Long-stay O-A visa holders will need virus cover

THAILAND: 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 (B3 million) against COVID-19.

The proposal was approved in principle by the cabinet yesterday (June 15) 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 B40,000 for out-patient treatment, or B400,000 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.


Long-stay ’O-A visa’ holders will need virus cover

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by misskit

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 (B3 million) against COVID-19.

---

No, only those on a one-year, non-immigrant visa.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by misskit

The proposal was approved in principle by the cabinet yesterday (June 15) and Traisuree Taisaranakul, deputy spokeswoman for the government, said it would apply to all holders of the one-year, non-immigrant visa (NIV).

---

Yeeeehaw......This should start an onslaught of vile responses....

Stay tuned. :)

At least they finally caught on to this major problem for retirees…

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by misskit

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.

---

The Bangkok Post has extra paragraphs that seems to have been omitted from the source of the OP.


"The extra Covid-19 insurance coverage regulation does not apply to other non-immigrant visa categories: marriage, business, educational and media, among others.

At present, holders of the non-immigrant O-A visa must be insured to the tune of just 40,000 baht for out-patient treatment and 400,000 baht for in-patient treatment at a hospital. They are required to purchase Thai health insurance via a dedicated website which is problematic."

Two obvious points here that there may well be a rush of weddings coming up and secondly I have never been asked to show proof of the insurance mentioned in the second para, although I vaguely remember some talk about the Thai government offering such a service many moons ago.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Warwick

there may well be a rush of weddings coming up

---

Most retirees here are on a non-O visa with a yearly extension of stay which is not the same thing as a yearly stay based on a non-OA visa.
Those who are here on a non-OA visa can change into a non-O and avoid the insurance requirement.

BkkPost: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the new insurance requirement applied to holders of all non-immigrant visas. We apologise for the error.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lom

Most retirees here are on a non-O visa with a yearly extension of stay which is not the same thing as a yearly stay based on a non-OA visa.
Those who are here on a non-OA visa can change into a non-O and avoid the insurance requirement.

---

Problem for those affected, they have to leave the country (Thailand) and re-enter to start the non-O process. I'm sure that once the borders re-open with Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia many will choose that option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by misskit

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 (B3 million) against COVID-19.

---

As this thing mutates, how long will it be before WHO calls it Covid-22 or -23? At that point, will everyone need general medical insurance, plus Covid-19 insurance, plus Covid-xx insurance?

Why not one general medical insurance requirement that includes past, present and future pandemics?

As I have said before, only the fucking retarded Thai would demand Covid-centric insurance as a prerequisite to entry when in the next breath the same idiots claim that their home produced AZ vaccine is 100% effective in preventing a hospitalisation that would justify a fucking redundant insurance policy providing 3 million baht worth of cover indemnifying a farang against ICU COVID hospital costs.

Surely, it is only a matter of time before the OED adds to their definition of 'incoherence' a reference to Thai thinking.