Thread: Hundreds of Thai Miss Flights Due to Lack of Health Insurance

Hundreds of Thai workers in South Korea, have missed their flights to Thailand after being unable to prove health insurance coverage in Thailand. They are required to produce health insurance cover to the equivalent of US$100,000.


Airline officials say the health insurance has been a requirement of the Thai Civil Aviation Office since March 10th. A valid doctor’s certificate is also required by travellers. The health certificate is to ensure that the returning Thai workers have not exhibited coronavirus symptoms for 14 days prior to their flight.


Thai PBS reports that obtaining a doctor’s certificate in South Korea is costly. Ranging from around Bt15,000 and its only valid for 48 hours before boarding a flight.

Thai health officials say the requirement for health insurance coverage for Thai workers is a misunderstanding. Adding that the requirement only applies to non-Thai citizens arriving in Thailand. The health insurance requirement is also for travellers from high-risk countries, such as South Korea.


Meanwhile, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda offered a public apology for his miscommunication. Above all for the public misunderstanding that the Government is to shut down all the state facilities. Including the Sattahip naval base, for the quarantine of Thai workers returning from South Korea.


He said today that all the facilities remain open, although returnees not infected with COVID-19 will be sent home for quarantine. They will be under the supervision of local health department officials.

Hundreds of Thai Miss Flights Due to Lack of Health Insurance

Thai PBS reports that obtaining a doctor’s certificate in South Korea is costly. Ranging from around Bt15,000

The Thai government probably regards the illegals from S. Korea as a bunch of lo-so scofflaws. They probably don't really want them to come back.

Originally Posted by qwerty

The Thai government probably regards the illegals from S. Korea as a bunch of lo-so scofflaws.

in this case they wouldn't be wrong.

Miss Thai, who is she?

Gosh, fancy that, Asian fuckwittery over poor communication.

Obviously, the Thai insurance policy requirement was aimed at non -Thai tourist/business travellers but it seems the South Korean ground staff are as daft as their literal minded, common-sense-WTF is that, compatriots here in Thailand.

Originally Posted by misskit

The health insurance requirement is also for travellers from high-risk countries, such as South Korea.

The number of which maybe expanded.

Careful with those border runs Eugene.

Originally Posted by OhOh

How is one to prove 14 days clear if one only leaves and returns in 3 days?

A very good point

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

The junta blocked the flight by demanding health checks which cost about 30000 baht if you have no health insurance which they don't.

i keep reading that koreans are getting free drive thru covid-19 tests. why can't the little ghost thais avail themselves of a similar test?

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Miss Thai, who is she?

Something "miss"ing in the English language...

Originally Posted by OhOh

The number of which maybe expanded.

Careful with those border runs Eugene.

Oh dear anyone doing a border run soon

Originally Posted by raycarey

i keep reading that koreans are getting free drive thru covid-19 tests. why can't the little ghost thais avail themselves of a similar test?

Because they don't have a valid Korean ID card, and they are illegally in the country having overstayed their tourist visas.

In effect, Thailand by asking for pre-clearance covering a prior 14 day period has imposed a quarantine without actually banning specific nationals from entering the country.

I expect that is the only way they could achieve it without causing resentment etc.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Because they don't have a valid Korean ID card, and they are illegally in the country having overstayed their tourist visas.

you'd think they'd want to sort that shit out right away.....test them for free and put them on a plane out of country.

Government Sued for Barring Thai Citizens From Flying Home

Pravit Rojanaphruk
Khao Sod English

BANGKOK — An activist on Thursday filed a petition to the court demanding legal action against the Thai government for imposing a new border rule that effectively stranded many Thai citizens overseas.


Artit Suriyawongkul, a member of Thai Netizen Network, submitted his lawsuit to the Administrative Court and urged the judges to stop the government from requiring Thai nationals to have embassy and health certificates for their flights home, which many say are near impossible to obtain.

MORE Government Sued for Barring Thai Citizens From Flying Home

If there is scope to fuck things up, they will. It's all to do with that cognitive impairment which prevents them from identifying likely consequences of any proposed action. In short, abstract thought defeats them. Thye just go ahead and do shit and when it hits the fan and some big knob tells them they are arseholes they will change things.

I found them quite engaging in their somewhat charming and hapless, doltish way when I first came all those years ago but now........

Stranding their own people, poor migrant workers trying to earn a living, in limbo is truly the pits even for these buffoons.