Health insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners in Thailand

[Isaanbiker]

1 hour ago, Deerculler said:

Most of us are seniors who have retired here.
Getting insurance cover for pre-existing medical conditions is next to impossible.
Has anyone got a sensible answer please?


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 No sensible answers to be found. From a different source:

 

IS IT NECESSARY?

 

   YES! As per a note released by the Thai Government on 14 May 2019, insurance is required to anyone living in the Kingdom above the age of 50. The insurance policy must offer up to Bt40,000 coverage for outpatient treatment and up to Bt400,000 for inpatient treatment.

 

Source Expat Magazine Thailand 

 

 

 

 

 

   

[jmd8800]

5 minutes ago, mav000 said:

No.  Medicare does not work anywhere outside of U.S.  I suggest looking into long term travel insurance.  I have a policy, One Million U.S. dollars, premium $3,200 per year, $1,000 deductible.  Can pay monthly or up to 1 year.  Can go to any private hospital within Thailand.  Coverage is for Thailand only.  I do have medicare for U.S. coverage.

All of the travel insurance I've seen excludes pre-exisiting conditions. Did I miss something along the way?

 

[Mike Teavee]

23 minutes ago, pbonline said:

as usual they didn´t think when they decided this.

40.000 in outpatient !!!......

 

Anyone found an 400/40k insurance?

Don´t think so...

Page 1, Post 11... https://longstay.tgia.org/

 

[ocddave]

1 minute ago, Isaanbiker said:

 No sensible answers to be found. Froma different source:

 

IS IT NECESSARY?

 

   YES! As per a note released by the Thai Government on 14 May 2019, insurance is required to anyone living in the Kingdom above the age of 50. The insurance policy must offer up to Bt40,000 coverage for outpatient treatment and up to Bt400,000 for inpatient treatment.

 

Source Expat Magazine Thailand    

I'll have to ask the wife what the coverage is on her medical insurance as a medical faculty member for a Major Bangkok Government Hospital (I am on her plan), I turn 50 this year, hopefully this won't be an issue come next extension based on marriage. Though usually I go to Yanhee International and pay out of pocket, I prefer the quick service and being treated like numero uno.

[ChiangmaiRob]

I'm sure proof of adequate cash in the bank will suffice! ????????

[pbonline]

14 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Page 1, Post 11... https://longstay.tgia.org/

 

So wich one is it?

Have you been looking?

[SilentReader]

Earlier today Aetna (Bupa) was one of the listed companies here https://longstay.tgia.org/

 

But now removed?

[DaRoadrunner]

32 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

1 hour ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Anyone got copy of a response from Ubon Joe yet?

An hour ago, https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1100492-medical-insurance/?tab=comments#comment-14139445

 

Despite Ubon Joe's comments, it's pretty obvious it will become mandatory for all of us eventually.

 

Bottom line is, you can stay if you have money...... Or put another way..... No money no honey.

[gentlemanjackdarby]

15 hours ago, Melbun said:

Chuckle - so you want to have a policy that carte blanche accepts all the illness accumulated over a lifetime ?? That is really funny. Hmmm bet you still believe in the fairy god mother.

Uhh.. what's so funny about that?

 

That's exactly what U.S. Medicare does

[Mike Teavee]

8 minutes ago, pbonline said:

So wich one is it?

Have you been looking?

Not really, have worldwide health insurance with my Employer (US Bank) in Singapore plus have an annual travel insurance policy (Only visit Thailand for a week or so at a time, though do have a Non-O visa here so am following this thread in case it affects my extension due mid-July)

 

Edit to add... The reason I have the Non-O is because I visit 1-2 times per month (approx 20 times a year) & the Visa Runners screwed up doing that on Visa Exemptions... Now the Hospital Bill dodgers look like they're going to screw it up even more.... IF I ever do decide not to live in Thailand (& I have a long term rental on a Condo here so don't consider myself a tourist, in fact I consider myself as somebody who lives in Bangkok but works in Singapore), it won't be because of the Thais or the Thai government, it will be because of the guys taking the psis & forcing them to clamp down.

 

 

[ryane66]

15 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Why should they provide a huge burden and major money losing service for old sick people who are not even from their country??

For who and for what?

 

 

Wow. Very compassionate. These people may have lived and contributed to Thai society and economy for many years. Shoot them l suspect would be your preference.

 

[GinBoy2]

9 minutes ago, gentlemanjackdarby said:

Uhh.. what's so funny about that?

 

That's exactly what U.S. Medicare does

Actually ALL US medical insurance now accepts pre existing conditions Medicare or not, so I'm not sure what that guy was talking about

[ocddave]

1 minute ago, ryane66 said:

Wow. Very compassionate. These people may have lived and contributed to Thai society and economy for many years. Shoot them l suspect would be your preference.

 

I would think Thailand would just prefer they get shipped back to their home countries, where their own countrymen can pay for their care. I assume that is the plan here, either you find a way to pay for your own care, or you go home and your own government deals with you.

[gentlemanjackdarby]

15 hours ago, malibukid said:

the American government should step up to the plate and extend Medicare coverage to it's citizens abroad.  but as usual they will just throw us under the bus.  thanks to the Republicans. 

Bit unfair to blame the Republicans

 

Anyone that thinks that millionaire doctors, highly compensated hospital, insurance company, and drug company executives and employees, and the labor unions that represent nurses and other hospital employees will EVER let that happen is sadly mistaken.

 

One day the U.S. healthcare industry will get its come-uppance, just as did the U.S. auto industry but, unfortunately, it will likely result in the financial ruin of most Americans. I'm disappointed that I probably won't be around to see it

[mike787]

6 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

contacted Hua Hin IO an hour ago for clarification, they have no information about this at all..

NO surprise....

[HuskerDo]

43 minutes ago, ocddave said:

Is it possible to ring up a 32,000,000 baht medical bill in Thailand? Damn, that would be impressive!

I agree. Too much coverage is almost as bad as no coverage. Just throwing money out the window. For 32,000,000 baht you could get a new heart, lungs, knee and hip replacement and still have some left over for a new liver. Too much coverage.

 

[gk10002000]

2 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Which railroad did you work for? If your doctor friends simply respond with "then don't do that" when you tell them "it hurts when I do this" then maybe insurance is a good investment. ???? 

Railroad?  Some of you people need to cut back on the medication.  You reason irrationally

[gentlemanjackdarby]

4 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

Actually ALL US medical insurance now accepts pre existing conditions Medicare or not, so I'm not sure what that guy was talking about

I'm not sure that all U.S. medical insurance does

 

I know that employer group plans certainly do and policies sold on the government exchanges do as well, but not all citizens have access to the exchanges;

 

It's unfortunate that the exchanges aren't functioning as intended because a lot of the big insurance companies have withdrawn - when I last looked at coverage available where I live, it was not very good and fairly expensive

[GinBoy2]

5 minutes ago, gentlemanjackdarby said:

I'm not sure that all U.S. medical insurance does

 

I know that employer group plans certainly do and policies sold on the government exchanges do as well, but not all citizens have access to the exchanges;

 

It's unfortunate that the exchanges aren't functioning as intended because a lot of the big insurance companies have withdrawn - when I last looked at coverage available where I live, it was not very good and fairly expensive

Everyone has access to an exchange.

 

If your State, as does mine in South Dakota, doesn't have an exchange, you simply log in to the Federal exchange.

I know because I did it

[thaibook]

17 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

NO

 

Those that think it does are flat wrong....

 

If you have Medicare Advantage, your policy probably offers emergency cover when out of area including abroad (mine does) but it will not cover routine, long term, chronic, or any other treatment that is not an emergency.

 

So if you are in an accident or have a stroke or heart attack you will be reimbursed but if eg you have diabetes, CKD, CHD, etc you will not be covered.

 

 

 

 

 

[granuaile]

4 hours ago, onera1961 said:

Does medicare advantage covers in Thailand? 

Mine covers me everywhere, same benefits in and out of network. Outside the U.S. it covers emergency care, urgent care, and non-emergency care. Copied from my summary of benefits:

 

Quote

 

Benefits In-Network Out-of-Network
Emergency Care $50 copay (worldwide)
If you are admitted to the hospital within 24 hours,
you pay the inpatient hospital copay instead of the
Emergency copay. See the “Inpatient Hospital Care”
section of this booklet for other costs.
Your benefit includes Non-emergency world-wide
care for 20% coinsurance up to a maximum benefit of
$5,000 per year.

Non-emergency world-wide care does not apply to your
out-of-pocket maximum. A medical emergency is when
you, or any other prudent layperson with an average
knowledge of health and medicine, believe that you
have medical symptoms that require immediate medical
attention to prevent loss of life, loss of a limb, or loss of
function of a limb. The medical symptoms may be an
illness, injury, severe pain, or a medical condition that is
quickly getting worse.
Urgently Needed Services $35 copay (worldwide)
If you are admitted to the hospital within 24 hours, you
pay the inpatient hospital copay instead of the Urgently-
Needed Services copay. See the “Inpatient Hospital
Care” section of this booklet for other costs.
Urgently needed services are provided to treat a
non-emergency, unforeseen medical illness, injury,
or condition that requires immediate medical care.
Worldwide coverage is included when medical services
are needed right away because of an illness, injury, or
condition that you did not expect or anticipate, and you
can’t wait until you are back in our plan’s service area to
obtain services.

 

 

It's through my retirement plan and did require me to sign up for Medicare Part B. But I get the Medicare Advantage, a wellness program, and other things for free. My BCBS was better, but at 65 had to change - BCBS has an actual network here, the problem was local providers even in network weren't really familiar with using a plan designed for States. It's also much better in the U.S. and territories, which is one reason I decided to move back home, though the changes made that a much easier decision.

 

[connda]

2 hours ago, tangerinehouse said:

Must be the most expensive Insurance in the World. An 50.000 to 100.000 THB Yearly Premium for 400.000 THB maximum Cover.

Thats after all not an Insurance. Looks like the Junta must to pamper some Friends.

 

It is clear that the Thais want to get rid off  the Expat  Farangs now, if they not accept my Foreign Insurance ( for some dodgy Reasons, thatvtgey will probably find )  i guess it is finally the Time to Leaf.

 

It's essentially a scam and a gift from the government to their friends in the Insurance business.  Crafted in order to harvest maximum amounts of money from foreigners while providing next to no coverage.  It's an over-priced, piece of junk policy that is officially endorsed by the government and a cash cow for insurers.
No collusion here?  Of course not. 

[Isaanbiker]

Time to pack. 

[SPREX]

That is not a new  https://voicetv.co.th/read/547_x_5fP

https://longstay.tgia.org/

APRIL 3, 2019

Mr. Natthaporn Jatusripitak Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Revealed that the Cabinet meeting (Cabinet) on April 2, passed a resolution approving the addition of the provision of health insurance for foreigners who have applied for a temporary visa Non-Immigrant Visa OA Code (1 year period) as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health

The Ministry of Public Health reported that many foreigners have come to Thailand and there is a need to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Thailand. But there is not enough capital to be used as medical expenses, causing bad debt to hospitals, especially in public hospitals around the country

In order to create a mechanism and measures to protect foreigners in health The government therefore needs to push the policy to make health insurance for foreigners traveling to the country. In the initial stage of the policy, the Royal Thai Police considered and agreed to conduct a pilot in the group of aliens who had requested a temporary visa. Non-Immigrant Visa OA Code (1 year period) due to the applicantThe group refers to all alien groups of nationalities who are 50 years of age or older, with a validity period of 1 year and can stay on yearly. Which is a group of elderly people who have a chance to experience health problems more than those applying for other types of signature

 

Which has considered and considered that the criteria for consideration for permission to allow foreigners to apply for a temporary visa Non-Immigrant Visa OA code (1 year period) to provide Thai health insurance coverage throughout the period of stay in the Kingdom, with the sum insured for medical expenses in the case of outpatient not less than 40,000 baht. In not less than 400,000 baht by purchasing an online policy through the website www.longstay.tgia.org For those who buy health insurance for foreign companies, the amount of insurance must not be less than that of Thai health insurance as wel

[JetsetBkk]

4 hours ago, nongsung said:

4 hours ago, edwinchester said:

I've been an in patient two times in the last three years and both times completed my treatment before paying the bill.

After a cardiac arrest I was in the ICU a couple of days and it was only after 3 days that they politely asked my wife to make a first payment. The rest I paid when I was discharged some days later.

Lucky you. They wouldn't operate on me to remove the kidney stone until I paid up front. So while in a little pain - they gave me drugs - I had to get a taxi to the bank, withdraw 200,000, pay up and was then operated on the same day.

 

Perhaps they just didn't like the look of me.

 

[david555]

18 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

Time to pack. 

not needed just take the cheapest 400k+ 40k one to be in line with the new rules forget the high cover ones

[Tanoshi]

7 hours ago, possum1931 said:

How does that work?

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

[Gee Ku]

May I point out to these legislators hell-bent on forcing insurance on foreigners for their own good that after 70 years of age no insurance company will want to cover these fossils still stumbling around. And even if you have been buying the insurance every year, when you reached age 70 your coverage is stopped. Well now, those legislators who can think (very rare) better come up with a sensible solution - and raising the financial bar on deposits is not sensible. 

[connda]

2 hours ago, aqua4 said:

 

 

 

You dont get printed for your extension? 

 

 

Thats what my wife says, she's your Asian.????

 

 

9 Billion THB injection of cash into the Thai GDP in just one region of Thailand.  But the greedy need more.  Eventually long-stay foreigner will be diverted to the Thai insurance business to take out a over-priced, pieces of junk policies ladened with pre-existing exclusions for the sole purpose of harvesting more and more from the farang cash cows.
Eventually these idiots will kill the geese that lay golden eggs, and then that foreigner supplied cash injection into the Thai GDP will dry up as farangs choose to leave instead of being harvested financially.  
It would be a different story if the Thai companies were offering policies that actually offered adequate coverage, like 10 Million THB or 250k USD.  But this is an obvious scam and an official scam.  LOS - Land of Scams. 
Putting this into a different perspective:
At 75 years old you pay the equivalent of 4 thousand dollars USD for the equivalent of 12 thousand dollars USD of insurance.  That's a pathetically bad joke as well as an obvious scam.  No one in their right mind would buy a policy like that unless under duress.  
Where else in the world is a joke policy such as that required as a condition to stay in a country?  

[JetsetBkk]

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

5 hours ago, JetsetBkk said:

 
Nothing about extensions?
 
"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."
 
 

Yes. Renewing an OA visa, not extending an Extension of Stay.

Semantics. People here often say "renew my retirement visa" when they actually mean "get an extension".

 

Of course, when you criticise them for not using the correct terminology, they usually say "Oh, don't be pedantic, you know what I mean."