Mandatory health insurance for foreigners aged over 50 in Thailand - why it may not affect you

[wobalt]

by your record of when you came thru your home country immigration. 

My country immigration don‘t monitor it in my passport.
For me it is quite easy to claim as my Thai wife lives permanently in my home country


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[Sheryl]

Yes I've been using these travel insurance policies they are commonly called "backpacker insurance" (very different to annual travel insurance) but often have an upper age limit often 49. I've seen them as much as 18 months long, i usually get 9 months, but often the policy T&Cs will say you need to be your home country (UK in my case) for 6 months before, but they don't seem to check that 

They may not check when they issue the policy but they will if you have a large claim. Make sure you are in full compliance with whatever the requirements are and provide accurate trip dates.

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[losername]

Surely, in terms of this thread, the point is whether Immigration would accept the policy as satisfying their needs.  I see this as a problem.  IO with no training in, or understanding of, health insurance trying to interpret the terms of a policy which may not even be in Thai.  Always easier to say "no".

[wobalt]

If some preconditions like diabetes apply the insurance policy doesn’t cover this., if they will claim that your condition is caused by this. So no money


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[balo]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

For what age? what's the name of that policy?

I'm in my 50's .

Sapphire medium plan. It's the cheapest insurance from AETNA. No OPD, but it covers most in-patient cases and ICU room.  

Ruby would be a better choice but you have to add around 5000. 

 

https://www.aetna.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/get-quote-plan.aspx?t=s&a=51&gids=8,5&class=1#.XOJTmVIzbIV

Edited May 20, 2019 by balo

[SupermarineS6B]

21 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The income or savings requirements are far higher for settling in the UK than for Extensions of Stay in Thailand. Plus UK requires a NHS payment (basically insurance), TB certificate and Thais have to pass a basic English test.

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BS, My mates bird was scared to go to hospital in England due to the foreseeable costs...... She was amazed when they sorted her out and sent her on her merry way....... All for free...... Try that on in Bumyourdad hospital and you'll be in the choki faster than a bacon butty seller in a mosque.......

[brewsterbudgen]

BS, My mates bird was scared to go to hospital in England due to the foreseeable costs...... She was amazed when they sorted her out and sent her on her merry way....... All for free...... Try that on in Bumyourdad hospital and you'll be in the choki faster than a bacon butty seller in a mosque.......

The NHS is great. Your mate's "bird" didn't really get treated for free, as Settlement visas require a NHS fee of (I think £400) to be paid, for the initial visa and then again for LTR. But it's still good value.

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[scubascuba3]

I'm in my 50's .
Sapphire medium plan. It's the cheapest insurance from AETNA. No OPD, but it covers most in-patient cases and ICU room.  
Ruby would be a better choice but you have to add around 5000. 
 
https://www.aetna.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/get-quote-plan.aspx?t=s&a=51&gids=8,5&class=1#.XOJTmVIzbIV

To be honest, cover looks low. Not good value. i tried various options. I doubt the cover would go very far in a private hospital, maybe government, I'm not sure

[ivor bigun]

The NHS is great. Your mate's "bird" didn't really get treated for free, as Settlement visas require a NHS fee of (I think £400) to be paid, for the initial visa and then again for LTR. But it's still good value.

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My wife was never asked for it

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[balo]

22 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I doubt the cover would go very far in a private hospital, maybe government, I'm not sure

i have used my insurance only at private hospitals in Bangkok.

Silom Christian hospital, Saint Louis hospital Sathorn, Camillian hospital Sukhumvit. And BNH . 

Of course if you only visit the most expensive hospitals like Bumrungrad it will not cover a lot. 

 

One time I had a back problem and the expenses for using MRI scan incl the doctor fees was covered by the insurance.  

I agree it's not an extensive coverage , but I am fit for my age and I will not spend more money than necessary on insurance in Thailand.  

If I travel outside of LOS  my travel insurance will cover almost anything. 

Edited May 20, 2019 by balo

[brewsterbudgen]

My wife was never asked for it

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Maybe she applied before 6 April 2015 when it was introduced.

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[ivor bigun]

Maybe she applied before 6 April 2015 when it was introduced.

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Yes,my apologies

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[sumrit]

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The NHS is great. Your mate's "bird" didn't really get treated for free, as Settlement visas require a NHS fee of (I think £400) to be paid, for the initial visa and then again for LTR. But it's still good value.

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That £400 went up to £600 for the initial 2.5 years with another £600 for the next 2.5 years.............and I believe each of those £600 payments increased to £900 as from last month.

[brewsterbudgen]

That £400 went up to £600 for the initial 2.5 years with another £600 for the next 2.5 years.............and I believe each of those £600 payments increased to £900 as from last month.

I guess it's still good value, but when you add on the extortionate costs for the visa and LTR, the income requirements and other tests, it's beyond the reach of some people.

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[Searat7]

Has anyone found travel insurance which meets the anticipated requirements including outpatient ? All of the policies I have seen seem to be for emergency cover only. I live in Thailand 6-7 months a year only and dropped my Thai health insurance once I was forced to buy Medicare in USA. I plan to apply for new O-A visa in early June before traveling to Thailand for long stay in early July so I don’t anticipate a problem this year.


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[marcusarelus]

8 hours ago, losername said:

Surely, in terms of this thread, the point is whether Immigration would accept the policy as satisfying their needs.  I see this as a problem.  IO with no training in, or understanding of, health insurance trying to interpret the terms of a policy which may not even be in Thai.  Always easier to say "no".

Your policy will have to be translated into Thai, reviewed by a specialist and stamped approved, so an Immigration official tells me. 

[tingtongtourist]

6 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Your policy will have to be translated into Thai, reviewed by a specialist and stamped approved, so an Immigration official tells me. 

 

Imagine the amount of time and money this would take for thousands of applicants.. then to educate all the Thais to check and verify?

 

Not to mention, in many countries not even the smartest native can understand the jargon they write the policies in.

 

You would need a lawyer to translate the initial gibberish into understandabable language..then a normal translator to translate that...

then another 2 Thai translators to translate it from English to Thai and then into Thai gibberish.

 

By that time it will be as full of mistakes worse than a game of Chinese whispers.

 

aint gonna happen!

 

 

[moogradod]

18 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Your policy will have to be translated into Thai, reviewed by a specialist and stamped approved, so an Immigration official tells me. 

If your contact may make such detailed statements then can this official not as well clearify or at least significantly contribute to the ongoing debate and the open questions ?

[brewsterbudgen]

If your contact may make such detailed statements then can this official not as well clearify or at least significantly contribute to the ongoing debate and the open questions ?

Good point. Who is this Immigration Official, what does he/she know and why is he not telling us?!

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[wisperone]

1 hour ago, tingtongtourist said:

Your policy will have to be translated into Thai, reviewed by a specialist and stamped approved, so an Immigration official tells me. 

In other words..even if you have another policy from outside of Thailand, you'll probably end up having to purchase the Thai policy. Turning the screws.

[AdamTheFarang]

Are O-A visas for people that do not work in Thailand? All the cash that foreigners bring into the country, buying houses for Thai bargirls, motorbikes, paying the lady every month, bringing in foreign reserves, Euro, Dollar etc compared to the average Thai peasant on 15,000Baht a month NEVER paying any tax in the rice farm you would have thought they could provide medical insurance. No, just another example of how Thai people and Thailand are all TAKE. No shame they think it is clever to beg from foreigners. The best you get is a very most of the time 1 year, the 5 year x 2  does not make sense if you have to tie up all that money, another way for Thai banks to build their balance sheet, what is wrong with foreign banks, another xenophobic trait. You extremely rarely get citizenship, can be kicked out at any time, especially if you upset a connected Thai, setup etc I know of no other country if you marry a citizen and even have children they still do not give you permanent residence, let alone citizenship. I am moving to a country where I get citizenship, health cover and money to go and help with rent It is one of the most developed countries in the world. Thailand is so uneducated and about 50 years behind the time (I lived there for years never again, the place is going backward fast. Thailand only wants your money, not you!

[brewsterbudgen]

Are O-A visas for people that do not work in Thailand? All the cash that foreigners bring into the country, buying houses for Thai bargirls, motorbikes, paying the lady every month, bringing in foreign reserves, Euro, Dollar etc compared to the average Thai peasant on 15,000Baht a month NEVER paying any tax in the rice farm you would have thought they could provide medical insurance. No, just another example of how Thai people and Thailand are all TAKE. No shame they think it is clever to beg from foreigners. The best you get is a very most of the time 1 year, the 5 year x 2  does not make sense if you have to tie up all that money, another way for Thai banks to build their balance sheet, what is wrong with foreign banks, another xenophobic trait. You extremely rarely get citizenship, can be kicked out at any time, especially if you upset a connected Thai, setup etc I know of no other country if you marry a citizen and even have children they still do not give you permanent residence, let alone citizenship. I am moving to a country where I get citizenship, health cover and money to go and help with rent It is one of the most developed countries in the world. Thailand is so uneducated and about 50 years behind the time (I lived there for years never again, the place is going backward fast. Thailand only wants your money, not you!

Do tell us where this paradise is that you're going to?

And to answer your initial question, yes, working is prohibited under an O-A visa.

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[pomozki]

I'm on a work permit but will soon lose my job and revert back to a retirement visa - oops, sorry - revert back to a retirement extension of stay  (I'm 63)

so I don't think I'll (yet) be compelled to take out insurance but I'd like to since my disgusting experience with Bupa Thailand (now Aetna?) forced me to leave them.

question: I received a timely email from an insurance broker who said he would find the best deals for me - ended up offering just one. It's with Regency and the policy has been set up to cater for the minimum required under the new legislation
what worries me is that Regency will not put in writing the exclusions  - every time previously my insurance companies have spelled these out and if you fall ill with anything not listed you're covered
if they refuse to put in writing the exclusions then I fear that if I fall sick with XXX they will claim it falls under YYY and therefore is not covered - am I making sense?
is it usual for ins. companies to not list exclusions and then say they'll match your claim with your previous medical records?

[scubascuba3]

I'm on a work permit but will soon lose my job and revert back to a retirement visa - oops, sorry - revert back to a retirement extension of stay  (I'm 63)
so I don't think I'll (yet) be compelled to take out insurance but I'd like to since my disgusting experience with Bupa Thailand (now Aetna?) forced me to leave them.
question: I received a timely email from an insurance broker who said he would find the best deals for me - ended up offering just one. It's with Regency and the policy has been set up to cater for the minimum required under the new legislation
what worries me is that Regency will not put in writing the exclusions  - every time previously my insurance companies have spelled these out and if you fall ill with anything not listed you're covered
if they refuse to put in writing the exclusions then I fear that if I fall sick with XXX they will claim it falls under YYY and therefore is not covered - am I making sense?
is it usual for ins. companies to not list exclusions and then say they'll match your claim with your previous medical records?

Sounds dodgy to me, i just got a quote back from April Intl Thailand, they were very detailed with questions and tell you what they exclude but is a bit vague

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm on a work permit but will soon lose my job and revert back to a retirement visa - oops, sorry - revert back to a retirement extension of stay  (I'm 63)
so I don't think I'll (yet) be compelled to take out insurance but I'd like to since my disgusting experience with Bupa Thailand (now Aetna?) forced me to leave them.
question: I received a timely email from an insurance broker who said he would find the best deals for me - ended up offering just one. It's with Regency and the policy has been set up to cater for the minimum required under the new legislation
what worries me is that Regency will not put in writing the exclusions  - every time previously my insurance companies have spelled these out and if you fall ill with anything not listed you're covered
if they refuse to put in writing the exclusions then I fear that if I fall sick with XXX they will claim it falls under YYY and therefore is not covered - am I making sense?
is it usual for ins. companies to not list exclusions and then say they'll match your claim with your previous medical records?

Be careful about Regency for Expats. Nearly all but their most expensive policies only cover inpatients for a "semi-private" room. A lot of hospitals in Thailand only have private rooms.

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[marcusarelus]

19 hours ago, moogradod said:

If your contact may make such detailed statements then can this official not as well clearify or at least significantly contribute to the ongoing debate and the open questions ?

Said they have no information regarding insurance for extensions or any thing but the A-X visa. 

[brewsterbudgen]

Said they have no information regarding insurance for extensions or any thing but the A-X visa. 

Maybe because those are the only visas which will require insurance! Why do you persist in thinking it will apply to Extensions? Surely your contact would know by now, if it was going to start from 1 July?

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[tingtongtourist]

On 5/20/2019 at 10:47 PM, wisperone said:

In other words..even if you have another policy from outside of Thailand, you'll probably end up having to purchase the Thai policy. Turning the screws.

that post is from the guy i quoted, not me. but never mind.

Thai minister said overseas policies ok, but first must work on a ways to verifying.

 

So, chop chop lads, we have 2 months to train thousands of IMM officers to read all languages of the world and understand all worlds of insurance policies.

 

yes sir,

can do

can do

no plobrem

 

 

 

 

 

[Torrens54]

On 5/15/2019 at 5:13 PM, Sparkles said:

You're not thick.Recommendation from my Dr today was to just wait until there is more clarification.

Imm always go off half cocked and some media put their own spin on it and no 2 Imm offices operate under the same rules.

 

I share your concern being married myself to a lovely Thai lady for 15 years and her coming with me to Austalia is not an option due to the cost of living in Australia.

 

If Thailand came up with a reasonably priced  health insurance using only Gov Hospitals it would be a welcome option.

 

The Aus $ has hit an all time low in my 17 yrs here ,that doesnt help

Thanks mate,

very similar situation here. We returned to CNX after I retired as even with our own home in Oz, the costs were Over The Top particularly with our daughter in school. She’s now at CMU  and I couldn’t pull her out of there to return to Australia.

 

However, today’s version of THE LAW ( Friday 24 May) is very encouraging...as long as they Stick To It. The Health scheme that the previously ELECTED Gvt., introduced for the Ferang was fine...but of course that was “thrown out with the bath water” when Yingluck was booted out.

 

Anyway...thanks again... and Fingers Crossed !

who knows, the Oz Dollar might, just might get a little better...

toes crossed!

 

[daejung]

5 hours ago, Torrens54 said:

However, today’s version of THE LAW ( Friday 24 May) is very encouraging...as long as they Stick To It. The Health scheme that the previously ELECTED Gvt., introduced for the Ferang

was fine...but of course that was “thrown out with the bath water” when Yingluck was booted out.

Clear as mud ... ????

Any more information or are we supposed to search on Google ?