let anyone know I left, so they won't need to know I came back.

Passport tells all in Oz, pension folk even know if your away on holiday

[Chrisswe]

6 hours ago, gunderhill said:

so kind of  him to  tell us

If you see the main owner of Thai insurance companys than you understand whats behind this !!!!

[Fairynuff]

2 hours ago, wisperone said:

If your aiming that negativity towards me, you should go back and read the post I was replying to and my reply.  I guess comprehension isn't your strong point.

It’s already clear that this fool is on the forum to bait, goad and be as nasty to as many as possible. I’ve never yet put someone on ignore, but this one has had nothing of value to add to this forum

[fforest1]

1 minute ago, the guest said:

Long overdue, they should extend this to tourists as-well. Scrap the VOA, and ensure that all visa applications include valid insurance. EU visa applications require mandatory insurance, don't see why thailand should be any different.

Bye......

[Jingthing]

Of course you need health insurance more than anything except food and water and a roof. You free spirits think oh I will just roll the dice I am special. Then when the dice goes against you and you end up in the hospital seriously sick or injured —-it is the thai people and the rest of us that pay for insurance paying your bill. I hope they require every foreigner to have health insurance. It may hurt to have to pay for it but no more free rides in a country that is not your birth country IMO. [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

You're tripping. If it doesn't cover pre-existing conditions then it's not the panacea you sell it as.

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[david555]

8 minutes ago, Chrisswe said:

This 800.000 bht fixed in the bank 

FOR WHAT PROPOSE ?????

Read post #434 just above yours ...and think.... then you understand how Thailand has one of the biggest foreign currency reserves in world ranking….

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[Rod the Sod]

11 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never let anyone know I left, so they won't need to know I came back.

Sure, you still complete a Tax Return every year then? If you never told them you left you will be doing this.....mais non?

 

Oh, forgot, you're not French ????

[ThaiBunny]

3 minutes ago, the guest said:

EU visa applications require mandatory insurance, don't see why thailand should be any different.

I think you'll find that medical insurance is mandatory only if you need to apply for a Schengen visa - which lets most of us off the hook.  The Donald used a term to describe the sort of country whose citizens would need a Schengen visa but as this is a family-oriented web site I won't use it

[oslooskar]

13 minutes ago, Mister Fixit said:

All meds and treatment in hospitals are entirely free and funded by all. 

 

Is it just me, or can anyone else see the contradiction in the above?

[Mister Fixit]

10 minutes ago, chrissables said:

No, people moved here for whatever reason and now the rules are changing. 

Exactly.  From reading his posts on this thread, I don't think Mr Melbun can be accused of over-thinking.

 

When I came 15 years ago, the rules were very different and so I stayed, worked, married and eventually retired, following all the rules. 

 

Over time, these rules have changed, usually to foreign residents detriment.  This situation  is applicable to the majority of use long termers.

 

Snarky ill-though-out comments will not change that reality.

[chezy86]

Great!!!!! more frigging hoops to jump through????

[hashmodha]

Forgive me but why does all this imply that longstay people? like me are causing problems not paying their medical bills,be it government or private hospitals....I use Both.... don't understand the logic in mandatory requirement....I always thought it was the traveller/Tourists not paying bills....as for the long stay,one would be ashamed not to pay their bills living with their own families in various parts of Thailand....the fault lies with the hospitals not being strictly controlled...where I live Cambodian/Mynmarr/Labourers have caused such a serious problem,the Hospital decided to double up the charge and ask advance if get suspicious...fair dos....

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Passport tells all in Oz, pension folk even know if your away on holiday

Luckily for us the EU muddies the borders quite a bit.

[fforest1]

So it looks like to me if you buy heath insurance in Thailand and your 70-75 your paying 100,000 baht a year for 400,000 baht of coverage...

[RocketDog]

6 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Yeah just like Obama told me the type of insurance I should have.  Thank you but I am a 62 year old engineer with doctors as friends and relatives as nurses.  I will seek my own counsel

Hooray for you!

Thanks so much for sharing.

Is this an invitation for me to contact them for counsel?

Please post contact info.

 

Thanks

[Jingthing]

Great!!!!! more frigging hoops to jump through????

The hub of hoops!

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[ancharee]

2 hours ago, Melbun said:

The immigration computer will tell them when you left and when you returned. Sorry can't get away with it that easily.

Really, the immigration computer !! Is that the one that say's (computer say's no) Unless you are a international criminal or on a watch list the Immigration computer is not tracking you. 

[Mister Fixit]

Just now, oslooskar said:

Is it just me, or can anyone else see the contradiction in the above?

Try thinking harder.  Everyone puts something in the pot each week or month to fund everyone else's medical care, or their own if they need it.

 

Of course we all pay for the care, but not at the point of need for it.  Unlike the US system, the UK has a collective responsibility mind set, not an insurance company grasping as much money as it can mindset.

[Dario]

16 minutes ago, Knee Jerk Reaction said:

If this comes about the government needs to launch an affordable government provided scheme because the private health insurance companies just can't be trusted to reimburse. I suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage that needed a life saving operation and 2 weeks in ICU and a further 2 weeks under observation and rehabilitation (the surgeon and nursing staff were exceptional and along with my wife's prompt action saved my life). The final bill came to 1.6m Baht. Initially the insurance company tried to get out of reimbursing me altogether but after much argument they begrudgingly came up with a final offer of 370,000 Baht, despite my policy covering me for 5m Baht. The insurer also refused to pay for 6 monthly angiograms that are required as part of my follow up treatment. After that fiasco I changed insurance companies to a well known American one. A year later I needed a stomach operation. The new insurance provider is still trying to avoid paying the cost of 1.7m Baht by ridiculously saying that the stomach condition was related to the brain haemorrhage, even though my surgeons have informed them that they can't possibly be connected. The surgeons at the hospital told me that their patients have no end of problems with the insurance providers. I have already come to the conclusion that it is cheaper to self insure. That option should not be removed.

E*X*A*C*T*L*Y !! Since almost 33 years living here I have always paid my hospital bills out of my pocket (and I'm a diabetic since 13 years). I even had once a serious heart attack. Always paid with my self insurance. The Thai government should target the tourists who come without travel insurance. Basta... means period.