Pattaya retirees feel “trapped” in Thailand because of insurance

[JustAnotherHun]

7 minutes ago, gearbox said:

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.

 

 

You're right. The main problem ist the age. The solution would be (as long as still possible), to cover only 1 month (if on visa-exempt) or the time of your Non-O. When in Thailand and applying für an extension of stay you do not need insurance yet.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

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

I agree with your sentiments in your other posts but those you refer to here are daft if they chose to disregard that they are only here temporarily, 12 months, when making the decision to have wives, homes and children.  It should be easier for those but it isn't and the rules were there before they made their life decisions and agreed to abide by them.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

Congratulations on having a father aged 99!

Shouldn't the congratulations for that achievement go to the father?  The poster has nothing to do with his father's longevity!

Edited November 4, 2021 by Liverpool Lou

[Chad3000]

2 hours ago, Chris.B said:

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

 

It's a Thai Pass requirement. The duration of the visa.

 

In my case it would be eight months.

 

Scammy govt website insurance insult to injury I can't buy eight but twelve at 43000b

 

BTW I have three insurances all valid at least days after I return to Thailand

[Chad3000]

Insurance in this country is a criminal enterprise.

 

I'm waiting for immigration to force us to have insurance despite Thai insurance not issuing policies to seniors / farang.

 

Then it will just be a shrug.

 

Then immigration will make an announcement that they'll accept international policies but won't say which.

 

This is true Thai style

[The Fugitive]

29 minutes ago, gearbox said:

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.

 

 

Very informative and helpful. Thanks very much for posting.

[Tom H]

No country for old man anymore.

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, Tom H said:

No country for old man anymore.

Greenland 

[gearbox]

16 minutes ago, Chad3000 said:

It's a Thai Pass requirement. The duration of the visa.

 

In my case it would be eight months.

 

Scammy govt website insurance insult to injury I can't buy eight but twelve at 43000b

 

BTW I have three insurances all valid at least days after I return to Thailand

The cost depends on your age, but you don't need to get a Thai insurance to enter, any travel or general medical insurance which is above the required limit and with covid cover is good enough. I got my Thailand Pass QR code with non-Thai insurance.

 

I entered in January the ASQ with Thai insurance from AXA for 3 months, but for entry this month and 7 months to cover to my reentry permit date decided against using a Thai insurer.

 

I needed multi trip policy as I'm going to travel outside Thailand in 3 months and coming back again. Most of the Thai policies covering period of less than a year are single trip policies. For example one buys single trip cover for 10 months, and then decides to do a weekend in Vientiane, boom, the insurance is gone. With a western policy this would be ok, as going back to Thailand from Vientiane is not considered "end of the trip".

 

Another consideration is evacuation to the home country. With a home country travel insurance this is almost always included, with Thai insurances sometimes it is included, other times it is not.  Evacuation is very often component of the total limit, say one has 50K USD insurance including evacuation, has a serious accident costing 40K in hospital, this leaves 10K for evacuation, which most likely is far from enough.

 

So after searching and comparing policies I ended with the "Atlas Travel" insurance from Tokyo Marine,  the cost is more or less the same as AXA or Tune Protect, but my limit is 500K USD, I can go anywhere I like and come back to Thailand, and importantly if I'm in very serious trouble they would evacuate me back to Australia as emergency evacuation is included up to the cover limit. Asymptomatic covid cover is only $50 a day, but I have the Thai Roojai insurance for this.

 

[Chris.B]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 

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

 

The problem with travel insurance in the UK is most policies are only 30 days per trip. Even a the better policies might only be 50 day trips. For single trip, long stay policies you will find when you are past a certain age (60 or 65 years) you will not be eligible for them. ☹️

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, rott said:

Likewise there is no permanence on a work permit. 

I am a permanent resident. ????

[sandyf]

3 hours 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. 

Where there is a will there is a way.

I went back to the UK in August, the day after I had renewed my marriage extension. Came back early Oct, my insurance did not cost me anything and there was no age limit.

[mran66]

wonder how the current requirements work for people like me who have Non-O expiring at different time than annually renewable health insurance. Visa expiriy in Dec, insurance renewal in April, been like that for years.

 

Now, if I want to go visit home for xmas for a week or two, what kind of stamp I get when come back for new year, having 3.5mo left of my insurance period? Only to April?  If so, can I get new stamp from immigration if I go show my new policy in April?

 

Or only way to travel hassle free when I want, without having to buy double insurance is to align the extension and insurance renewal dates??

 

Went for summer visit and came back, no issue as insurance validity longer than visa renewal. But any visit between Dec-Mar has this issue.

 

 

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

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.

I returned on the 8th of October on a re-entry permit. I was stamped in until the 10th August 22 and my insurance is valid until 16th Dec 21. I used the airline insurance.

[Chad3000]

1 hour ago, Tom H said:

No country for old man anymore.

With the absence of millionaires that's all they've got.

[Chad3000]

I'm wondering if this stupidity is going to be forever. I think so.

 

Think of the disastrous TM30. They absolutely would not let that beast die despite it being utterly useless and throughly broken - for months.

 

Think of the useless time at muang thong Thani doing 90 day reports bc system broken for a year bangkokians...

[Lemsta69]

29 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I am a permanent resident. ????

ahh that's why you're so smug ????

[Lemsta69]

1 hour ago, Tom H said:

No country for old man anymore.

it is if you're rich. buy Bitcoin and just don't sell*

*not a financial advice

[edwinchester]

4 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

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.

Yeah it's a great deal but Emirates are ending their insurance offer for all flights booked after 1st December.

[The Fugitive]

44 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

The problem with travel insurance in the UK is most policies are only 30 days per trip. Even a the better policies might only be 50 day trips. For single trip, long stay policies you will find when you are past a certain age (60 or 65 years) you will not be eligible for them. ☹️

Very true Chris.B. Also, the insurers stipulate that travel insurance is just that, not applicable to those who reside abroad. You have to take out travel insurance before you depart the UK. Should you try to claim, I suspect they will require proof of where you have been (and for how long).

[rott]

36 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Where there is a will there is a way.

I went back to the UK in August, the day after I had renewed my marriage extension. Came back early Oct, my insurance did not cost me anything and there was no age limit.

Possibly that was before the Thailand pass brought new regulations into play.

Were you on Emirates.? 

[Leaver]

16 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

it is if you're rich.

 

Or don't mind being ripped off.  

[Lemsta69]

8 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Or don't mind being ripped off.  

some things you can't change no matter how much you bang in about it. accept the "rip-off" as the cost of doing business and move on with your life. 

[Lemsta69]

4 hours 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.

as Metallica say, Sad But True. I'm moving to Thailand shortly for a long stay on a non-O but I'm under no illusion that I have any right of abode and am also aware that the goalposts are constantly changing. 

 

I've factored all of that in to my retirement budget. it's always wide to have a reserve to fall back on when the going gets tough.

[Leaver]

12 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

some things you can't change no matter how much you bang in about it. accept the "rip-off" as the cost of doing business and move on with your life. 

I disagree. 

 

A tourist change the country where they holiday to, and an expat can change the country where they retire to.  

 

We saw a big shift in the tourist demographics here over the years prior to covid.  Western tourists tourists numbers were down.  When western tourist numbers are down, that means future western retiree numbers will be down, as it was a holiday to Thailand that advertised the destination to westerners as a retirement destination.

 

Whilst tourism numbers over all were up on the back of Chinese, Indian and Russian package holiday makers, I can't see Mr. Lee from China, and Mr. Patel from India, and Mr. Ivanov from Russia, retiring here in the same numbers westerners have in the last two decades.  

 

There's also the ever increasing higher cost of living here, which many may view as simply unaffordable, rather than a rip of.  Either way, they don't end up "doing business" here and "move on" to another destination, thus, Thailand loses them from their economy.  

[Leaver]

22 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

as Metallica say, Sad But True. I'm moving to Thailand shortly for a long stay on a non-O but I'm under no illusion that I have any right of abode and am also aware that the goalposts are constantly changing. 

 

I've factored all of that in to my retirement budget. it's always wide to have a reserve to fall back on when the going gets tough.

 

Do you have a Plan B to Thailand?  

[Lemsta69]

1 minute ago, Leaver said:

 

Do you have a Plan B to Thailand?  

hell yeah. wouldn't be coming over if I didn't. Thai gub'mint is going to do what they do and we won't be able to stop it if they get really silly. like say, Malaysia's new MM2H requirements. or a blanket 'farang go now' order.

 

so I'll be ready to go at the drop of a hat, just grab passport and book a taxi to the airport and find somewhere that treats me better ????

[sirineou]

5 hours ago, Chris.B said:

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

 

If you leave Thailand , you will need insurance to come back. If you come back on visa exempt you can get away with only 30 days insurance , 

For type-O you will need a min of three months insurance. 

We were in the US when the pandemic hit and got trapped there , when we came back last May . even with a Nom Im-O I had to show insurance that covered me for at least $100k covid coverage. Now they change it to 50K but it has to be general health insurance with covid caverage.  The problem is that after a certain age , Insurance companies will not write a policy. (I think it is 78, but don't quote me)

[newnative]

     My Thai partner and I are finding this all very confusing.  We both have excellent health insurance that covers covid--mine with April International based in Paris and his with a Thai company.  If we take a trip, say, to Vietnam, does anyone know if we will need to purchase additional health policies just for covid to be allowed back in?   We hate the idea of being required to spend extra money for something we are already covered for--and already spend an arm and a leg for.  Thanks for any information.  

[Boomer6969]

10 minutes ago, newnative said:

     My Thai partner and I are finding this all very confusing.  We both have excellent health insurance that covers covid--mine with April International based in Paris and his with a Thai company.  If we take a trip, say, to Vietnam, does anyone know if we will need to purchase additional health policies just for covid to be allowed back in?   We hate the idea of being required to spend extra money for something we are already covered for--and already spend an arm and a leg for.  Thanks for any information.  

Same here,,,