Pattaya retirees feel “trapped” in Thailand because of insurance

[Chris.B]

So what happens if you are on a Non O marriage Visa/Extension?

[bobbin]

30 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

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.

Given 4 quick posts and differentiating yourself as a work permit holder -retirement extension does not permit working- definitely reads as smug.

[JustAnotherHun]

14 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...

If you're still a resident in your home country it might be cheaper to buy a travel insurance for 1 month there.

[Chris.B]

3 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

If you're still a resident in your home country it might be cheaper to buy a travel insurance for 1 month there.

Travel insurance is not the same as health insurance.

 

[JustAnotherHun]

4 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Travel insurance is not the same as health insurance.

 

Travel health insurance then...

[HAPPYNUFF]

If anyone knows of, or can tell us , of a  poor Insurance Company, please advise all of us.   Like many, I am too old to be offered health insurance, in Thailand. In  my own country, Australia, no problems,  I had it before coming here, with a 30% government subsidy on  my premiums because I was then more than 65 years of age (rising to 35%  at reaching 70) total cost then   just over A$1000 per annum, on unlimited  cover, medical, optical, dental, (not pregnancy, thank god) in  a private hospital, doctor of my choice etc.  no waiting lists. Now, Im  stuck here, in the land of smiles. Should I   choose to leave, my   private Australian Health Insurance would kick in again, as I merely "suspended"  it,  but unfortunately, I could not return here, as  travel insurance, or overseas health insurance is not an option.   So here I am, stuck in the middle with you, as they say.  PS..   Should I wish to ever cancel my private health insurance in Australia, I would then revert to free public hospital treatment, for any and all    health problems, the major difference  being, there  being a  long wait list for "elective" surgery....   Again, endlessly, I would point out to those who post  "if you  dont have health insurance in Thailand, it serves you right"",   there are many of us   who are simply over the  age limit set by Thai insurance companies to  obtain any health insurance at all,  we    are quite prepared, and  will pay our own way, when and if needs arise, thank you. Dont  forget, you will join us  one day, sooner than you think!!!!!.

[Jeffr2]

A non O visa holder just posted that he renewed his visa last month and Insurance wasn't required. So I guess it's only when you come back that it's required?

[Mr Meeseeks]

5 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

A non O visa holder just posted that he renewed his visa last month and Insurance wasn't required. So I guess it's only when you come back that it's required?

I think it is required to get the CoE.

 

Without the CoE you ain't getting on the plane.

[JustAnotherHun]

6 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

A non O visa holder just posted that he renewed his visa last month and Insurance wasn't required. So I guess it's only when you come back that it's required?

As long as you are on a non-o originally you do not need insurance for extensions of stay. But I'm quite sure that will change in the near future

[Jeffr2]

2 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I think it is required to get the CoE.

 

Without the CoE you ain't getting on the plane.

Understood! I just did a COE. Was talking about someone who is here and never left. Just renewed last month.

[gearbox]

5 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

A non O visa holder just posted that he renewed his visa last month and Insurance wasn't required. So I guess it's only when you come back that it's required?

Required only to enter. The problem is that it should cover the period up to the end of your extension, so if you have 12 months retirement extension and leave after 1 month after the renewal, you may need to cover up to 11 months. Although with Thailand being Thailand, someone reported entering with shorter cover but still getting stamped to the end of the extension. But I wouldn't rely on it.

[Chris.B]

18 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Travel health insurance then...

There is no such thing.

[rott]

1 hour 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.

Likewise there is no permanence on a work permit. 

[JustAnotherHun]

5 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

There is no such thing.

BS!

Learn to use Google instead of throwing around with your "sad" smilies.

Edited November 4, 2021 by JustAnotherHun

[lexilis]

There are some on retirement extensions (obviously no WP) who have Thai Social Security. I would think (hope) that would be adequate on re-entry into Thailand.

[david555]

6 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

As long as you are on a non-o originally you do not need insurance for extensions of stay. But I'm quite sure that will change in the near future

And not sure if they would "grandfathering " the old extensions as was before a followed rule , i also fear mandatory  insurance for "o" when extending go be demanded  soon or later...

Edited November 4, 2021 by david555

[BE88]

1° Solution. If I am obliged to take out health insurance in Thailand then having real health insurance from my country is better solution and returning as a tourist for the winter will be a must.

 

2° Solution. Stay in Thailand for a few more years and then leave definitively.

 

The second solution is the most probable.

Edited November 4, 2021 by BE88

[anchadian]

1 hour ago, bobbin said:

This is really moving the goalposts..

 

I hope and expect it will be dropped..

Once all those Chinese tourists return to Thailand sometime next year, i guess that will be the opportune time in which to drop the insurance requrement.

 

I really can't see all those many tourists carrying $50,000 med and Covid-19 insurance.

[gearbox]

13 minutes ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

If anyone knows of, or can tell us , of a  poor Insurance Company, please advise all of us.   Like many, I am too old to be offered health insurance, in Thailand. In  my own country, Australia, no problems,  I had it before coming here, with a 30% government subsidy on  my premiums because I was then more than 65 years of age (rising to 35%  at reaching 70) total cost then   just over A$1000 per annum, on unlimited  cover, medical, optical, dental, (not pregnancy, thank god) in  a private hospital, doctor of my choice etc.  no waiting lists. Now, Im  stuck here, in the land of smiles. Should I   choose to leave, my   private Australian Health Insurance would kick in again, as I merely "suspended"  it,  but unfortunately, I could not return here, as  travel insurance, or overseas health insurance is not an option.   So here I am, stuck in the middle with you, as they say.  PS..   Should I wish to ever cancel my private health insurance in Australia, I would then revert to free public hospital treatment, for any and all    health problems, the major difference  being, there  being a  long wait list for "elective" surgery....   Again, endlessly, I would point out to those who post  "if you  dont have health insurance in Thailand, it serves you right"",   there are many of us   who are simply over the  age limit set by Thai insurance companies to  obtain any health insurance at all,  we    are quite prepared, and  will pay our own way, when and if needs arise, thank you. Dont  forget, you will join us  one day, sooner than you think!!!!!.

What is your age? Some Aussie travel insurance providers do cover older people, although the cover period could very limited...many don't cover travel period more than 45 or 60 days.

 

But if you are on non-O retirement extension, do as suggested above, time your entry to Thailand to be within 1 month of your extension renewal date,  get short cover up to the renewal date, and from there you don't need the insurance to get the new extension.

[anchadian]

57 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...

Exactly.

 

You've nailed it.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

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

No, the insurance requirement is for anyone entering the country, regardless of visa type. Even visa exempt. And it is US$50k not $100. The article appears to ocnflate the required insurance for entering the country with requirements for getting a new O or OA visa issued, different matter.

 

But insurance  is of course harder for older people to obtain. I think most end up opting for a travel policy.

 

The required period of insurance is the duration you will be stamped in for, so for those entering on a re-entry permit, timing the trip so that you come back only 1-2 months before expiry will reduce cost.

[Leaver]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

People can live in Thailand on a retirement or marriage extension without any medical insurance....

 

How long before they make insurance a requirement for getting the annual extension???? 

 

Only a matter of time.  

[JustAnotherHun]

8 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Once all those Chinese tourists return to Thailand sometime next year, i guess that will be the opportune time in which to drop the insurance requrement.

 

I really can't see all those many tourists carrying $50,000 med and Covid-19 insurance.

MIght be wishful thinking. Travel health insurance for a short time stay of a typical (Chinese) tourists costs close to nothing. In Germany you buy that for less than 15 Euros. 

[david555]

1 hour 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...

Be sure not forgetting take re entry , and 800K/400Kfinancial complete & sufficient  time on bank ????...check if eventually needed agent is still active working available ????

[redwood1]

2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

No, the insurance requirement is for anyone entering the country, regardless of visa type. Even visa exempt. And it is US$50k not $100. The article appears to ocnflate the required insurance for entering the country with requirements for getting a new O or OA visa issued, different matter.

 

But insurance  is of course harder for older people to obtain. I think most end up opting for a travel policy.

 

The required period of insurance is the duration you will be stamped in for, so for those entering on a re-entry permit, timing the trip so that you come back only 1-2 months before expiry will reduce cost.

Well the last I heard and I could be wrong was all the other visas only needed  50,000 dollars covid insurance and the O and OA needed 100,000 dollars insurance covid and health........But like I said I could be wrong..

[Jeffr2]

7 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

No, the insurance requirement is for anyone entering the country, regardless of visa type. Even visa exempt. And it is US$50k not $100. The article appears to ocnflate the required insurance for entering the country with requirements for getting a new O or OA visa issued, different matter.

 

But insurance  is of course harder for older people to obtain. I think most end up opting for a travel policy.

 

The required period of insurance is the duration you will be stamped in for, so for those entering on a re-entry permit, timing the trip so that you come back only 1-2 months before expiry will reduce cost.

My visa expires in March. I only needed insurance to cover my stay. Which was 3 weeks. Proven by my return ticket. A return ticket now, in some cases, isn't much more than a OW.

Edited November 4, 2021 by Jeffr2

[poohy]

22 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Once all those Chinese tourists return to Thailand sometime next year, i guess that will be the opportune time in which to drop the insurance requrement.

 

I really can't see all those many tourists carrying $50,000 med and Covid-19 insurance.

I can see special insurance packages added to price in China to get around this

Tour price will include everything including Insurance

Remember insurance companies are thai Chinese

Edited November 4, 2021 by poohy

[JustAnotherHun]

5 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Well the last I heard and I could be wrong was all the other visas only needed  50,000 dollars covid insurance and the O and OA needed 100,000 dollars insurance covid and health........But like I said I could be wrong..

I heard that too, but even if true that's no problem. Most travel insurances cover far more, plenty of them unlimited. The costs might be a little higher but not mich.

[anchadian]

11 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Well the last I heard and I could be wrong was all the other visas only needed  50,000 dollars covid insurance and the O and OA needed 100,000 dollars insurance covid and health........But like I said I could be wrong..

$50,000 Medical Insurance which includes cover for Covid-19.

 

Timing is important.

 

Travel overseas say two months before your extenson expires.

 

Obtain the required insurance and pay monthly premiums, say one or two monhs before you travel

 

On your return to Thailand, either continue with the policy or cancel and self insure.

 

Having said that, will med insurance be compulsory for visas and extensons?

 

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by anchadian

[gearbox]

15 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

I heard that too, but even if true that's no problem. Most travel insurances cover far more, plenty of them unlimited. The costs might be a little higher but not mich.

With many western travel insurances the cover limit is not that important in determining the price, the age is more important.

I just had a look what Allianz Australia offers as a medical travel insurance (single trip)  to Thailand for 1 year,  $586 AUD for 45 years old, almost $4000 for 85 years old. The 85 years old also can't add extra "adventurous activities" ????

 

Both have unlimited medical cover. The insured needs to be a "resident", so for retirees who haven't been in the home country for long time it could be a problem.