Mandatory health insurance for non-immigrant O-A retirement visa holders likely to take effect in July

[tabarin]

7 minutes ago, poohy said:

Or a better idea 

someone post a real insurance certificate that we can all copy / forge

 

That was My Thai mate in Bangkok immediate suggestion

 

We have to learn to think like them

You can go buy anything like that on the deep web markets for 10-50 dollars. You forget that Thais get away with a fine and wai for fraud, we do not.
Also in the scenario you do manage to fake it, and then get in the hospital without coverage or money, they will find out.

They might be stupid with all the data they collect today but a computer system in the future will map it all out visually in X years from now.
There is no data retention for the government here either.

Do not underestimate the power of (digital) data, it works against us already and will even more in the future.

Edited May 16, 2019 by tabarin

[poohy]

2 minutes ago, tabarin said:

You can go buy anything like that on the deep web markets for 10-50 dollars. You forget that Thais get away with a fine and wai for fraud, we do not.
Also in the scenario you do manage to fake it, and then get in the hospital without coverage or money, they will find out.

Fully aware of that but seriously do think they can or would be able to check

Anyway Agents will up their fee to include such certificate..job done!

 

[tabarin]

2 minutes ago, poohy said:

Fully aware of that but seriously do think they can or would be able to check

Anyway Agents will up their fee to include such certificate..job done!

 

They won't be able to check, but they can check and see it when you use medical services. For example in the event of an accident.

Edited May 16, 2019 by tabarin

[poohy]

4 minutes ago, tabarin said:

Also in the scenario you do manage to fake it, and then get in the hospital without coverage or money, they will find out.

If you have not go it now and you wanted it just to "get past the Post' it would not matter one iota 

 

[tabarin]

1 minute ago, poohy said:

If you have not go it now and you wanted it just to "get past the Post' it would not matter one iota 

 

High chance you will be caught if thinking and doing like that in the near future due to big data systems. 
This only still works today, when you would still be awake and able to pay it yourself.

[Lovethailandelite]

While everybody slept, all bases are now covered for future development. 



https://www.thephuketnews.com/tat-enlists-insurance-companies-to-cover-short-stay-tourists-70973.php?fbclid=IwAR36XxVOpBVurKeeB9KyMUu3Y9prXa8M50mnTsNb24nFu8KfrEzMZcdD8Nw#FMYd8vEf5HqiRCgK.97

[Jingthing]

33 minutes ago, expat1010 said:

Aside from the fact, that their facts seem out of whack. I wonder if they will drop the requirement for 800,000 in the bank for those who have the mandatory health insurance? Since that was one of the main justifications for the 800k in the first place.Me thinks they no longer want western retirees taking up residence in Thailand.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

They will not drop it. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

10 minutes ago, Lovethailandelite said:

While everybody slept, all bases are now covered for future development. 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/tat-enlists-insurance-companies-to-cover-short-stay-tourists-70973.php?fbclid=IwAR36XxVOpBVurKeeB9KyMUu3Y9prXa8M50mnTsNb24nFu8KfrEzMZcdD8Nw#FMYd8vEf5HqiRCgK.97

 

That's an optional travel insurance program for incoming travelers.... not a mandatory insurance requirement for tourists to Thailand.

 

[rabas]

25 minutes ago, tabarin said:

You can go buy anything like that on the deep web markets for 10-50 dollars. You forget that Thais get away with a fine and wai for fraud, we do not.
Also in the scenario you do manage to fake it, and then get in the hospital without coverage or money, they will find out.

A Western person well trained in Thai ways/language can get away with more than most Thai.

 

You will not get caught at the hospital if you arrange to pay cash. You do not have to use your insurance. Anyway, most insurance refuses to pay for many things, so you'll need to cough up cash.  

[DUNROAMIN]

Would somebody like to explain to me what a long stay O-A visa is??

[tabarin]

2 minutes ago, rabas said:

A Western person well trained in Thai ways/language can get away with more than most Thai.

 

You will not get caught at the hospital if you arrange to pay cash. You do not have to use your insurance. Anyway, most insurance refuses to pay for many things, so you'll need to cough up cash.  

Yeah and how many well trained Thai speaking 50 year ups did you meet in Thailand, combined with having money too (and then most likely not having this problem)? I think it comes down to even less than there are richer Thais, who get away with it.

Edited May 16, 2019 by tabarin

[rabas]

2 minutes ago, tabarin said:

Yeah and how many well trained Thai speaking 50 year ups did you meet in Thailand, combined with heaving money too (and then most likely not having this problem)?

The ones who know how to get around in Thailand are not the ones heaving money. Money heavers usually just heave money.

[steve73]

1 hour ago, eddysmit said:

I would think you 'hit the nail on the head' with the bulk of the numbers being from neighboring countries.

You are probably correct but the visitors from neighbouring countries probably can't afford to pay, even in the Gov't hospitals, so they're looking to the demographic that can afford to pay.  i.e. those on O-A visa's.

 

FWIW, my experience with Thai health insurance is poor.... I was with BUPA (Now Aetna) and after initially agreeing that I was covered for a slipped disc laminectomy, they defaulted and I had to pay personally, (just under 200k), as they'd said it was a pre-existing condition.  I had declared on the proposal that I suffered for years with occasional back pains, and they had accepted this without comment that it would be excluded.  Bastards!!

 

So if they try to insist any mandatory (but largely worthless) insurance cover at my next extension I will be on the next flight to somewhere else... easy for me though, with few ties though.. 

[Lovethailandelite]

21 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That's an optional travel insurance program for incoming travelers.... not a mandatory insurance requirement for tourists to Thailand.

 

What part of 'Future development' do you not understand? Your not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you?

[metisdead]

Some troll posts have been removed. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 minutes ago, Lovethailandelite said:

What part of 'Future development' do you not understand? Your not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you?

 

Ya... how many years have they been talking about making health insurance a requirement for tourists... and yet... never done it...

 

Instead, they take aim at the 0-A population that isn't the group chiefly responsible for the unpaid hospital bills they're complaining about.

 

And the reason they haven't made it a requirement for tourists is...if they were to do so...their precious annual arrival numbers would drop and many tourists would go elsewhere instead of being bothered.

 

Personally, I would never travel abroad without appropriate health insurance cover. But the world is full of cheapo tourists who don't want to put up with those kinds of requirements. And even the dimwit policy makers here understand that.

 

That's why every time Chinese tourism takes a hit because dozens die in boat sinkings, the government here rushes to waive visa on arrival fees for Chinese, Indians and others.... and sometimes waive general tourist visa application fees.... Amounting to what...piddly amounts per traveler in the context of international travel.

 

 

Edited May 16, 2019 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[somo]

Presumably having to have 800k Baht in the bank for a a 1 year extension of a retirement visa should show I have enough to cover things. If not can I revert to my marriage extension - only 400k needed just more paperwork. Not heard anything about the new rules covering marriage extension

 

[gdhm]

I offer this article I found today:

https://thethaiger.com/thai-life/compulsory-health-insurance-for-foreigners-will-it-affect-you

 

As I am here, I have observed in this and some recent topics, that a few fellow members seem to have a perverse kind of pleasure, in taking opportunity to infer or directly suggest those "not rich" living here in Thailand, who are worrying or struggling with one new Immigration requirement or another, are less worthy to be here. I find it very sad that these few, seem to prefer judging others based upon wealth alone, rather than judging us by our morals, decency and honesty. What pleasure may I ask, does anybody get trying to undermine the confidence of those already worrying they may have to leave and maybe leave their families!

 

Edited May 16, 2019 by gdhm

[micmichd]

35 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That's an optional travel insurance program for incoming travelers.... not a mandatory insurance requirement for tourists to Thailand.

 

They should make it mandatory then. Those short-stay tourists are obviously the group that leave most unpaid bills in Thailand. 

[luckyluke]

^^

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

Edited May 16, 2019 by luckyluke

[NancyL]

The problem of unpaid medical bills at gov't hospitals is a very real problem.  I've seen the statistics at Suan Dok (Chiang Mai University) hospital first-hand and know the ways it happens.  First of all, remember that at gov't hospitals, the staff isn't well-trained in keeping someone's bill up-to-date like they do at private hospitals nor do they personally escort someone to the cashier when their treatment is done.  So, it's fairly easy for someone to "escape", yes that's the word they use, after treatment in the emergency room or even after a routine out-patient appointment.  I've known of people who walk out just because no one explained to them where to go to pay their bill.

 

As for in-patients, it's harder for them to "escape" without paying their bill, but they can plead poverty and the hospital will arrange for a payment contract.  Problem is that it's difficult for make payments.  If paying with bank transfers, you have to fax, yes fax the payment confirmation because the staff at Suan Dok don't have internet access. If someone comes in person, they have to go to two offices to complete the transaction.  I know people who show up on the Suan Dok records as never having made a payment, yet they tell me they have given 10,000 baht/month to their GF, housekeeper or neighbor with instructions to take it to Suan Dok to pay their hospital bill.  Of course, they couldn't produce receipts. 

 

Personally, I think the idea of requiring resident foreigners to have health insurance or a sum in a Thai bank for medical expenses is long overdue.  And so is the idea of requiring travel insurance of visitors.  I've seen first-hand the consequences of not having insurance and the miracles that insurance can create, especially travel insurance for short-time visitors who need assistance to return to their home countries.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

17 minutes ago, micmichd said:

They should make it mandatory then. Those short-stay tourists are obviously the group that leave most unpaid bills in Thailand. 

 

I agree entirely... But instead, they chose for some inexplicable reason to take aim at the O-A group who, by definition, have already have to prove they have significant funds just in order to qualify for the O-A, not to mention, at least being healthy enough to travel internationally back to their home country every year or two to apply for a new O-A.

 

Just to note the actual details:

--with the O-A insurance proposal, O-A holders would have to have coverage for at least 400,000 in inpatient expenses...

--and yet to simply qualify for an O-A, the applicant already has to prove at least 800,000 baht in their bank account or monthly income of at least 65,000 baht or a combination of the two. O-As are typically NOT the destitute ones.

 

If they were actually aiming to address the actual problem of unpaid foreigner hospital bills, by and large, they most likely took aim in entirely the wrong direction in the big scheme of things. Not surprisingly.

Edited May 16, 2019 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Kelsall]

1 hour ago, poohy said:

Or a better idea 

someone post a real insurance certificate that we can all copy / forge

 

That was My Thai mate in Bangkok immediate suggestion

 

We have to learn to think like them

Anyone who would do that sounds like someone they would like to kick out of the country under the Good Guys In, Bad Guys Out policy.

[marcusarelus]

21 minutes ago, NancyL said:

The problem of unpaid medical bills at gov't hospitals is a very real problem.  I've seen the statistics at Suan Dok (Chiang Mai University) hospital first-hand and know the ways it happens.  First of all, remember that at gov't hospitals, the staff isn't well-trained in keeping someone's bill up-to-date like they do at private hospitals nor do they personally escort someone to the cashier when their treatment is done.  So, it's fairly easy for someone to "escape", yes that's the word they use, after treatment in the emergency room or even after a routine out-patient appointment.  I've known of people who walk out just because no one explained to them where to go to pay their bill.

 

As for in-patients, it's harder for them to "escape" without paying their bill, but they can plead poverty and the hospital will arrange for a payment contract.  Problem is that it's difficult for make payments.  If paying with bank transfers, you have to fax, yes fax the payment confirmation because the staff at Suan Dok don't have internet access. If someone comes in person, they have to go to two offices to complete the transaction.  I know people who show up on the Suan Dok records as never having made a payment, yet they tell me they have given 10,000 baht/month to their GF, housekeeper or neighbor with instructions to take it to Suan Dok to pay their hospital bill.  Of course, they couldn't produce receipts. 

 

Personally, I think the idea of requiring resident foreigners to have health insurance or a sum in a Thai bank for medical expenses is long overdue.  And so is the idea of requiring travel insurance of visitors.  I've seen first-hand the consequences of not having insurance and the miracles that insurance can create, especially travel insurance for short-time visitors who need assistance to return to their home countries.

There was an article circulating two days ago (facebook and utube) about how nice Thai hospitals were because they didn't make poor Cambodians pay for their hospital bills.  My wife as going on about how nice the Thai doctors are.  I told her to pat herself on the back because it was actually her the wife of a Farang who was going to end up paying for the poor Cambodians.  

Edited May 16, 2019 by marcusarelus

[jollyhangmon]

13 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Anyone who would do that sounds like someone they would like to kick out of the country under the Good Guys In, Bad Guys Out policy.

 

... true, but don't you worry, agents will facilitate that flawlessly ...

[brewsterbudgen]

Would somebody like to explain to me what a long stay O-A visa is??

A visa for the over-50s that allows a year's stay in Thailand.

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[DUNROAMIN]

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

A visa for the over-50s that allows a year's stay in Thailand.

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2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

A visa for the over-50s that allows a year's stay in Thailand.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

So it seems after todays Nation report anybody holding a Non Immigrant O-A retirement visa will maybe required to have health insurance on renewing their next 1 year extension of stay.

[Kwasaki]

3 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

 

So it seems after todays Nation report anybody holding a Non Immigrant O-A retirement visa will maybe required to have health insurance on renewing their next 1 year extension of stay.

Likely not maybe according to OP.

"Mandatory health insurance for non-immigrant O-A retirement visa holders likely to take effect in July."

[KiChakayan]

41 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Personally, I think the idea of requiring resident foreigners to have health insurance or a sum in a Thai bank for medical expenses is long overdue.  And so is the idea of requiring travel insurance of visitors.  I've seen first-hand the consequences of not having insurance and the miracles that insurance can create, especially travel insurance for short-time visitors who need assistance to return to their home countries.

I agree with the need to have an insurance, but I dread to have to demonstrate to a bunch of uniformed halfwits that my current UN retiree coverage matches their half cooked 40k/400k rip off plans.

[brewsterbudgen]

So it seems after todays Nation report anybody holding a Non Immigrant O-A retirement visa will maybe required to have health insurance on renewing their next 1 year extension of stay.

No. It's only required when applying for a OA (or OX) visa. It doesn't apply for Extensions of any kind.

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