Health insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners in Thailand

[jollyhangmon]

2 hours ago, Lee man said:

Will this new rule on Insurance Apply on a short term 30 day stay..?

 

 

... that's exactly where it should be applied, for starters ...

[DJ54]

Anyone that’s non insurable as I am do you have solutions other than the cash in bank.

[connda]

45 minutes ago, malibukid said:

i can put that on just one Visa card.  so what's the problem?  never buy anything that i can not pay off in one month

If you are gloating - you are trolling.  Please don't troll those effected by this Thai mandate.  

[madmen]

delete

[galt67]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

For all we know over 50s using Elite may have the requirement too. Remember they can change the rules at any time.

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The 'Elite Visa' is classified as a 'TOURIST' visa thus rules would need to apply to ALL 'tourists.'

 

How many of the Chinese, Indian, et al., 'tourists' have insurance, I wonder?

 

[Melbun]

1 hour ago, CH1961 said:

If it is so nice there, why are you here? 

Yeh - they would be bored shitless eating roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and pork pies.

[malibukid]

9 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I admire your logic, but as this is Thailand, they will more than likely roll this out within the next few months, then sit back, take the money, and iron out any wrinkles as they come up. Immigration offices will interpret the rules in their own way, as they do now, to glean thousands under the table. Insurance companies will hurriedly implement a two tier pricing system, one just for foreigners, with the inevitable rate hike to go with it. 

I can see the logic, and agree with the need for long term stayers to have some sort of medical cover. To that end if the Government were serious about simply sorting out coverage they could put up a system similar to the Thai medical insurance to cover expats, with a nominal annual fee. However, this new requirement will not be about medical coverage, it is just another money making scheme to harvest funds.

Several members have already posted links to insurance companies, many thanks to those, but the cynic in me can see a huge jump in premiums in the very near future compared to what is on the paper now.

how about a class action suit against the Thai government due to illness as a result of the pollution?

[jesimps]

6 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Didn't take the grifters and opportunists long to jump on this.

Be good to get Ubon Joe's take on this, it definitely says all retirement visa types, not just OA.

[elektrified]

7 hours ago, SuwadeeS said:

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

There is no dual pricing for insurance. Take your conspiracy theory elsewhere.

[madmen]

11 hours ago, harada said:

Another win for Vietnam.

Get a stroke there and the medical system is so <deleted> you will be sent straight back to bangkok 

[Joe Mcseismic]

16 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Thai citizens don't get ripped off the way expats and long stayers do.

Maybe, but, it's a numbers game. Far many more Thais than foreigners.

[fforest1]

2 minutes ago, galt67 said:

The 'Elite Visa' is classified as a 'TOURIST' visa thus rules would need to apply to ALL 'tourists.'

 

How many of the Chinese, Indian, et al., 'tourists' have insurance, I wonder?

 

Include the Russians too.....I bet the percentage of these groups that have health insurance is very very small..... 

[Jumbo1968]

6 minutes ago, KC 71 said:

I think you have had to been there for at least the last six months or so


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If you live out the UK for more than 6 months in one year you lose the entitlement to free medical treatment although they don’t ever refuse emergency treatment irrespective if you own property.

Although you are liable for UK Tax if you own a property in the UK ?

[happy chappie]

It seems like the whole country of expats are being forced into paying out billions of baht because there's a couple of dozen incidents where a tourist has no insurance.i think I read that the hospitals were complaining that they lose 60 million baht a year in unpaid bills by tourists.A vary small amount of loss considering how much the tourist pour into the country.with this new rule they will probably lose 100 times much more trade to another destination but that's Thai thinking for you.how about sticking 50b on everyone who enters the country that are staying over a day in Thailand.that would easily cover the loses.

[KhaoYai]

12 minutes ago, zydeco said:

I've seen this problem before among posters. You still think of the 800,000 as YOUR money. But it's now THEIR money.

Doesn't affect me actually, my concerns are for those who it does affect. Personally, whilst the income alternative is available, that is the route I'd go down.

[jesimps]

28 minutes ago, maechanman said:

Just seen this on You Tube.

 

Fpr the attention of Ubon Joe. Grateful to know your take on this. Have 103FM got it wrong? They state all retirement type visas and extensions.

[Letseng]

4 minutes ago, madmen said:

Get a stroke there and the medical system is so <deleted> you will be sent straight back to bangkok 

Same quality healthcare in Cambodia. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Kind of interesting...I was looking at some of Pacific Cross' regular TH health insurance policy details today...

 

And, they have two lower coverage, lower cost series of plans called Standard and Premier, with several levels in each series. But for both of those, their outpatient coverage is limited to a fixed maximum amount per visit, usually 1500 to 3000 baht, and a certain number of outpatient visits per year... usually about 30.

 

And I don't think that's going to satisfy the new 40K outpatient coverage requirement, unless someone the authorities decided that a maximum 30 outpatient visits per year with up to 1500 or 3000 baht per visit coverage was somehow going to meet the requirement.

 

It's not until you get into their higher Maxima series level of policies that the outpatient cover, if you don't exclude it, doesn't have a per visit limit, and instead is just part of the broader overall coverage, which with Maxima is either 5M or 10M baht per disability.

 

I've been trying to look all day at Pacific Cross' policy/policies under the government sponsored Long-Stay program... But every time I go to that website and click Pacific Cross, I get a blank webpage.... same for their general website today... Not sure if it's a problem with me or their website is down.

 

[NoshowJones]

5 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

Maybe, but, it's a numbers game. Far many more Thais than foreigners.

It's the expats and long stayers who have the money, that's the only reason we are wanted here.

[brewsterbudgen]

Fpr the attention of Ubon Joe. Grateful to know your take on this. Have 103FM got it wrong? They state all retirement type visas and extensions.

Until something official is released no one knows for sure. Even Fabulous 103...

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[Laza 45]

4 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

I think it's already been mentioned it's not the Bank

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/My-Family-and-Me/Bancassurance/Non-Life-Insurance

[GroveHillWanderer]

9 hours ago, MellowYellow101 said:

Just a quick question, what are the laws / rules on the NHS not being 'free' to UK citizens after having left the UK for a set amount of time? 

There is no provision regarding how long you have been away, in relation to receiving free NHS care. The law/rule is that NHS care is free to anyone who resides permanently in the UK.

 

For instance, you could have been away for 50 years but if you return to live there permanently, you are once again eligible for free care. On the other hand, you might have only been away for a few months but if you had taken up residence elsewhere and went back purely as a short-term visitor, not intending to stay, theoretically you should have to pay for treatment.

 

To quote directly from the UK Government's web page about this:

 

Quote

For secondary care services, the UK’s healthcare system is a residence-based one, which means entitlement to free healthcare is based on living lawfully in the UK on a properly settled basis for the time being.

[...]

Individuals who are not ordinarily resident in the UK may be required to pay for their care when they are in England.

[...]

GP and nurse consultations in primary care, treatment provided by a GP and other primary care services are free of charge to all.

Accident and Emergency treatment is also free regardless of residence.

[carstenp]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

There is no official indication of that.

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[Knocker33]

12 hours ago, Orac said:

 

Yes - the over 50 bit does imply just retirement extensions but not clear if they will include those of us on marriage extensions.


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Surely if you are married to a Thai their all caring loving family members will help with bill.  Oh sorry had bit of a fantasy moment there

[thesetat2013]

13 hours ago, gunderhill said:

So how many are going to be leaving now, what exactly s a NON O -A I have a visa which just states NON O married to a  Thai (no other letters  after it) been on it for 6  years.

Perhaps someone can clarify if  it  will  apply to me?

What about those foreigners married to government workers. They are given free medical because all immediate family is covered 100% for any inpatient and outpatient medical problems as long as they use government hospitals. How will this new law affect them? 

 

[Joe Mcseismic]

5 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

It's the expats and long stayers who have the money, that's the only reason we are wanted here.

Yes, if you're talking about government and it's officials, but, then what other possible reason could they have?

As for the ordinary folk, they're as friendly as ever.

[connda]

5 hours ago, carstenp said:

http://www.bangkokinsurance.com/long-stay-visa/

 

If you don't file a claim.  File a claim and look out.

[madmen]

looking at their link for Bangkok insurance its very reasonable . Between 50 and 60 years its approx 50k. Whats wrong with that.

its staggering the amount of expats living here with NO insurance!!  if your 70 then go home for gods sakes where you can be taken care of in an emergency..which is just around the corner , not everyone dies in their sleep

 

 http://www.bangkokinsurance.com/long-stay-visa/

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

For those long enough here will remember that in Yinglucks times this was mentioned but died with the coup (several other things also).

I have just been on to my agent at Pacific Cross regards renewal and the new 40,000 baht outpatient cover.
 
He has told me to hang fire as NOTHING HAS YET BEEN FINALIZED regards this government statement.

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[TallGuyJohninBKK]

35 minutes ago, connda said:

Unfortunately you have missed the key words with are - "affordable insurance."  Of course insurers will insure you up until you are 120 years old - but you won't be able to afford it after 80.  

 

Obviously, affordability is a relative term... Here's the full policy premiums rate chart for Pacific Cross's Maxima health insurance policy, which definitely would meet the new requirement, including coverage for outpatient treatment.

 

You can take the annual premium rates below in TH baht, and knock off 25% if you're willing to accept a 40K per year deductible, or 40% off for a 200K per year deductible, or 50% off for a 300K per year deductible. That's potentially not so bad, even into the upper age ranges.

 

 

 

They also have available no claims discounts that can be added onto their deductible discounts that I listed above:

 

 

Put a deductible AND a no claims-based premium discounts together, and you can easily cut the official rate premiums by half or more, meet the TH government's requirement, and also have pretty decent health coverage should you need it for something big....