7 hours ago, jackdd said:

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.

I think they also are going to wait a while to see how the mandatory insurance policy scam works out.  Evaluate how easy it was for expats to buy policy, satisfaction or dissatisfaction with policies/service, costs, availability of coverage, etc.  By definition any retiree must be over 50, so issues of coverage, existing condtions, etc.  are going to be there.  And then the issue of "certifying" policies.  Many expats have existing policies even Thai or general global policies and all reports I read said getting foreign policies certified by two directors or whatever was challenging at best.  Not sure the process for that even exists

Posters who voted that the insurance will not be required for type O visa's are in denial. There's a slight question in my mind whether this campaign will extend to cover marriage as well as retirement, but certainly it will cover all retiree possible visa's. On balance I think the object is very much in line with what is written in the government note, ALL foreigners including tourists.

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

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

Meaning, schmeaning.

 

Quote

This is an unscientific poll for discussion purposes only.

 

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. 

 

Too right JT!  When my 5-year Elite visa was coming up for renewal, I looked at my bank account, considered the direction that Thailand was going, and moved over the Mekong to live in Laos for 15,000 baht/year visa+WP instead! ????

Fine print of the April 2nd cabinet resolution... 

 

I am expecting to have to deal with my insurance company to adjust my current policy to qualify. Currently I do not have out patient cover and to be honest would prefer not to be forced into it. If the price is prohibitive, I may be looking into deductibles to bring that down.  Another concern is to bring my insurance renewal date into sync with the extension renewal. 

13 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

Fine print of the April 2nd cabinet resolution... 

 

Game set and match, waste no more talk on asking what they intend.

13 hours 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.

Agreed, only for retirees. It's those ones who usually aren't insured as many have stated on this forum here before.

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

Agreed, only for retirees. It's those ones who usually aren't insured as many have stated on this forum here before.

No point in me buying insurance, everything I'm likely to suffer from is already excluded.

 

I voted for the 3rd option

 

"The health insurance requirement will expand to include O visa based retirement extensions"

 

I think it is almost inevitable.

Whether in 1 year s time or maybe longer, unsure..

 

That is surely going to cause problems for those with pre existing conditions.

18 minutes ago, seasia said:

I voted for the 3rd option

 

"The health insurance requirement will expand to include O visa based retirement extensions"

 

I think it is almost inevitable.

Whether in 1 year s time or maybe longer, unsure..

 

That is surely going to cause problems for those with pre existing conditions.

Yes that matches my prediction exactly. 

 

I added a time frame just to keep it real. It would have been silly to say anytime in the future. 

 

Of course I hope I'm wrong and they leave the O crew out of this. 

I imagine retirees are thought of much the same as BIG BIKES. A potential revenue source that will not <deleted> off the bulk of the population if they tap into it.
 

As I have an idea what the premiums would be, I can afford it. I should state I would be surprised if the insurance covers anything that would be of use if sick. It’s just free money – another Fee. However, they’re approaching a point where the bother might not be worth it. At that point I will seriously look at Options B and C.
 

They say; They want Deadbeats out, good guys in. Problem is “Good Guys” have money. If you have money you have options. After ten years in Chiang Mai, S&T are now in Portugal. Kap & C. are talking about winters in Central America/Oaxaca, summer in Alberta. For me Indonesia would be Option A. Option B Winters in Antigua, summers in in the northwest, as of today.   

Oh sorry, yes I think they will but could be in two years or more.

Que será, será.

 

 

I have a friend,who has a friend that works in a insurance company, he has reported that they have had notification from the Government,that the insurance scheme will be expanded

to cover all long stay expats in Thailand,next year, so it seems this is going to be the last

straw that broke the camel's back,for many here.believe it or not,just dont blame me.

 

My 84 year old cousin is applying for a 60 day tourist visa to come and visit

at end of the month,what a carry on,she is not into computers ,so has a

neighbour helping her,the application is 5 pages long, picture too light,

picture too dark,copy of bank statements, I just emailed a letter confirming

she will be staying at our house from December to January.,no idea what

is required next, she has been coming for years,before it was just one form

and passport posted off to London,no problem, now this E-Visa must be

putting tourists off coming here.

 

Regards Worgeordie

 

 

 

My bet is they will keep it at OA only.

 

There are going to be massive problems coming out over this in the next few months.

 

Heat from Visa holders arriving that don't know about it,

people who cant get cover,

admin problems, insurance company scams, fake insurance papers, Officers not following laws properly, consulates not conforming, and not to mention PR and the ever important damage to Thailand's image.

 

The hospitals will report absolutely no change in their supposed "losses", as it was all BS to start with.

 

I think this will all end up being a can of worms they wish would go away, and after the backlash im sure they will not want to make it worse by chasing Os and other visa classes.

28 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

I imagine retirees are thought of much the same as BIG BIKES. A potential revenue source that will not <deleted> off the bulk of the population if they tap into it.
 

As I have an idea what the premiums would be, I can afford it. I should state I would be surprised if the insurance covers anything that would be of use if sick. It’s just free money – another Fee. However, they’re approaching a point where the bother might not be worth it. At that point I will seriously look at Options B and C.
 

They say; They want Deadbeats out, good guys in. Problem is “Good Guys” have money. If you have money you have options. After ten years in Chiang Mai, S&T are now in Portugal. Kap & C. are talking about winters in Central America/Oaxaca, summer in Alberta. For me Indonesia would be Option A. Option B Winters in Antigua, summers in in the northwest, as of today.   

Oh sorry, yes I think they will but could be in two years or more.

Que será, será.

 

 

Hi

 

Sorry but what does S & T mean, also Kap & C  ?

 

Thanks.

 

I started my Plan B earlier this year, various reasons.

Fully intend to take that further.

3 minutes ago, seasia said:

Sorry but what does S & T mean, also Kap & C  ?

 

 

Peoples names S&T means Sarah and T------ 

 

Just people I knew at one time who lived or are living here.. They are not rich but they certainly have options.

15 hours ago, Caldera said:

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.

If all retirees migrate to the O to get round the mandatory insurance only applicable to the O-A they will get wise to that loophole and swiftly close it to include O visas too

15 hours ago, sirineou said:

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

 

money for a flight, IDC floors will be uncomfortable on those 80 year old bones

 

 

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

No point in me buying insurance, everything I'm likely to suffer from is already excluded.

 

call me a cynic but i dont believe this "insurance" is actually to pay for you to get better from anything.. its just to clear any potential hospital bill in your last few days. a cost they cannot currently claw back.

 

if they wanted to help us pay our medical bills they would have introduced a fair priced insurance with decent coverage or allowed us access to thai social care at a reasonable cost.

 

 

9 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I have a friend,who has a friend that works in a insurance company, he has reported that they have had notification from the Government,that the insurance scheme will be expanded

to cover all long stay expats in Thailand,next year, so it seems this is going to be the last

straw that broke the camel's back,for many here.believe it or not,just dont blame me.

 

My 84 year old cousin is applying for a 60 day tourist visa to come and visit

at end of the month,what a carry on,she is not into computers ,so has a

neighbour helping her,the application is 5 pages long, picture too light,

picture too dark,copy of bank statements, I just emailed a letter confirming

she will be staying at our house from December to January.,no idea what

is required next, she has been coming for years,before it was just one form

and passport posted off to London,no problem, now this E-Visa must be

putting tourists off coming here.

 

Regards Worgeordie

 

 

 

"I have a friend,who has a friend "

 

????

Yes.

It will and it should.

I voted, but I think you are asking the wrong question.

 

I think the question should be "Will health insurance requirements be required for a one-year stay extension for those holding long-term visas (of any type)?" I think not.

I think that is what the THB 800K or THB 65K-a-month, or THB 400K or THB 40K-a-month requirements are for.

 

Just my opinion... ????

 

 

16 hours ago, The Man Who Sold the World said:

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 am one of those people who have a "Thai wife" visa since 13 years ; I'm in my 14th year here.. and who are also uninsurable because I'm  over 70 years old.
If this request comes up to my type of visa I will certainly be forced to leave Thailand.
My wife and disabled daughter will be destitute because my small pension, currently just equal to the 40,000 baht required, will be just enough for me in another SE Asian country.
There is no question that I will return to live in Europe. I have already explained it to them;
they do not seem to understand what hangs in their noses.

4 minutes ago, billsmart said:

I voted, but I think you are asking the wrong question.

 

I think the question should be "Will health insurance requirements be required for a one-year stay extension for those holding long-term visas (of any type)?" I think not.

I think that is what the THB 800K or THB 65K-a-month, or THB 400K or THB 40K-a-month requirements are for.

 

Just my opinion... ????

 

 

Oh please!

I obviously am talking about extensions!

Did you miss this?

 

Quote

The health insurance requirement will expand to include O visa based retirement extensions

 

11 hours ago, PatOngo said:

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

It is not impossible that over time they will realize that this totally unproductive measure will make short or long-term tourists flee to more welcoming countries.
and when a good habit is taken we rarely come back on it.
If those who have used to come to Thailand for many years start to like Vietnam much more conciliatory than Thailand in terms of tourist visas or other visas, they will quickly forget about Thailand.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Oh please!

I obviously am talking about extensions!

Did you miss this?

 

 

No, I didn't miss that. But you seem to mix up the initial issuance of an O-A visa when health insurance is now required, and the stay extensions for long-term visas after you've been in the country. 

It's my understanding (and I could be wrong) that the health insurance requirement only applies to the initial issuance of the O-A visa, not the subsequent stay extensions.

17 hours ago, The Man Who Sold the World said:

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.

Who took care of them before they met their "breadwinners"?

2 minutes ago, billsmart said:

No, I didn't miss that. But you seem to mix up the initial issuance of an O-A visa when health insurance is now required, and the stay extensions for long-term visas after you've been in the country. 

It's my understanding (and I could be wrong) that the health insurance requirement only applies to the initial issuance of the O-A visa, not the subsequent stay extensions.

You not only could be wrong but you ARE wrong. 

Maybe bone up on current events before criticizing polls based on false assumptions.

I predict it will remain on O-A and "may" expand to other visa's issued outside the Kingdom, ie fresh applications, it will be quite some time before they introduce, or perhaps more accurately "enforce" such requirements to those already in the country.

People keep talking and bringing it up surely it will happen since Thais aren't going to come up with it on their own.

 

SILENCE IS GOLDEN!