Mandatory health insurance for Non O-A visa effective from 31 October

[Russell17au]

2 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

For a country that gives expats absolutely nothing.....They have no rights at all to make visas harder.... 

You are in Thailand and like every other country in the world they have the right to set what ever requirements that they like for the visa applications for their country, the same as Australia sets its own requirements so does UK and USA. You do not have the right to dictate to any country on how hard they make their visa applications.

[fforest1]

1 minute ago, Russell17au said:

You are in Thailand and like every other country in the world they have the right to set what ever requirements that they like for the visa applications for their country, the same as Australia sets its own requirements so does UK and USA. You do not have the right to dictate to any country on how hard they make their visa applications.

Sorry but a lousy comparison the USA the UK and Australia give expats-immigrants loads.......Thailand zilch..... 

[AussieBob18]

2 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

You are in Thailand and like every other country in the world they have the right to set what ever requirements that they like for the visa applications for their country, the same as Australia sets its own requirements so does UK and USA. You do not have the right to dictate to any country on how hard they make their visa applications.

Aus, UK and USA do not demand 90 day reporting, minimum money kept in a bank account, extortionate scam imsurance, TM30 notifications if you move for 24 hours, etc etc etc.  What people are saying is that Thailand is out of order - rightly.

 

[just bob]

This whole thing is a brown envelope pig slop fest between the government and the Thai General Insurance Association.  At my age, the 400,000 coverage amounts to about $13,100 US at 30.5 to the dollar.  For this I would pay a 59,000 baht premium (one of the least expensive I found).  That's almost $2000 a year.

 

I busted my ass and made my fortune and self insure.  I can afford it.  This is nothing more than another fee to live in the kingdom.  The coverage is absurdly inadequate and the premiums usurious.

 

It really beggars belief.

 

[Russell17au]

1 minute ago, fforest1 said:

Sorry but a lousy comparison the USA the UK and Australia give expats-immigrants loads.......Thailand zilch..... 

The comparison was that all the other countries have the right to set the rules for their visa application the same as Thailand does and you don't have the right to dictate to Thailand that they have no right to make the visa applications harder when in fact they have all the right to set the rules as they see fit the same as the other countries in the world

[Russell17au]

4 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

Aus, UK and USA do not demand 90 day reporting, minimum money kept in a bank account, extortionate scam imsurance, TM30 notifications if you move for 24 hours, etc etc etc.  What people are saying is that Thailand is out of order - rightly.

 

It does not matter what the rules are or whether you like them or not every country has the right to set their own rules and if you do not like those rules then you do not apply for a visa to go to that country.

[sirineou]

2 hours ago, emptypockets said:

I really wish people would follow the links in the articles posted. The cost of the insurance to meet the requirements is about 20,000 baht a year. Less than 400 baht a week. For someone contemplating spending 12 months in Thailand it is the proverbial drop in the ocean. That is with major insurers like AXA and Pacific Cross.

I have being coming to Thailand for over 13 years, Married to a lovely Thai lady for over 10 years, we build a nice house a  there a few years ago, and own my wife's parents home after they passed away.

Never had to worry about visas as I never stay in thailand more than a month or so  at the time since I still work.Always came in on a Visa Exempt and did a border run , easy since we live in Khon Kaen and we like taking trips to Nong Khai. No need for travel insurance as my Blue Cross Blue shield insurance covers me in Thailand.But if I stop working it goes away.

  I am now 62 and thinking about retiring to Thailand full time, or part time .

The more I read these threads (i read every reply) the more I get confused I get. And I don't seem to be the only one.

First . Is there a place where it explains all the different visas? I read the Thai Embassy website and it explains all the different Visas but does not use the acronyms you guys use .  

-There is a tourist visa good for 60 days (multiple entry or single entry), extendable to another 30 days via a border run.

-Non Immigrant visa 90 days extendable via visa run and other than the length of time it is also different from a tourist visa in that you can apply for a work permit, or open a bank account 

-One Year Non-Immigrant Visa, which is also good for 90 days but can do multiple visa runs up to a year

-Then according to the Embassy website there is a Marriage visa and a retirement visa, but you all say there is not such a thing and all it is  a Non immigrant visa that gets converted to a Marriage/retirement extension.

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/thailand-visa-types.php

So far so good

What are all these O-As and other acronyms. So a search on "what is a  O-A brings up the Royal Thai Consulate which has a totally different explanation  

"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.  "

http://www.thaiembassy.org/hochiminh/en/services/2912/35220-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O-A"-(Longstay).html

 Then we get to the medical insurance requirement.   You Need it if if you get a O-A at your country but not if you get in  Thailand. More confusion there. How do I come to Thailand to get a O-A there?

 So many questions but this is already getting too long.

Is there a source that explains all the above questions? Should I just come in on a visa exempt ot tourist visa and let a visa agent worry about all these?

 

 

 

[fforest1]

1 minute ago, Russell17au said:

The comparison was that all the other countries have the right to set the rules for their visa application the same as Thailand does and you don't have the right to dictate to Thailand that they have no right to make the visa applications harder when in fact they have all the right to set the rules as they see fit the same as the other countries in the world

In the business world if you give a lot you can ask for a lot....

 

And... If you dont give much of you can not ask for much....

 

But... if you dont give much but ask for a lot you will find yourself kicked out the back door in short order.....

[kevin612]

Only rich people can live everywhere in the world.

[madmen]

2 hours ago, AussieBob18 said:

Probably. And it does not apply to extensions in country - at this stage. 

And it won't why? Because extensions ALREADY require 400k year round in the bank ..gee what a coincidence the new insurance is also 400k

[Russell17au]

1 minute ago, fforest1 said:

In the business world if you give a lot you can ask for a lot....

 

And... If you dont give much of you can not ask for much....

 

But... if you dont give much but ask for a lot you will find yourself kicked out the back door in short order.....

This is not the business world this is the rules of the countries immigration so your scenario does not work in this case

[Airalee]

46 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

Here's an idea. Instead of these overpriced insurance policiies, could you just have an extra 440,000 baht in CASH above the current financial requirements? 

I guess not, seems that this is only designed just so the insurance companies can make a profit.

Thank god I'm not affected for now, but if I had to be forced to buy these stupidly overpriced scam policies, this is what I'd do. Every year, I'd make sure that I get 400,000 Baht's worth of Treatment. Sick or not. I want 400k of mandatory healthcare. In doind so, it would drive up the costs for everyone else so this stupid idea collapses.

 

Agree with you that it’s basically a gift to the insurance companies.  Thailand is slowly becoming a FIRE economy. (finance, insurance, real estate).

 

However, I’d recommend doing the exact opposite of what you’re considering with regards to maxing out claims.  I suspect that like most policies, any claims will lead to higher premiums each subsequent year.  In my estimation, there is no way the government will let this collapse as it’s a cash cow for big business.  They will just assume that if we can’t afford the insurance will just head on home and use whatever subsidized system our respective countries have in place for the elderly.

 

Myself, I think the only way to fight the health insurance system (even while playing within the rules) is to be/get as healthy as possible and try to avoid the medical industrial complex as much as can be done in order to hopefully avoid skyrocketing premiums in the future. 

[Letseng]

5 hours ago, ricklev said:

The 40,000 baht outpatient insurance requirement reveals to me that this is an intelligent and well thought out policy. 

 

Joke or do you mean it?

[Nowisee]

51 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

Not true. It says it right in the Police Order (1st sentence, page 2) and specifically the Criteria for granting the visa it's clear that this is for people ALREADY living in Thailand as well. 

Things like minimum income in Baht. Thai bank deposits with minimum acct balance for 2 months prior.

Only an idiot will think this does not apply to extensions of stay.

It's highly possible that you've misinterpreted what you're reading.
Other than the place you indicate, there is no mention of extension of stay, only Non O-A Visa.

 

[Caine]

Anyone visiting Thailand even for a week without insurance is a mug. Especially with rip-off medical charges, but you wouldn’t expect anything different for these rouges.

[Russell17au]

5 minutes ago, Caine said:

Anyone visiting Thailand even for a week without insurance is a mug. Especially with rip-off medical charges, but you wouldn’t expect anything different for these rouges.

Thailand is no different to anywhere else because if you get injured in any country as a tourist with no insurance cover you will pay through the nose for your medical expenses and if you go to a private hospital you will pay a lot more through the nose. Only residents and citizens are covered with cheap medical and hospital

[Cheops]

4 hours ago, PEE TEE said:

you cannot get a retirement visa from a tourist visa has to from a non o

Thanks, I know, but better not give them any ideas.

[HHTel]

If the insurance you get is from a non-Thai company, then that insurance company has to sign this form.

Good luck with that.  It's not going to happen!

 

http://longstay.tgia.org/document/overseas_insurance_certificate.pdf

[HHTel]

And they wonder why there is a tourist slump!

[friend of siam]

6 hours ago, kiniyow said:

Just another nail to drive the X Pats to another country..Especially those to old to Buy Insurance..

those too old thailand dont want there anyway unless lots of cash

[friend of siam]

1 minute ago, HHTel said:

And they wonder why there is a tourist slump!

its not apply to tourists

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, barryofthailand said:

If you live overseas you need health insurance. Hospital care is not cheap in Thailand 

So should Thais not need health insurance when they come to live in the UK, whether

for good or long term?

[Captain Monday]

11 minutes ago, HHTel said:

If the insurance you get is from a non-Thai company, then that insurance company has to sign this form.

Good luck with that.  It's not going to happen!

 

http://longstay.tgia.org/document/overseas_insurance_certificate.pdf

Yep. Huge company with websites, apps, call centres. There are no limits annually just deductibles other payments backed up by 100 pages of contract boilerplate. 

Chance of visiting a customer service location very low getting two Directors to sign this form impossible! 

 

[madmen]

42 minutes ago, HHTel said:

And they wonder why there is a tourist slump!

Oh dear and they reckon Thais are a bit slow

[Time Traveller]

8 hours ago, barryofthailand said:

If you live overseas you need health insurance. Hospital care is not cheap in Thailand 

I have no idea which Socialist country of free healthcare you come from, but if you come from the US then healthcare in Thailand is ridiculously cheap. 

I see no reason for the compulsory insurance scam and if you have 440,000 cash above their financial requirements then self-insuring should be a valid option. 

Otherwise, you're just donating 1000 dollars each year to the profits of some insurance company.

 

Only a Thai insurance company or dimwitted and desperate thai sexpat would think this mandatory insurance is a good idea 

[sunnyboy2018]

9 hours ago, Tilacme said:

To those many tv posters who smugly criticised farangs in need of medical help who dont have insurance, i say well done, you have won!

Dont take it personally 

 

[sunnyboy2018]

41 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

I have no idea which Socialist country of free healthcare you come from, but if you come from the US then healthcare in Thailand is ridiculously cheap. 

I see no reason for the compulsory insurance scam and if you have 440,000 cash above their financial requirements then self-insuring should be a valid option. 

Otherwise, you're just donating 1000 dollars each year to the profits of some insurance company.

 

Only a Thai insurance company or dimwitted and desperate thai sexpat would think this mandatory insurance is a good idea 

It is cheap in many ways...especially in the short term but medical insurance is advisable when far from home and if one lives in the horror show that is the USA then medical insurance is essential. 

[Lacrimas]

I wonder if this will apply to Elite Visas as well... in the long term it might be the easier route for a painless(immigration wise) stay in Thailand. But this might have been the master plan since the beginning, keeping the rich in and kick all the others out?

[webfact]

UPDATE:

 

Thailand to demand proof of health insurance for 'risky' long-term visitors

 

FILE photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Foreigners in the “risky” over-50 age group will have to present proof of health insurance when applying for Thai long-term non-immigrant visas, a minister said on Wednesday, so the government doesn’t have to pick up their medical bills.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1127827-thailand-to-demand-proof-of-health-insurance-for-risky-long-term-visitors/

 

[Muzarella]

In 2003, at 55, on a retirement extension, I got a AIA Health Insurance plan with cash value, exactly on those terms, for 20.000 THB a year without medical exam, without previous health conditions limits, and valid up to my 80 years old. I used few times with total coverage and on good private hospitals.

I do not know if that plan still offered.