COVID Insurance Arranged for Visitors upon Arrival

[Skeptic7]

4 hours ago, alyx said:

I am lost

As we all are. As they are..here in LOL. Land of (the) Lost. ????

[Skeptic7]

1 hour ago, cheapcanuck said:

Another baht grab by the los. Another way to attract tourists...NOT!

Of course, LOS meaning Land of Scams. 

[brianthainess]

4 hours ago, alyx said:

I was sure that the 300 Baht was going to be charged to be used as an insurance cover 

 

I thought the 300 b was for Tourist sites to be improved or maintained or unpaid hospital bills. Take your choice up to you them lol.

[nickmondo]

they really are doing their best to destroy tourism completely

nobody will come here

mission accomplished.

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, flbkk said:

From the piece  yesterday, I thought this money was for some vague notion of promoting tourism, and some mention about health expenses, probably to reimburse hospitals that didn’t get paid by foreign  patients, not to actually indemnify people for their hospital bills

That's what I read months ago when the 300b was first touted.

[brianthainess]

Sounds to me like a scare tactic, " You come Thailand you need Thai special insurance, we can sell you now, if you no hab dangerous, hospital want big money" 

Another world special only have in Thailand. Like the only country in the world to deny vaxine to foreigners unless you jumped through all the hoops. 

[ddotmark]

I can image the total mayhem this is going to cause at the airport arrivals. People are going to be completely confused. How will Thailand deal with all the questions that will be asked by confused arrivals?  Will you have to buy this policy before passing through Immigration? How will you know if you need to buy this insurance or not?  Can you imagine all the arriving passengers reading an Insurance document and trying to understand all the fine print? Will one policy cover a family or will you have to have separate policies for each family member? Where will you fill out the forms for the Insurance?  So many questions...  

 

Can you imagine an Airbus 380 landing, then dealing with the 540 passengers. Now add multiple flights landing about the same time with thousands of passengers. I see total confusion and mayhem at the airports. 

[herfiehandbag]

12 minutes ago, ddotmark said:

Can you imagine an Airbus 380 landing, then dealing with the 540 passengers. Now add multiple flights landing about the same time with thousands of passengers. I see total confusion and mayhem at the airports. 

They see huge piles of cash to be carved up between the Department of Health Service Support, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Office of the Insurance Commission!

 

I wonder what the "fee" to be paid for being rostered as desk supervisor for a shift which expects a dozen or so wide bodied international arrivals will be?

 

The chaos and queues are good, more people likely to pay up to get out of the mess...

 

[khunjeff]

Since the government states that the Covid positivity rate among incoming international passengers is now over 2% - and from some countries more like 5% - these policies would have to be extremely expensive if they're really going to cover all costs and still make a profit for the insurance company.

[RubbaJohnny]

19 minutes ago, ddotmark said:

I can image the total mayhem this is going to cause at the airport arrivals. People are going to be completely confused. How will Thailand deal with all the questions that will be asked by confused arrivals?  Will you have to buy this policy before passing through Immigration? How will you know if you need to buy this insurance or not?  Can you imagine all the arriving passengers reading an Insurance document and trying to understand all the fine print? Will one policy cover a family or will you have to have separate policies for each family member? Where will you fill out the forms for the Insurance?  So many questions...  

 

Can you imagine an Airbus 380 landing, then dealing with the 540 passengers. Now add multiple flights landing about the same time with thousands of passengers. I see total confusion and mayhem at the airports. 

I think you've uncovered a niche market 

Like near Immi and driving Offices little shacks with locals to copy fill forms , rent a stool 

I suggest you send a LARGE brown envelope to Bling Power , who knows a massage while you read the small print in every language. I'm sure every member staff will be able to read the pre exisitng and your next of kin in Mongol, Greek, Urdu and Cyrillic?

 

Pre ATM local sim enabled be paying  with Kazak Tenge /Puntland shekels, Venezuelan trillion Bolivars , Perhaps a suitcase of Zimbabwe "currency" Chinese Kwai preferred and would you like anything for the weekend sir our special "Run over a Cop and get away free scheme", shares in Hopewell , Tobacco tin bum detector with a free  lucky Chattercome necklace?

 

Welcome to Thighland everything passable, Where's the con rising  "UP TO YOU"

[dutchweller]

This insurance will be as useless.
Only good for lining pockets of the Insurers/ sales staff.

 

[jacko45k]

Jeeze, I thought thy were making an absolute fortune from the 220 baht foreign ATM card ripoff....

[SiSePuede419]

5 hours ago, Gold Star said:

insurance won't pay the extremely high bill, as they could not present documentation of any infection. 

You mean a positive PCR isn't sufficient "documentation"?

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, charmonman said:

I am constantly amazed by the sheer amount of shoddy journalism out there.

Thais are taught almost from birth not to ask questions. It's deeply ingrained into both the culture and the education system. Hardly a great foundation to be a journalist. How often do we see on tv news crowds of journalists gathered around someone speaking, with never a question asked.

I've worked with Thai journalists and not one of them would last a week in the real world. One even made three errors in his opening paragraph. That is quite an achievement.

[Dave1954]

3 hours ago, cnx101 said:

Don’t worry it’s just another scam

Not just any old scam this is an official scam

[edgarfriendly]

2 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

As I'm physically there myself, I can only concur.

 

Spain:

 

Cádiz: Daytime weather: 20, night time: 12.

 

Canary Islands: Daytime weather: 22, night time: 14.

 

Portugal:

 

Lisbon: Daytime weather: 16, night time: 11.

 

"UK":

 

Gibraltar: Daytime weather: 15, night time: 12.

 

And in case you're really in the mood:

 

Cyprus:

 

Limassol: Daytime weather: 17, night time: 13.

 

 

What's the covid situation there now?

 

Read entry is restricted through France,  lots of rumours.

 

So tired of the pantomime

[hioctane]

1 hour ago, Dialemco said:

UK Insurance companies pay hospitals direct for medical treated they have been notified and covered by their policy. The so called Thai Covid Insurance only pays after hospital bills have been paid provided for actual medical treatment. The Thai compulsory Covid insurance should be cancelled as not fit for purpose  

In a lot of less than first world countries you need to pay for hospital services in advance. They don’t bill you after and hope you pay. Stop thinking you are back home. 

[hioctane]

duplicate. 

[hioctane]

2 hours ago, pattayapip said:

"doctor says I need need to go to a hospital" Exactly, But what is Asymptomatic but still need to be isolated / Quarantined Due to Government Regulations . . 
If you are actually sick and "Need" Hospital treatment fine . . 

That is covered as long as it is not your choice. Again, it varies by insurance. Clarify with them before you buy.

[djayz]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

to sell COVID-19 insurance policies to the visitors

You mean the new ฿300 tourist tax doesn't cover the insurance premium? 

[ThailandRyan]

3 hours ago, hioctane said:

The way most insurance works is that you pay first and the insurance reimburses you. Some people seem to think that since they have insurance, they don’t have to fork over a dime. ????‍♂️ 

As you said Most...but not all, many insurers pay their portion directly to the hospital or facility and you pay a co-pay if you have one, or if you have a deductible you pay that.  My Thai insurer pays for all of my medicals bills.  The only insurer that I have where I pay first and then get re-imbursed is my Dental insurance here in Thailand and my Vision insurance.  All medical procedures that need to be done as a scheduled procedure need to be pre-screened by the insurance and a certificate of guaranty sent to the hospital.  When I go for a regular appointment, I show my insurance card and then pay the portion only that I am required.  In the US with my medical I never pay a dime for the actual work done except for a $15 co-pay.  In the US I even have pharmacy coverage which pays for my prescription medications.  Her in Thailand there is no such plan and you pay out of pocket.  My insurance in the US will then reimburse me for those costs as long as I have the medical billing statement from the hospital.  They will not reimburse if I go to a regular pharmacy and pick up meds without a prescription.

 

The 300 baht that they are starting to charge in April, i believed to be for creating an underinsured fund.  Seems these folks are back at the trough again.

[p414]

To me the answer is simple...If you don't like the rules /laws of Thailand ......Don't come...I object to fo

foreigners coming to my home country and demanding the laws are changed to suit them.

[Caldera]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The visitors who lacked the insurance must take out policies and the coverage which matched COVID-19 treatment in the country would take immediate effect, he said.

That claim sounds a bit dubious to me. Buying insurance and testing positive just hours later when new arrivals are tested, which insurance company wouldn't claim you already had symptoms when you bought it? The classic "buy insurance when the house is already on fire" situation.

[frankie machine]

"COVID Insurance Arranged"    Land of Scams,  living up to your name as usual.  

"

[cardinalblue]

The doctor is not telling you must go to the hospital but government policy to dictating it….totally improper use of hospitalization….

 

that’s why thais runs to hospital’s emergency room  when they have a cough or a sliver in their foot….it’s fault of the gov for not educating thais on the proper use of a hospital..

 

this poor practice just reinforces it - a holding cell w/o any treatment needed

[Road Warrior]

at last a a sensible move by the government,

[cardinalblue]

Hey p14…thailand doesn’t have laws; it has rules….that is what you get in a military autocratic government where it’s people are treated like sheep and peasants….

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, Road Warrior said:

at last a a sensible move by the government,

They are supposed to be already insured upon arrival through registering for an entry approval.  You can not just jump on a plane and fly here like the good old days.  Many steps to take.  Unless of course the registration step of providing insurance to be approved was not reviewed and all that was submitted was a piece of toilet paper.  Sounds more like someone has screwed the pooch and now they are going overboard to correct the issues.....

 

Of course this could be another way they are trying to ensure all foreigners in the country have insurance like they forced upon the O-A Visa holders for arrival and then extensions of stay.  If this is the case then the entire ex-pat community needs to sit up and take notice.

[ronster]

Welcome to Thailand !
Now if you could just hand over your wallet and be on your way please ! ????

[herfiehandbag]

10 minutes ago, p414 said:

To me the answer is simple...If you don't like the rules /laws of Thailand ......Don't come...I object to fo

foreigners coming to my home country and demanding the laws are changed to suit them.

It is rather a case of the country, having tried hard to attract tourists through various re - opening schemes and slogans (Thailand Trusted Destination anyone?) now changing the rules to introduce a scheme which is obviously a state sponsored scheme to scam visitors - before they even reclaim their baggage!

 

It is of course Thailands absolute right to maintain whatever laws they see fit, and not the foreigners place to demand that they are changed. However it is valid to comment adversely on a scheme which is so blatantly an attempt to relieve visiting foreigners of cash, for "insurance" when they have already fulfilled the requirements to have that insurance.

 

Now if the authorities were honest - and clearly stated that: " Before we give you a pass to fly to Thailand you have to have an insurance policy, which we approved because it covers you for any treatment for for Covid which we may deam you need; but when you arrive we will make you buy another one because your first policy doesn't actually cover you." then absolutely, foreigners won't come.

 

It isn't a case of demanding laws are changed, it is a case of recognising an utter mess driven by the greed of sectors of the insurance and medical services industries, whose previous attempts to profit from measures they have sponsored have failed to produce the profits they anticipated.