O or OA confused

[rogerpattaya]

OK, 12 years on extensions due to retirement, money in the bank, never used an agent, never had a problem, (Jomtien)

My original Visa issued in my home country is OA?

I am confused about Insurance as I read that OA requires insurance this year but O does not.

What in fact is my status, am I on extension, OA or O?

Or none of the above...

 

Thanks for any clarification

 

rogerpattaya

[Peterw42]

Insurance on an OA/OA extension isn't a new thing this year, its been in place for a couple of years now. If your original visa was OA the extensions will require insurance.

If you haven't been required to have insurance for the past couple of years, you are either on an original O visa, or immigration has missed that your original visa was OA.

Either way, if you didn't need insurance last year, then you shouldn't need it this year.

[KhunBENQ]

I am also confused as the insurance requirement in not new. Had to deal with it for two extensions (recently got rid of the Non O-A like many others did).

A friend in Jomtien with Non O-A from 2010 had to use an agent to get around with some insurance that does not fulfill the conditions but obviously with some blind eye premium for immigration.

1 hour ago, rogerpattaya said:

OK, 12 years on extensions due to retirement,

So your original Non O-A visa is more than 12 years old and you never left/reentered the country? I am clueless.

Check through your current passport is my only advice. Does it have a "transfer" stamp stating your last entry and visa status? (as the last visa).

Looks like this:

 

[KhunBENQ]

17 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

or immigration has missed that your original visa was OA.

That would be a "lucky" option.

[metisdead]

Moved to the Visas forum for clarification. 

[JimTripper]

Who cares, just keep getting the extension. If asked for the insurance get it.

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, JimTripper said:

Who cares, just keep getting the extension. If asked for the insurance get it.

Sure, and if he's an old feller I'm sure he'll have a spare 120,000+ baht laying around and the same again next year, recurring.

[OJAS]

58 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

If asked for the insurance get it.

Easier said than done if you're aged 75+ and hence uninsurable!

 

[billsmart]

I lived here in Thailand for almost 20 years on an O-A visa and always got one-year stay extensions based on retirement. About 3 years ago, I was told I needed health insurance to continue doing that. So, I went to Laos and got an O visa. I've had that ever since and have been able to continue to extend my stay based on retirement without health insurance.

 

I have no idea why Thailand has different rules for the stay extensions of O-A and O visas, but they do.

As an aside, just last year, just before I turned 76, I did get the type of health insurance required for a stay extension on an O-A because I'm afraid Thai Immigrations will soon require that type of insurance for stay extensions on ALL visas. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to get a new health insurance policy when you are over 75. I found one that would satisfy Thai Immigrations for about THB 12K. It has a very high deductible, but still meets Thai Immigrations requirements.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, billsmart said:

So, I went to Laos and got an O visa. I've had that ever since and have been able to continue to extend my stay based on retirement without health insurance.

I did similar just recently.

But only border run to cancel the Non O-A status, return visa exempt.

Then applying (TM87) at immigration for Non O based on retirement/funds,

Got the visa three days ago and will apply for one year extension in October.

[LOG54]

Hello 

Till September this year the cover was for 400.00 and yes it was able to get it chap with high deductible..which was a trick as the official aim of the request was that all farangs would have all payments secured for Thai medical services.

Now it seems the cover will be 3 M 500.000 bahts and even with 1.5 M deductible the yearly amount is above 30.000 bahts..

Apparently immigration has still not issued the decree imposing this change but I have been informed by the insurance it is highly plausible this amount will be required for all extensions filed from 1st September onwards...

So, made a visa run, entered with visa exemption and will apply for O visa..

This insurance request is a total nonsense... In fact a Thai insurance with 1.5 million deductible is admitted as everyone closes the eyes on it..

I personally have an insurance covering my full medical bills without any yearly limitations.. so, much safer for the Thai system..

Also, as you know, a new insurance always asks if you have a pre existing medical condition and refuses of course to cover anything related to this problem..

Therefore we are required to just pay for nothing..

I personally know a few expats who recently left or will leave because of all never ending created new issues..

I also wish to point out now there will be 300 bahts charged to all people entering Thailand, again officially to cover the hospital bills of people who have no insurance..

If they did the Thailand pass, it is very easy to adopt a similar measure, just for tourists insurance, as it was for COVID, simple on line procedure..you don t have it you cannot enter ..it could also be payed on arrival if not suscribed before..

I don t think long term expats don t pay medical bills. My experience is that the 1st thing you are asked for when you reach an hospital is either an insurance certificate if your insurance has an agreement with the hospital, either your credit card and you have to sign the quotation for agreement..

Have a nice day

 

 

 

[Confuscious]

6 hours ago, billsmart said:

As an aside, just last year, just before I turned 76, I did get the type of health insurance required for a stay extension on an O-A because I'm afraid Thai Immigrations will soon require that type of insurance for stay extensions on ALL visas. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to get a new health insurance policy when you are over 75. I found one that would satisfy Thai Immigrations for about THB 12K. It has a very high deductible, but still meets Thai Immigrations requirements.

Name of that insurance please.
OK to PM me.

[rogerpattaya]

Thanks for the replies.

It seems that when I got a new passport and the details were transferred I ended up with Non Imm O.

Which I suppose is why they have never asked me for insurance.

Just plain lucky.

 

Thanks again

 

rogerpattaya

[JimTripper]

13 hours ago, jesimps said:

Sure, and if he's an old feller I'm sure he'll have a spare 120,000+ baht laying around and the same again next year, recurring.

Cambodia may be an option. I just hope he does not need medical treatment.

 

[hhtown]

9 hours ago, Confuscious said:

Name of that insurance please.
OK to PM me.

I'm having difficulty finding suitable insurance. Could you please pm the name of the red Insurance company. Thank you

[Confuscious]

1 hour ago, hhtown said:

I'm having difficulty finding suitable insurance. Could you please pm the name of the red Insurance company. Thank you

I asked for the name/company of that insurance myself.

I have not received any information about the insurance yet.

[JimGant]

1 hour ago, Confuscious said:

I asked for the name/company of that insurance myself.

I have not received any information about the insurance yet.

LMG has been the cheapest insurance meeting the OA extension requirement. Prior to this new 3.5M baht coverage, supposedly coming into effect 1 Sept, you could get a policy at age 75, for 11,700 baht that met the 40/400K OA coverage requirement. It was renewable up to age 100 (age 76 premium: 16,900 baht). Now, with the 3.5M requirement, you can still get a policy at no older than age 75, for 36,700 baht (renewable at age 76 upwards, for 68,500). This is the cheapest policy they offer, with a deductible of 1M baht -- thus more self insurance than insurance. But, it is advertised to be acceptable by Immigration, tho' the jury is apparently still out on the definitive 1 Sept requirement to go into effect.....

[KhunBENQ]

50 minutes ago, JimGant said:

you can still get a policy at no older than age 75, for 36,700 baht

Good to know if the worst comes true next year, insurance for all.

Hope not and better hope that marriage extension will be my last trump card.

[OJAS]

On 8/8/2022 at 10:51 PM, rogerpattaya said:

It seems that when I got a new passport and the details were transferred I ended up with Non Imm O.

Same here! ????