^Exactly what I do here. I pay for it, then submit the bills to my American insurance company, which pays me back. 80% of everything, unless I stay overnight (or longer) in a hospital, and then they pay 100% of the bill. Same for wife and kids.
^Exactly what I do here. I pay for it, then submit the bills to my American insurance company, which pays me back. 80% of everything, unless I stay overnight (or longer) in a hospital, and then they pay 100% of the bill. Same for wife and kids.
I was corrected. Turns out it's European Schengen visas that require insurance. You will have to claim financial responsibility for the wife so her medical expenses, if needed, will be your responsibility.Originally Posted by Javabear
Good luck getting your visa.
My formerly Filipina wife has been a US citizen for ten years. She had tourist visas for about ten years before we finally got married, and she got her citizenship. I think during the process I filled out enough forms to denude a rain forest, but I don't recall ever being asked about medical insurance anytime during the process.
I only know of a medical insurance requirement for European visas. My wife has never been asked for it for the UK, US or Oz. I started getting it for her anyway for those countries as it doesn't cost much for a short trip.
I can't see medical insurance coming in for people on transit or tourist visas, given the competitive concerns mentioned. But for retirement and marriage visas it makes sense as the holders of those are usually not working in Thailand and many are at the age where they start needing more medical attention. The authorities seem to have been in denial about the foreign retirement community. It has been a convenient source of income, since the days when they had very few tourists, and they have been happy to pretend that they are only temporary residents because they have only short term visas and are considered as tourists. Now they may have to start accepting that there is a substantial community that needs to be recognized in terms both of aspirations for more rights as well as potential costs.
That I believe that is against the rules in that movement has to be seen within the account. Might be just the office I use ?Originally Posted by Krumble
I am one of those expats to old to get insurance & yes I have used both pvt & Government hospitals & they got paid & in both cases if it was to happen in the states I could have sued & won since both were no fault of my own. I welcome the idea of forced insurance for expats in all honesty I am fed up with the B/S of immigration rules this way it will make it easier for me to obtain a visa for my wife I suspect & return home this is not the thailand I came to 6 years a go things have changed & not for the better of Thailand
You can buy medical insurance in Thailand from about 15 or 16 different companies up to age 65. The problem is cost once you reach 60+ Many of the plans are renewable for life provided you keep paying the increasing premiums. I know because I have done it myself. I get a discount for each year I remain claim free and the policy has a guaranteed renewal for life clause. I currently pay 42,000Thb a year for a 5 million per claim limit with a 25 million aggregate limit. The policy has a 40,000Thb deductible.Originally Posted by Krumble
I only carry it for the big stuff. I know a guy who ended up with close to 2 million Thb in medical expenses a few years back, and he thought he was bullet proof until he ended up int the cardiac unit. Don't underestimate the potential costs of life saving medical care in Thailand. It can get bloody expensive depending on what happens and the level of medical expertise you need to keep you alive. Not everybody gets away with a few days in a government hospital. Try 2 months in a Bankok private hospital with major surgery and post operative care. You will be seriously unimpressed with the bill. A top flight cardiologist or neuro surgeon will charge 2-3K every time they enter your room. Another guy I know had 3 "stints" inserted in Bkk... cost 700K without any hospital stay. For those without insurance or lots of cash.....well you can die fairly cheaply here and I think cremation is free.
But the UK's NHS won't reimburse a Thai hospital for any treatment.Originally Posted by BobR
^ MtD: But will they reimburse you for treatment which you had in a Thai hospital, and for which you paid cash, and then submitted the bill to them for reimbursement to YOU? That's what BobR and I are talking about.
reading the replies to this story I'm reminded how hard-hearted most farangs are to both their own kind and thais as well. mean-hearted bastards to the most part. to be avoided and seen avoiding.
Nope, NHS doesn't play that game.Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton
Interesting point. Can anyone reference the regulations for this? I know there is some legislation providing unskilled alien workers and stateless people with alien ID cards access to government health care and I think registered unskilled alien workers are now part of the Social Security Fund. However, I can't find any legislation that says any foreigner on a tabien baan is entitled to universal health care. The 2002 National Health Security Act doesn't specify who is eligible but in the preamble it refers to Thai people (only). Regulations do require registration on a tabien baan to receive a Gold Card but they also require presentation of a national ID card along with the Gold Card when claiming free health care.
I wonder if some people have confused the fact that anyone can register with a government hospital and receive cheap health care with actually getting a Gold Card. I am on a blue tabien baan and was once sent an application form to apply for a Gold Card which I assumed was a mistake. Should I pursue this as a fallback, even though I would prefer not to have use it?
The German guy who lives near me got his Yellow book by paying tea money. He then received a piece of paper that covered him for one month Thai medical insurance. After that month was up he received the card and has actually used it at the local government hospital.
I have now got the local Ampur to agree to issue a yellow book. My wife tried to pay team money to save on the pissing about, but they've refused, and will only do it according to their book.
Death is natures way of telling you to slow down.
they cannot pay ..... and this is the only reason we want the here in the first placeOriginally Posted by Mid
I was issued with a Yellow Tapien Baan house book and later on I received a Gold Card without even asking for it.Originally Posted by Krumble
I have used the gold card to get free medical care and free prescriptions without a national ID card.
If I go private then I will get the same doctor treating me.
From what I've been reading of late, I'd say thev UK.Originally Posted by The Master Cool
How long ago did this happen? I believe the "gold card" was for access to the Thaksin 30 baht medical care deal for Thai nationals I've also been told that this program has been pretty much gutted under the present government. (probably because Thaksin was behind it..)
It's a bit of a mystery because just yesterday I happen to meet a Thai who works in the admin department of a pretty big government hospital and she said "falangs can not get 30 baht health care"
Also, private medical insurance in a booming business in Thailand...amongst the Thai's that is. Why would so many Thai's be buying "expensive" insurance if the government program was any good?? Be nice to get to the bottom of it......
Interesting. I think I will try to apply for a Gold Card and see what happens. My missus has also never bothered to apply for one. So we can go together. Do you apply at the district office or do you have to go to the Miinistry of Public Health?
Many district offices try to create a mystique about issuing tabien baans for foreigners, either because they don't know the law or just don't like it. The fact is that district offices are obliged under the 2008 Registration of Persons Act to register everyone who lives in their district on a tabien baan. The law specifies that this includes foreigners who are not permanent residents and that they should receive a yellow book (TR13). In fact the district officers are guilty of dereliction of duty by not registering every one who applies (except those on tourist or transit visas). Retirees and those on marriage extensions certainly qualify for yellow books, the only difficulty being persuading landlords for those in rental accommodation.
Maybe this is the solution to the problem, even if not necessarily the one that K Paiboon was hoping for! LOL
Abhisit removed the 30 baht fee and made it freeOriginally Posted by koman
I was the first to ever get one in my district so the "clerks" had no idea how to do it. Was told cannot get one. Called a friend in the provincial government office. Had one in an hour.Originally Posted by Krumble
Correct. The one thing I miss from Mr Thaksin's days is that in government offices, IE immigration for one, cover must be maintained during lunch time. They've all reverted back to their old ways, and now stop en bloc again.Originally Posted by Thetyim
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