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

Foreigners with one-year Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (Long Stay) will have to compulsorily arrange health insurance, according to new proposals of a key committee.

The criterion under the Immigration Act 1979 was approved by the Medical Hub Committee, Dr Kittisak Klapdee, adviser to the Minister of Public Health, said on Sunday.


Kittisak was assigned by Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn to join Tourism and Sport vice minister Ittipol Khunplome at the Medical Hub Committee’s second annual meeting, which approved in principle the amendment of the criteria for one-year long-stay visas.


Once it comes into effect, foreigners having the visa will be required to have Thai insurance policies covering their entire stay in Thailand with minimum Bt40,000 out-patient medical bill coverage and minimum Bt400,000 in-patient medical bill coverage.



Those already having overseas insurance policies that meet the minimum requirement would be exempted from subscribing to Thai insurance policies. They will be able to apply for long-stay visas using their foreign insurance policies, he said.


Details and guidelines pertaining to the amendment were being jointly formulated by the Public Health Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Immigration Bureau, the Office of Insurance Commission, the Thai General Insurance Association, and the Thai Life Assurance Association. At the next stage, it would be forwarded to the Cabinet for approval as a formal policy, he added.


The amended criterion is aimed at ensuring health protection for long-stay visa holders – mostly elderly foreigners – and also benefit the public and private hospitals in the country, he added.

Move to make health insurance mandatory for long-stay visas

And if one has medical conditions which rules out obtaining said medical insurance. What happens then?? Didn't they try this before?

You can still get insurance. You just have to pay more. It’s not enough that you are fooked and in pain, you have to pay for the privilege of not getting any treatment for it, but still paying more for insurance.

If immigration is demanding 800,000 baht in the bank, they should know a person has the money to self-insure.

Getting a bit carried away, they are.

..
or 400k, and many don't bother with health insurance, either because it's too expensive re. preexisting conditions or they intend to return "home" in case of serious illness or they simply don't care or... must have been a fair bit of trouble with farang already.

I've been expecting this for some time. I think it has a lot to do with the way Thais are treated in Europe and possibly elsewhere. What I don't like is having to have Thai insurance.

Originally Posted by Troy

I think it has a lot to do with the way Thais are treated in Europe and possibly elsewhere.

Nah. Whilst in the UK I had to rush my missus to the hospital when she got a fish bone stuck in her throat. They never asked for insurance, or when I offered to pay they refused.

Originally Posted by misskit

If immigration is demanding 800,000 baht in the bank, they should know a person has the money to self-insure.

Surely you won't have 800,000 if you have to pay out for a over inflated insurance policy? Some expats rely on 800,000, in a fixed term account, to get their annual extension.

" I had to rush my missus to the hospital when she got a fish bone stuck in her throat. "

It wasnt me, honest. I swear.

Just kidding around folks. Not much going on now except watching kids and miss fish make bamboo soup.

As for insurance in Thailand a guy doing utube vids did a comparison of the different offerings.

Goes by the name of JC, the channel is Retire Cheep. You may find it helpful if concidering insurance.

Merry Xmas, fish.

And I hope you have a sense of humor with the quote. Of course my bone wasn't caught in her throat. My head ain't that big, nor my ego. How else could I get by camping here.

Sarcasm Disclaimer:

BANGKOK:-- The slogan revision has been announced “Rich guys in, poor guys out” is the message from Pol. Lt. Gen. Needabunchmore Foreignermoneychai, Immigration Bureaus Main Bean Counter and Budget Balancer, as immigration officials prepare to launch its latest crackdown on foreign visitors.

Originally Posted by fishlocker

watching kids and miss fish make bamboo soup.

I dug this up for you while I was sitting on a park bench.

Hey Jack how much for a Pizza and do you deliver? I'm not joking about the stew. I noticed a bag of ant eggs floating around here earlier. It may be Christmas dinner.

I should be looking into my insurance policy and does it cover death by miss adventure?

Anyone over 65 with the typical issues affecting that age group are effectively uninsurable. If one were to persist then a policy effectively no more than an accident policy excluding anything to do with circulatory, breathing, heart and cancer conditions could be obtained but according to my recent research the premium would be in the order of 150,000 baht annually.
The various foreign missions over the years have asked the Thai to consider including expats in a social insurance scheme into which they could pay an annual premium so that they could qualify for care like any thai with employment insurance - they refused of course because they did not want to miss the opportunity of fucking over farang.
Thai are cvunts, always were, always are and always shall be.

Resperation issues, cancer. Of course they know the odds.

Many years ago they started selling bottled water. Next it will be clean fresh air.

Hell, I'd buy some about now.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

The various foreign missions over the years have asked the Thai to consider including expats in a social insurance scheme into which they could pay an annual premium so that they could qualify for care like any thai with employment insurance - they refused of course because they did not want to miss the opportunity of fucking over farang

They actually DID implement a scheme about 4 year ago for 'foreigners'. I joined it. I paid for an initial one off medical examination, incl chest x-ray. There after there was supposed to be an annual fee of 2,000+ Baht. You just enrolled at yer local government hospital. Condition of obtaining this service was you had to be a holder of a 'Yellow' book. As I said I joined the scheme but they cancelled it after one year, without admitting they'd fcuked up. They declared it wasn't for meant for expats, but foreign workers.
Sorry I can't copy and paste this . Please read the link.
Thai Government Health Insurance for Foreigners Update March 2014

FYI

Came across this a while ago, I believe this was initially for the 5-year long stay visa, but, the numbers match for minimal coverage so it is already established and quite easily implemented for the one year O-A visa extensions.

Three companies. Didn’t include the fine (never read) print. Yup, all the exclusions, stipulations etc. are included. See the links.

https://longstay.tgia.org

??????...??????? ????????????????????????????




Insurance for Long Stay Visa Plans:
1. 1.1 Nationality:
Japan Australia Denmark Finland
France Germany Italy The Netherlands
Norway Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom (incl. Northern Ireland)
Canada United States of America
2. 1.2 Main applicant must be between 50 - 75 years of age at first entry, and can then renew for life.

1. Eligibility of Applicant under Health Insurance for Long Stay Visa Scheme:
1.2 Nationality: (1) Japanese (2) Australia (3) Kingdom of Denmark (4) Republic of Finland(5) Republic of France (6) Federal Republic of Germany (7) Republic of Italy (8) Kingdom The Netherlands (9) The Kingdom of Norway (10) The Kingdom of Sweden (11) Swiss Confederation (12) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (13) Canada and (14) United States of America
1.3 Applicant must be aged 20 - 80 years old.








Viriyah Insurance (Public) Company Limited.










Apologize for "boxes" can't figure out how to get them to display, but, they are the charts of age, coverage and premiums.

Originally Posted by bowie

Apologize for "boxes" can't figure out how to get them to display

Might have been better if you quoted each section separately.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

They actually DID implement a scheme about 4 year ago for 'foreigners'. I joined it. I paid for an initial one off medical examination, incl chest x-ray. There after there was supposed to be an annual fee of 2,000+ Baht. You just enrolled at yer local government hospital. Condition of obtaining this service was you had to be a holder of a 'Yellow' book. As I said I joined the scheme but they cancelled it after one year, without admitting they'd fcuked up. They declared it wasn't for meant for expats, but foreign workers.
Sorry I can't copy and paste this . Please read the link.
Thai Government Health Insurance for Foreigners Update March 2014

I to joined that scheme,but they have tried to get everyone on long term visa's about a yr.ago by offering a 5yr.visa,you must deposit 3million bht.in a THAI bank and also take out insurance with a THAI COMPANY.i don't think it never got off the ground.
this is nothing but another money making scheme to fill the coffer's of greedy insurance co.'s and rip off hospitals.
these last couple of yrs.i have had dealings with a few GOV.hospitals,out patient costs,40,000bht.would not have covered,ct.scans,x3.1xcta scan 25,000bht.
as for a stay in a private hospital 400,000bht.wouldnt last long.i have not got any ins.but I have plenty of self cover if needed,but at 74 they are not going to get their grubby mits on what I have put away for my wife to live a more than comfortable life after my last trip to the temple.
just an example of cover for my body,i would need a mortgage,10yrs.ago my flight cover uk.to Thailand after I declared my heart surgery,normally 45gbp.they quoted me 195GBP.
its time to realize that we are nothing but cash cows for milking,them that are living on the bread line WELL could this be time to go HOME.

Why would you expect others to pay for your known ailments when you haven't contributed anything earlier?

can you imagine the queue's of tourists no health cover,go home.
then there's your yearly extension,no ins.no ext.COUGH,COUGH kapp.
having they fkd up this country without adding MORE we want.
I am happy to live the rest of my life just sat at home with the peacefull surrounds I have,so if they want to upset me more,[already had my fair share this yr.]they can go and fk.theirselves.

Originally Posted by headhunter

can you imagine the queue's of tourists no health cover,go home.

Yea, they've already discussed (and are probably working on) making having "Travel Insurance" mandatory - don't know how they would "enforce" the requirement. They'll try to dump it on the airlines selling tickets - can't see that working.

Originally Posted by headhunter

then there's your yearly extension, no ins.no ext.COUGH,COUGH kapp.

Yup, it'll happen on the guise of "bad guys" (read that as poor expats) make it hard on the "good guys" (read that as rich expats). And that'll happen. Be interesting to see the new cost of the "loopholes" to bypass the requirement. Just another "round the mulberry bush" episode.