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

[upena]

Another thai Government solution that doesn't solve the problem. The risky ones are young tourists getting drunk and riding motorcycles.

[Mark mark]

7 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Are you serious?

Well, actually thinking about it ... YES, (If I was an Australian tax payer who paid the Medi car levie) as some many years ago, when I did have this status, I DID actually claim the costs of treatment in Thailand, for VD, ... and back then it was still covered !!! ... So I was paid !!! .... Like I would just have loved to have seen the expression on the Public servants face, that opened, and had to process my Claim !!! Har Har ... Now VD contracted abroad at least I think ? is not covered by Medi care I think, ....  but other things still might be ! and though I do not know for sure, I am being quite honest here ! ?

[anemone]

I wonder if the income of the 50 plusses was ever considered

Edited October 10, 2019 by anemone

[kingofthemountain]

What a huge slap in the face!

 

All these farangs thinking they had now a thai country, a thai wife, some thais children, a thai family, thai friends and have invested here in houses, condos, cars, motorbikes, local economy for millions bts and so on...

 

they were wrong, all wrong, totaly wrong

they are just 'risky' long-term visitors''

 

and now on a monthly basis the thai authorities are showing them the exit door

sad, really sad, and nobody is going to win something in the deal.

[wwest5829]

6 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...

 

And now to read a following article which cites a lack of Thai critical thinking skills.

[Mark mark]

11 minutes ago, davidstipek said:

No I am not! I have Family members who were extremely <deleted> because I had to be recessitated (I know I spelt it wrong!) As the Emergency Ambulance  drove me and my wife to 5 different Hospitals (my heart had stopped) Finally my Brotherinlaw who is a Retired Medical (Dr.) And Provencial Medical Official had to call Dean at CM University  and get him to step in... The Truama they put my wife thru totally unacceptable!! Put do they care?? 

Well worth posting this one Mate ! ... Thanks !

[Thaifriends]

There is nothing to cry on this. This law should have been there before.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, randy723 said:

I am 77years old and have tried with 3 different insurance companies to get insurance and they all say I am too old and will not insure me so does that mean I have to Leave Thailand, where I own a condo, car, motorbike, have a Thai wife and 2 children from my wifes first marriage and over 3 million baht in a Thai bank account where I am only getting 1 1/2 % interest. Does this mean i have to sell everything and leave and let the Thai goverament take care of my wife and kids.

 

Probably yes, except the government will not lift a finger to take over your role of supporting your family. I'm younger but in a similar position and have lived in Thailand for 25+ years, since when the value of my native currency has halved and government financial demands have doubled. Now, in addition to being treated as a criminal on probation with the TM30 and 90-day reporting, the proposal is that we will no longer be able to get a visa without health insurance, something that many do not need.

 

The future is very bleak indeed for many, not only we aliens but our dependants, and it would not surprise me in the slightest if there is a huge increase in those flying off tall buildings. Personally, I'd prefer setting myself on fire at immigration headquarters of outside the PM's office, having first informed my international media friends of my intention and why it was happening.

 

[manta]

As retirees need too have 800,000 in the bank, that would cover any illness so I can see as being any problem?????

[whitfield]

It's going to be tricky to get Health Insurance for my Mum, aged 88 years, with Alzheimer's.

[Suradit69]

5 hours ago, davehowden said:

 

<deleted> is the 400,000/ 800,000 baht all about if not for emergency medical care !

You mean the 400,000/800,000 so many TV posters brag that they avoid by using an agent for their extension of stay based on marriage/retirement?

 

Or are you talking about the non Imm O-A for which the medical insurance will be required?

[Bangkok Barry]

53 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

Maybe it’s time the government last a law stating that unless a drivers license is provided motor bikes cannot be rented out this alone would reduce hospital costs.

 

There is one, I believe. But what the law says has absolutely no relevance in Thailand.

[Sumarianson]

My x did not have to pay anthing in the UK when she got pregnant on a student visa nor when she had numerous other treatnents and an operation to fix a jaw problem. Also given full legal right to stay in UK without marriage and benefits. Thailand is mocking us!

[CMNightRider]

35 minutes ago, yahboo11 said:

Trump did the exact same thing in the States. Immigrants require to demonstrate they have health insurance. In the States, health insurance is very expensive

That isn't exactly true is it.  Under Trump's measure, which goes into effect Nov. 3, immigrants would need to get health insurance within 30 days of entering the U.S. or would need to show they have enough money to cover medical costs.   

 

This is what Thai immigration should do, not force expats to purchase worthless and expensive Thai health insurance.  While we are on the subject of how Thai immigrants are treated in the U.S., there is no 90 day reporting, no TM forms, and they are not required to file for a visa extension every year.

 

Trump is making America Great Again, unlike what is taking place over here.   

[emptypockets]

2 hours ago, jesimps said:

Even if fit, financially secure and self-insures because he doesn't want to waste a massive amount of his hard-earned every year?

20,000 baht is a massive amount?

[Pib]

Best to read the specific immigration police order just released...see attached...it's in Thai and English.

Medical Insurance.pdf

 

Also, be sure to read the thread that began yesterday on the subject.  It has more details than this thread.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

35 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Foreigners applying for a Non O-A visa will be required to purchase health insurance from 31 October.

 

The requirements, which were first proposed back in May, have now been confirmed in a police order posted on the Immigration website.

 

Applicants are required to have 40,000 baht outpatient coverage and 400,000 baht inpatient coverage.

 

According to the order, health insurance is not required for those applying for an extension of stay based on retirement and only applies to Non O-A visas.

 

Non O-A visas are obtained from an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand.

 

Full details of the new requirements can be found here: https://www.immigration.go.th/read?content_id=5d9c3b074d8a8f318362a8aa&fbclid=IwAR39UI_zBxVLedZKgZeAeYnvb0yyyIsr6SHPhnq64ohzACO7VsLUU_LlGn0

 

 

Yes, but that was yesterday. Today they have new proposals to include all long-term visas. Next week, perhaps we'll all have to have army-style haircuts, available only at government-approved places of course.

[Sticky Wicket]

5 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

You mean the 400,000/800,000 so many TV posters brag that they avoid by using an agent for their extension of stay based on marriage/retirement?

 

Or are you talking about the non Imm O-A for which the medical insurance will be required?

You truly are a bitter bitter xenophobic Thai

[kingofthemountain]

4 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

There is one, I believe. But what the law says has absolutely no relevance in Thailand.

Except if the law can be used in a way or another to milk more farangs money

[mercman24]

i have said all along, just add 100 baht to incoming tourists multiply that by 40 million, thats a tidy sum hospitals well into the black not even the price of a beer, but will the thickos do that ? NO, 40,000 out patients cover, an obsurd amount for starters, i will repeat this, my friend had two cancerous ops on his arm, and the bill was under 7000 baht, where the hell does 40,000 baht come into it ? and when i went my bill was 1200 baht for all the tests (gallstone) see doc twice, x ray , blood/pee. tablets, talk bout taking the <deleted> lol, can bet your life these decision makers have got their fingers in the health insurance pie

[kevden]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

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...

A friend of mine had need of emergency care (broken hip prosthesis). He 'misunderstood' the Govt hospital staff about the impending surgery, overcharged significantly until he was told they were incapable of the surgery. Once he paid that bill, he was allowed to leave and transported to another hospital. There he had to deposit 250k baht prior to the operation, which cost 125k baht. It took a while to get the refund. No problem about paying the correct bill, but the chances of skipping without paying were zero. The opportunity to overcharge was excellent. The relative cost of health insurance is uncalled for. As another contributor alluded, 'what is the Bank deposit for'? 

[Kerryd]

Love how the numbers keep changing. 
When this was first proposed they claimed the unpaid bills were only around 300 million. They also claimed that there were 35 million "Non-O" visas (that was back when they also claimed that Canadians made up the largest group of expats so you really have to wonder where they get their information from).

First off, they were blaming all those "unpaid bills" on the long-stay expats, then using the total number of tourist arrivals (from a previous year) and claiming they were all "Non-O" visa holders.
The truth is far more likely that the majority of those hospital bills (assuming they weren't inflated to begin with) were probably the result of short stay tourists (and alcohol and scooters/motorcycles were probably involved in most cases).

Now they are saying that the bills are over 500 million and they are trying to recoup the money off of the long term expats who probably don't cost the system much (if anything). Most of them probably croak at home (or under a bar stool) and don't end up in a hospital for long (expensive) periods.

Note too how they are saying you have to purchase the insurance from a provider on the linked site.
All of whom conveniently made brand new policies that meet the requirement - and want twice as much as policies they used to offer that had better coverage.

For example, I had a policy that provided up to 900k of Inpatient coverage (per visit) and 21k of Outpatient service (per visit) and cost me 29,000/year.

Then this new policy came out and they were only going to offer 400k of Inpatient and 40k of Outpatient coverage - for 40,000 a year !!
(I had dropped my Outpatient coverage because for what little I need it - I was just paying in cash anyways.)

It's almost like the insurance companies came up with this idea as a way to generate more income. Seems a little to "pat" the way the plan was announced and the insurance companies already had tailor made plans ready to go.

All they had to do was tag a 20 baht fee onto the airline ticket prices (like they did with the Airport Departure Tax decades ago) and they would have generated far more than the (claimed) amount of the outstanding bills. (Nearly 40 million "arrivals" every year *20 baht each = 800 million baht.) Problem solved and the people paying it wouldn't even notice the tiny amount added to the ticket price.
 

[Mark mark]

21 minutes ago, Garybaldy said:

I’m not denying some people May get away without paying but from my experience it’s difficult not to pay. It’s the first thing they ask when you arrive and after that it’s rather like being escorted by prison officers until that credit card is debited or the insurance agree to pay.

Yes, at Ayuttahya Government Hospital, ...which IS BIG ... they do not let you go, ... until the bill has been paid ! ... Like the relations usually have to go to the window on the second floor of the main building, , and pay it for you, ... and then come back and get you out of the ward ! .... I do not know what they would do if you just put a new set of cloths on, and tried to just walk out ? ... Probably stop you I would imagine ! 

 

Yes the problem a lot of the time is that people think, that they are covered by Insurance, and some times the Insurance Companies tell the Hospitals that they ARE ! ... So the Hospital, particularly if a private one goes in to (Over Charging) "Insurance Job" Mode and institutions in just about every country of the world do do this I think .... but then a few days later, after racking up some pretty huge bills ! ... they find out that they actually were not covered, as there was a clause, like "No Motor bike accidents shall be covered" Or "Not if the accident was caused by your own irresponsibility" e.g. late at night while drunk ... so then you are just financially screwed. ... and well many then hit the Go fund me pages then. Right ?

 

I would prefer to just tell them that I was not covered ... and to do their best ! ... But well, I just read here above, of a guy who's heart stopped, being refused by 5 different Hospitals, because he had no insurance !!! ... Like God, give me the Luck, not to end up in that position ! ...

[SunsetT]

2 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

I think that's a myth. I have only heard of one person who came here specifically for med reasons. How many do you know of??

My missus says the plastic surgery obsessed S.Koreans r coming here now as its now much cheaper here than in S.Korea.

 

North Koreans only come for haircuts......????.

[Tagged]

34 minutes ago, davidstipek said:

No I am not! I have Family members who were extremely <deleted> because I had to be recessitated (I know I spelt it wrong!) As the Emergency Ambulance  drove me and my wife to 5 different Hospitals (my heart had stopped) Finally my Brotherinlaw who is a Retired Medical (Dr.) And Provencial Medical Official had to call Dean at CM University  and get him to step in... The Truama they put my wife thru totally unacceptable!! Put do they care?? 

Real American scenario then! 

 

Sorry to hear your experience, I have heard different stories with more humanity from thai hospitals. Even more reason to have an good insurance so we do not have to face such trauma.

[david555]

Condo market on Baht&Sold shall get another booming urgent or fire sales advert s ….. but the prices doesn't look like " fire sale levels "... anyway resales condo market go dive further as all risky 50+ owners with  "filled bank accounts" are liking to make their "concrete value"  again in silver /gold or money bills …. difficult task to do that in common real state market, many go loose capital  I am sure ….because all this Thai gov. plans

 

Lucky I saw this coming in my virtual Chrystal ball (by the Thai Gov. behavior moves  ….)and changed my buying mind to non buying plan 

[Bangkok Barry]

6 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

i have said all along, just add 100 baht to incoming tourists multiply that by 40 million, thats a tidy sum hospitals well into the black not even the price of a beer, but will the thickos do that ? NO, 40,000 out patients cover, an obsurd amount for starters, i will repeat this, my friend had two cancerous ops on his arm, and the bill was under 7000 baht, where the hell does 40,000 baht come into it ? and when i went my bill was 1200 baht for all the tests (gallstone) see doc twice, x ray , blood/pee. tablets, talk bout taking the <deleted> lol, can bet your life these decision makers have got their fingers in the health insurance pie

 

See post #173. That explains everything.

[The Fugitive]

2 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

I had hernia sugery at a Thai government hospital in 2016. I was asked to pay a cash deposit to cover estimated costs. On the day I was to be discharged my bill was reviewed. I received a small rebate as my deposit exceeded the actual cost of the hospital stay. Is this done often? I thought that was a good idea as an alternative to insurance requirements.

 

My passport showed I had a one year visa as I was employed at the time of the surgery.

 

Interesting. I was admitted to A/E at a Government hospital. As soon as I was conscious they asked for my passport. They didn't ask for cash 'up front' simply giving me a bill upon discharge. I am assuming you were conscious and not an 'emergency'. Good for you though, you knew the rough cost in advance and they sounded very honest.

[Sydebolle]

This is all rubbish; every long term resident with a non-working status parks hundreds of thousands of Baht which are accessible in such cases.

The "Hospitals have to treat them because of human rights reasons" makes some chuckle as well. 

As earlier on suggested, get an arrival package against B 100/person which covers basic medical; and if you want those retirees to get coverage now, then define two or three insurance companies to do so; latter most likely not too keep to cover elder folks with much higher risks in a country where insurance is far away from being mandatory ......... 

Most likely the first fake "health insurance membership confirmation certifications" are being printed while we speak ???? 

 

[mercman24]

i paid up front at Pattaya Gov hospital, 1500 baht, after seeing a doc, the tests as i have already said, i was called up to pay, thinking the 1500 was only a deposit and lo and behold i was given 300 baht back,