British embassies emphasize they cannot pay expat hospital bills

[sanuk711]

Following a rush of tragic cases in recent months, the British embassies in Thailand and Cambodia are reminding their nationals that medical bills

must be paid by insurers, the patient or willing third parties.

They add on their websites that they cannot fund air tickets to get home, no matter how urgent the crisis.

 

The Thai government has announced that, with effect from 1 September 2022, yearly retirement visas (minimum age 50), issued by embassies abroad,

will require US$3 million comprehensive medical insurance, but with a separate facility for self-insurance.

These rules will also apply for the annual extension of stay. However, there will still be loopholes as retirees can apply for other visas,

such as the Elite card or some 12 month extensions granted by immigration offices, which don’t require ongoing insurance.

 

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/british-embassies-emphasize-they-cannot-pay-expat-hospital-bills-400795

[KhunLA]

Thanks again to the irresponsible expats and tourist who ruin things for everyone else.

[chuang]

And they blamed the Thai government and hospitals for not helping them...shxx..

[Eff1n2ret]

36 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

a separate facility for self-insurance.

How will that work? I am "self-insured", i.e. have a pot of money reserved for my healthcare which I've never touched and have always managed to pay out of current income. I keep that in the UK. As mentioned in another thread, the authorities have shot themselves in the foot by insisting on the 800k you have to show for retirement extension remaining in your bank, so it can't be used to pay a hospital bill, and if you die your inheritor can spend the dosh how they want.

[sanuk711]

13 minutes ago, Eff1n2ret said:

How will that work?

Like most things in Thailand Eff1n2ret, I dont know---they do not seem to give enough forward warning for people to look at different options etc.  My 1 year Visa is due September---so I wish I knew, more details.

[Kwasaki]

What if no insurance company will insure people over a certain age. 

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, chuang said:

And they blamed the Thai government and hospitals for not helping them...shxx..

Who blamed the Thai government for not helping whom with what?

Edited June 9, 2022 by Liverpool Lou

[Liverpool Lou]

10 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

What if no insurance company will insure people over a certain age. 

Agent.

[Kwasaki]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Agent.

Yeah I guess so never needed insurance when I first got a retirement extension, same with my marriage extension.

[phetphet]

US$3 million comprehensive medical insurance? I know Thai hospitals are expensive, but that seems  excessive.

[RafPinto]

I would never live here without a proper insurance.

Nice to say that people put some money away.
Are you really using it in case of an emergency?
Will it be enough?
Heart surgery, stroke, cancer.....
It goes quickly into the millions.

If I cant afford a proper insurance, I go home.
This was priority nr. 1

 

Hopefully me or daughter and her mom will never need it but it is re-assuring.

Can't just say:

I don't insure my car, if something happens, I just pay.
Or, I don't insure my house (don't have one here), if it burns down, I just pay.

[RafPinto]

3 minutes ago, phetphet said:

US$3 million comprehensive medical insurance? I know Thai hospitals are expensive, but that seems  excessive.

If this goes through, many will have to leave.

That's 10 Million Baht

 

That's the actual cover I signed up for.

[sanuk711]

2 minutes ago, phetphet said:

US$3 million comprehensive medical insurance? I know Thai hospitals are expensive, but that seems  excessive.

Its really OTT isn't it, makes you wonder if there is some link up with insurance companies, I have always thought that hospitals themselves should run an insurance--just for their area, it would be so much cheaper.

[grain]

My retirement ext is due in July, I'll be doing it in approx 4 weeks time. So what happens in 2023? Am I going to need this damn insurance. I'll be 75 then, probably I can't get it. And isn't that's what the 800,000 THB in a Thai bank all about? If I fell ill or had an accident then I do have a considerable amount of money, on hand here in Thailand, to cover any such issues. 

Well, if I do have to have US$3 million comprehensive medical insurance, which I seriously doubt I can get, then I guess that'll be the end for me. 

[sanuk711]

2 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

I would never live here without a proper insurance.

A lot depends on circumstances RafPinto.... some people come here with an existing compliant--- Heart etc...so as its existing it wont be covered.

 

Many others come from Countries that dont need insurance  UK/Oz/Kiwi/ Scandi etc.... arrive in their mid 60s its a new concept to many.

[RafPinto]

2 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

A lot depends on circumstances RafPinto.... some people come here with an existing compliant--- Heart etc...so as its existing it wont be covered.

 

Many others come from Countries that dont need insurance  UK/Oz/Kiwi/ Scandi etc.... arrive in their mid 60s its a new concept to many.

I am aware of this but before making a move like that, I will make sure that I can afford my move.
Private health insurance, private school for daughter and a decent home.

Coming here, living in a 4000Baht room and eating 40baht food everyday, sorry, I stay where I come from.

[sanuk711]

9 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

Coming here, living in a 4000Baht room and eating 40baht food everyday, sorry, I stay where I come from.

I understand RafPinto, & I am well covered for most--put 3 girls through Uni here, & 3 back in Oz, & quite comfortable.

 

But walk a mile in their shoes--broken marriage, finished a lifetime of work with not a great deal to show for it--& there's an opportunity, a small house somewhere warm, a nice lady relaxing last 10-15 years--and these things not mention at the time. You have got to feel for these guys, when they keep moving the goal posts on them.

 

 

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by sanuk711

[Kwasaki]

11 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

A lot depends on circumstances RafPinto.... some people come here with an existing compliant--- Heart etc...so as its existing it wont be covered.

 

Many others come from Countries that dont need insurance  UK/Oz/Kiwi/ Scandi etc.... arrive in their mid 60s its a new concept to many.

Well let him have his hiso fling if it makes him happy. ????

[Eff1n2ret]

The news article purports to pass on new advice from UK Embassies stating their inability to pay for repatriation or hospital costs, but I can't see anything on the Bangkok Embassy website or on the moribund Consular Forum on Asean Now. It seems to be just Barry Kenyon sounding off about the plight of his old pal. I knew John Humphreys a few years back, nice chap, he worked at a well-known visa agent on Soi Post Office. I think he was there for many years, perhaps his employers would like to pick up  the tab for his treatment and accommodation.

Edited June 9, 2022 by Eff1n2ret

[Excel]

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

Well let him have his hiso fling if it makes him happy. ????

Well it is a forum after all and who actually believes anything or anyone on here unless it is supported with verifiable information ?

[RafPinto]

14 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

I understand RafPinto, & I am well covered for most--put 3 girls through Uni here, & 3 back in Oz, & quite comfortable.

 

But walk a mile in their shoes--broken marriage, finished a lifetime of work with not a great deal to show for it--& there's an opportunity, a small house somewhere warm, a nice lady relaxing last 10-15 years--and these things not mention at the time. You have got to feel for these guys, when they keep moving the goal posts on them.

 

 

 

I understand but why would Thailand care about what's wrong about your life.

A Thai, wanting to settle in Europe f.ex. has also something to show and not just missing the sunset in the Algarve.

[samui99]

I think the $3 million, is lodt in translation and hoping it is 3 million THB, as it also mentions you require $10million for 1 month to get Thai pass.

[RafPinto]

18 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Well let him have his hiso fling if it makes him happy. ????

Sorry. Nothing to do with Hiso. I am not Hiso.

 

Just planning.
I plan my life. Just living day by day and hoping nothing goes wrong, that's not for me.

Worked hard, saved hard, invested and retired early.

 

If I can't afford it, I go where I can afford.

 

Life is hard.
 

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by RafPinto

[jerrymahoney]

11 minutes ago, samui99 said:

I think the $3 million, is lodt in translation and hoping it is 3 million THB, as it also mentions you require $10million for 1 month to get Thai pass.

Thailand requires 3 million baht insurance for ‘retirement’ visas

 

Published on  Wednesday, October 20, 2021 

 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/expats/thailand-requires-3-million-baht-insurance-for-non-immigrant-visas

[scubascuba3]

Stay calm everyone, this applies to visas from abroad, not Thailand, so doesn't apply to non imm O applied for in Thailand and extensions

[Excel]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Stay calm everyone, this applies to visas from abroad, not Thailand, so doesn't apply to non imm O applied for in Thailand and extensions

But if you exit the country you still need a Thai pass to return currently, for which you will need to show insurance,  even if you have an extension on a non O, I think I am correct in saying that but I'm sure @ubonjoe could confirm

Edited June 9, 2022 by Excel

[topt]

1 hour ago, RafPinto said:

If this goes through, many will have to leave.

That's 10 Million Baht

 

That's the actual cover I signed up for.

You need a new calculator ????

[mancub]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Thanks again to the irresponsible expats and tourist who ruin things for everyone else.

Ruin what exactly. in this case? Either you have insurance so it's not an issue,

or you don't, and can class yourself as one of the "irresponsible" ones.

[Walker88]

Obviously the "$" was a typo, and it's 3 million baht, not dollars. That's quite reasonable, considering a lot of retirees are in the Death Zone, and the last years of life tend to be the most expensive in terms of medical care. It is hardly fair to foist those costs on to Thai taxpayers or hospitals.

 

I suspect that an alternative would be offered to people who cannot get insurance, which is to post 3 million baht, rather than the current 800,000, in a Thai bank in order to qualify/renew a visa.

 

The changes, if enforced, will likely cull the ranks of the retired expat population, but this probably stems from the fact Thailand has been stuck with a lot of deadbeats.

[Moonlover]

15 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Stay calm everyone, this applies to visas from abroad, not Thailand, so doesn't apply to non imm O applied for in Thailand and extensions

 Yes, that's how I am reading it as well. In fact this is old ground that's being covered a number of times. I'm also confidant that should there ever be serious changes in policy regarding non O visas, those that are already in would be 'grandfathered' anyway.