Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (1 year term) holders to require Covid insurance

[Big Boy]

Virus cover needed for long stays

All foreigners living in Thailand as non-immigrants will in the future have to prove they have insurance coverage of at least US$100,000 (three million baht) against Covid-19.

The proposal was approved in principle by the cabinet yesterday and Traisuree Taisaranakul, deputy spokeswoman for the government, said it would apply to all holders of the one-year, non-immigrant visa (NIV).

NIVs are awarded in four categories: marriage, work, business and retirement.

The new rule follows an amendment to the regulations approved by the cabinet in April last year.

At present, holders of the NIV must be insured to the tune of just 40,000 baht for out-patient treatment, or 400,000 baht for in-patient treatment at a hospital.

Future NIV applicants must produce proof they have taken out the far higher insurance against Covid-19 and if they are eligible to state-sponsored welfare or insurance, the same minimum coverage applies.

Those seeking to renew their NIV are free to buy the insurance from abroad.

If they have access to state-sponsored insurance, they must submit documentary proof certified by the Bangkok-based embassies of their respective nations or by authorised official of the Foreign Ministry of their native countries.

If someone is denied the requisite Covid-19 insurance because they are deemed to be in an at-risk group, they must present the rejection document as well as proof of financial security, bank account or other health insurance valued at a minimum US$100,000.

Ms Traisuree said that since the cabinet had approved the new rule in principle the next step would be for the Immigration Bureau to publish full details and make it official.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry will also work to improve the NIV application procedure while the Public Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry will be in charge of modifying related regulations and telling the public about them.

Ms Traisuree said the current NIV regulation was flawed as foreign nationals aged over 70 could not buy insurance in Thailand, causing them to be disqualified from remaining long-term in the kingdom.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... long-stays

I thought Covid was going to be eradicated by the end of next year. A bit of overkill if they are telling us the truth.
Of course, the Insurance Companies win again, and every other Social Media post will be selling Covid insurance

[centermid7]

Ain't no way the embassies are going to get into the business of certification of "state sponsored insurance" that was issued in someone's home country. Likewise for any department of state.

Me thinks the cost of staying in Thailand just went up up up . . .

[lomuamart]

Reading between the lines of the above announcement, I note the following:

1. It mentions the 40/400K THB insurance which currently only applies to those with Non OA visas. So will this new policy, 100,000 USD, now extend to those on O visas as well?

2. It says "future NIV applicants", so will this extend to those of us on existing extensions of stay?

3. They mention the NIV several times and there is a distinction between a visa and an extension of stay but whether these people realise that is moot.

4. In the same breath, in the first para, they say " All foreigners living in Thailand etc" so that would seem to include those on extensions to O visas (not just OAs).

Time will tell.

[Dannie Boy]

I suspect that it’s going to include any foreigners living here - it’s been commented on numerous times that those here on an O visa were likely to get caught for insurance cover at some stage, only they’re looking to raise the bar a good few metres!!

You’d have expected those that are fully vaccinated would be excluded, but of course TIT!!


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[Robert williams]

All foreigners living in Thailand..... in future ? This is as usual not clear. Is a visa extension a new application insofar as one applies for a visa extension? Will those already living here on visas that are at present exempt from this requirement now require this insurance or is it simply intended to apply to first time applicants?

[Dannie Boy]

All foreigners living in Thailand..... in future ? This is as usual not clear. Is a visa extension a new application insofar as one applies for a visa extension? Will those already living here on visas that are at present exempt from this requirement now require this insurance or is it simply intended to apply to first time applicants?

You can hope, but the reality is that it will almost certainly apply to all people living here - when they introduced the insurance requirements for those on O-A visas, it applied to those already living here, so you can bet it will apply to all living here on O visas too.

[Big Boy]

The word from Richard Barrow (not official, but I respect his views):

The front page story in the Bangkok Post titled "Virus cover needed for long stays" is very misleading. I just read the minutes of the cabinet meeting (in Thai) and it clearly says this is only for O-A visas AND their intention is to help long-stay foreigners over 50

[hhinner]

This is only for O-A. Here is the text of section 8 of the cabinet minutes. Google translation. No formatting.

8. Subject: Improving additional criteria to support health insurance for foreigners who request the examination Sign a temporary person Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (1 year term) according to the Cabinet resolution on April 2, 2019.
The Cabinet has approved as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) as follows:
1. Approved the principle of improvement of additional criteria to support health insurance for foreigners Person applying for a temporary visa Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (1 year term) according to the Cabinet resolution on April 2, 2019.
2. Assign the Immigration Office (Immigration Bureau) to issue an order of the Royal Thai Police (National Police) by virtue of Section 35 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 to improve the rules and conditions. In considering the case of an alien applying for a temporary stay in the Kingdom
3. Assign the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (KorTor.) to improve the practice guidelines for temporary non-immigrant visas, Non-Immigrant, OA code (1-year term), as well as assign relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Interior (MOT) to operate. Amend and amend the relevant regulations and publicize them to foreigners thoroughly.
the essence of the story
The Ministry of Health reported that
1. After the NTC has issued an order to improve the rules and conditions for considering the case of aliens Request permission to stay in the Kingdom temporarily by allowing foreigners who have been granted a temporary stay visa (Non-Immigrant Visa) OA code must purchase Thai health insurance coverage throughout the period of stay in the Kingdom. From October 31, 2019, according to the Cabinet resolution on April 2, 2019, there were problems in the operation of applicants applying for a visa to purchase health insurance as follows:
1.1 Foreigners over the age of 70 cannot purchase insurance in Thailand. resulting in a lack of qualifications in requesting to stay
1.2 Overseas Insurance Purchase Certification Form inconsistent with the insurance business system/benefits from various funds
1.3 Those applying for a second visa renewal (Extend) wishing to apply for health insurance from abroad
2. The relevant agencies have therefore taken action to resolve the issue regarding the enforcement of the specified order. An alien who has been granted a temporary resident visa (Non-Immigrant Visa) OA code must purchase Thai health insurance coverage throughout the period of stay in the Kingdom, which can be summarized as follows:
Date Performance
January 22, 2020 A meeting to discuss guidelines for improving health insurance rules for Foreigners applying for a temporary stay visa Non-Immigrant Visa code OA (1 year term) between the Department of Health Service Support and the Immigration Division 1, the Department of Consular Affairs, OIC and the Thai Insurance Association. passed a resolution to improve additional rules for supporting the request for a temporary visa (Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code) to have compulsory health insurance by requesting the Immigration Bureau to adjust such rules and conditions to be in line with the policy.
17 March 2020, the meeting of the Subcommittee on Developing Thailand into a Medical Service Hub No. 1/2020 resolved to acknowledge the progress of improving additional criteria to support health insurance for foreigners. applicant for examination Sign a temporary person Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (1 year term) according to the Cabinet resolution on April 2, 2019.
9 April 2020, the meeting of the working group to consider the draft law And the rules of the Immigration Office have resolved that the Department of Health Service Support is the main agency to consider additional criteria. Support for health insurance for foreigners who apply for a visa type Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (valid not more than 1 year) by inviting MOPH, OIC, insurance companies and related agencies Attend meetings to reach clear resolutions and resolve issues. concretely
29 June 2020, the meeting of the Governing Body for the Development of Thailand as an International Health Center (Medical Hub Policy) No. 1/2020 resolved to approve the principle of improvement of additional criteria to support health insurance for foreigners applying for a visa. type of temporary Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (1 year term) according to the Cabinet resolution on April 2, 2019.
17 June 2020
25 June 2020
and
On July 23, 2020, the meeting discussed the guidelines for determining the criteria for the Medical Visa Non-MT for 1 year, Multiple Entry No. 2/2020, No. 3/2020, and No. 3/2020. No. 4/2020 passed a resolution to amend the details of the criteria for visa inspection as proposed by the meeting (under Article 3) and assign the International Health Fund to the MoPH for further submission to the Cabinet.
2 October 2020, the 2nd meeting of the Steering Committee to develop Thailand into an international health center (Medical Hub Policy) No. 2/2020 resolved to acknowledge the progress. The amendment of such additional guidelines

3. The new criteria to be improved are summarized as follows:

original guidelines new guidelines
Must purchase Thai health insurance with a limit for medical expenses.
1. In case of outpatient, not less than 40,000 baht
2. In case of inpatient, not less than 400,000 baht
by purchasing the policy online through the website longstay.tgia.org 1. Application for the 1st visa
to have health insurance or government welfare with a limit to cover medical expenses and have insurance that covers the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of not less than 100,000 US dollars or 3,000,000 baht (adjusted health insurance limit)
2. Applying for a visa For requesting to stay, allow the following permissions:
buy health insurance from abroad or have government welfare from abroad by
- Have a government agency certify the central form The health insurance that is presented is an embassy in a foreign country in Thailand or
- Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country applying for the visa To certify the signature of the authorized signatory on the documents presented (Notary).
3. In the case of a person who has a risk that causes the insurance company to refuse, in whole or in part, additional documents are required as follows:
- Letter of refusal to purchase health insurance
- Securities/deposits/other health insurance, total amount not less than 3,000,000 baht, according to the criteria specified by the Immigration Bureau.
Note: The amendment to the above criteria is a request for improvement of the criteria of the NTC and the Election Commission as follows:
1. Order N.C.C. No. 548/2562 regarding the amendment of rules and conditions for considering the case of aliens applying for a temporary stay in the Kingdom dated 27 September 2019.
2. Guidelines for temporary visas Non-Immigrant OA code (1-year term) of the SEC, effective from October 31, 2019.
4. In the past, the Ministry of Health has issued health insurance certificates for 4 foreigners to use in applying for visa extensions. due to being refused to purchase health insurance in Thailand As a result, it is not possible to apply for a visa extension.

[buksida]

So in other words - nothing has changed as OA visas already had the insurance requirement?

[Dannie Boy]

Assuming they don’t apply this to O visas, I shall definitely try to change my current O-A visa next year - the current charge for health insurance is bearable, but $100k of Covid cover may be a step too far.


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[handdrummer]

And if you're married to a Thai, have a family, can't afford the insurance, do they deport you or put you in prison, or?

[Dannie Boy]

The ironic thing is that a couple of doses of AZ vaccine at say $20 should eliminate the need for any insurance!!

[HHTel]

Although protection is high after vaccination, it's not 100%. People in the UK have been hospitalised caused by the Delta varient even after being fully vaccinated.

But the numbers are relatively small.

[HHTel]

3. In the case of a person who has a risk that causes the insurance company to refuse, in whole or in part, additional documents are required as follows:
- Letter of refusal to purchase health insurance
- Securities/deposits/other health insurance, total amount not less than 3,000,000 baht, according to the criteria specified by the Immigration Bureau.

[Dannie Boy]

Although protection is high after vaccination, it's not 100%. People in the UK have been hospitalised caused by the Delta varient even after being fully vaccinated.

But the numbers are relatively small.

I know you’re correct and as you say, the numbers hospitalised after full vaccination is fairly low. I’m not sure what I’ve read about opening places up like Phuket to tourists, but I’m pretty sure they’ve mentioned that they need full immunisation but I don’t recollect any mention of them needing Covid insurance - but that’s never stopped them from applying double standards!!


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