webfact Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 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. The rule takes effect at the end of the month to ensure the visitors can afford treatment during a maximum one-year stay and the government does not have to foot the bill, Sathit Pitutecha, deputy minister of public health, told Reuters. Thailand, a Southeast Asian tourist destination popular with ageing Westerners, currently has to pay around 500 million baht ($16.49 million) a year in medical bills for foreigners over 50, he said, an age group the government describes as “risky”. “Hospitals have to treat them because of human rights reasons, but when we ask them to pay us back, they can’t,” Sathit said. “These costs become burdensome for the public health ministry, so we pushed for the insurance policy.” Immigration police data shows Thailand has received more than 80,000 applications for non-immigrant visas so far this year. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Nick Macfie Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.) -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-10 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tjo o tjim Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 The obsession with peanuts is slightly amusing. It is equivalent to 6,000B per non-imm visa applicant, and likely fewer than 750 meaningful hospital bills. But hey... 22 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Samui Bodoh Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 8 minutes ago, webfact said: “Hospitals have to treat them because of human rights reasons, but when we ask them to pay us back, they can’t,” Sathit said. “These costs become burdensome for the public health ministry, so we pushed for the insurance policy.” I do not have a problem requiring visitors to have health insurance; it is simply a good idea. However, the quote above leaves me speechless. Are there any valid figures to show a lack of repayment? Especially by long-stayers? Generally all I hear about are tourists, not long-term stayers, who don't have insurance and end up with a 'Go fund me' page. Add a few Baht tax to all plane tickets/landings, use the money to aid foreigners hurt in the Kingdom, and problem solved. It doesn't need to occur like this, and thus makes me wonder what else is at play... 53 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Soikhaonoiken Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 Some long stay ex pats will have difficulty in obtaining medical insurance or if they can it will be at a very high price... 40 3 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dave s Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 500,000,000/80,000=6,250. By the figures in the article, on average, every single expat in Thailand stiffs a hospital for over 6,000 baht every single year. Every single expat, not one of whom they can collect from, despite TM28, TM30, TM6, multiple TM47 reports, ad nauseum. And no reporter at this press shindig waved their hand and said, "Yoooo-ooo, Minister Pitutecha, isn't this absolute proof that all the mindless immigration paperwork is useless and should be abolished?" 45 8 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post davehowden Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 Goes on a bit doesn't it, hot air, stamping of feet...... <deleted> is the 400,000/ 800,000 baht all about if not for emergency medical care ! 15 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ezzra Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 So when this stupidity and paranoia ends? this government is going from the silly to the ridiculous, let the government tell us how many non-o visa holders have treated in Thai hospitals and didn't had the money to pay, numbers and figures please real figures, not made up ones, i have been here for 35 years and i don't know any long term staying foreigners that has been treated in a hospital and got away without paying... 76 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Puchaiyank Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 This demand for health insurance goes hand in hand with the government demanding hospitals charge expats multiples of what they charge Thais for the same mediocre procedure... Way to go Thailand! ???? ???? 60 1 3 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SkyNets Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 (edited) I don’t think the number of patients stem from Mr/Mrs Smith, most would be illegal migrant workers injured when being transported by the white vans/pick-ups or industrial accidents. Edited October 9, 2019 by SkyNets 29 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mok199 Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 Define 'risky'... 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tagged Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 6 minutes ago, mok199 said: Define 'risky'... Men above 50 year 3 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ukrules Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 I would be quite happy to see changes in the rules to ensure that Thais pay for any treatment they receive in the UK and don't get free treatment like pretty much everyone else in the world. I know they pay nothing right now. I wonder how much free treatment Thais get over in Europe per year and how that figure compares to this paltry sum? 31 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jeffrey346 Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 Now it's men over 50. No mention of O A VISA'S 13 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post StayinThailand2much Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 7 minutes ago, ukrules said: I would be quite happy to see changes in the rules to ensure that Thais pay for any treatment they receive in the UK and don't get free treatment like pretty much everyone else in the world. I know they pay nothing right now. I wonder how much free treatment Thais get over in Europe per year and how that figure compares to this paltry sum? I agree, and hope Britain (and other countries) will start charging Thai citizens visiting for their hospital visits. 24 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steve2112 Posted October 9, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2019 1 hour ago, ezzra said: i have been here for 35 years and i don't know any long term staying foreigners that has been treated in a hospital and got away without paying... ditto, i didn't know it was even possible 42 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steve2112 Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 what about if you already have a non O and are going for married or retirement extension, are they going to want to see insurance for that? if so, i think my days here full time are over. 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gk10002000 Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said: I do not have a problem requiring visitors to have health insurance; it is simply a good idea. However, the quote above leaves me speechless. Are there any valid figures to show a lack of repayment? Especially by long-stayers? Generally all I hear about are tourists, not long-term stayers, who don't have insurance and end up with a 'Go fund me' page. Add a few Baht tax to all plane tickets/landings, use the money to aid foreigners hurt in the Kingdom, and problem solved. It doesn't need to occur like this, and thus makes me wonder what else is at play... No, there are no numbers that back up the Thai's stated reasons. yes there are some deadbeat bills out there, but not an enormous amount 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TPUBON Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 20 minutes ago, Jeffrey346 said: Now it's men over 50. No mention of O A VISA'S I was wondering the same thing. Yesterday it was o/a. This article says long term. Is it now both o/a and o? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zyphodb Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said: I do not have a problem requiring visitors to have health insurance; it is simply a good idea. However, the quote above leaves me speechless. Are there any valid figures to show a lack of repayment? Especially by long-stayers? Generally all I hear about are tourists, not long-term stayers, who don't have insurance and end up with a 'Go fund me' page. Add a few Baht tax to all plane tickets/landings, use the money to aid foreigners hurt in the Kingdom, and problem solved. It doesn't need to occur like this, and thus makes me wonder what else is at play... I'd say what else is in play is someone/s very high up have decided that they dont want a retired ex-pat population here anymore and are looking at any way to make this happen without coming right out and saying it. That's why theres the ridiculous 40,000 Bhts outpatiants clause in it, to push up the premiums to hights which most people will refuse to pay. Also the TM30 nonsense, all part of the plan... ???? 20 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey346 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 3 minutes ago, gk10002000 said: No, there are no numbers that back up the Thai's stated reasons. yes there are some deadbeat bills out there, but not an enormous amount How would you know how many skip out on hospital bills? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gk10002000 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 1 minute ago, Jeffrey346 said: How would you know how many skip out on hospital bills? The Thais themselves have posted the numbers in articles on other posts. It was not that much 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey346 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 1 minute ago, gk10002000 said: The Thais themselves have posted the numbers in articles on other posts. It was not that much I have not seen the numbers.. BUT if they are low, why would the Gov. get so involved and mandate med ins. Doesn't make sense to me... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post overherebc Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 50 minutes ago, mok199 said: Define 'risky'... 19 year old drunk holiday maker on an uninsured motorbike. 16 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ChrissUdon Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 And then there's pre-existing conditions which will never be covered. Personally the chances of me needing a long term hospital stay would pretty much be related to pre-existing. 50kbht + pa wasted on a health policy that I couldn't use. If 'risky' persons, of which I'm one, are to foot these so called unpaid bills how about letting me legally pay into the Thai health system as a requirement for my long stay and of course have the use of the service as a Thai. 17 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkk6060 Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 (edited) 80,000 applicants for the Visas. Gosh, sure kills it for those who claim no one wants to come and many are moving away to Vietnam and Cambodia... Edited October 10, 2019 by bkk6060 3 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tjinks Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 Although I am a US citizen I agree with the poster who said make the Thais pay in the UK & EU instead of being freeloaders. Anytime I've ever had a visit to Bumrungrad for any reason I've always had to pay up front. I have no experience with other hospitals so can't comment on their methods of being compensated. 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post terminatorchiangmai Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 Wasn't the real problem not with the insured tourists that got in to accidents at Thai attractions that not provided mandatory insurance? Or rental companies that rent out motorbikes to unlicensed / uninsured tourists? 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey346 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 7 minutes ago, ChrissUdon said: And then there's pre-existing conditions which will never be covered. Personally the chances of me needing a long term hospital stay would pretty much be related to pre-existing. 50kbht + pa wasted on a health policy that I couldn't use. If 'risky' persons, of which I'm one, are to foot these so called unpaid bills how about letting me legally pay into the Thai health system as a requirement for my long stay and of course have the use of the service as a Thai. Why would the Gov cover high risk foreigners? That would cost them more than thos that are skipping out on the Med Bills... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steve2112 Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 Just now, tjinks said: Although I am a US citizen I agree with the poster who said make the Thais pay in the UK & EU instead of being freeloaders. thais have to show proof of medical insurance to get a schengen visa (for EU), and UK will only cover emergency visits and have the option to charge you, and i think have started in some cases 5 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheAppletons Posted October 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 10, 2019 4 minutes ago, bkk6060 said: 80,000 applicants for the Visas. Gosh, sure kills it for those who claim no one wants to come and many are moving away to Vietnam and Cambodia... I'm relatively certain that 80,000 number includes extensions of stay for retirement applied for within Thailand, not 80,00 new applicants for O-A visas. Unless you think the number of retirees in Thailand doubles every year. This report (https://news.thaivisa.com/article/38177/the-mystery-of-exactly-how-many-expats-live-in-thailand) says: "According to figures in the 2019 Thailand Migration Report, there are just 150,707 expats residing in Thailand, of those 72,969 are retirees." 4 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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