Pattaya retirees feel “trapped” in Thailand because of insurance

[redwood1]

Today is the first day I have heard of this......I am still trying to get my head around what it all means.......Does anyone have any opinions about this? The only opinion I have so far is this is not good..

 

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-retirees-feel-trapped-in-thailand-377972

 

A random group of 20 western foreigners holding both “O” and “O/A” retirement visas and extensions of stay have told Pattaya Mail that they must reluctantly remain in Thailand.  They say that the latest rules of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enforced by embassies, are hugely discriminatory to retirees wishing to take a break abroad.....more

Edited November 4, 2021 by redwood1

[jacko45k]

People can live in Thailand on a retirement or marriage extension without any medical insurance..... but if they take a trip home, they will need insurance to get back in. Many feel they are too old or unhealthy or unable to afford  insurance, hence cannot leave.. as they would not qualify to return.

Edited November 4, 2021 by jacko45k

[Chris.B]

Since when does a Non-O visa need health insurance to enter/re-enter Thailand?

 

[redwood1]

2 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Since when does a Non-O visa need health insurance to enter/re-enter Thailand?

 

Never........But I guess things changed yesterday......I guess everyone else only needs 50,000 dollars in covid insurance...

Edited November 4, 2021 by redwood1

[Berkshire]

11 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

People can live i Thailand on a retirement or marriage extension without any medical insurance..... but if they take a trip home, they will need insurance to get back in. Many feel they are too old or unhealthy or unable to afford  insurance, hence cannot leave.. as they would not qualify to return.

I wonder if this insurance requirement is COVID-driven.  That is, will it be a temporary scheme.  Hopefully it is as it's rather draconian and pointless. 

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Since when does a Non-O visa need health insurance to enter/re-enter Thailand?

 

Since Covid...

[bobbin]

2 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Since when does a Non-O visa need health insurance to enter/re-enter Thailand?

 

If you read the article it explains this..

[Jeffr2]

This is a serious issue.  What's the current cost for a policy?  Last time, back in August, I was quoted some 30k Baht.  I ended up using the insurance provided by Emirates and it worked great.

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, redwood1 said:

Never........But I guess things changed yesterday......

It's been needed for some time.  I came in a few weeks ago and it was mandatory.  I'm on a non O.  Never needed insurance until now.

[bobbin]

This is really moving the goalposts..

 

I hope and expect it will be dropped..

[rott]

2 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Since when does a Non-O visa need health insurance to enter/re-enter Thailand?

 

I am told that it is necessary for the new pass. I am told by a mate who has just renewed his extension and is/was planning a trip home that coming back with 9 months of his extension left would cost 9 x 3,000 per month insurance. 

[Boomer6969]

6 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Never........But I guess things changed yesterday......

Been there for weeks now, hence the thread I opened last  week. The guy who write the article confirms what I was hinting at: if you have to go, do so without a reentry  permit. Easier for those on marriage extensions. And in any case better  avoid any travel, or wait for the last three or four months of the current extension.

Edited November 4, 2021 by Boomer6969

[bobbin]

1 minute ago, rott said:

I am told that it is necessary for the new pass. I am told by a mate who has just renewed his extension and is/was planning a trip home that coming back with 9 months of his extension left would cost 9 x 3,000 per month insurance. 

This^

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

20 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Many feel they are too old or unhealthy or unable to afford  insurance, hence cannot leave.. as they would not qualify to return.

Bummer, but they were repeatedly warned that their stay is only temporary here, and that there is no permanence as a retiree on a non-immigrant visa.

[redwood1]

2 minutes ago, bobbin said:

This is really moving the goalposts..

 

I hope and expect it will be dropped..

This only concerns O and OA visa holders so my hopes that it is dropped are not high...

[Mr Meeseeks]

5 minutes ago, bobbin said:

This is really moving the goalposts..

 

I hope and expect it will be dropped..

Doubt it, they want a lot of the low income Westerners gone.

[redwood1]

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Bummer, but they were repeatedly warned that their stay is only temporary here, and that there is no permanence as a retiree on a non-immigrant visa.

Dont be so smug even healthy farang pay out $$$$$ for terrible insurance in Thailand...

[gearbox]

11 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Since when does a Non-O visa need health insurance to enter/re-enter Thailand?

 

Everyone needs insurance to get Thailand Pass approval, some of the old codgers are too old to get reasonable insurance, others just don't have the money.

I'm on a non-O retirement reentry permit, paid $715 for 7 months travel insurance, but when I checked with the same provider the cost of the policy increases massively (x times) above age of 70 , and the benefits decrease a lot as well.

 

"No country for old men".

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, redwood1 said:

Dont be so smug even healthy farang pay out $$$$$ for terrible insurance in Thailand...

Not being smug just stating facts that we all have to be prepared to expect the unexpected and to go home at any time once those goalpost inevitably shift.

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, gearbox said:

Everyone needs insurance to get Thailand Pass approval

Work permit holders are exempted as we have Thai social security. 

[jacko45k]

4 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Bummer, but they were repeatedly warned that their stay is only temporary here, and that there is no permanence as a retiree on a non-immigrant visa.

Well it could be more complicated. I have purchased medical insurance while living in Thailand, renewed every year.  Not cheap I felt... Would this qualify me, at this time, I am unsure...

Some have made Thailand their lives with a wife, home and children to support. 

[gearbox]

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

Work permit holders are exempted as we have Thai social security. 

That's correct, I missed these, but I don't think there are many of them aged 65+.

[DavisH]

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

Work permit holders are exempted as we have Thai social security. 

Certainly NOT all work permit holders have Thai social security. Not one teacher in my private school has it, as they don't need to get it for us - even when we offered to to pay their share they refused. Fortulately, my wife is a civil servant and I'm covered under her scheme. If people have to leave, it's not likely they will return, as the insurance fee will be too much for many of them. 

[poohy]

just thinking about return trip  to UK  to visit 99 yo dad

if i come back with 8 months on reentry insurance is more than flight

 

option

wait until near end of visa next august (hmm hes 99!)

go without reentry come back as tourist and re set up visa here probably same cost ish through agent

 

both miserably expensive

Feel like i have been "done over" in Dudley

Edited November 4, 2021 by poohy

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, poohy said:

just thinking about return trip  to UK  to visit 99 yo dad

if i come back with 8 months on reentry insurance is more than flight

Let us say if you miss the opportunity, you will regret it .

Coming back as a tourist and then using an agent looks easiest.

Hopefully insurance policies will become more common and competitive....

[ezzra]

Hopefully Ubon Joe can come in to make sense out of this mess...

[RichardColeman]

Who exactly is checking this insurance ? Do they ask for your visa/extension details on the thai pass or just your biometric page ? Surely immigration cannot be checking it, and if they did, and you had a £50 throw away ticket for 30 days and 30 days insurance I cannot see them denying you entry

[redwood1]

10 minutes ago, poohy said:

just thinking about return trip  to UK  to visit 99 yo dad

if i come back with 8 months on reentry insurance is more than flight

 

option

wait until near end of visa next august (hmm hes 99!)

go without reentry come back as tourist and re set up visa here probably same cost ish through agent

 

both miserably expensive

Feel like i have been "done over" in Dudley

Here is my idea.... Maybe wait until  my O visa only has 2 months left....Buy  cheap insurance  for 2 months.....Fly back to the USA for one month, then fly back to Thailand,  I would still have one month left on the O visa and one month left on the insurance...

Edited November 4, 2021 by redwood1

[The Fugitive]

9 minutes ago, poohy said:

just thinking about return trip  to UK  to visit 99 yo dad

if i come back with 8 months on reentry insurance is more than flight

 

option

wait until near end of visa next august (hmm hes 99!)

go without reentry come back as tourist and re set up visa here probably same cost ish through agent

 

both miserably expensive

Feel like i have been "done over" in Dudley

Congratulations on having a father aged 99!

[gearbox]

3 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Here is my idea.... Maybe wait until  my O visa only has 2 months left....Buy  cheap insurance  for 2 months.....Fly back to the USA for one month, then fly back to Thailand,  I would still have one month left on the O visa and one month left on the insurance...

Absolutely doable...if you don't want to pay insurance for long period just time your departure/arrival closer to the extension renewal.