By this time next year, do you think the health insurance requirement for O-A will migrate to other visa types?

If so, which visa types?

Select the option in the poll that is closest to your prediction. 

Comment here as well if you wish about the reasons behind your prediction. 

This is an unscientific poll for discussion purposes only.

I make no claim here to have posted a "perfect" poll. 

 

As of just now, 100% of voters stated "The health insurance requirement will expand to include O visa based retirement extensions AND marriage extensions AND Elite Card based visas".

 

Note - only I seem to have voted so far!

I think it's only retirees they are after.

Those looking after a wife or kids will probably be OK.

Retirees are an easy target as there are no 'human rights' issues with causing problems for them.

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I think it's only retirees they are after.

Those looking after a wife or kids will probably be OK.

Retirees are an easy target as there are no 'human rights' issues with causing problems for them.

So if you think it's only about retirees are you predicting that it will expand to retirement extensions based on O?

Also many retirees are using the Elite based visa.

People might say those people are wealthy but in reality that isn't always the case especially after they've spent the money on the Elite membership. 

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So if you think it's only about retirees are you predicting that it will expand to retirement extensions based on O?

Also many retirees are using the Elite based visa.

People might say those people are wealthy but in reality that isn't always the case especially after they've spent the money on the Elite membership. 

I'm predicting it will expand to everyone not here with a VISA/extension specifically issued to visit/stay with their wife and/or children who are Thai nationals.

I think there is a good chance that it will also be required for non-o visas. But i would give them two years.

If they require insurance, it will probably be required for all types of non-o visas.

 

That a health insurance requirement will come for the Elite visa is imho unlikely.

Why would it need to be expanded? If the intention was to include everyone it would have been done when the initial insurance requirements were being discussed. The immigration people aren't known for subtlety.

My personal take on it all is that the changes requiring 400k to be kept in the bank equals the 400k insurance for those on an OA visa. For married folk, they have family to support them. 

As I said that is my personal take on the matter and I'm sure other people have their own opinions.

I do get the feeling some people thrive on drama, real or imagined. I'm not one of them fortunately.

By next year - no.

 

Many bugs in the system that must be addressed. Far too many "uninsurable" persons in country that self-insure and spend considerable amounts of money on healthcare now. If they are forced out they take their money with them. Hospitals lose the cash they are currently spending.

 

Also, collateral damage of the Thai families of "uninsurable" folk. Who takes care of them if/when they force the breadwinner falang out due to no insurance.

 

I expect a "self-insurance" provision, perhaps THB 440k in a "medical use only" account. Time will tell.    

6 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

If the intention was to include everyone it would have been done when the initial insurance requirements were being discussed. The immigration people aren't known for subtlety.

That they started this with OA visas could be seen as a test run. There are probably many more people using a non-O visa (or extension) than a non-OA visa. Like this they can get everything working properly with just a few affected people if anything goes wrong, and once all processes are working fine they can do the big rollout.

They might also include people with a non-ED visa.

I guess it depends on how many more of us they want to leave. They have been tightening the noose for some time now and expat numbers have been dropping steadily. While many businesses depend on us, the authorities do not seem to view us as mega desirable, so it wouldn't surprise me to see the stranglehold tightened to push all but the filthy rich out.

Limiting it to holders of O-A visa doesn't make any sense, at the very least they'll expand the insurance requirement to all retirees.

7 minutes ago, jackdd said:

That they started this with OA visas could be seen as a test run. There are probably many more people using a non-O visa (or extension) than a non-OA visa. Like this they can get everything working properly with just a few affected people if anything goes wrong, and once all processes are working fine they can do the big rollout.

They might also include people with a non-ED visa.

Anything is of course possible. It just seems too much of a coincidence to me that for a Non O extension you need to keep 400k in the bank and the OA insurance is also 400k. If anything I think the 400k in the bank for Non O extensions will increase as will the 400k insurance level as it seems to be ridiculously low for any meaningful medical procedures for the people in the age group. I wouldn't be surprised to see the figure increase to a million baht over time.

A troll post and a reply to it have been removed.

I don´t know and I don´t care. In my eyes everybody who lives in Thailand should have a health insurance. An accident can happen so easy and then it can become really expensive. And who is living part time in Thailand should have a travel insurance.

I think the requirement for insurance is a good idea, but badly implemented.

  IMO there need to be a pool for older retirees who can't get insurance, otherwise, in affect , there is no retirement visa.

I am sure it will expand to cover -O visas for retirement purposes , as it would make no sense not too, But will not include -0 based on marriage because it will affect Thai families. Elite visa will not be affected IMO because there is a vested economic interest to be protected.  

IMO expats living in Thailand with their Families should be able to buy in to the same insurance scheme every other Thai gets for free. 

PS: imagine the news coverage of Thai wives and children crying because the father has to leave the country do to the fact that he is too old to get insurance.

31 minutes ago, jackdd said:

That they started this with OA visas could be seen as a test run. There are probably many more people using a non-O visa (or extension) than a non-OA visa. Like this they can get everything working properly with just a few affected people if anything goes wrong, and once all processes are working fine they can do the big rollout.

They might also include people with a non-ED visa.

Think of it as starting out with cold water to cook a lobster...

8 minutes ago, CNXexpat said:

I don´t know and I don´t care. In my eyes everybody who lives in Thailand should have a health insurance. An accident can happen so easy and then it can become really expensive. And who is living part time in Thailand should have a travel insurance.

How about those too old to get insurance, what should they have? cyanide?  

 

I think eventually everybody who's given a 1 year permission to stay & is over 50 will need to have it (Non-OA, Non-O Retirement, Non-O Marriage & even Elite Visas).

 

 

Those using 90 day entries will need to prove they have insurance when applying for new VIsas at the embassy

 

38 minutes ago, sirineou said:

How about those too old to get insurance, what should they have? cyanide?  

Nonsense. What is the age of being too old? 70? How many came in an age over 70? And IF the government will demand an insurance, what will the do? 

Many people relocate to Thailand, because it´s so cheap. But they forget to add an insurance to their yearly costs. 

1 minute ago, CNXexpat said:

Nonsense. What is the age of being too old? 70? How many came in an age over 70? And IF the government will demand an insurance, what will the do? 

Many people relocate to Thailand, because it´s so cheap. But they forget to add an insurance to their yearly costs. 

If I understand this correctly, please correct me if I am not. All those on A-O are required to have are required to have health insurance, all those who got their A-O before this was implemented have a grace period until they get another A-O or get an extension. But with in the next A-O cycle , all will be required.

If the -O  for reasons of retirement is included (as I think it will but who knows) the same will apply , With in one cycle every one on retirement will be required to have insurance regardless of when they came here. 

But again who knows, perhaps they will grandfather in,  the ones here over a certain time.

That's what I would do if you all elected me emperor of the world.

You did not answer the question - what about people who are to old to get any insurance. They may have come here at age 76. Many people have very good insurance but do not have 40000 Baht OPD. They will not qualify.

 

This was directed to CNXET. Expat.

trust the OP to start another what if thread as if his 1000 scaremongering posts over the last 6 months wasn't enough

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

34 minutes ago, sirineou said:

If I understand this correctly, please correct me if I am not. All those on A-O are required to have are required to have health insurance, all those who got their A-O before this was implemented have a grace period until they get another A-O or get an extension. But with in the next A-O cycle , all will be required.

If the -O  for reasons of retirement is included (as I think it will but who knows) the same will apply , With in one cycle every one on retirement will be required to have insurance regardless of when they came here. 

But again who knows, perhaps they will grandfather in,  the ones here over a certain time.

That's what I would do if you all elected me emperor of the world.

What?! Please read my first comment again. I wrote that every Expat should have a health insurance. If he lives part time in Thailand he should have a travel insurance. Not because they must have, in their own interest. Thailand is a 2nd world country with crazy drivers, sidewalks with many holes, signs they fall down, etc. That´s it. 

It´s the same as wearing a helmet or seat belt. If the people don´t wear them, the government makes a law that they HAVE to wear them.

2 hours ago, jackdd said:

That they started this with OA visas could be seen as a test run. There are probably many more people using a non-O visa (or extension) than a non-OA visa. Like this they can get everything working properly with just a few affected people if anything goes wrong, and once all processes are working fine they can do the big rollout.

They might also include people with a non-ED visa.

Yes i see it like this also.

I don't forget the initial declaration from the minister at

the origin of all this mess ''all the foreigners more than 50 yo are at risk''

(He means at risk for the finances of the publics hospitals, even if this statement is more than questionable)

so it's just the begining unfortunately

1 year I dont think anything will have changed, it will be needed for OA and OX visas but no others.. 

However 3 years out ?? 5 years out.. They have clearly indicated they wish to expand it to all visitors, tourists with travel and residents with health cover. 

 

I suspect it will be non O retirees next on the block.. Then married.. Then spreading.. 
 

4 minutes ago, CNXexpat said:

What?! Please read my first comment again. I wrote that every Expat should have a health insurance. If he lives part time in Thailand he should have a travel insurance. Not because they must have, in their own interest. Thailand is a 2nd world country with crazy drivers, sidewalks with many holes, signs they fall down, etc. That´s it. 

It´s the same as wearing a helmet or seat belt. If the people don´t wear them, the government makes a law that they HAVE to wear them.

That's not all you said,  Firstly you characterized what i said as "Nonsense"  and  made comments regarding age, "What is the age of being too old? 70? How many came in an age over 70? " To which I pointed out that it does not matter what age one came here  they will all be required to have insurance eventually.

And many of them with luck will reach the age of 70.

 So what are they to do then according to you? Since you "don't care" what will you do?

50 minutes ago, madmen said:

trust the OP to start another what if thread as if his 1000 scaremongering posts over the last 6 months wasn't enough

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

If you're sleepy, GO TO BED.

2 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

I don´t know and I don´t care. In my eyes everybody who lives in Thailand should have a health insurance. An accident can happen so easy and then it can become really expensive. And who is living part time in Thailand should have a travel insurance.

Many of us already have Insurance coverage here in Thailand which makes their policies look silly, for example I have a Global Core policy which has unlimited in-patient AND unlimited outpatient coverage (which I have already used at Bumrungrad Hospital), but these policies are not accepted by Thai Immigration.  They want to force us to buy one of their throw away (useless), overpriced Thai policies which would be like flushing good money down the toilet every year. 

 

Others are too old (or uninsurable) so your comment proves that you are quite ignorant of the totality of the circumstances at hand here. 

 

 

 

41 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

Many of us already have Insurance coverage here in Thailand which makes their policies look silly, for example I have a Global Core policy which has unlimited in-patient AND unlimited outpatient coverage (which I have already used at Bumrungrad Hospital), but these policies are not accepted by Thai Immigration.  They want to force us to buy one of their throw away (useless), overpriced Thai policies which would be like flushing good money down the toilet every year. 

 

Others are too old (or uninsurable) so your comment proves that you are quite ignorant of the totality of the circumstances at hand here. 

 

 

Man, I wrote this. About what are you talking? Yes, there are regulations from the government they are stupid. But it has nothing to do with what I wrote. What´s your point? There are many expats living in Thailand and the government wants to stop this, what´s ok in my eyes. That´s it.

3 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

In my eyes everybody who lives in Thailand should have a health insurance.

Maybe, maybe not, I have the patience to wait and see! Speculative polls have little meaning!