Health insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners in Thailand

[jesimps]

4 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

What a load of rubbish.

 

It should be mandatory "worldwide" that long stayers or tourists have some form of hospital cover, no doubt a lot will disagree with my view and that's fine.

 

The question is, why should governments have to foot the bill, i.e. tax payers of that country.

 

It should be the responsibility of every individual to cover themselves and their families, if not, make it mandatory, I have no issue with it, and if others do, well they are entitled to their opinions.

 

Like I said earlier, I am covered and so is my family, this is not a troll, if you cannot get insured or cannot afford it, then that is a problem, but you cannot seriously expect the country you are a guest in to cover your hospital bills if you can't get insured or afford it.

 

It's a cruel world, sure, but there are a lot of Thai's that can use the money/facilities allocated in the system that goes on X-pats who use up their system by not paying for the services they have used, after all, they are not tax payers or citizens, so the government is well within its rights to protect it's system for its people and if you can't accept that, then that's "up to you" as they say here. 

Another smug, nonsense post. Someone who thinks what he chooses to do should apply to all. Who thinks that all his fellow expats are on the bones of their backsides, scrounging off the Thai system. How incredibly patronising! How about those who prefer to self insure? I have more than enough to cover any eventuality, but prefer not to gamble my hard earned on insurance which will be damned expensive and may not pay out anyway because of a pre-existing condition.

My wife and stepdaughter are covered because they're Thai, but I've paid cash whenever they've needed treatment. Despite being 74 yoa, I'm incredibly fit and healthy. Paying vast amounts each year would be money down the drain.

If they're looking for a solution, the best bet would be to allow people to use the 800,000 in the bank for their visa extension. At least that way, if the treatment was expensive, they'd have some of the bill covered.

I'm certain that the problem isn't with the long term expats anyway, I personally don't know, or have even heard of an expat not having the means to pay a hospital bill. If anything, it's the tourists who come without travel insurance who ride uninsured motorbikes and have really nasty accidents who're a problem. Some might say that it's also another way for the powers that be, along with the insurance company elites to line their pockets.

My family have a great life here, mainly because of me providing for them. I'll be unable to do this if I have to pay a massive annual insurance premium.

[marcusarelus]

17 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Renewals mentioned. Translation issues. Don't get overconfident.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Ubon Joe wrote, " only for OA long stay visas applied for at a embassy or official consulate in you home country.

All information we have is that it does not apply to extensions of stay based upon retirement or any other extension."

 

Apparently you disagree with him. 

[brianthainess]

21 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

What a load of rubbish.

 

It should be mandatory "worldwide" that long stayers or tourists have some form of hospital cover, no doubt a lot will disagree with my view and that's fine.

 

The question is, why should governments have to foot the bill, i.e. tax payers of that country.

 

It should be the responsibility of every individual to cover themselves and their families, if not, make it mandatory, I have no issue with it, and if others do, well they are entitled to their opinions.

 

Like I said earlier, I am covered and so is my family, this is not a troll, if you cannot get insured or cannot afford it, then that is a problem, but you cannot seriously expect the country you are a guest in to cover your hospital bills if you can't get insured or afford it.

 

It's a cruel world, sure, but there are a lot of Thai's that can use the money/facilities allocated in the system that goes on X-pats who use up their system by not paying for the services they have used, after all, they are not tax payers or citizens, so the government is well within its rights to protect it's system for its people and if you can't accept that, then that's "up to you" as they say here. 

I have enough money to pay my bill i don't need any extra outlay. And yes we are taxpayers every time you go to  7/11 you pay tax. Get off your high horse !

[jmd8800]

13 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

Please explain why the Thai Ministry of Health cannot allow Expats to buy into the Thai Government Medical system and pay a reasonable premium.  Thai citizens who enter the United States can get no cost medical coverage easily and if they remain and work can get Social Security benefits.

 

Another solution would be an agreement between the Thai Government and various countries like the EU and USA to cover  people under their National Insurance coverage- If from America and receiving Medicare- bill the US Medicare System- which would be much less than if the citizen received  treatment in the US. 

 

There are many ways that coverage can be accorded. What I dislike is the fact that there are a limited numbers of Companies that will provide the coverage in Thailand and if one is a Senior the premium is  very high.  Medical care is a human right.  it's time to take the profit out of someone's suffering.

 

The current proposal is nothing but a money grab- provides little coverage for the price- and will do nothing to solve anyone's problems- certainly not the expat who is being bled by the Government policies.

 

 

Please show me proof where "Thai citizens who enter the United States can get no cost medical coverage easily". 

[scubascuba3]

I agree but 1000+ posts and nothing from ubonjoe, is he on holiday? or investigating?

Maybe we can get some sort of clarification from@ubonjoe ?

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, jesimps said:

Another smug, nonsense post. Someone who thinks what he chooses to do should apply to all. Who thinks that all his fellow expats are on the bones of their backsides, scrounging off the Thai system. How incredibly patronising! How about those who prefer to self insure? I have more than enough to cover any eventuality, but prefer not to gamble my hard earned on insurance which will be damned expensive and may not pay out anyway because of a pre-existing condition.

My wife and stepdaughter are covered because they're Thai, but I've paid cash whenever they've needed treatment. Despite being 74 yoa, I'm incredibly fit and healthy. Paying vast amounts each year would be money down the drain.

If they're looking for a solution, the best bet would be to allow people to use the 800,000 in the bank for their visa extension. At least that way, if the treatment was expensive, they'd have some of the bill covered.

I'm certain that the problem isn't with the long term expats anyway, I personally don't know, or have even heard of an expat not having the means to pay a hospital bill. If anything, it's the tourists who come without travel insurance who ride uninsured motorbikes and have really nasty accidents who're a problem. Some might say that it's also another way for the powers that be, along with the insurance company elites to line their pockets.

My family have a great life here, mainly because of me providing for them. I'll be unable to do this if I have to pay a massive annual insurance premium.

As i said IF these long term expats aint paid WHY haven't immigration tracked them down ?????????????????????????????????????

[brewsterbudgen]

Maybe we can get some sort of clarification from[mention=66997]ubonjoe[/mention] ?

See post #1010 above.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[BritManToo]

28 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Renewals mentioned. Translation issues. Don't get overconfident.

Not overconfident, happy to live in Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines ...... loads of great places to live outside Thailand.

 

[Woolsgibb60]

6 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

As i said IF these long term expats aint paid WHY haven't immigration tracked them down ?????????????????????????????????????

How about all the Thais who go to u.k on a 2 year Visa and get free NHS I dont see u moaning about at who paying then the tax payer

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

9 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Ubon Joe wrote, " only for OA long stay visas applied for at a embassy or official consulate in you home country.

All information we have is that it does not apply to extensions of stay based upon retirement or any other extension."

 

Apparently you disagree with him. 

 

It's not clear from the posted articles whether or not they intend to include retirement extensions along with O-A visas...

 

But since the articles are talking about this as joint proposal/initiative from MFA, Immigration and MOPH, I'm betting it's going to end up including retirement extensions.  If it was only O-A visas, people who hold that visa never really need to deal with Immigration other than getting a re-entry permit for the 2nd year.

 

 

[BritManToo]

48 minutes ago, Inn Between said:

I'll probably look at some of the places outside HCMC to get an idea if Vietnam strikes the right note with me rather than heading directly back to Thailand. Any other suggestions as a better alternative to Prayutland?

Cambodia is currently my alternative choice of venue

Siem Reap of you're a Chiang Mai sort of person, Phnom Penh if you're a Pattaya/Bangkok sort of person, Kep/Kampot for Hua Hin lovers. Just under $300 for a 1 year multi entry ES VISA, no hoops if you're over 55.

[scubascuba3]

See post #1010 above.

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yeah just found that on the closed thread, just strange he hasn't posted on here

[brewsterbudgen]

How about all the Thais who go to u.k on a 2 year Visa and get free NHS I dont see u moaning about at who paying then the tax payer

Unless they are permanently resident in the UK they will be billed for NHS charges, and if they are there on a Settlement visa or Leave to Remain, there is a £400 NHS surcharge which has to be paid.

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[brewsterbudgen]

yeah just found that on the closed thread, just strange he hasn't posted on here

I would guess he's waiting for something official rather than speculating based on press reports like everyone else!

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[aqua4]

Thai immigration coughs and you get 560 views an hour on the thread. 

[kritsana77]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Cambodia is currently my alternative choice of venue

Siem Reap of you're a Chiang Mai sort of person, Phnom Penh if you're a Pattaya/Bangkok sort of person, Kep/Kampot for Hua Hin lovers. Just under $300 for a 1 year multi entry ES VISA, no hoops if you're over 55.

And 50 cent beers and Happy Pizza

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, ianezy0 said:

Well.....It was only November last year when I jumped through the hoops to obtain my retirement visa. Then a few months ago I cleared the jump bars to ensure I had the 800k. Now....they want me to be insured in case I injure myself on all these hurdles.

what next!!!!!

If you break your leg don't come running to me !

[gunderhill]

Just now, brianthainess said:

If you break your leg don't come running to me !

cuz  you'll  be  told  to hop it!

[myjawe]

16 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?

 

one more reason to never apply for any other visa but NON-O and never apply for extension. It's so much easier to cross a border 4 times a year...

 

 

[fforest1]

So whats the end game with endless visa crackdowns year after year?

 

All this started in 2009 with the crackdowns on the 30 day border runners....

 

And each year sense 2009 there has been tightening going on....

 

So 2009 to 2019 is 10 years of visa tightening.....The majority of expats will not survive another 10 years of tightening.... 

 

[yang123]

3 hours ago, malibukid said:

Jesus, get cremation insurance

Where? (Serious question; apologies if the info is on one of the previous 50-odd pages)

[marcusarelus]

The tourists and others skipped on 9 million USD of hospital bills.  I don't think anyone knows what percent of that was long stay expats.  Total Thai health care expenditures for 2020 will be about 35 billion USD dollars.

 

At some point in time someone else will happen on these numbers and realize it's an insurance scam and not reflective of a problem.  I'm not the only one who can google. 

[marcusarelus]

6 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

So whats the end game with endless visa crackdowns year after year?

 

All this started in 2009 with the crackdowns on the 30 day border runners....

 

And each year sense 2009 there has been tightening going on....

 

So 2009 to 2019 is 10 years of visa tightening.....The majority of expats will not survive another 10 years of tightening.... 

 

Retired expats only one tightening in 20 years.  I can take that. 

[Deerculler]

A person comes to Thailand.
Many marry and rear children that are not there own.
Build or buy house and car.
They have brought money from there own country to do this.
Every year they bring money into Thailand from the same country to live on.
None of this money has cost the Thai taxpayer anything.
This is a huge amount of money I would think.
Maybe the Farang who has brought all this free money into Thailand should be entitled to something too.
Okay I know it is our choice to come.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[marcusarelus]

36 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe we can get some sort of clarification from@ubonjoe ?

He wrote about 54 minutes ago, "only for OA long stay visas applied for at a embassy or official consulate in you home country.

All information we have is that it does not apply to extensions of stay based upon retirement or any other extension."

 

No one wants to believe him as it's not to exciting. 

[utalkin2me]

I would love to see some stats on insurance rates before/after. Would it nit stand to reason rates rise when people are compelled to buy a product? 

[leiftheswede]

A health insurance from abroad covers a year or the shorter period u pay for. That period does not correlate with the visa period. How do they mean to solve this. As usual decisions are made without thinking and proper research of facts and how it actually works.

[Cheops]

1 hour ago, Puchaiyank said:

finger printing

That really does it! 555 

[ocddave]

1 minute ago, utalkin2me said:

I would love to see some stats on insurance rates before/after. Would it nit stand to reason rates rise when people are compelled to buy a product? 

This is the land of corruption, you can expect many greedy hands are rubbing together as we speak, another government supported shakedown. 

[elliss]

2 hours ago, connda said:

Interesting comment from the wife just now.

"If you die, insurance pay me mai?"  Make of that what you wish.

 

 Spot on mate , sounds like you found a good one, same me .

Lucky..