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Posted

Will be going back to the USA where I have two doses of Pfizer booked. Will wait the requisite 14 days post second shot and then return for 7 days quarantine. Now the issue of mandatory CV19 insurance comes up. I'm surprised - but this is Thailand so I guess I shouldn't be - that there is zero reduction in premium if one is fully vaccinated against CV19. Has anyone found an insurance source that actually accounts for the risk reduction in their rates?

 

Second question, my extension of stay expires in seven months. The CV19 insurance people tell me I have to buy six months (which won't be accepted for a COE) or twelve months. Has anyone found a solution for this? Can you ask immigration to only stamp you in for six months? Can you buy a six month policy and another one for a single month dated out six months into the future?

 

Thanks to TV land for any insights!

Posted
16 minutes ago, PDP11 said:

Has anyone found an insurance source that actually accounts for the risk reduction in their rates?

The risk is still the same.

 

17 minutes ago, PDP11 said:

Second question, my extension of stay expires in seven months. The CV19 insurance people tell me I have to buy six months (which won't be accepted for a COE) or twelve months. Has anyone found a solution for this? Can you ask immigration to only stamp you in for six months? Can you buy a six month policy and another one for a single month dated out six months into the future?

How long will be left on your extension on the date you plan to return.

Longer than 6 months you'll have to buy a 12 month coverage.

Posted
1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

You don't have to get one of the Thai COVID policies. Any health insurance policy that covers COVID will be accepted. 

 

Many people have used travel insurance for this purpose.

 

True, but with many of these policies there is a 15 day waiting period before the policy becomes effect.

The Thai approved policies start on the day of entry to Thailand.

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, PDP11 said:

...CV19 insurance...CV19...CV19 insurance...

 

There are no such things as "CV19" and "CV19 insurance" and your use of these terms make your posts unintelligible. Please explain what what you really mean, lest your topic needs to be removed.

 

  • Sad 3
Posted
2 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

The risk is still the same.

 

If the risk of becoming ill with Covid-19 were the same whether you have been vaccinated or not, what would be the point of the vaccine's existence, and why would anyone ever bother to be vaccinated?

 

I think the issue with insurance premiums not yet being lower for those who are vaccinated is that insurance companies have not yet been able to evaluate what the new risk is. They may be worried about whether variants will appear over the next few months that result in breakthrough infections for those who are vaccinated more often than with the original virus.

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Many people have used travel insurance for this purpose.

 

Indeed, and that is what I would generally recommend. However, it appears that the OP wants seven months of coverage, and all the travel insurance policies I am aware of are only valid for a maximum of six months.

Posted
8 hours ago, BritTim said:

 

Indeed, and that is what I would generally recommend. However, it appears that the OP wants seven months of coverage, and all the travel insurance policies I am aware of are only valid for a maximum of six months.

There are companies that will insure for up to 12 months

Posted (edited)

OP, good that you have support for you plans from posts above.  Note that those  are very sensible folk on thaivisa. 

I for one think it's a crazy plan if it's for vaccine alone..

BTW what is the procedure for USA citizens, residents entering USA from overseas? 

 

Edited by DrJack54
Posted
1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

BTW what is the procedure for USA citizens, residents entering USA from overseas? 

 

 

Required to have a negative COVID test done within 72 hours of departure

No other requirement for entry

CDC guidance (non -mandatory/self-enforced): COVID test 3-5 days after arrival , no quarantine if vaccinated otherwise self isolation for 7 days (assuming test is negative)

No specific insurance requirement but under ACA everyone is supposed to have insurance anyhow and none of the US policies exclude COVID that I know of.

A person would have to be crazy to travel to the US uninsured IMO. Note that anyone over 65 automatically has Medicare at least Part A.

  • Thanks 1
Posted

You can buy insurance for seven months.

 

Should be 2,500 - 3,000 THB per month.

 

Have not seen any insurance waiver for those vaccinated being considered.

 

 

Posted
2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:OP, good that you have support for you plans from posts above.  Note that those  are very sensible folk on thaivisa. 

I for one think it's a crazy plan if it's for vaccine alone..

BTW what is the procedure for USA citizens, residents entering USA from overseas? 

 


DrJack54, you bring up the key point for me. Putting aside the cost, there is a danger with 24 hours in an airplane and three weeks back in the USA. That’s weighted against the increasing risk here in (for me) Bangkok plus the lack of any vaccines locally in the foreseeable future. I’ve decided that for me it is worth the trip although I have a lot of other business to attend to (have not been back since before COVID started). Always a personal decision.

 

Sheryl did outline well the procedures to enter the USA. A lot easier than the trip back to Thailand ????

Posted
5 minutes ago, PDP11 said:

Sheryl did outline well the procedures to enter the USA. A lot easier than the trip back to Thailand ????

First up, yes personal choice. 

Info from Sheryl surprised me regarding no quarantine requirements for its citizens also unvaccinated.

Being Oz it's almost out of the question for me to return to Oz for various things including the vaccine. 

Interesting comparison between the 2 countries. Au folk would require 14 day quarantine after arriving in Au. 

Then to exit almost impossible, especially being not married.

The poor roll out of vaccine in Thailand came as no surprise. What has been a surprise is that Australia has been all over the shop with its roll out. My understanding is that supply has been major issue. 

Posted
16 hours ago, PDP11 said:

I’m curious why you feel that a vaccinated individual has exactly the same probable cost associated with hospitalization? I don’t know of anyone that has had two doses of Pfizer or Moderna ending up in the hospital at all, much less racking up $100K USD. 

Exactly. The vaccine may not stop anyone from catching c19 but it's an almost 100% guarantee that one won't require treatment. So why would I need 100k policy to cover a one in a billion chance of needing to use it?

  • Thanks 2
Posted
18 hours ago, PDP11 said:

but this is Thailand so I guess I shouldn't be - that there is zero reduction in premium if one is fully vaccinated against CV19.

Why should their be.  Thailand has discovered a cash cow for its home-grown Thai insurance companies.  It will never roll back those requirement ever.

 

18 hours ago, PDP11 said:

I don’t know of anyone that has had two doses of Pfizer or Moderna ending up in the hospital at all, much less racking up $100K USD. 

They've just been rolled out in the very recent past.  Give it time.

Posted

I just arrived in the US from Thailand on Friday and got my first Pfizer jab on Saturday. I'm planning to return to Thailand mid-June and have a similar insurance issue. I need an 8 week policy since I will need one for the length of time until I renew my retirement extension at the end of July. I use AA Insurance brokers and they suggested ACS Globe Traveller Plan (France), which has several premium options. No reduction for vaccinated people, but it might be worth a look.

 

30 days         40 Euro (1464 THB)
90 days         120 Euro (4393 THB)
180 days       300 Euro (10983 THB)
270 days       450 Euro (16474 THB)
365 days       600 Euro (21966 THB)

 

I was flying Qatar to the US and they carefully reviewed my negative Covid test in Bangkok when checking in. The lab report was checked again by US authorities upon arrival in Chicago. You must be tested 3 days (not 72 hours) before your flight. The example given by the CDC is if you fly anytime on Friday, you need to be tested anytime on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. My test was Tuesday in Phuket with the results emailed to me on Wednesday morning. 

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Posted
48 minutes ago, michel7752 said:

But if Thailand does not stop their messy insurance requirements quickly, they can forget about tourists coming back in large numbers. Then the Thais can start playing in their sandboxes alone and keep on dreaming...

 

For tourists, the requirement is only Covid insurance, and travel insurance premiums which include Covid are not much more costly than without. In my opinion, it is prudent for regular tourists to have travel insurance anyway. I believe quarantine and pre departure Covid testing are a bigger deterrent than the requirement for travel insurance. Of course, if you define tourists as people who want to spend a few years in Thailand, the considerations are different.

Posted (edited)
20 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Required to have a negative COVID test done within 72 hours of departure

No other requirement for entry

CDC guidance (non -mandatory/self-enforced): COVID test 3-5 days after arrival , no quarantine if vaccinated otherwise self isolation for 7 days (assuming test is negative)

No specific insurance requirement but under ACA everyone is supposed to have insurance anyhow and none of the US policies exclude COVID that I know of.

A person would have to be crazy to travel to the US uninsured IMO. Note that anyone over 65 automatically has Medicare at least Part A.

There are some statements above that deserve further explanation.

 

It is true that a negative COVID test is mandatory to board a flight to the US, but that may not be enough to avoid quarantine upon arriving. States, counties and cities may have their own restrictions.

 

Medicare - the free version - is not automatic. You have to apply for it and qualify for it. You need to qualify for US Social Security, which depends on how much you contributed during your working career. In my case, since I lived and worked in Thailand since 1998, I wasn't sure if I'd qualify. If you don't qualify for no-cost Part A, but still want it, you can pay for it.

Edited by 10years
add clarity
Posted
On 4/25/2021 at 10:42 PM, Sheryl said:

You don't have to get one of the Thai COVID policies. Any health insurance policy that covers COVID will be accepted. 

 

Many people have used travel insurance for this purpose.

Is the biggest problem not the $100.000 scam Sheryl?

Posted
13 hours ago, michel7752 said:

This whole health insurance thing, 40.000/400.000 Baht insurance and 100.000 $ Covid-19 insurance requirements are a complicated and costly mess.

If I go on vacation in Europe, USA, South America etc., does anyone request insurance? No, because it is my personal responsibility.

 

Because of the Covid-19 situation I can understand that in the future countries will ask that incoming tourists have been vaccinated. That is O.K. But if Thailand does not stop their messy insurance requirements quickly, they can forget about tourists coming back in large numbers. Then the Thais can start playing in their sandboxes alone and keep on dreaming...

 

There are countries with insurance requirements even for tourists.  I don't think the fact that Thailand has requirement is a problem per se, the problem is the the nature of the requirement is ridiculous, does not serve the purpose  and is often impossible to meet. If instead of 400/40 from a designated Thai company (none of which will issue a new policy past age 75)  they required say 1 million baht inpatient cover only and from any insurer who covers you  in Thailand (inc travel policies, foreign insurers etc as well as Thai SS and governmental Veteran insurance plans etc) and provided an alternative option for those unable to get a policy (e.g. a financial deposit or joining a national scheme for a fee) it would be reasonable.

 

Practically speaking, for tourists (once things normalize) given the volume the only practical approach I think would be to set up an insurance system and tack on the cost to airfares, with option of getting a refund later if the tourist shows proof of other insurance (similar to VAT refund).

  • Like 1
Posted
6 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Is the biggest problem not the $100.000 scam Sheryl?

The $100 k COVID insurance is nto a problem - anyone can get it and not too expensive. It is the 400k/40k baht requirement for retirees that is a problem, see my post above

Posted
24 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

How is it a scam?

I just think it's a way of making big money for the insurance companies, it is not the insurance, it is the $100.000 Joe, just my opinion, I also believe the unelected "PM" will get 

his share.

Posted
29 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

The $100 k COVID insurance is nto a problem - anyone can get it and not too expensive. It is the 400k/40k baht requirement for retirees that is a problem, see my post above

Sorry Sheryl, I have read it thanks.

Posted
28 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I just think it's a way of making big money for the insurance companies, it is not the insurance, it is the $100.000 Joe, just my opinion, I also believe the unelected "PM" will get 

his share.

 

how on earth can the Pm get a "share" of insurance premiums paid to international travel policies, international insurers etc???

 

unlike the 400/40 requirement there is no restriction as to company

Posted
1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

 

how on earth can the Pm get a "share" of insurance premiums paid to international travel policies, international insurers etc???

 

unlike the 400/40 requirement there is no restriction as to company

I was thinking along the line of brown envelopes. but it is only my opinion.

Posted
21 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I just think it's a way of making big money for the insurance companies, it is not the insurance, it is the $100.000 Joe, just my opinion, I also believe the unelected "PM" will get 

his share.

The mandatory Covid Insurance is only available for inbound travellers to Thailand.

Typical cost for a Tourist - 60 days cover is around 4,480 BHT.

 

It's the mandatory 400/40K Health Insurance that is overpriced for the cover received.

However this is only required for those entering on a long stay type Visa, the STV, a new Non O Visa, or returning via a re-entry permit with the extension based on retirement.

 

It is not required for a new Non O Visa, or returning with a re-entry permit based on marriage/Thai family.

Posted
4 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I was thinking along the line of brown envelopes. but it is only my opinion.

And how on earth does anyone get a "brown envelope" from a virtually inifinite list of companies, many located abroad? And for whom Thailand is just a drop in the bucket of their business?

 

If it were limited to a list if Thai companies, like the 400/40k is then yes, possible. But as it is constructed, not.

 

 

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