Non-immigrant OA visa applicants required to have ฿3m health insurance

[Mike KIWI]

10 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

This is about compulsory health insurance for O-A visa applicants. Something you're not eligible for.

The insurance you bought (covid?) is not a reasonable comparison to the subject matter here relating to retirees.

I was talking about the insurance policy i had to buy to get my non immigrant  O visa.  My kids mum is Thai. The policy is the same policy that retirees need.

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, Moti24 said:

Why don't they just announce that foreigners who don't own a villa in at least 5 countries, have a garage with a different car for every day of the week, and their own private jet, are not welcome here! 

You mean I have to buy one more villa to qualify for Thailand ? 

[StayinThailand2much]

8 minutes ago, Moti24 said:

What's next!  Who knows!

It's the typical Thai greed... Two years almost no tourists, so they have to fleece the ones who come after to make up for the shortfall. Maybe next, instead of 40 million tourists, they will try to attract 4,000 billionaires, paying a million baht entrance fee when arriving in Thailand. Good luck with that, Thailand!

Edited October 20, 2021 by StayinThailand2much

[Salerno]

2 minutes ago, tonray said:

You mean I have to buy one more villa to qualify for Thailand ? 

Thanks, due to your post I reread the other ... I misread initially and was about to call my realtor to sell a couple ????

[Moti24]

3 minutes ago, tonray said:

You mean I have to buy one more villa to qualify for Thailand ? 

Yes, why not!  You can use that for your ego.

[Guderian]

As always with medical insurance, it's the oldest who'll be hit the hardest. Once you're in your 80's, all this stuff they're demanding will cost you the same as a small car.

[KannikaP]

4 hours ago, AndrewL said:

The Thai health system has a focus on stopping problems before they happen,

Where did this idea come from. Go to a Thai hospital or Doctor and they just prescribe a few (lot) of medicines, no advice about a healthy lifestyle.

[tonray]

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

Where did this idea come from. Go to a Thai hospital or Doctor and they just prescribe a few (lot) of medicines, no advice about a healthy lifestyle.

what they meant to say is 'stopping billing problems before they happen by keeping your passport until you pay'

[konaboy]

Does Medicare qualify as a valid foreign insurance policy?

[tonray]

Just now, konaboy said:

Does Medicare qualify as a valid foreign insurance policy?

Will it cover payments to a foreign hospital ? (NO)

[StayinThailand2much]

4 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Where did this idea come from. Go to a Thai hospital or Doctor and they just prescribe a few (lot) of medicines, no advice about a healthy lifestyle.

And charge them at inflated prices. The same medicines you can buy at a pharmacy at a fraction of the hospital price. 

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

And charge them at inflated prices. The same medicines you can buy at a pharmacy at a fraction of the hospital price. 

I have found that the Goevernment hospitals are not too bad at pricing, but yes, local pharmacy is good IF the hospital with give you the prescription.

And as for the number of meds they prescribe, we use to say 'Throw enough 5hit and some of it will stick'   LOL

[CM Dad]

10 hours ago, nightfox said:

Are non-immigrant (O-A) visas based on retirement or marriage?

Retirement, which is why I keep my Non-O marriage visa even though many of my married foreign friends think having a retirement visa is easier than a marriage one.

[tonray]

1 minute ago, CM Dad said:

Retirement, which is why I keep my Non-O marriage visa even though many of my married foreign friends think having a retirement visa is easier than a marriage one.

I guess the assumption is that marriage automagtically precludes you from needing expensive healthcare as your wife likelly will kill you off  before too long. ????

[Rampant Rabbit]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It will only affect new OA visas issued after the 1st of September.

I  look forward to the thread s of  officers  interpreting that as  ALL OA's,  coming soon to a forum near you.........you  know what theyre  like

[Rampant Rabbit]

1 hour ago, Speedhump said:

Get cancer and see how far a million will get you. Those drugs you need for years after cost the earth. 

Im a  cut  off  my nose to spite my face  sort of person , so Ill choose  die

[CM Dad]

If Thailand is going to require insurance coverage then they should make insurance readily available to foreigners regardless of age.  Although I am still slightly below 75, the supposed cut-off age, I have not been able to get health insurance through any insurance company doing business in Thailand.  I have tried for several years, but have repeatedly been rejected due to age.  That is one reason I am grateful to have a Non-O Spousal Visa.  it is ridiculous to require health insurance coverage and then deny it.

[Phulublub]

9 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

Retirement, which is why I keep my Non-O marriage visa even though many of my married foreign friends think having a retirement visa is easier than a marriage one.

Or get a Non-O based on retirement, as many of us have.

 

PH

Edited October 20, 2021 by Phulublub

[superal]

2 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

It appears they are zeroing in on long yearly stays, I think at some point soon unfortunately Non O extensions will be there along with the O-A requirement...be ready !

I have that feeling too but they will be shooting themselves in the foot cos 70 and over are almost uninsurable and that would mean a mass exodus of the senior farang and the Thai gvment would not want that , wouldn't they ?

[Grusa]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

I guess the puzzling part is 1) will this be applied to OA extensions also and if so, 2) why only OA extensions and not all 1 year extensions ?

Stop giving them ideas.......................!

[moogradod]

5 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

it is ridiculous to require health insurance coverage and then deny it.

Spot on. From what I read still (after thousands of posts) many if not the majority here still do not understand this important point. It is not about cost and as well not the question if insurance is good or not. Eligibility is the point - as you say. This means age, and as well predispositions. And yes it is ridiculous to demand something that you cannot fulfill per se.

[HappyExpat57]

13 hours ago, olfu said:

I see it more and more how Thailand trying to get rid of farangs. 

When the country's health minister refers to us as "f***ing farangs" and "dirty farangs, " that pretty much sums up what they think of us.

 

You'll have to Google it yourself, the source is one we can't post here.

[Havnern]

OK, here is some more info about the subject:

I have Aetna insurance covering 1 million baht, and i am on a RETIREMENT visa. I called to Aetna to check if i need to upgrade to 3 mill baht for a renewal of my visa. They told me that the rule of 3 mill is not applying for those who already are here on a Non immigrant visa UNTIL 31st August 2022. So everyone that needs to renew before that date does not need the insurance. However after 31st August 2022, we need to check again if there is needed.

 

Hope that gives somewhat a bit more clarifications than the article.

[tonray]

1 minute ago, Grusa said:

Stop giving them ideas.......................!

In actuality, increasing the pool of available insured expats would reduce rates so they might be more affordable. Right now, underwriting is based upon a smal pool of OA visa holders/extenders, which does little to protect the Thai medical system from being stiffed and does nothing to protect the expats who must use massive deductibles to buy the 'visa' policy.

[Time Traveller]

Wasn't the whole point of the 800k / 400k baht bank deposit to be evidence that the foreign visa holder could pay for things like medical care ?

 

Thailand really is going backwards.  First you need a visa to enter the country. Then they decide that's not good enough and you need a CoE also. Then they demand you have a minimum cash balance at hand for proof of living expenses.  Then they say that's not good enough and now you also need 3m baht health insurance policy as well.   What next?  Pre paid 12 month rental receipts? 

  

Some of the more dimwitted people might think mandatory health insurance is a good idea.  In theory maybe, but  I know how it works in practice from the USA where mandatory health insurance was introduced, and the cost of it increased 5 times (500%) in as many years. Yes, it really did that.  

 

If this stays around, then in a few years Thailand will be unaffordable for a lot of a western retirees.   Maybe that's what Thailand is trying to do?  But the good news is, there's plenty of other places in the world.  

Edited October 20, 2021 by Time Traveller

[tonray]

Just now, Time Traveller said:

Wasn't the whole point of the 800k / 400k baht bank deposit to be evidence that the foreign visa holder could pay for things like medical care ?

yeah...except that if you need to spend it in an emergency you violate the terms of the extension...it's all ridiculous without any thought or analysis.

[SunsetT]

Western medical cover for health/travel insurance far exceeds this. In the UK it is usually £10million or sometimes £5million. I just re-entered (O visa ext.) with Emirates inclusive insurance which has $500,000 = 16.5million thb which still far exceeds this.

[crazykopite]

A country that is desperate for tourists or long term visitors to return to help the economy has once again shot itself in the foot why do they deter those who want to come by having outlandish demands I can only see neighbouring countries being more inviting than coming to Thailand and let’s not forget from January 1st which is less than 4 months away a 500 arrival charge will be introduced . Thailand has just signed its own death warrant when it comes to attracting tourists .

[mikosan]

7 hours ago, Gold Star said:

Mandatory health insurance just doesn't work for those with preconditions, those of an older age, those already with good health care in their home countries, and those with enough wealth to self insure.

 

For me, I fit in 3 of those 4 categories, but luckily have an 'O' visa, avoiding this requirement. Many of my friends have 'O-A' visas, and fall into this trap.

 

3 million baht cover is also excessive. For that money, they could bring you back from the dead

‘3 million baht cover is also excessive. For that money, they could bring you back from the dead’

 

I think that depends upon which rip-off hospital you go to..

[AhFarangJa]

13 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

They only want foreigners who stay a week or two.

Not quite, they only want foreigners who deposit their wallet in a large bin at immigration, and then go straight back out through departures.