Thread: Move to make health insurance mandatory for long-stay visas

What everyone seems to forget is that the Thais have a perfectly good government health service. I have no medical insurance and never have. I just go along to the my local and pay per visit/ailment. Over the years I've been here I'm quids in, and extremely happy with the service I get and pay for. And I'm sure farangs paying at the government hospitals are contributing to the health system.

Incidentally, AETNA don't seem to accept new business for over 65 applicants according to their portal/website, you dickhead Tomtwat.

...^happy to see my post kept you on your research toes...555...

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

What everyone seems to forget is that the Thais have a perfectly good government health service. I have no medical insurance and never have. I just go along to the my local and pay per visit/ailment. Over the years I've been here I'm quids in, and extremely happy with the service I get and pay for. And I'm sure farangs paying at the government hospitals are contributing to the health system.

Good info.

I carry insurance with Cigna Global - covers me in Thailand and the USA. My concern (and it's not much of a concern) is whatever they, Thai Immigration, require I will comply with, not by choice but by necessity.

I have visited local hospitals several times, never filed a claim with my insurance (USD $5k deductible) and always was taken care quite reasonably. So, other than a major illness or accident; i.e. a cancer, stroke,. heart attack, organ failure, etc. I don't need insurance. Soon, 5-10 years it'll be cost prohibitive. My concern is the thai Government forcing me to pay a "ridiculous" premium for "poor" coverage just to meet their immigration demands.

Living under the radar in stealth mode just ain't my style.

looking at what the meaning of MANDATORY,
rule.
law.
regulation.
who in thailand obey's any of the above.
so if this does come in,what will be the consequences of not taking part,although you are self covered by your own means.i can see them going back to what they suggested awhile back.to prove you have the means of self cover it must be in a THAI BANK. till you pop your clogs.
so as I have had my yrly.ext.800,000bht in the same acc.for over 6yrs.isnt that sufficient.

Would Mecicare insurance cover this requirement?

Originally Posted by headhunter

so if this does come in,what will be the consequences of not taking part,although you are self covered by your own means.

No visa.

Originally Posted by stroller

No visa.

as I thought.then what? JAIL

Back to Blighty. Might get a council estate bedsit if lucky.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Would Mecicare insurance cover this requirement?

Would depend on what fine print is in this new nonsense. If the fine print stipulates insurance must be good for local care then Medicare no good.

Medicare is only paid to US care providers. They will not reimburse care in a Thai hospital.

Originally Posted by tomcat

...^happy to see my post kept you on your research toes...555...

Err, are you totally retarded or is it just some fucking weird hobby? I was the one who told you that folk over 65 were fucking uninsurable in Thailand in the first fucking place.

Why don't you fuck off to Thaivisa where you evidently belong with all the other silly wankers who post utter shite.

...^I understand your hiss and spit...probably holiday depression: life can be so cruel, can't it?...*sigh*...

This new development is a profoundly serious issue for hundreds, if not several thousand, whose retirement in Thailand will be curtailed for the simple reason that a prerequisite for their extension of stay will be impossible to meet except on such oppressive terms as to be a worthless expense amounting to nothing more than an extortionate visa fee. In effect any policy that might be available for the over 65s will be riven with exclusions and offered at a derisory benefit utterly disproportionate to the premium - a 71 year old would pay a premium of over 120,000 baht for hospital in-patient care capped at 400,000.

And yet all you can do is post irrelevant shite like some congenital cretin that only serves to mislead people. Fuck off you stupid cvunt.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

a 71 year old would pay a premium of over 120,000 baht for hospital in-patient care capped at 400,000.

I am well beyond that age and in very good health. I have looked into a couple providers. Premiums greater and caps more ridiculous than above.

No way will I or ever have I had local insurance. Pay as I go. Minor stuff. Cheap as chips and decent care.

If this silliness goes into effect along with the 800k baht in the bank, I would be plunking down 1mil baht per year for the privilege of staying in Thailand.

as its said ITS TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS PRIVATE HOSPITALS.
i would think its the public that cause most accidents so we are expected to pay for them,most dont have any first class insurance only poro-bor.
lets see how many drunk thais that either kill or badly injure the public against accidents caused by expats on long term visa's.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

This new development is a profoundly serious issue for hundreds, if not several thousand, whose retirement in Thailand will be curtailed for the simple reason that a prerequisite for their extension of stay will be impossible to meet except on such oppressive terms as to be a worthless expense amounting to nothing more than an extortionate visa fee. In effect any policy that might be available for the over 65s will be riven with exclusions and offered at a derisory benefit utterly disproportionate to the premium - a 71 year old would pay a premium of over 120,000 baht for hospital in-patient care capped at 400,000.

And yet all you can do is post irrelevant shite like some congenital cretin that only serves to mislead people. Fuck off you stupid cvunt.

Back to blighty for you then. Is curmudgeonly misery treated for free on the NHS?

Or will you have to vegetate for 6 months before you can be treated for it? You tax and residency status could see you come cropper here.

The best I can find is with the Kasikorn Bank who are offering a package of 500,000 in-patient care and 45,000 out-patient costs for a premium of 30,000 but this is limited to foreigners no older than 70, have been resident in Thailand for at least a year and intend to continue such residence and who are married to a Thai national, and must be healthy without any disability, chronic disease and or life threatening conditions.
As a visa fee it should be manageable for most. As I understand it the policy is issued without medical examination or check-up and therefore one could simply lie through one's teeth about past illnesses etc since they will issue the policy once the fee is paid and you are good to go with Immigration, which is of course the whole point.

A question if I may; would this insurance requirement be applicable to a Non Imm O multiple visa?

^Not as reported so far. It is only in discussion phase and for one visa the O-A
There is already an insurance requirement for the 5 year long stay visa and there has been much talk and discussion re insurance and tourist visas.
it is not a great jump to believe that the authorities would like to see an insurance component added to all visas/extensions at some point

Originally Posted by Troubled

^Not as reported so far. It is only in discussion phase and for one visa the O-A
There is already an insurance requirement for the 5 year long stay visa and there has been much talk and discussion re insurance and tourist visas.
it is not a great jump to believe that the authorities would like to see an insurance component added to all visas/extensions at some point

Thanks.

What benefit would be got by making farang have insurance? It there was any benefit I'm sure they'd have introduced it before now. Well they did 4 years ago but it didn't work and they knocked it on the head.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

What benefit would be got by making farang have insurance?

Think an over reaction to the miniscule few deadbeats who go to hospital and can't pay.

Originally Posted by Norton

Think an over reaction to the miniscule few deadbeats who go to hospital and can't pay.

May well be the case, but, now, it's a way for the insurance companies to gather more high paying customers while those adversely affected are going to blame the Thai Immigration Department.

Can you hear the champagne corks poppin'?

These ideas come and go with most never implemented. When it becomes the rule, I will worry about it. Til then, no need to get me blood pressure up. Might have a heart attack. Not good for uninsured old gits like me.