Getting Health Insurance Before Arrival?

[InlandSea]

I plan to move to Thailand later this year and apply for an OA retirement visa. I am wondering whether it would be better to sign up for a health insurance plan (like April International) before I go or should I just get short-term tourist insurance to cover the first month and then work with a local agent and doctor to get the stress tests and forms filled out? For those that have been through this, what would you recommend? Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

[scubascuba3]

come on tourist visa or visa exempt then get non imm O once here.  I reckon it's best value to get travel insurance for the first period here, after which it's not valid once you live here

[Sheryl]

Did you really mean OA visa, or non-O?

 

You will not be able to get an OA visa without insurance and OA visa has to be obtained in your home country. Further there are restrictions on what insurance can be used. International insurance can be used only for the original application and only if the insurer fills out a special certificate which many will not do. Subsequent in-country extensions of OA visa can only be from a limited list of local companies, many of which will not insure past a certain age.

 

An O visa is much preferred.  They seem to be requiring insurance for an initial (3 month) O visa now but can be any insurer and then no requirement for in-country extensions. Or you can enter in a tourist visa or visa exempt then change to a Non-O in country for which there is no insurance requirement.

 

Of course, you should get insurance anyway for your own protection but I that is a different matter from visa requirements.

 

You can get an international expat policy before you arrive. There is no particular advantage to waiting until you are here. Most international insurers do not require a doctor's assistance to apply for nor a stress test. How old are you, and do you have any chronic health conditions?

 

 

[InlandSea]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

An O visa is much preferred.  They seem to be requiring insurance for an initial (3 month) O visa now but can be any insurer and then no requirement for in-country extensions. Or you can enter in a tourist visa or visa exempt then change to a Non-O in country for which there is no insurance requirement.

 

Of course, you should get insurance anyway for your own protection but I that is a different matter from visa requirements.

 

You can get an international expat policy before you arrive. There is no particular advantage to waiting until you are here. Most international insurers do not require a doctor's assistance to apply for nor a stress test. How old are you, and do you have any chronic health conditions?

Thank you, Sheryl. It's great to get a reply from you, your forum posts have been so helpful on this topic. You're right, the in-country O visa after entering visa exempt is what I'd like to do (for some reason "OA" is forever stuck in my head). I'm just over 50 and in good health, but I feel that I always need to have some level of health insurance to avoid a financial disaster. I think what I'll do is contact AA Insurance Brokers now and look at April and some others, maybe Cigna? The thing with the stress test and doctor's sign-off is that I've already had my wellness check (which is a super quick, basic check-up here) and I think I'd have to pay out of pocket for any new tests or sign-offs - just another hassle and cost I'd like to avoid if possible. 

 

 

[Sheryl]

19 minutes ago, InlandSea said:

Thank you, Sheryl. It's great to get a reply from you, your forum posts have been so helpful on this topic. You're right, the in-country O visa after entering visa exempt is what I'd like to do (for some reason "OA" is forever stuck in my head). I'm just over 50 and in good health, but I feel that I always need to have some level of health insurance to avoid a financial disaster. I think what I'll do is contact AA Insurance Brokers now and look at April and some others, maybe Cigna? The thing with the stress test and doctor's sign-off is that I've already had my wellness check (which is a super quick, basic check-up here) and I think I'd have to pay out of pocket for any new tests or sign-offs - just another hassle and cost I'd like to avoid if possible. 

 

 

I don't know of any insurer that requires medical tests or doctor sign off on policy for someone in their 50's. They just go by the medical history you provide (and be sure to fully declare all conditions or it could invalidate your policy later). If and only if  there was something in your medical history of concern then they might ask for copies of prior tests etc.

 

In your 50's there are many options insurance wise, assuming you are in good health (no diabetes, heart disease etc). You should definitely look for an internationally issued expat policy. Choices include but are in no way limited to: Allianz, April (Global not April Thailand) , AXA (ditto - global), BUPA Global, Cigna (Global not Thailand, IMG, William Russell.