Health insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners in Thailand

[bkk6060]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't tell them you've been away and it's free.

So, you are advising to lie and commit fraud?

Wow, says a lot.....

[travelerjim]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I don't know any foreigners with an O-A VISA so the thread is irrelevant.

Read again. .it is for those on LONG STAY....O-A and Extensions of Stay for retirement are included.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

If medical self-insurance translates to higher financial deposit requirements, are visa agents now going to get into the "self-insurance" business as well? No doubt.

 

Just looks like more opportunity for corruption to me. Insurers selling overpriced policies to people forced to buy them, or visa agents gouging foreigners and immigration officers taking bribes to circumvent these regulations.

 

If Thailand's so worried about getting stuck with unpaid medical bills from foreigners, why, pray tell, have they required that retirees tie up 800K for 5 months and 400,000 baht permanently on a year round basis? Money which could be used in a medical emergency? And if Thailand's so worried about getting stuck with unpaid medical bills from foreigners, why didn't they consider allowing foreigners to buy into the national health care system? Especially, foreigners who have Thai family here?

 

And how about simplifying immigration requirements, Thailand? There'd be so much less stress. Fewer expats having heart attacks, strokes, nervous breakdowns, abusing alcohol, suffering from insomnia, eating disorders and anxiety from worrying about their next 90 day report, TM-30 report, bank letter, or visa renewal. Less stress equals less burden on Thailand's health care system.

 

What'd'ya say, Thailand?

 

 

This post is the most sensible on this thread so far and is likely to be the only one

 

well said

[TheAppletons]

8 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

I thought we've gone over this already. Even Ubonjoe has said it hasn't he? The health insurance in the news article does not mention extensions - just visas and visa renewals!?

>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. 

  And that's where it gets murky.  Many people start off with an O-A visa and then "renew" it by obtaining an extension of their permission to stay.  One cannot "renew" an O-A visa; one obtains a new one.  Remains to be seen.

  

[mfd101]

7 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

The health insurance in the news article does not mention extensions - just visas and visa renewals!?

>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. 

And the difference between a 'visa renewal' and a 'visa extension' is?

[Frenske]

So the thb 800.000,- in a bank for retirement will change to thb 400.000,- Because as they sad it was meant for medical emergencies. Health insurance coverage at least thb 400.000 a year. Thai health system is collapsing and it looks to me that they're just using foreigners to keep up the current health system for the thai people.

[Badrabbit]

This post is the most sensible on this thread so far and is likely to be the only one
 
well said

Great post and in a country where common sense is high that would be working, no common sense here whatsoever!!!

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[Jeffrey346]

14 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I was in the government hospital yesterday, saw the doctor, saw the nurses, minor treatment, given meds to take home.

Took a while, was there 5hrs, total bill 77bht.

I am insured by the Thai Gov.. My co-pay is B280. How can your bill be B77, Makes no sense..

 

[Dellboy218]

What's the 800,000B for then? Been in the bank for nearly 20 years.  

[rott]

1 hour ago, SpokaneAl said:

A non imm o-a multi entry visa is obtained via a Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country and gotten be purchased in Thailand. You have an extension of stay based on marriage.

"gotten be purchased in Thailand"??

 

Please explain?

[kiwikeith]

4 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?

If big joke was bad, then the new boss is worse.

Many more expats will leave now .

Health insurance is a good thing but very expensive, combined with the new banking rules prohibitive for many more now.

I think the NZ government should revoke the ACC rights for tourists, an accident compensation insurance that covers visitors to NZ.

The Koreans sent many Thais packing back to LOS after BJ deported a lot of Koreans.

I found the public health system in Thailand quite reasonable, I did have to return to NZ for health problems once, however if your caught out and no insurance then you are in trouble.

I had to stay in hospital in Udon Thani for one week costing me 37,000 Bht, plus a scan of 10,000.

So it would have mounted up if worse problems had existed.

Crowd funding has helped many out, I am not sure whether absconding of tourists or expats is a big problem.

I know they were not going to let me go without paying, I was escorted to the ATM and gladly paid my bill.

 

 

[bkk6060]

2 minutes ago, Jeffrey346 said:

I am insured by the Thai Gov.. My co-pay is B280. How can your bill be B77, Makes no sense..

 

Probably the cost of a Coke in the waiting room.

????

[Badrabbit]

So, you are advising to lie and commit fraud?
Wow, says a lot.....

And that's why the NHS is in trouble due to scammers who have no Morals!!

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[Bangkok Basha]

This is likely to add another $2000-$3000/year to the cost of living here for 70-something year old retirees, or $220/month (if you can get a policy in the first place). 

[Laza 45]

4 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?

A non immigrant OA visa is a multi entry visa that you apply for in your home country.. at the end of the first year you can leave the country before the visa expires.. re-enter and get a 2nd year.. but no re-entrys in 2nd year..  requirements:  65K per month income or combination income & cash deposit.. medical check.. police check...and now .. insurance..   Non O married visa is not mentioned in the press release.. Good question.. will Non O married require insurance too???  Does anyone know?   Also.. does anyone know insurance company that will cover 75 years+ ?? 

[rabas]

12 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

And the difference between a 'visa renewal' and a 'visa extension' is?

A Visa allows you to vis, i.e., cross the border and enter.

An extension (of stay) allows you to stay longer.

 

[Badrabbit]

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

A poster booster that he was away from the UK for over 7 yrs, says he returned to the UK to have an operation, guess he was using a false address maybe family or friends address.

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[schlog]

Compared with this new insurance scam the Elite visa is cheap as chips with ~8.300 per month.

The best you get hassle free 5 year visa with great service and free limo.

[khunbillmex]

When does this requirement take effect?

[wwest5829]

4 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

I am sure, with the proficiency of English within the Thai immigration, this should not pose any problems ! ???? ???? ????

555 ... wait, what?! Why am I laughing??? I am one who self insures, there is a policy that covers me up to $5000.00 a year for overseas costs. I used this policy to cover half the costs of my heart attack/stent in 2015. I am unable to get a reasonably priced insurance policy (and they exclude all pre-existing heart/circulatory issues). Yet another thing is thrown at me causing "heartache". We'll see how this plays out. I do get a chuckle out of even contemplating Thai Immigration checking with all global insurance coverage which varies greatly, not to mention the various exclusions for individuals covered.

[473geo]

I fully understand the requirement for insurance, however this package appears miss the 3 week tourists who arrive without insurance.

My suggestion would be 1000 baht on arrival for each month duration of stay in Thailand, pushed into a central medical fund for Aliens in Thailand. Easy to apply and should prove adequate if not abused. Review P&L after 12 months then review.

Any subsequent extension of stay same charge applies.

[DavisH]

I think the millions of uninsured tourists put far more burden on medical services than the 1000's of foreigners living here. having said that, everyone should take steps to get insurance, regardless of their type of visa. Fortunately, my wife is a civil servant, so I'm covered. No idea if this will apply to those on B visas. 

[mercman24]

i have been in outpatients twice in 6 years, first  time 4 years ago (air polution shadow on lung)) BKK , x ray, all the checks, bill less than 2000, second time Pattaaya, same procedure, (gall stone) bill 1400. how the hell does this add up to 40,000 this is in 6 years by the way, if that were the case it would have cost me 240,000 not 2400, a bloody joke.the number of times i have have been aware of Thais trotting off to hospital with a dam headache, its unbelievable, whilst us farangs just get on with it. like when we  get the runs, and i get every single time *why you not go to hospital* lol

[Longcut]

So, if they make this mandatory and everyone gets a health insurance policy. What is the point of requiring 800K baht in the bank? What excuse are they going to use to mandate that?

 

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

4 hours ago, gunderhill said:

so kind of  him to  tell us

Any quick to lead us by the nose to an insurance portal longstay.tgia.org. The ones who will benefit the most. 

[Sticky Wicket]

1 minute ago, 473geo said:

I fully understand the requirement for insurance, however this package appears miss the 3 week tourists who arrive without insurance.

My suggestion would be 1000 baht on arrival for each month duration of stay in Thailand, pushed into a central medical fund for Aliens in Thailand. Easy to apply and should prove adequate if not abused. Review P&L after 12 months then review.

Any subsequent extension of stay same charge applies.

I think 500 was added a few years ago. That fund has been cleared out already by various officials

[rott]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Ask your fellow expat low lifes who have not been paying their hospital bills...

How much exactly has been left owing by long stay expats?

I have never heard of one case, but logically there will be a few. So come on how much does it come to annually and I mean long stayers not tourists?

[glennb6]

not sure if this is really official or not yet nor if there will be additional fine print, we'll see.

 

I have health ins with one of the providers listed on that website. It's not very high coverage and I opted for a deductible and no OP coverage, and I haven't been sick or needed a hospital since I was 6yrs old (knock on wooden head). However I feel a bit better knowing I have reasonable coverage if ------ happened.

 

Hmm, the LongStayCoverage Plan premium for my age is 87,000 baht annual which provides lesser total coverage than I have now with same company. My current annual is 37,000 before discounts applied. So, pending fine print, clarifications, and official announcements it appears another 50,000b will be needed.

 

If it involves government and big business it will involve corruption, graft, and theft. Same as in the ussa.

[sumrit]

8 minutes 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? 

First of all, the NHS is NOT free to anybody, regardless of whether you live in the UK or elsewhere.

 

Basically, it's paid for out of the taxes we pay and our higher income tax and National Insurance costs/premiums reflect this.

 

I'm not sure of all the exact rules/timescales now, but a few years ago I was on a three month holiday in the UK and needed to visit my GP. A temporary doctor was on duty at the time who told me the rules then were 'because I'd been living abroad for more than three months I was no longer entitled to NHS treatment, plus I would have to be back in the UK  for at least six months before I became entitled again'.

 

As I understand it, a UK citizen not entitled to NHS treatment would be charged 150% of the cost of any treatment received. However, nobody would be refused emergency treatment, regardless of their circumstances.

[Melbun]

1 minute ago, Longcut said:

So, if they make this mandatory and everyone gets a health insurance policy. What is the point of requiring 800K baht in the bank? What excuse are they going to use to mandate that?

 

 So you can pay your rent, don't end up living like a bum on the street, can feed and clothe yourself and have money left over for girlies - what else.