Pattaya retirees feel “trapped” in Thailand because of insurance

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

few yrs back in LOS I got clipped by a red truck driving up doi shutep on my mbike--broke 2 toes and he took off

I went to sev hospitals and none would touch me without INS or cash up front--after 8 hrs of trying i ended up taping my toes myself...

That's rough, any of them government hospitals?

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

tried both gov and private in CNX...toes are doing good..still working...never got a baht from hit n run driver..almost pushed me off mountain into oblivion

That sucks, luckily it was just a couple of broken toes.

 

I've never had to go to a hospital luckily; visited a clinic a couple of times (infected finger first time, and what turned out to be pneumonia second - only diagnosed after I left!) and although they charged like wounded bulls they never asked anything up front before treatment.

[jacko45k]

7 hours ago, alyx said:

Well, that would justify the need for every non Thai to be insured when in Thailand. 

If one cannot afford an insurance, then they will not be able to support the expense of an hospitalisation.

This being said this is quite a heavy financial weight to put on the "visitors"

 

And many are insured.... but the policies they have paid a lot of money out for may not qualify them to re-enter Thailand. There is also the duration of the insurance.... mine ends in May, and if I return on  a Re-Entry Permit to December, I would need to find separate cover for the extra 7 months. Also what about people who self insure, I have to keep 800kbaht in the bank and actually keep more, for any possible medical needs. Far more flexible and cost effective over an insurance policy. 

It is a bit of a Catch22, and the cynical may say a money spinner for Thai insurance companies. 

[Salerno]

6 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It is a bit of a Catch22, and the cynical may say a money spinner for Thai insurance companies. 

An oft repeated phrase on here (especially the "covid insurance scam"), which ignores the fact it doesn't have to be a Thai company.

[Chad3000]

Don't feel trapped any more. AXA has affordable insurance.

 

Quoted 60yo 265 days less than 20k THB.

[Destiny1990]

For me organizing my suitcase going to the airport bring passport often even changing planes in Dubai its already a challenge enough. Now all this other stuff its torture and nightmare and I refuse to cooperate its too complicated and not worth it.imho ????

[Chad3000]

15 minutes ago, Salerno said:

An oft repeated phrase on here (especially the "covid insurance scam"), which ignores the fact it doesn't have to be a Thai company.

It's very difficult for Americans to get overseas policies. It's a very myopic nation.

 

Moreover, this is the nation that is demanding insurance. There should be no shortage of quality, legit and reasonably priced insurance.

Edited November 4, 2021 by Chad3000

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

For me organizing my suitcase going to the airport bring passport often even changing planes in Dubai its already a challenge enough. Now all this other stuff its torture and nightmare and I refuse to cooperate its too complicated and not worth it.imho ????

Inclined to feel the same..... so I stayed in Thailand. 

HMPO have made up my mind for me with a so far near 8 week wait for a new passport!

Edited November 4, 2021 by jacko45k

[asean]

I still don't understand all this resistance to mandatory health insurance for foreigners in Thailand. If anything it is the opposite of being trapped as it is a weight off your shoulders....... It should be compulsory for ALL foreigners living in Thailand because the Thai public health system only covers Thai citizens.

[redwood1]

Face it folks, regular tourist are just not going to come to Thailand any more....Thailand is finished as a tourist destination.....

 

Look even hard core expats are struggling to understand the ever changing requirements to come to Thailand........Tourist have no chance....

 

I still can't say I fully understand these latest BS insurance requirements even after trying to understand them for a full day....

 

 

[Salerno]

14 minutes ago, Chad3000 said:

It's very difficult for Americans to get overseas policies. It's a very myopic nation.

There's many international companies that will be happy to accept US$.

 

14 minutes ago, Chad3000 said:

Moreover, this is the nation that is demanding insurance. There should be no shortage of quality, legit and reasonably priced insurance.

You seem happy with the AXA quote 555

 

Point is, it's not just Thailand that insists on it, countries had it even prior to Covid. Hence I feel the plethora of posts on here that go on about "insurance scam" are somewhat uneducated.

 

https://visaguide.world/travel-insurance/countries-mandatory-travel-insurance/

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by Salerno

[asean]

1 minute ago, redwood1 said:

Face it folks, regular tourist are just not going to come to Thailand any more....Thailand is finished as a tourist destination.....

 

Look even hard core expats are struggling to understand the ever changing requirements to come to Thailand........Tourist have no chance....

 

I still can't say I fully understand these latest BS insurance requirements even after trying to understand them for a full day....

 

 

Do you know what health insurance is?

[Jeffr2]

7 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

It's ridiculous, how much did you pay for the insurance and for long does it need to cover?

 

I came in with Emirates and the insurance was include.  Just lucky that Emirates was the best option for me anyway!

 

For some, if not staying long, a plan like this might work.  Travel insurance.  But max time is 90 days.

 

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/find-a-plan

[Jeffr2]

2 minutes ago, Salerno said:

There's many international companies that will be happy to accept US$.

 

You seem happy with the AXA quote 555

 

Point is, it's not just Thailand that insists on it, countries had it even prior to Covid. Hence I feel the plethora of posts on here that go on about "insurance scam" are somewhat uneducated.

 

https://visaguide.world/travel-insurance/countries-mandatory-travel-insurance/

 

As you say, insurance has been required by other countries for quite some time.  Nothing new here.  Though I did talk with a friend yesterday who sells insurance. She's doing great! LOL

[shdmn]

4 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Face it folks, regular tourist are just not going to come to Thailand any more....Thailand is finished as a tourist destination.....

 

Look even hard core expats are struggling to understand the ever changing requirements to come to Thailand........Tourist have no chance....

 

I still can't say I fully understand these latest BS insurance requirements even after trying to understand them for a full day....

 

 

Here are 65,000 reasons why you are wrong.

w

[steven100]

11 hours ago, perconrad said:

I lived in Greenland for 30 years before I settled here and Greenland is certainly not a good place for old men.

 

they have alot of ruby's and other precious stones there.

[redwood1]

5 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Here are 65,000 reasons why you are wrong.

w

Yea well a application is not boots on the ground.....We will see how this high season goes......I dont think it will be pretty.....

[shdmn]

4 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Yea well a application is not boots on the ground.....We will see how this high season goes......I dont think it will be pretty.....

Shocking!

Edited November 5, 2021 by shdmn

[Jeffr2]

7 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Yea well a application is not boots on the ground.....We will see how this high season goes......I dont think it will be pretty.....

Better than the last one.  We were in Phuket last year and talk about deserted, the tourist areas anyway.  Were just there and it's WAY more lively.  And from what I've heard, getting better every day.

 

Even Pattaya is picking up.  Was at central festival yesterday and there was a line of cars crawling down Beach road.  Didn't see anything like that last year.

[TheFishman1]

 The whole thing is so confusing they should do away with the thia pass

[HashBrownHarry]

8 hours ago, robblok said:

Not funny at all would be great to have. Now i got a expenisve health insurance (it is more then enough to satisfy the current need) However anyone that can get that SS should do so and keep paying into it. I mean lot of older guys here would kill to be in Thai SS because it satisfies the requirements and is a nice safetynet. 

Have you been to a Thai hospital?

[Gottfrid]

Trapped?? Well, I guess that´s a choice too make, then.

[Skeptic7]

17 hours 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?

For now, yes. But get ready. Wouldn't surprise a bit if mandatory health insurance for extension is the next move they make. And that will be CHECKMATE for many.

[chilli42]

I feel trapped in Thailand because of my wife.  She won’t live anywhere else.  Insurance not a problem.

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, Skeptic7 said:

For now, yes. But get ready. Wouldn't surprise a bit if mandatory health insurance for extension is the next move they make. And that will be CHECKMATE for many.

It will be checkmate for me, absolutely.  I'm on the verge of leaving anyway.  Not sure where yet! LOL

[Salerno]

34 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Better than the last one.  We were in Phuket last year and talk about deserted, the tourist areas anyway.  Were just there and it's WAY more lively.  And from what I've heard, getting better every day.

From a couple of days ago, note the girls adhering to the mask policy ???? 555

 

[thailand49]

18 hours ago, Chris.B said:

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

 

Since Covid

[Skeptic7]

18 hours 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

 

18 hours 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...

 

17 hours ago, anchadian said:

Exactly.

 

You've nailed it.

Except that at 99, as poohy already alluded..."hmm he's 99". Waiting half a year may not be a realistic option. No guarantee he's gonna see 100. 

[Boomer6969]

1 hour ago, asean said:

I still don't understand all this resistance to mandatory health insurance for foreigners in Thailand. If anything it is the opposite of being trapped as it is a weight off your shoulders....... It should be compulsory for ALL foreigners living in Thailand because the Thai public health system only covers Thai citizens.

You just miss the point, many of us have health insurance or health cover we kept when we retired. The fact that the Thais won't accept them is just a proof of their corrupt intent. The goons behind this scheme aren't interested a bit in ensuring foreigner have access to health care in Thailand.

 

I'll withdraw my comment the day ministerlet Anustin announces that MPOH have opened a "Foreign health cover validation service". 

 

 

[Jeffr2]

4 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

You just miss the point, many of us have health insurance or health cover we kept when we retired. The fact that the Thais won't accept them is just a proof of their corrupt intent. The goons behind this scheme aren't interested a bit in ensuring foreigner have access to health care in Thailand.

 

I'll withdraw my comment the day ministerlet Anustin announces that MPOH have opened a "Foreign health cover validation service". 

 

 

Why won't they accept this policy?  Sorry if this has already been answered.