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

[Peterw42]

5 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

I understand the rule something like this : some retirees need the mandatory insurance and other retirees do not need it and the price of the insurance is various.

I would add the word "maybe" need/not need. Otherwise its a great summery so far.

[zydeco]

10 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

How are they getting an extension without putting money in a Thai bank ? its 65k a month 800k pa

There is no requirement for maintaining an account balance. As long as they get their 65K per month posted, they can withdraw it all the next day. That may be seen as a problem. 400,000 minimum maintained in a bank account permanently, as with the 800,000 retirees might be what they're thinking. 

[Knee Jerk Reaction]

22 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

This article should begin with an apology something like this: "We sincerely apologise for the previous article which was misleadling, uninformed and complete crap."

Job done. I wonder how many worried people clicked on the provided health insurance links.

[user46546545]

Yeah right- the only facts in that verbiage  is the paragraph "But it should be stressed that we are still awaiting clarification from Immigration regarding the interpretation and implementation of the new mandatory health insurance rules, including who exactly is affected". 

Perhaps a line should also be added to the headline- "In my opinion why...………………………………….."

[Uptooyoo]

1 hour ago, connda said:

There is a huge difference between having 'adequate health or medical insurance' and being forced to buy mandated insurance that covers little to nothing but cost a fortune, and is so full of exclusions for pre-existing conditions as to be fundamentally useless.  But the mandated insurance which covers little and costs a fortune are those being touted by the Thai government.  

I have adequate insurance in excess of 30 million THB, but it doesn't meet the terms of Thailand's mandated insurance.  And that's a problem.

Perhaps the goal isn't to protect hospitals from foreigners who dash-out with unpaid medical bills. Maybe the purpose is to mandate a lucrative stream of money into the coffers of Thai insurance companies. The banks have their 800K baht locked up in expat deposits; maybe insurance companies want their cut too. Which gives to reason to mandate policies with expensive premiums, but pay almost nothing in coverage: 400,000 baht coverage is a joke... many of us could pay that in cash or put it on a credit card. But doing that wouldn't enrich the status quo.

[pollyog]

Having just scoured many Thai government websites etc it would appear that an NonO and a NonO-A visa are the same thing if either has been subsequently used to obtain an extension of stay, so all of us long-term farangs must have the health cover for our next renewal as far as I can tell.  

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Kay McDonnell said:

Maybe media outlets should clarify the information before announcing these statements in future. 

It's hard for the news to be clear when the source announcements from the govt are unclear and vaguely worded.

 

Notwithstanding this latest article by TVF, the bottom line is, no one still really knows for certain whether retirement extensions will be covered or not.

[Peterw42]

4 minutes ago, pollyog said:

Having just scoured many Thai government websites etc it would appear that an NonO and a NonO-A visa are the same thing if either has been subsequently used to obtain an extension of stay, so all of us long-term farangs must have the health cover for our next renewal as far as I can tell.  

Maybe read the OP again, it appears its not for extensions of stay.

[zydeco]

3 minutes ago, Uptooyoo said:

Perhaps the goal isn't to protect hospitals from foreigners who dash-out with unpaid medical bills. Maybe the purpose is to mandate a lucrative stream of money into the coffers of Thai insurance companies.

Of course. What this government has suddenly realized is that every time there is a shortage in cash flow, they can dream up some new requirement for expats on retirement extensions. First 400K/800K minimums. Now, the health insurance. Why not, say, a public utility fee, next? Expats use roads, electrical lines, water treatment, don't they? Shouldn't they pay a special fee for that, being outsiders?  How about "security fees" to reimburse innocent Thais who may be taken advantage of by unscrupulous Westerners? Makes as much sense as the expats absconding from hospitals and not paying. How about an English language fee to recover the government cost of putting all those documents and websites in exquisite English language prose? Westerners are usually larger than Thais, too; how about a public space fee for making the BTS, buses, and other public conveyances more crowded?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Btw, amidst all this, what about all the tourists who come here without insurance, get wracked up, snd end up having to do GoFundMe's just to get out of hospitals....

 

When it comes to tourists, apparently, the govt doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds them by requiring proof of insurance the 30 some million tourists????

 

But is ok to go after a tiny population by comparison of OA visa holders... When was the last time you heard an OA visa holder broke in the hospital and begging on GoFundMe???

[Peterw42]

13 minutes ago, Uptooyoo said:

Perhaps the goal isn't to protect hospitals from foreigners who dash-out with unpaid medical bills. Maybe the purpose is to mandate a lucrative stream of money into the coffers of Thai insurance companies. The banks have their 800K baht locked up in expat deposits; maybe insurance companies want their cut too. Which gives to reason to mandate policies with expensive premiums, but pay almost nothing in coverage: 400,000 baht coverage is a joke... many of us could pay that in cash or put it on a credit card. But doing that wouldn't enrich the status quo.

Yes, they just want a piece of that over 50, over weight, drinking, smoking, diabetes and heart disease pie. Insurance companies dream about customers like that, lol

[zydeco]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Btw, amidst all this, what about all the tourists who come here without insurance, get wracked up, snd end up having to do GoFundMe's just to get out of hospitals....

 

When it comes to tourists, apparently, the govt doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds them by requiring proof of insurance the 30 some million tourists????

 

But is ok to go after a tiny population by comparison of OA visa holders... When was the last time you heard an OA visa holder broke in the hospital and begging on GoFundMe???

The only long term expat I remember seeing putting up a GoFundMe page was that UK guy with throat cancer a few months back. Otherwise, it usually seems to be 20 to 30 somethings who think they've suddenly become Speed Racer and quickly find out that roads her make The Running Man look like a stroll through the park.

[zydeco]

1 minute ago, Peterw42 said:

Yes, they just want a piece of that over 50, over weight, drinking, smoking, diabetes and heart disease pie. Insurance companies dream about customers like that, lol

Well, they do, actually. Because all those things are excluded from coverage.

[GeorgeCross]

56 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

This article should begin with an apology something like this: "We sincerely apologise for the previous article which was misleadling, uninformed and complete crap."

 

ah i don't know the original article seemed clear enough to me..

 

the comments after it not so much ????

 

 

[bigginhill]

8 minutes ago, pollyog said:

Having just scoured many Thai government websites etc it would appear that an NonO and a NonO-A visa are the same thing if either has been subsequently used to obtain an extension of stay, so all of us long-term farangs must have the health cover for our next renewal as far as I can tell.  

 

https://longstay.tgia.org/Home/Guideline

Guidelines.

---

Guidelines for applying Health Insurance for Long Stay Visa in Thailand

 

 

https://thaiembdc.org/visas/ What Type of Visa Should you Apply for?

 

 

Types of Visas	Purpose of visit to Thailand
Tourist Visa “TR” Single   Tourist Visa “TR”  Boxing training, scuba diving training  and yoga training	Those who wish to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposes.   Those who wish to enter the Kingdom for boxing training, scuba diving training, and yoga training.
Tourist Visa “TR” Multiple	This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposes, with multiple entries
Tourist Visa Category “MT”	Those who wish to enter the Kingdom for medical treatment at hospitals / medical facilities in Thailand.
Transit Visa Category  “S / TS / C”	To travel in transit through Thailand to proceed to the country of destination or to re-enter his/her own country: (Category “TS”)   To participate in sports activities(Category “S”) The person in charge or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station or area in the Kingdom: (Category “C”)
Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B”	Those who wish to conduct business (Business)/ or work (Working)/ or work as a teacher (Teaching) in Thailand.
Non-Immigrant Visa Category “M”	Those who wish to work as a film-producer, journalist or reporter
Non-Immigrant Visa Category “ED”	Those who wish to study or do an internship in Thailand.
Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O”	Those who wish to stay with family in Thailand (Thai Family) or wish to do volunteering work with the state enterprises or social welfare organizations in Thailand  (Volunteering)
Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O-A” (1 year)   Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O-X” (10 years)           http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Long-Stay).html Thailand Visa Information : Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) Non-Immigrant Visa  “O-A” (Long Stay)   This type of visa may be issued to applicants aged 50 years and over who wish to stay in  Thailand for a period of not exceeding 1 year without the intention of working.    Holder of this type of visa is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year.  Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.   1. Eligibility             1.1 Applicant must be aged 50 years and over (on the day of submitting application).             1.2 Applicant not prohibited from entering the Kingdom as provided by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).             1.3 Having no criminal record in Thailand and the country of the applicant’s nationality or residence.             1.4 Having the nationality of or permanent residence in the country where application is submitted.             1.5 Not having prohibitive diseases ( Leprosy, Tuberculosis, drug addiction, Elephantiasis, third phase of Syphilis) as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14  B.E. 2535.              1.6 Employment in Thailand is prohibited.       And on their page of visa's available there is no O visa  http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908   According to this retirement is an O-A and long stay and the link for the insurance is for long stay visa holders .  Have I got it wrong?	Those age 50 years and over who wish to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 1 year without the intention of working. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

[DrTuner]

Thai immigration is testing the waters, if there's no "outrage", they'll simply expand their policies to other visa classes and extensions. Which they might do regardless. It's a risk factor.

[Shaunduhpostman]

19 minutes ago, pollyog said:

Having just scoured many Thai government websites etc it would appear that an NonO and a NonO-A visa are the same thing if either has been subsequently used to obtain an extension of stay, so all of us long-term farangs must have the health cover for our next renewal as far as I can tell.  

I have the same worry, that there will be some kind of conflation of the two visa types, though I don' think it would happen via the way you are suggesting. The ask for proof of insurance would be happening at the embassies issuing visas and I can't imagine that the embassies would have info from immigration about whether we have used a plain O visa to get an extension of stay. Typically, Thai govt branches don't cooperate much. What seems strange to me is that they don't just ask all long term stayers to get insurance, why the focus on retirees? Seems there would be more money in charging for insurance from people below 50. My guess is that very soon, without missing a beat, they'll just throw the non-O long termers in with the retirees. I suppose it is better to just put all this on the back burner till we get reports back of what is happening to people when applying at embassies. Not too nice to have to go all the way to some embassy not knowing anymore what will be required, but rather Thailand in modus operandi as usual.

[DrTuner]

Visa OX, also know as Visa Buffalo, suitable for farang kwai baa only. Useless visa class.

[Cranky]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Agree, clear as mud.

 

I wish someone with the appropriate skills would put into an easy to read / understand graphic.

 

Perhaps multiple columns, each column representing a visa / extension type then in each column a 'does apply ' or 'doesn't apply', or whatever.

It is crystal clear that anyone, any age, anywhere on the planet should have adequate health and accident insurance at home, on holiday or if they live or are outside of a country like the UK that has a NHS.  Why should someone else be expected to foot the bill if you get sick, crash your rental motorbike (regardless of fault) or get banged on the head by a ladyboy out to nick your wallet (regardless of fault). 

 

What is it with people that think they are bullet-proof as soon as they board a plane?

 

[mindfulness]

1 hour ago, MikeN said:

And are they equally happy to take the wives and children ? Or do they stay in Thailand ?

That’s when you can just smell nationalistic prejudice in the land of (false) smiles. 

 

Tough cookie your immediate family has nothing to do with the issue and out humanity to a family unit is non existent. 

[alzack]

I dont think this is off topic, but maybe you might take it on board. we returned to live in the uk 2016. my Thai wife's  UK visa was all ok, but we had to pay almost £900  (about 38,000 baht) for a 2.5 year UK national health insurance for her. Once she becomes full resident, she will of course have access to full free National health here.  So its not a lot to ask expats to have that security for health. But older ex pats could feel the pinch, if they are too old to get a policy, they could will see the bank money they need go way up.

[totally thaied up]

7 minutes ago, Cranky said:

What is it with people that think they are bullet-proof as soon as they board a plane?

Many of us have insurance. Mine is up to 18 million a year but with no OPD. OPD would almost double my already high premiuM. Who in his right mind would pay for OPD when it is so cheap.

[rott]

2 hours ago, carbon007 said:

I have been here 12 years and this is the first time I realise (have been explained) that a "Retirement" visa (which I have) is not the same as an extension of a "Non-immigrant O-A" visa.

Let us see how long time this distinction will be upheld

 

There is no extension of a Non-Immigrant O-A Visa. It has to be  renewed in your home country.

Neither is there an extension of the Non-Immigrant O Visa, you can get an extension of stay based on retirement. But the visa remains the visa. The extension doeas not state Visa.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, rott said:

There is no extension of a Non-Immigrant O-A Visa. It has to be  renewed in your home country.

Neither is there an extension of the Non-Immigrant O Visa, you can get an extension of stay based on retirement. But the visa remains the visa. The extension doeas not state Visa.

You're just playing word games. Of course people that started with O-A visas can get annual extensions based on retirement in exactly the same way as people that started with O visas. Probably the majority of expats here (and many officers as well) say "renew visas" when talking about annual extensions in Thailand.

[sambum]

2 hours ago, Kay McDonnell said:

Maybe media outlets should clarify the information before announcing these statements in future. 

Post of the week!

[gunderhill]

11 minutes ago, Cranky said:

anywhere on the planet should have adequate health and accident insurance at home, on holiday or if they live or are outside of a country like the UK that has a NHS

No and No again, having a  lump sum set aside is what I and many others do, we dont want insurance, I accept if i cant afford medical care   Ill die, thats my  choice I dont expect or want anyone to save me, some of us still have some values in life as well as  death.

[DrTuner]

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Probably the majority of expats here (and many officers as well) say "renew visas" when talking about annual extensions in Thailand.

Which is something nobody should be doing as it just creates confusion. One small thing everyone can do is not to parrot the immigration Thaiglish where extension=visa when in fact extension!=visa.

[gunderhill]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Finally, if you are living in Thailand permanently, this should not deter from the fact that it is always recommended you have adequate health or medical insurance.

Stop  pushing it,  how about adding "or a  lump sum set aside for an emergency"

[Jingthing]

15 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Which is something nobody should be doing as it just creates confusion. One small thing everyone can do is not to parrot the immigration Thaiglish where extension=visa when in fact extension!=visa.

Yeah, but people do, and my point is obvious. If you hear that language from Thai immigration or the "press" here it's impossible to know exactly what they're talking about. 

[ericdiam]

Have a NON-O- retirement visa ending 27 June 2019

Will go to immigration for RE-ENTRY PERMIT

Will I need the health insurance here already this time? Or there is not change in requirements here so far?