Health insurance now mandatory for long-stay foreigners

[buksida]

HEALTH insurance has been made mandatory for foreigners aged 50 years and above seeking long-term stay in Thailand.

The insurance policy must offer up to Bt40,000 coverage for outpatient treatment and up to Bt400,000 for inpatient treatment. This is one of the measures the government has introduced to ease the financial burden placed on state hospitals by foreigners, many of whom have not paid for treatment.

“The Cabinet has already approved the new rule,” Health Service Support Department director-general Nattawuth Prasert-siripong revealed yesterday.

According to Nattawuth, the new rule applies to both new applicants for the non-immigrant visa (O-A), which offers a stay of up to one year, and those wishing to renew their visa. Each renewal is valid for one year.Overseas policies okay too “Such health insurance is good for foreigners too,” Nattawuth said.

Foreigners can buy valid health insurance from longstay.tgia.org or if they wish to use health insurance that they bought overseas, they must ensure that the coverage amount is no less than what is required by the rule. “We are going to discuss with relevant authorities on to how to check the validity of health insurance bought from overseas,” Nattawuth said.

Asked about foreigners who cannot buy health insurance because their health risks are considered too high, Nattawuth said relevant authorities might consider requiring them to have higher deposits in bank accounts so as to make sure that they have enough to live in Thailand.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... l/30369323

[Big Boy]

I will write to Matt or Andre at AA Insurance - 2 very genuine guys to get their take on it, and ask them to make some sort of statement here. The longstay.tgia.org says a lot, but actually says nothing.

I have a lot of trust in both Matt and Andre - they will tell it as it is.

[Sealcat]

hi Big Boy... I'm sure everyone appreciates your contacting your friends at AA... will be interesting as to what they say

[T.O.M.]

According to another source the above mandatory insurance only apply to O-A visas.....from the Thai embassy in your home country and extensions of the same.
NOT extensions based on non-o visas......at least not yet.
So BB I would hold my horses..

[Big Boy]

The TGIA (who obviously have a vested interest) are talking ALL long stay visa extensions. An enquiry now, and being prepared does not cost anything. Both Matt and Andre have helped me and my family several times in the past, and their service has been exemplary - it costs nothing to ask, and who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised with the reply (unlikely though ).

[Dannie Boy]

But lots of long-term retirees are living here on an extended O-A visa, so it will affect lots of expats

[nil]

The fact they are making us keep a minimum of 400k in the bank now for non-o retirement extensions hopefully excludes this type of visa.

[HHTel]

Asked about foreigners who cannot buy health insurance because their health risks are considered too high, Nattawuth said relevant authorities might consider requiring them to have higher deposits in bank accounts so as to make sure that they have enough to live in Thailand.

I was trying to think this through. No company will insure me at my age. The requirement states that the policy must cover 400,000 in-patient care. With many of us using the 800,000 cash in the bank solution. The fact that it is there and can't be drawn below 400,000 should cover the requirement.

Does that make sense?

[T.O.M.]

Asked about foreigners who cannot buy health insurance because their health risks are considered too high, Nattawuth said relevant authorities might consider requiring them to have higher deposits in bank accounts so as to make sure that they have enough to live in Thailand.

I was trying to think this through. No company will insure me at my age. The requirement states that the policy must cover 400,000 in-patient care. With many of us using the 800,000 cash in the bank solution. The fact that it is there and can't be drawn below 400,000 should cover the requirement.

Does that make sense?

Way to much sense for Thailand.....!!
Following you...that means people going the income route will have to have the insurance, since they don't have to keep a single satang in the bank......Whereas those using the 800k method hopefully are exempt from the insurance?
As usual when it comes to information from Thai authorities.....clear as mud......When does it start? What kind of extensions are included.?
To further add to the confusion....
https://www.thephuketnews.com/cabinet-a ... F6FKfLd.97

[Dannie Boy]

I took a look at the link providing insurance information and for the company’s providing instant age related quotes, they varied from just under 60,000 to over 80,000 Baht pa for my age group!!


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[Nereus]

The requirement applies to all new applicants for one-year non-immigrant O-A visas, and for those applying to “renew” their one-year permits-to-stay, he said.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/cabinet-a ... lv6BOTd.99

[nil]

The requirement applies to all new applicants for one-year non-immigrant O-A visas, and for those applying to “renew” their one-year permits-to-stay, he said.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/cabinet-a ... lv6BOTd.99

You can also read that as renewing their O-A visa. The rest of the article just seems to focus on this visa such as:

“Cabinet approved an extra health insurance requirement for foreigners applying for one-year Non-Immigrant O-A visas,” Dr Natthawut said”

It’s confusing.

[Big Boy]

Well guys, whether we need it or not, I contacted Matt at AA Insurance, and his team have found a policy for me that sounds very promising, and it won't break the bank.

Basically, when I moved to Thailand, they told me I was not insurable. Things have certainly progressed since 2012. If I'd been offered this policy back then, I'd have probably snapped their arms off. Personally, I've been worrying about absolutely nothing today. I will follow through on their offer later this week.

If any of you are worrying similarly, I commend you to contact Matt at AA Insurance. They don't deal in bullshit, just facts. They will tell it to you as it is. You can then make up your own mind. They do not put potential customers under any pressure whatsoever.

[T.O.M.]

Well guys, whether we need it or not, I contacted Matt at AA Insurance, and his team have found a policy for me that sounds very promising, and it won't break the bank.

Basically, when I moved to Thailand, they told me I was not insurable. Things have certainly progressed since 2012. If I'd been offered this policy back then, I'd have probably snapped their arms off. Personally, I've been worrying about absolutely nothing today. I will follow through on their offer later this week.

If any of you are worrying similarly, I commend you to contact Matt at AA Insurance. They don't deal in bullshit, just facts. They will tell it to you as it is. You can then make up your own mind. They do not put potential customers under any pressure whatsoever.

Come on man......
Share the deal with the rest of us......What company? Yearly cost? Does it even cover the stupidly high out-patient requirement..?

[oakdale160]

They also have good relationships with the billing depts of hospitals which can be useful.