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

[rwill]

Well obviously what does not make sense is that so far this appears only to be for the original visa and not for extensions.  So after having insurance for 1 year you are no longer 'risky'?

[jonclark]

The costs are burdensome for the public health ministry - But the government sees no issue giving each and every citizen 1'000 baht under it's flagship; eat, shop and <deleted> scheme. 

[phantomfiddler]

Good morning Somchai, you,re looking a bit "risky" today, what ho, old chap ???? Pathetic !

[Sonyboy]

35 minutes ago, Naamblar2014 said:

Didn't they already do that?  I faintly recall some amount being added to the tax of flight tickets a while back.  Is it time for another go at the trough?

does anyone recall a tax being added already to cover medical emergency

Yes a tax is put on tickets to replace the old airport cash paying departure one.

[yahboo11]

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

[rott]

7 minutes ago, Tagged said:

You are talking about privat hospitals, local government hospitals will treath you without paying up front! 

 

 

Not true, a friend of mine fractured his leg by slipping and falling near his hotel pool. The hospital wanted to see 150,000 before they would treat him. They rebated him 50,000 when he left.

[Tagged]

1 minute ago, rott said:

Not true, a friend of mine fractured his leg by slipping and falling near his hotel pool. The hospital wanted to see 150,000 before they would treat him. They rebated him 50,000 when he left.

Sounds pricey for an local hospital. 

[Prairieboy]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

500 million baht

500,000,000/68,000,000 = 7.35 baht per capita - certainly will force the government into bankruptcy!

[legend49]

2 hours ago, Tagged said:

Men above 50 year

That would cover most of the men in Thai government then?

[Naamblar2014]

Other news making headlines

 

Lack of critical thinking makes Thailand's competitiveness ranking slip

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, TPUBON said:

I was wondering the same thing. Yesterday it was o/a. This article says long term. Is it now both o/a and o?

 

Exactly as a poster on TV predicted. And it only took a day after he wrote it for it to happen. But you ask Is it? As usual, clear as mud. Is it compulsory, or is it at the discretion of the IO so he can demand to see your insurance and if you don't have it come to some 'arrangement'?

[ebean001]

the reported amount of unpaid medical bills was first reports as 100million bahts....a very low number. since first reported, this number has climbed by a huge amount. I think it is a good idea to require health care insurance. however it would be nice to know the correct amount. it would seem to be a small amount per person in the risk category. Again, it is an ok idea but I now need to see how per month this is going to cost. the insurance companies need to make a profit but how does the health providers get their bills paid?

[TigerandDog]

2 hours ago, TPUBON said:

I was wondering the same thing. Yesterday it was o/a. This article says long term. Is it now both o/a and o?

Read the article. It clearly states Non- Immigrant visas. That means both Non O & O-A. However, there is still NO mention of extensions of stay, just visa applications. Also no mention of minimum cover required. So still unclear as to the correct status of this.

[Chongalulu]

2 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

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...

"Doesn’t make sense to me..."

You do understand we’re talking about Thai officialdom here ..?

[Tagged]

2 hours ago, overherebc said:

19 year old drunk holiday maker on an uninsured motorbike.

Sure, but the article point out men above 50!

 

» a year in medical bills for foreigners over 50, he said, an age group the government describes as “risky”.»

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Some long stay ex pats will have difficulty in obtaining medical insurance or if they can it will be at a very high price... 

They will choose other destinations.. so then we will have T.A.T saying numbers are dropping again.

Immigration, government, tourism seem to be on different pages.

[theoldgit]

43 minutes ago, randy723 said:

Hello Cambodia, or Vietman good bye Thailand where i am not welcome. i will take my 250,000 baht income per month and go spend it where i am welcome.

And what about your condo, car, motorbike, Thai wife and two children from her first marriage.

At 77 years of age to you really want that upheaval? 

[Guest]

Show me an insurance policy for a 66 year old that covers pre-existing conditions ... and I will show you my insurance policy.  Until then "F Off"

[Jaybott]

Does this mandatory insurance need to be a Thai insurance company?  When I retire from the US, I will be able keep my current health insurance; Blue Cross Blue Shield with international coverage provided by Allianze.  Will I still need to purchase some shady Thai insurance?

[madmitch]

32 minutes ago, Mark mark said:

... I wonder if an Australian Medicare card would do ? Or similar for other Nationalities. ...

Are you serious?

[Garybaldy]

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.

[Rookiescot]

5 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

Read the article. It clearly states Non- Immigrant visas. That means both Non O & O-A. However, there is still NO mention of extensions of stay, just visa applications. Also no mention of minimum cover required. So still unclear as to the correct status of this.

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

 

[andy72]

[Mark mark]

1 minute ago, madmitch said:

Are you serious?

Har Har ... Yes ? ... Probably just trying it on ! ... as a Non resident for all ATO purposes ... well, time to end this Thread now ... I am starting to research Insurance Companies though and well I do guess that Non-Imigrant Visas refer to Retirement Visas. ? ... This one WILL be quite a problem for me I think. ... 

[Tagged]

7 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

They will choose other destinations.. so then we will have T.A.T saying numbers are dropping again.

Immigration, government, tourism seem to be on different pages.

If they cant affort to stay in Thailand, there is soon not many places left!

 

 

[davidstipek]

12 minutes ago, Tagged said:

You are talking about privat hospitals, local government hospitals will treath you without paying up front! 

 

 

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?? 

[DrPhibes]

3 hours ago, Tagged said:

Men above 50 year

Risky, I thought it read Frisky!  I must now stroam with haste to the local phoropterist to procure some new spectacles.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, Estrada said:

This is just a repeat of yesterday's news on Thai Visa/Nation which clearly stated that this applies for applications for O-A visas from outside Thailand which does not apply to Non-O retirement visas and extensions.

 

That was yesterday's rule. Today they have a new one, and next week there will be something else until we're all gone.

[overherebc]

11 minutes ago, Tagged said:

Sure, but the article point out men above 50!

 

» a year in medical bills for foreigners over 50, he said, an age group the government describes as “risky”.»

Couple of over 50 guys I know look and probably are fitter the some 25/30 years old guys.

[cmsally]

Quote

The rule takes effect at the end of the month

As they are talking about the rules that come into effect end of this Oct. they must be talking about those applying for Non O-A visas.