Health insurance required for all retirement visas?

[Dannie Boy]

Until last year I was on an O-A visa so had to take out the compulsory insurance - it was a case of the cheapest (but not cheap) policy I could get, or a comprehensive but incredibly expensive policy - no prizes for guessing that I took the lowest cost option. Last year I let my visa lapse by leaving the country and then went down the O route on a 30 day entry.


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[caller]

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.

I have an OA visa and I also have health insurance, but it doesnt qualify ro be used for the OA visa, which is restricted to, I think, 15 companies. But I couldn't get insured via AA, with any of those on the list that they deal with.

The sensible thing would have been to allow those needing insurance for the OA visa, to use whatever company they prefer - or can - as long as it meets the mininum amounts required. but nope, not in Thailand, a list is needed of so-called suitable companies, no doubt paying to be one of the chosen ones. So I still have to 'pay' for extra insurance for the purposes of extending my visa, which I too, intend to change when the time comes.

[maccastime]

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.

as I mentioned I relocated to Thailand from Aus with O visa not OA and no insurance was required. That was 6 months ago

[Scout]

I just returned from a short trip to Singapore, partly for the purpose of killing my 11 year old OA. Planning to apply for non-O tomorrow.

[brianks]

I have an OA but since this health insurance mess has been implemented, after paying off immigration for the first year, I use a Visa Broker and have no problems renewing my annual visa with much less paperwork and requirements to provide to them plus eliminating the 1.5-hour trip to Immigration from where I live.