Health insurance required for all retirement visas?

[fft100]

I haven't seen this reported elsewhere. According to the report all non o retirement visas will require both covid and Thai medical insurance before being able to re-enter Thailand. Appears that not leaving Thailand will escape the insurance requirements for the moment.

Anyone seen/heard this elsewhere ?

https://www.pattayamail.com/travel/doub ... oad-342913

[Dannie Boy]

It was always anticipated that things would get worse rather than better for expats wanting to live in Thailand and Covid has just made it more difficult. There’s no immediate comfort in being able to get vaccinated to avoid the need for insurance - it could be years (at the minimum) for the Covid insurance requirements to go away.

[dtaai-maai]

...it could be years (at the minimum) for the Covid insurance requirements to go away.

Not so sure they will ever go away; the Thai authorities are very good at adding requirements, not so good at withdrawing them...

[Dannie Boy]

...it could be years (at the minimum) for the Covid insurance requirements to go away.

Not so sure they will ever go away; the Thai authorities are very good at adding requirements, not so good at withdrawing them...

I did say “at the minimum”!!


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[Edmin]

I wonder why covid requires separate insurance. Why flu and food poisoning do not require? Any medical insurance has hospital room and medical services covered.

[jungle]

Anyone heard if a change to the O visa for required health insurance

[Dannie Boy]

Anyone heard if a change to the O visa for required health insurance

No and let’s not give anyone reason to think about it!!

[Dannie Boy]

Not sure if this is the correct area to post this, but the attached article, mainly about the Elite Visa scheme makes mention of some visa status holders not requiring medical insurance - let’s hope they don’t look to close this option for O visa holders!!
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... ute-438274

[maccastime]

Good morning I am currently retired in Thailand came here last year on O visa 90 days then extended to a year after 45 days. I now have a mate in Sydney who says the embassy is asking for medical insurance? I thought this was only for the OA? Anyone confirm this? Many thanks

[404cameljockey]

Good morning I am currently retired in Thailand came here last year on O visa 90 days then extended to a year after 45 days. I now have a mate in Sydney who says the embassy is asking for medical insurance? I thought this was only for the OA? Anyone confirm this? Many thanks

I haven't heard that (yet), and Thai embassies sometimes make major errors in what they tell to potential retirees though, so needs to be verified via another source.

[Gregjam]

My understanding is that if you get a retirement O visa outside of Thailand it is an OA and the insurance is required. If you get the retirement visa inside Thailand it is an O and does not require the insurance.
Most but not all initially enter on the visa free exemption and get the O visa locally.
Don’t quote me on this as no doubt someone more in the know will come along later.

[HHTel]

That's the way I understand it Gregjam and it's been proven several times. Just in the last few months, a friend of mine went to the London Embassy for retirement. As predicted, he was asked for medical insurance. After he spoke with me I advised him to just get a tourist visa and convert to a non-O when he gets here. All done and dusted now.

[404cameljockey]

So there seem to be a lot of farang living in Thailand without medical insurance! I haven't met any in 7 years though, apart from one rich friend who always has many millions in the bank, and huge disposable assets.

[HHTel]

I don't have medical insurance. I'm sure I'm not the only one. It would be interesting to do a head count of members without insurance.

[Big Boy]

I've tried, but can't get insurance. I have a couple of friends who each pay £1,700/quarter. Working on that, and paying as I go, I've probably saved about £75K so far. I actually prefer the public hospitals to the likes of Bangkok Hospital anyway (I have had 2 operations and quite a few outpatient/inpatient visits at Bangkok Hospital over the years),