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

[The Hammer2021]

6 minutes ago, Joules said:

I got a marriage extension.

 

 

I meant how did you get insurance if you were too old?

[Derek B]

4 minutes ago, Cornishman said:

I too, have an ' O ' visa....but at 77 cannot get insurance even if I wanted to....

So logically you will need to be self insured. 

Or have a home country GOV reciprocated Health Agreement in place with your host country.

In any case best to have funds or assets available to go private if the need arises.

[Galong]

7 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

He who pays the piper calls the tune! Without mentioning names I think some Thai Insurance companies are thinking they will cash in on the gold rush, falungs flying into LOS by the plane loads, after the enlightened ones open the gates, 7 eleven Tesco will have live concerts outside, beer will flow, happy birday to you. 

Hmm, and when foreigners don't show up, it'll be us 'picking' on poor Thailand... ????

 

[The Hammer2021]

4 hours ago, John Drake said:

The key words being "after I file the claim." Does any medical center in Thailand accept Tricare up front? If not, I can see that their thinking might be that after you die on the operating table, there is no one around to file the claim????

You pay the hospital then claim the money back from the insurance company OR you apply in advance to the insurance company to guarantee the medical procedure.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

In what regard? Maybe Thailand values the contribution to society of those who support a Thai family? 

You missed the point. Obviously. Retirees also have families as well. We just choose not to do an extension of stay based on marriage and jump through those hoops.  You would think being responsible for a family as a married person you would need more income than a single individual.

[Derek B]

7 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

He who pays the piper calls the tune! Without mentioning names I think some Thai Insurance companies are thinking they will cash in on the gold rush, falungs flying into LOS by the plane loads, after the enlightened ones open the gates, 7 eleven Tesco will have live concerts outside, beer will flow, happy birday to you. 

"after the enlightened ones open the gates,7 eleven Tesco will have live concerts outside, beer will flow"    I agree it will be a mental party & take off fast with sky high prices.

 

[grain]

1 hour ago, Confuscious said:

BS

 

A year ago, I was hospitalized urgently.
After 3 weeks hospital, from which was 1 1/2 week ICU, I was released from the hospital.
I went to the cassier and the total bill was only 35,000 baht (Military hospital Fort Suranaree).
I don't require hamburgers and pizzas, with a 40" TV and all sport channels, when I am lying in a hospital.
I feel very well with some other people in my room who gave a helping hand when nurses ware too busy.
I go already 15 years to this hospital and I feel very good with their service.
I don't need a Bangkok hospital with their exurberant bills.

Exactly. I told my Thai wife if I ever have an accident or fall very ill DO NOT let anyone take me to one of those Bangkok hospitals. Take me to the nearest gov hospital. 

 

One day a few years ago I was in Nong Khai and I got sudden chest pains. I was near the NK gov hospital and went straight there. I was quickly registered and taken straight to see a doctor, was examined and then taken for an EKG. Nothing was wrong me with, heart was fine, all I had was muscle cramp from sitting hunched up over my laptop. Then I went and paid the bill it was about 650 Bt. At one of those damn Bangkok hospitals it would have been closer to 65,000 Bt.

[metisdead]

A post with comments trolling another member out of context has been reported and removed. 

[kiwikeith]

6 minutes ago, Derek B said:

So logically you will need to be self insured. 

Or have a home country GOV reciprocated Health Agreement in place with your host country.

In any case best to have funds or assets available to go private if the need arises.

No reciprocal agreements with Thailand, so if you are over 75 it's tough either cough up 20k USD per year or get an agent, very sad, Covid-19 cover is easy but the other insurance is not available over 75,unless you pay the extortion fees, I found Thai public hospitals very reasonable and there never was a runner problem until one example was used, most people that had accidents used crowd funding, usually young travellers, but its never seemed to be a problem, when I had to stay in hospital for a accident they took my passport, no problem after one week in hospital and an operation I gladly paid for my bill, 35000 and with my own room. 

[kiwikeith]

8 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

No reciprocal agreements with Thailand, so if you are over 75 it's tough either cough up 20k USD per year or get an agent, very sad, Covid-19 cover is easy but the other insurance is not available over 75,unless you pay the extortion fees, I found Thai public hospitals very reasonable and there never was a runner problem until one example was used, most people that had accidents used crowd funding, usually young travellers, but its never seemed to be a problem, when I had to stay in hospital for a accident they took my passport, no problem after one week in hospital and an operation I gladly paid for my bill, 35000 and with my own room. 

Oh and I forgot I had to have a MRI at Udon Thani military hospital as well it cost me 10,000 Bhat, to get a MRI in NZ would cost me 100,000 Bhat unless the government paid for it, privately the cost would be 100k Thai Bhat, so very cheap in LOS. 

[ThaiVisaCentre]

1 hour ago, TigerandDog said:

you can't work with too many insurers then, because I've contacted EVERY Thai authorised health insurance company today and only 2 had any knowledge of these alleged changes ( and AXA was not one of them), and 1 will not take on new clients 70 or older and the other has no premiums posted on their web site even though they have already updated their site to show 3 million as the minimum cover for O-A.

We got this notice on October 8th from Luma, and others. So they were aware of upcoming changes, and are modifying existing packages which did not meet these requirements.


 

[kiwikeith]

20 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

I wish they would try a bit harder, give me a good excuse to get out- 'see dear it's not my fault'

A big protest coming up, please leave my falung husband alone, he has enough problems to take care for me and family. 

[kiwikeith]

20 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

I wish they would try a bit harder, give me a good excuse to get out- 'see dear it's not my fault'

A big protest coming up, please leave my falung husband alone, he has enough problems to take care for me and family. 

[Grusa]

7 hours ago, MikeN said:

Would I be suspicious if I thought the whole idea of printing this story is to give the owners of this forum another opportunity to advertise Aetna, in the form of a link which looks like it is part of the story, and no doubt get some commission from Aetna.

Ooh you are cynical..........!

[userabcd]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

You missed the point. Obviously. Retirees also have families as well. We just choose not to do an extension of stay based on marriage and jump through those hoops.  You would think being responsible for a family as a married person you would need more income than a single individual.

There are no hoops to jump through for the marriage visa or its extension, its pretty straight forward.

[superal]

3 hours ago, John Drake said:

Among the most important things those of us living here from other countries should do is investigate the available medical care before getting sick. By that, I mean see what hospital prices are like, what services are available, and what physicians on staff are capable of. Sometimes, you'll save more money paying out of pocket than if you had insurance. For example, in 2012, I developed some inner ear problems. I went to Bumrungrad and they gave me a hearing test, sent me home with a single prescription for medicine. Total cost: 21,000 baht, of which my insurance offered through Mahidol only paid 14,000. Problems persisted. I went back several; times, seeing different physicians, but getting only the same test and treatment. Finally, after I retired and lost my insurance, I went to the Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital near Pinklao. Saw a specialist in Meniere's, got a hearing test, finally received an accurate diagnosis, and went home with prescription medicine. Total cost: 2500 baht. No insurance but I saved 4500 baht and received superior treatment. I still go to the same EENT doctor every couple of months. Hearing in both ears partially restored and no vertigo in four years. Lesson: don't let insurance make you lazy. Seek out the best treatment. It may not be at the "brand name" hospitals. Could say similar things about Thonburi 2 Hospital. Better than quality care, superior care, is out there, but you need to look for it. When you're collapsed on the floor sweating and semi-conscious, it's too late to know the best alternatives.

So what happens if you are seriously injured in a road accident . Will you get life saving treatment  without a financial / insurance inquest , or are you put to one side ?

[The Fugitive]

5 minutes ago, superal said:

So what happens if you are seriously injured in a road accident . Will you get life saving treatment  without a financial / insurance inquest , or are you put to one side ?

Life saving and stabilisation (if possible) is performed as prescribed by regulations without question. Hospitals will then attempt to get payment from you for that service and then you will have to pay for any subsequent treatment in advance.

[tonray]

41 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Life saving and stabilisation (if possible) is performed as prescribed by regulations without question. Hospitals will then attempt to get payment from you for that service and then you will have to pay for any subsequent treatment in advance.

Well I'm grateful they'll bring me out of my coma long enough to get my credit card details anyway

[kennw]

22 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

They only want foreigners who stay a week or two.

No they just want our money !

[StayinThailand2much]

52 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Life saving and stabilisation (if possible) is performed as prescribed by regulations without question. Hospitals will then attempt to get payment from you for that service and then you will have to pay for any subsequent treatment in advance.

If you can't pay, will they reverse it?

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, userabcd said:

There are no hoops to jump through for the marriage visa or its extension, its pretty straight forward.

I had to have a house visit, had to have pictures with the wife, had to have witnesses attesting to our marriage being a true marriage, had to wait for the extension of stay to be reviewed and then return 30 days later to pick it up, while with the OA extension, turn in the paperwork and within an our out the door with my passport stamped with the new extension pre-dated to match the ending of the current extension.  Only difference is I have to show insurance and they check it on the database as well as confirming the 800K in the bank by reviewing the bank letter.  Easy peasy my way now versus the headache from before, oh and a new Kor Ror 2 every time as well when I was married and doing the extension of stay for that one.  So tell me again no extra hoops to jump through.

[Bangkok Basha]

THB 3 million is less than $100,000. That seems quite a low threshold to me. Both of my health insurance policies (one international and one Thailand-based) provide more than that. Am I confused about the fuss that this is creating? Asking for a friend. 

 

[sirineou]

10 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

I had to have a house visit, had to have pictures with the wife, had to have witnesses attesting to our marriage being a true marriage, had to wait for the extension of stay to be reviewed and then return 30 days later to pick it up, while with the OA extension, turn in the paperwork and within an our out the door with my passport stamped with the new extension pre-dated to match the ending of the current extension.  Only difference is I have to show insurance and they check it on the database as well as confirming the 800K in the bank by reviewing the bank letter.  Easy peasy my way now versus the headache from before, oh and a new Kor Ror 2 every time as well when I was married and doing the extension of stay for that one.  So tell me again no extra hoops to jump through.

You make it sound like it was a lot bit it wasn't. it was all all very simple to do.

Took some pictures with my phone, printed them out on my printer. . Less than an hour at  immigration, and I was done with an under consideration stamp , three days later immigration came over our house, very nice people , I wish they came to visit me every month, Two of our neighbors came over and signed a document, we all had a couple of sodas,All very pleasant. It takes a little longer to process because they have to send the whole thing away and then get it back, but wo cares, you already have the "Under consideration stamp and you are legal"  about 30 days later I got my final 0ne year stamp. 

Easy!! and only 400k in the bank,  no medical insurance required, and if you wanted to work you could. 

[The Fugitive]

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Basha said:

THB 3 million is less than $100,000. That seems quite a low threshold to me. Both of my health insurance policies (one international and one Thailand-based) provide more than that. Am I confused about the fuss that this is creating? Asking for a friend. 

 

Agreed it does. I was looking at a hospital website in U.S.A. that advertised brain surgery without incisions. Apparently known as 'Gamma Knife' and the more advanced 'Cyber Knife' technology. No idea if that is available in Thailand or not? The cost involved must be appreciable.

[jonnyscot]

13 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Looking at this again it seems the 3 million baht requirement is also very similar to the 100k USD policy required for tourists, just another view 

if its one and same then could save me an insurance policy, Ive always thought it pointless when exiting on business to have the travel insurance coverage for the full duration of my permission to stay regardless whether my business travels mean i exit every 2 months when my thai policy already covers for covid issues whilst in country, hopefully the extensive travel insurance alone will suffice

[ericthai]

14 hours ago, tonysilly said:

Sorry, but it's true. Not all that's true but most. Sometime about Thai girls and Trust. Don't mix well.

maybe it's not Thai girls, but you?

[Phulublub]

12 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

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.

Not "they".  It may very well be what HE thinks of us.  But I could give countless examples of farabgs who look down on Thais (and others who are not of the right genetic make up) with utter contempt.

 

PH

[natway09]

All you grizzle pots here complaining about having to look after yourselves amazes me.

If you come to a foreign country in particular a 3rd world country like Thailand,  for a year or more,why should they fit your bill should you have an accident or get really sick.

Different if working here & paying tax then you are covered (sort of by their system)

As to 3 million being excessive any kind of serious illness or accident could chew that out in intensive care in 3 weeks & prices here in private hospitals still only 30 to 40% of the US.

Many accidents & sicknesses will also preclude you from getting home

 

[tonray]

2 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

Agreed it does. I was looking at a hospital website in U.S.A. that advertised brain surgery without incisions. Apparently known as 'Gamma Knife' and the more advanced 'Cyber Knife' technology. No idea if that is available in Thailand or not? The cost involved must be appreciable.

It's not brain surgery per se but computer directed radiation therapy for tumours. 

[Thunglom]

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

Among the most important things those of us living here from other countries should do is investigate the available medical care before getting sick. By that, I mean see what hospital prices are like, what services are available, and what physicians on staff are capable of. Sometimes, you'll save more money paying out of pocket than if you had insurance. For example, in 2012, I developed some inner ear problems. I went to Bumrungrad and they gave me a hearing test, sent me home with a single prescription for medicine. Total cost: 21,000 baht, of which my insurance offered through Mahidol only paid 14,000. Problems persisted. I went back several; times, seeing different physicians, but getting only the same test and treatment. Finally, after I retired and lost my insurance, I went to the Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital near Pinklao. Saw a specialist in Meniere's, got a hearing test, finally received an accurate diagnosis, and went home with prescription medicine. Total cost: 2500 baht. No insurance but I saved 4500 baht and received superior treatment. I still go to the same EENT doctor every couple of months. Hearing in both ears partially restored and no vertigo in four years. Lesson: don't let insurance make you lazy. Seek out the best treatment. It may not be at the "brand name" hospitals. Could say similar things about Thonburi 2 Hospital. Better than quality care, superior care, is out there, but you need to look for it. When you're collapsed on the floor sweating and semi-conscious, it's too late to know the best alternatives.

This is a big problem in Thailand...getting the appropriate treatment.

there is no GP system so diagnosis is often done by visiting several specialists.

THis of course takes time.

many people too are obviously very fearful when they go to see a doctor and incredibly relieved when their condition improves or is cured. This actually leaves another problem, they will never know if they received the most appropriate treatment. This is so often dictated by factors like insurance, ability to pay and thwdoctors personal preference or limitations.

the Thai healthcare system runnings on a very strict hierarchical structure and doctors are almost Gods - what they say goes and there is absolutely no room for criticism...especially by subordinates. All this leaves the system short on ethics and very short on any patient comeback.

Many people have minor treatments and pay themselves and are impressed rightly or wrongly by the results. X-rays are done within hours and are cheap - dressings are applied to motorcycle injuries and opiates and opioids are easily bought...antibiotics over the counter.

however as retirees get older the healthcare they require gets more costly.

Cardiovascular diseases and cancers can cost millions of baht of a drawn out period and those with limited savings suddenly find themselves facing bills they can't pay and no way to return home. Ten there is the possibility of accident - roads or whatever lead to  a complicated mix of emergency procedures and payments in different hospitals - patients get moved for financial rather than medical reasons.

the Thai authorities have long been concerned by this and are no doubt worried about any scandals arising from this.

 

I purposely don't use anecdotal examples here as they are not really valid. almost all people who describe their own personal experiences have no valid qualfications to make a judgement anyway.

My problem and eventually many foreigners is the range of demonstrable faults in the Thai system. How it runs the ethics and the inconsistencies throughout thesytem.