Insurance requirements for returning on a 1 year O extension

[jmd8800]

I am planning a trip back to the USA and I am wondering what the insurance requirements will be upon my return. I do understand things change in a New York minute as this is Thailand. I am not sure of the dates yet but it could be as soon as mid April or as late as September. My O expires in late October and I will be getting a re-entry permit.

 

TIA

[ubonjoe]

At this time you would only need the $20,000 covid 19 insurance valid for 30 days needed to apply for a Thailand Pass.

 

[DrJack54]

OP, Don't forget to buy your reentry permit prior to exit. 

[jmd8800]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

At this time you would only need the $20,000 covid 19 insurance valid for 30 days needed to apply for a Thailand Pass.

 

Thanks!

[nahkit]

15 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

At this time you would only need the $20,000 covid 19 insurance valid for 30 days needed to apply for a Thailand Pass.

 

I have general health insurance here in Thailand. Would that be good enough when applying for the Thailand pass or does it have to be an insurance specifically issued to cover covid only? 

[Doctor Tom]

Do you still need the covid insurance cover,  even if you have a valid extension of stay,  with a valid re-entry permit? 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Do you still need the covid insurance cover,  even if you have a valid extension of stay,  with a valid re-entry permit? 

Yes

[ubonjoe]

18 minutes ago, nahkit said:

I have general health insurance here in Thailand. Would that be good enough when applying for the Thailand pass or does it have to be an insurance specifically issued to cover covid only? 

If your insurance covers treatment for covid 19 it will be accepted if it will cover up to $20,000 or more.

[LikeItHot]

Is there a limit to the months of coverage these insurance companies can sell?  I was planning to travel from in September and upon my return I will still have 8 months on my extension.  I can't find an insurer that will quote beyond 6 months.  I cant believe these bastards are gonna make me tack an extra 30000 baht to my trip for coverage that will never pay out and will likely not even be required for the length of the contract. 

[DrJack54]

5 hours ago, LikeItHot said:

I will still have 8 months on my extension.  I can't find an insurer that will quote beyond 6 months

Why are you wanting to obtain 8 months cover.

Purchase 30 day coverage is sufficient for your entry. 

You must have a reentry permit. 

You will be stamped in till the date on your reentry permit. 

[Mike Teavee]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You will be stamped in till the date on your reentry permit. 

And make sure you check the stamp... The IO who stamped me in was obviously new as the lady beside him was watching him like a hawk (fortunately I was going through an empty Fast Track hall, unfortunately I picked the Newbie). 

 

His 1st stamp stamped me in for 3 months which is obviously wrong as my multi-entry Non-Imm O visa expired 3 years ago, the lady next to him pointed this out & after more than 1 false start he amended (hand written) the stamp to be 28th September, which is also wrong as my re-entry permit only goes to the 26th September but I figure I'll have done my extension by then so it won't matter anyway.... 

 

ALWAYS check the date stamped by the IO when entering on anything other than Visa Exempt & have them correct it there & then.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

ALWAYS check the date stamped by the IO when entering on anything other than Visa Exempt & have them correct it there & then

1 million % correct. (I love the way Thai say one million percent).

It's only happened to me once.

To be fair the imm officer had already called me back as I was checking my pp for error.

Due to frequent travel he overlooked my reentry permit and stamped me in for only 30..

 

I read a post recently and that guy put it well.

He called it the "3 step rule" ...take no more than 3 steps after passing passport control to check your stamp. 

[LikeItHot]

On 4/3/2022 at 6:37 AM, DrJack54 said:

Why are you wanting to obtain 8 months cover.

Purchase 30 day coverage is sufficient for your entry. 

You must have a reentry permit. 

You will be stamped in till the date on your reentry permit. 

I was told here that I needed coverage for the remainder of my visa extension which at that time will be 8 months. My reentry permit will have the same date as my extension which will be May 20 2023. Have the rules changed?

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, LikeItHot said:

I was told here that I needed coverage for the remainder of my visa extension which at that time will be 8 months. Have the rules changed?

You have a current extension with reentry permit.

30 day coverage will be fine. 

[LikeItHot]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

You have a current extension with reentry permit.

30 day coverage will be fine. 

That's great news. Ubon Joe said I needed to cover the remainder of my extension. When did the rule change?

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

That's great news. Ubon Joe said I needed to cover the remainder of my extension. When did the rule change?

I doubt @ubonjoe would have stated that.

I didn't look back to your first post on this. 

The op was asking about insurance for trip out and return back to Thailand. 

The covid insurance requirement is covered with period of 30 days. 

[LikeItHot]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I doubt @ubonjoe would have stated that.

I didn't look back to your first post on this. 

The op was asking about insurance for trip out and return back to Thailand. 

The covid insurance requirement is covered with period of 30 days. 

It looks like what you doubt and what is fact are at odds with one another but that aside I know what the OP was asking.  I needed additional information on the same issue that will be useful to me and possibly others, hence the question.  Out/In with re-entry insurance requirement in a nutshell.  I just messaged Joe and now has reversed his initial remarks of 08/14/2021 and concurs with your "30 days is ok" claim.  SO the question remains, when did the rule change or was he mistaken until recently?  Not that it matters but it might make me feel a little more confident as I am getting conflicting claims from a high level source and this is not a matter I want to have to deal with on re-entry with an I/O staring me down.  Thanks for your efforts to sort me out but as usual in Thailand and on Asean Now...different day different answer.  Cheers!

 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

It looks like what you doubt and what is fact are at odds with one another but that aside I know what the OP was asking.  I needed additional information on the same issue that will be useful to me and possibly others, hence the question.  Out/In with re-entry insurance requirement in a nutshell.  I just messaged Joe and now has reversed his initial remarks of 08/14/2021 and concurs with your "30 days is ok" claim.  SO the question remains, when did the rule change or was he mistaken until recently?  Not that it matters but it might make me feel a little more confident as I am getting conflicting claims from a high level source and this is not a matter I want to have to deal with on re-entry with an I/O staring me down.  Thanks for your efforts to sort me out but as usual in Thailand and on Asean Now...different day different answer.  Cheers!

 

First up yes it's has bad history.

The initial wording included statement along the lines ..."covid insurance for the duration of stay"

That was just typical Thai not thinking things through.

 

There was debate about what's actually required.

The fact that MANY MANY folk with extensions and reentry permits have entered Thailand with a 30 day cover and been stamped in for the until date on their permit is proof enough..

 

Edit: I just noticed @ThailandRyan in another thread. He recently returned from USA and may have some input. 

[CartagenaWarlock]

On 4/2/2022 at 6:54 PM, DrJack54 said:

Due to frequent travel he overlooked my reentry permit and stamped me in for only 30..

I always hand over the PP and tell the IO the type of visa I have. 

[ThailandRyan]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

First up yes it's has bad history.

The initial wording included statement along the lines ..."covid insurance for the duration of stay"

That was just typical Thai not thinking things through.

 

There was debate about what's actually required.

The fact that MANY MANY folk with extensions and reentry permits have entered Thailand with a 30 day cover and been stamped in for the until date on their permit is proof enough..

 

Edit: I just noticed @ThailandRyan in another thread. He recently returned from USA and may have some input. 

Unfortunately @DrJack54, I have a Thai annual policy and uploaded the Certificate received from PCH which indicated I had the amount of coverage Thai pass was requiring back then and a statement on the same certificate indicating I was also covered for Covid.

 

I know that the Amount now has been downgraded to one only needing a 20k USD policy instead of the 100K USD required last November when I did my Thai Pass Test N Go before I left Thailand, but I am unsure as to the length of time one must purchase the insurance for if either a tourist or on an extension of stay other than the extension I am on.  As I said my policy starts and ends the same time frame as my Annual extension of stay.

 

The certificate I was given by PCH indicates this within it's one page:

 

"To Whom It May Concern: This Certificate of insurance guarantees that the insured persons above are currently insured By Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL. The insured’s insurance policy is currently in force from 22 November 2021 until 21 November 2022.  The Health insurance policy covers treatment and medical expenses in relation to COVID -19 with a minimum coverage of 50,000 USD and a minimum In-Patient coverage to 400,000 THB and Out-Patient 40,000 THB for other medical and accident expenses (Subject to the terms and conditions of the policy)."

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Before when I used to enter with an reentry permit, I always hand over the pp and tell the IO that I have a reentry permit. Then he looks for the reentry permit stamp. 

Good idea and I have the reentry page marked for boarding pass with airline.

As for the imm officer at arrival he can see the many stamps near most recent departure stamp. 

Pretty hard to mis fact that I have an extension based on non O 

[ThailandRyan]

23 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Good idea and I have the reentry page marked for boarding pass with airline.

As for the imm officer at arrival he can see the many stamps near most recent departure stamp. 

Pretty hard to mis fact that I have an extension based on non O 

When I returned on the 26th of February the IO thought my re-entry permit stamp was expired as he looked at the date it was issued in October 2021 as the ending date.  I had to point out the valid until date was at the top of the re-entry permit stamp and not on the bottom which was the date of issuance. Not the brightest tool in the shed.  He was going to stamp me in for 30 days.  Took him a few minutes of talking to his supervisor to realize my extension of stay was still valid based upon the re-entry permit stamp being valid.......It still does not have the Blue ink USED stamp on it and neither does my Non Imm O-A visa sticker from 2018 which I entered on back in 2019.

 

No one bothered looking at my insurance paperwork, my vaccination certificate nor the printed copies of the Thai pass.  The first desk in the initial Que where I sat in a chair for 5 minutes was where they scanned the QR code I had from Thai Pass on my Phone, after that it was a quick stop at the desk where they looked at my PCR test sheet from my pre-flight checked the time to make sure it was 72 hours or less and then told me to head to Immigration.  At the IO desk he only looked at my PP as indicated above.

[ubonjoe]

49 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

It looks like what you doubt and what is fact are at odds with one another but that aside I know what the OP was asking.  I needed additional information on the same issue that will be useful to me and possibly others, hence the question.  Out/In with re-entry insurance requirement in a nutshell.  I just messaged Joe and now has reversed his initial remarks of 08/14/2021 and concurs with your "30 days is ok" claim.  SO the question remains, when did the rule change or was he mistaken until recently?  Not that it matters but it might make me feel a little more confident as I am getting conflicting claims from a high level source and this is not a matter I want to have to deal with on re-entry with an I/O staring me down.  Thanks for your efforts to sort me out but as usual in Thailand and on Asean Now...different day different answer.  Cheers!

 

That is a post I did in August of last year. Things have changed since then.

That also might of been a reply about a extension of a Non-OA visa entry.

[DrJack54]

55 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

Not that it matters but it might make me feel a little more confident as I am getting conflicting claims from a high level source and this is not a matter I want to have to deal with on re-entry with an I/O staring me down

Thinking that you most likely have read this thread. Some reports here.

 

 

 

Don't know what you mean by "high level source" 

If it's an agent disregard.

Think I read that Pattaya company had suggested insurance for time remaining on their reentry permit.

Not true. 

[LikeItHot]

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

That is a post I did in August of last year. Things have changed since then.

That also might of been a reply about a extension of a Non-OA visa entry.

Without a doubt! I know things are changing all the time but as I get closer to an actual trip I need to see what's current. I notoriously get the full treatment when entering (and exiting actually) and don't want to give them any ammo.  It should be noted that TAT is still recommending insurance for the "length of the stay". It sounds like they are not speaking to an O Visa extension holder though. Thanks again for your expertise!

 

[LikeItHot]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Thinking that you most likely have read this thread. Some reports here.

 

 

 

Don't know what you mean by "high level source" 

 

 

I meant Joe

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

Without a doubt! I know things are changing all the time but as I get closer to an actual trip I need to see what's current. I notoriously get the full treatment when entering (and exiting actually) and don't want to give them any ammo.  It should be noted that TAT is still recommending insurance for the "length of the stay". It sounds like they are not speaking to an O Visa extension holder though. Thanks again for your expertise!

 

The biggest issue I see with the regulations that they have put in place is they are designed for a tourist, and not those of us who are true expats.  By that I mean those of us that live within Thailand year in and year out, except for a minor trip back to our home countries to visit families, or for a work related business event.

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

I meant Joe

Don't even know what that refers to.

I've posted reference to recent reports of success re-enter Thailand with 30 day insurance and stamped in for date matching reentry permit.

You mention contradictory advice.

From who and surely that's not the post above with red circle.

Please. 

You earlier stated .....

"I was told here that I needed coverage for the remainder of my visa extension"....

Told by who? 

 

BTW You state .....

 "I notoriously get the full treatment when entering (and exiting actually) and don't want to give them any ammo".

 

What on earth does that mean.

The OP heading is about returning with existing extension (reentry permit).

Why do you get the "full treatment"

[LikeItHot]

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't even know what that refers to.

I've posted reference to recent reports of success re-enter Thailand with 30 day insurance and stamped in for date matching reentry permit.

You mention contradictory advice.

From who and surely that's not the post above with red circle.

Please. 

You earlier stated .....

"I was told here that I needed coverage for the remainder of my visa extension"....

Told by who? 

 

BTW You state .....

 "I notoriously get the full treatment when entering (and exiting actually) and don't want to give them any ammo".

 

What on earth does that mean.

The OP heading is about returning with existing extension (reentry permit).

Why do you get the "full treatment"

Joe (ASEAN Now global moderator Ubonjoe that is). Wake up dude.  The circle is on the current TAT website requirement screenshot. Don't believe me? Fine.  Go look it up yourself. I also contacted the Thai Embassy in DC and they said the same thing. I also know two people personally who had vaccines and nothing else and walked right into the country with no insurance proof of any kind.  The "full business" means that when I hand over my passport to an I/O both entering AND leaving the country they always read my passport from cover to cover.  More than once they closed the queue and escorted me to a secondary officer where my passport was again read from cover to cover where they then started to go over details regarding individual stamps for no one knows what reason. These secondary interviews can last from 20 to 30 minutes and I have actually started to add that to my flying timetable. No explanation is ever given. Just a long delay followed by "you can go now".  I don't really know why you are trying to attack the messenger or dispute literally everything I say. I can guarantee one this with 100% certainty and that is when I start getting the business, formally described since you could not grasp it, from a testy I/O he or she is not gonna give a dead rats left nut what you think or say. I need hard documented evidence unless you are an Immigration lawyer and gonna race down to Suwanapom and plead my case pro bono.

Fact. The rules change and likely have changed since Joe (Asean Now global moderator Ubonjoe that is) originally told me I needed coverage for the life of the extension.

Fact. UNONJOE (Asean Now global moderator Ubonjoe that is) told me I needed coverage for the life of the visa extension now he says I don't. See fact 1.

Fact. The TAT website says it is required for the "length of the stay". See attached screenshot.

Fact. The Thai Embassy in DC say it is "recommended for the length of the stay". See attached screenshot

Fact. The Test and Go website says insurance is required "for the length of the stay". See attached screenshot.

Fact. My confusion and inquiry are well with the bounds of reasonable and could be useful to many other people

Fact. I don't really need anything else from you.

 

You got embarrassed because you accused me of either lying or misinformation. I get that. It's not my fault. Move on and learn from your mistake. Joe (Asean Now global moderator Ubonjoe that is) and I seem to understand each other fine. He was gracious and helpful as always and elaborated on the contradiction.  Not sure why you can't take a lesson from him Doctor.

 

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, LikeItHot said:

Joe (ASEAN Now global moderator Ubonjoe that is). Wake up dude.  The circle is on the current TAT website requirement screenshot.

You can do what you want to.

I can only state that 30 dayd is accepted for the Thailand Pass and my people have entered without a problem.

Immigration when you enter the country does not check for the insurance. That is done by others when they check for your Thailand Pass.