health insurance

[peterwa1]

If one cannot obtain health insurance because of age will a substantial sum (eg 5 million baht) in a Thai bank account be accepted in lieu ?

[ProbPossConf]

Have you consider getting the Thai Elite visa valid for five years for 500,000 baht?

[DrJack54]

Extensions to  non O-A ? based on retirement?

[PerkinsCuthbert]

Are you that desperate that you are willing to deposit 5m Baht in an almost yield-free bank account, just to stay in Thailand?

[peterwa1]

21 minutes ago, ProbPossConf said:

Have you consider getting the Thai Elite visa valid for five years for 500,000 baht?

Yes but if its about not leaving Thai health in debt why not just show substantial bank deposit if insurance age problematic

[peterwa1]

8 minutes ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Are you that desperate that you are willing to deposit 5m Baht in an almost yield-free bank account, just to stay in Thailand?

But if one has 5 million baht sitting idly in a yield free bank account elsewhere why not in a Thai bank?

[4MyEgo]

12 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

But if one has 5 million baht sitting idly in a yield free bank account elsewhere why not in a Thai bank?

You would be better off leaving it in your account in your homeland, there are plenty reasons too.

 

1) When I came her 5 years ago, my intention was to stay, although our plans have changed, suffice to say, I don't have any hassles in getting out of the country back into my country, because it never left there in the first place and I would transfer what amount I needed when I needed through Transferwise at a great exchange rate and low fee, + it was there the next day in my Thai bank account.

 

That is one, I have many other reasons, but everybody here knows, so will refrain from gong on like a broken record player.

 

Suggest you change visas if it is a requirement that you get insurance, if that is not the case, just show any hospital when the time comes of your bank statement and how you can transfer the funds to your Thai account within 24 hours, then be prepared for some extras to be added after they admit you ????

 

[PerkinsCuthbert]

1 hour ago, peterwa1 said:

But if one has 5 million baht sitting idly in a yield free bank account elsewhere why not in a Thai bank?

Well, forgive me, and without wishing to push the topic too far off base, but I can think of many safe places to put 5m Baht that will earn far more than the derisory 0.5% pa earned in a Thai instant access savings account.

[peterwa1]

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

You would be better off leaving it in your account in your homeland, there are plenty reasons too.

 

1) When I came her 5 years ago, my intention was to stay, although our plans have changed, suffice to say, I don't have any hassles in getting out of the country back into my country, because it never left there in the first place and I would transfer what amount I needed when I needed through Transferwise at a great exchange rate and low fee, + it was there the next day in my Thai bank account.

 

That is one, I have many other reasons, but everybody here knows, so will refrain from gong on like a broken record player.

 

Suggest you change visas if it is a requirement that you get insurance, if that is not the case, just show any hospital when the time comes of your bank statement and how you can transfer the funds to your Thai account within 24 hours, then be prepared for some extras to be added after they admit you ????

 

Yes for Non immigrant OA visa health insurance is mandatory

[peterwa1]

2 hours ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Well, forgive me, and without wishing to push the topic too far off base, but I can think of many safe places to put 5m Baht that will earn far more than the derisory 0.5% pa earned in a Thai instant access savings account.

1.5%  not as good as Laos but safer..and superior to OZ  NZ etc

[rumak]

4 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

1.5%  not as good as Laos but safer..and superior to OZ  NZ etc

i assume you are referring to CIMB  bank  here in Thailand ?    are they safe in your opinion?

 

also, i don't think money in bank would be an option.   But changing to a NON O

retirement extension can be done ,  without leaving thailand ( i think)

No proof of insurance needed.......... 800k in bank is all you need for easy extension

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, peterwa1 said:

Yes for Non immigrant OA visa health insurance is mandatory

Not having read other posts, you may wish to obtain Ubonjoe's input or others on how easy it would be to change that to the visa that doesn't require insurance as many have done, just need to have 800,000 baht in the bank.

 

Good luck.

[Peter Denis]

2 hours ago, peterwa1 said:

Yes for Non immigrant OA visa health insurance is mandatory

When applying for a 1-year extension at your local IO based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement, a thai IO-approved health-insurance policy issued by s TGIA associatoed insurer is mandatory.

However, there are a few IOs that do not enforce that requirement presently so might be useful to enquire at your local IO.  There has also been a report of an IO that showed leniency to an over 75 years old retiree on an original Non Imm O-A Visa (as there are no policies offered by the the TGIA associated insurers for those over 75 years of age wanting to subscribe to it).

[peterwa1]

11 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Not having read other posts, you may wish to obtain Ubonjoe's input or others on how easy it would be to change that to the visa that doesn't require insurance as many have done, just need to have 800,000 baht in the bank.

 

Good luck.

Then its only 6 months...not a year as OA provides

[peterwa1]

13 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

When applying for a 1-year extension at your local IO based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement, a thai IO-approved health-insurance policy issued by s TGIA associatoed insurer is mandatory.

However, there are a few IOs that do not enforce that requirement presently so might be useful to enquire at your local IO.  There has also been a report of an IO that showed leniency to an over 75 years old retiree on an original Non Imm O-A Visa (as there are no policies offered by the the TGIA associated insurers for those over 75 years of age wanting to subscribe to it).

Yes but the problem is arriving into the country where I officers require to view health insurance.  Local IO may waive this especially if they know you are financially well set up but not arriving back into the country as I understand it.

[ubonjoe]

28 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

Local IO may waive this especially if they know you are financially well set up but not arriving back into the country as I understand it.

It is not needed for entry unless you have a valid OA visa issued prior to October 31st. Not needed for extensions.

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

Then its only 6 months...not a year as OA provides

A extension of stay is valid for one year not 6 months.

[peterwa1]

18 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A extension of stay is valid for one year not 6 months.

But only for an OA visa which requires health insurance...pls correct me if I am wrong

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

But only for an OA visa which requires health insurance...pls correct me if I am wrong

For extensions of a OA visa entry insurance it is being asked for when applying for it but not on entry to the country.

[Peter Denis]

7 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

But only for an OA visa which requires health insurance...pls correct me if I am wrong

You can apply for a 1-year extension of stay at your local IO based on your original Non Imm O or O-A Visa (be it for reason of retirement or for reason of marriage or another reason).

Depending on the type Visa (Non Imm O or O-A) and the category (retirement, marriage, dependant child, etc) the requirements are different, but for all these Non Imm O or O-A based extensions a 1-year extension can be applied for.

[peterwa1]

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

For extensions of a OA visa entry insurance it is being asked for when applying for it but not on entry to the country.

As I understand it it is being asked to be sighted BOTH on departure from home country and Thailand entry.

[4MyEgo]

13 hours ago, peterwa1 said:

Then its only 6 months...not a year as OA provides

The 800,000 baht in the bank has some provisions e.g. don't quote me on this but I believe it has to be in your Thai bank account either 2-3 months before applying and 400,000 has to remain in the account after so many months after approval. The others can let you know about that, but if you left 800,000 baht in the account all year around, problem sorted.

 

As for your visa, if its a new Non OA, I believe you will require insurance, but not if it is an extension, i.e. if the visa was issued prior to 31 October, but again, the guys can fill you in that.

 

Is your Non OA a new one or are you extending, because if your extending, you might not need insurance, but should consider changing visas prior to this one expiring.

[Peter Denis]

1 minute ago, peterwa1 said:

As I understand it it is being asked to be sighted BOTH on departure from home country and Thailand entry.

Since 30 October 2019 when applying for the Non Imm O-A (long-stay) Visa, which you can only get from the Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home-country, you need to have a health-insurance policy (foreign or thai) that meets the 400K/40K in-patient/out-patient requirement.

On entry (or re-entry) in Thailand the validity date of your O-A Visa and the expiry date of that health-insurance policy will be checked.  And you will be either stamped in for 1-year permission to stay when the O-A Visa validity has not expired OR for the duration till the expiry date of your health-insurance policy (whichever is shorter).

[Peter Denis]

@peterwa1 > Do provide the details of your current Visa situation so that posters can provide you with correct advice.

- Validity expiry date of your Non Imm O-A Visa (as printed on the Visa sticker in your passport);

- Expiry date of your current permission to stay (as stamped in your passport when you entered Thailand last time);

- Your local IO;

- Your age, nationality, receiving a pension and whether married to a thai national.

Note: The info on the last 2 bullet points are relevant as they impact the options available for you.

[peterwa1]

16 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

The 800,000 baht in the bank has some provisions e.g. don't quote me on this but I believe it has to be in your Thai bank account either 2-3 months before applying and 400,000 has to remain in the account after so many months after approval. The others can let you know about that, but if you left 800,000 baht in the account all year around, problem sorted.

 

As for your visa, if its a new Non OA, I believe you will require insurance, but not if it is an extension, i.e. if the visa was issued prior to 31 October, but again, the guys can fill you in that.

 

Is your Non OA a new one or are you extending, because if your extending, you might not need insurance, but should consider changing visas prior to this one expiring.

It is actually an extension since 2014 but local office confirms health insurance is now required

[4MyEgo]

49 minutes ago, peterwa1 said:

It is actually an extension since 2014 but local office confirms health insurance is now required

Don't quote me on this as it's not my area of expertise, either Ubonjoe, Peter and some others will provide you with the correct information, but as far as I am aware, it it was issued prior to 31 October you don't need insurance.

 

The above said, all officers have their own sets of rules, so maybe ask someone else in immigration in that office or outside that office to get a feel, as there can be a lot of misinformation floating around at best of times when things are changing.