|
Post by Banjo on Oct 21, 2021 12:40:45 GMT 7
Thailand requires 3 million baht insurance for ‘retirement’ visasIn a revision to the rules for non-immigrant OA visas, foreigners will now be required to hold a minimum of 3 million baht in health insurance, for in-patient services, in order to be eligible for long-term stays in Thailand, 8 times more than the 400,000 baht that has been previously required. The OA visa is also known as the Retirement visa (or Geeza visa). According to Thai PBS World, the new rule was announced yesterday by the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Satit Pitutacha, saying that the increase in insurance is necessary to make sure that, should a traveller get ill during their one year in the country, more insurance money available is necessary to guarantee they receive the proper treatment. The massively increased insurance requirement would be for foreigners with a non-immigrant visa including O Visas and A Visas staying up to one year inside of Thailand. Due to the strict border control that closed entry to nearly everyone, just 3,768 expats and foreign travellers were granted non-immigrant visas in all of 2021 and 2020. The Health Ministry says that insurance policies can be purchased from their home country or domestically within Thailand, but stipulate that the coverage must maintain that minimum of 3 million baht or the equivalent if the policy is issued in a foreign currency. The announcement will likely be met with displeasure and backlash from international travellers hoping to make Thailand their home long-term, or at least for one year. It is especially difficult for those hoping to retire in Thailand as insurance policy premiums are infamous for skyrocketing once the applicant passes a certain age, increasing exponentially with age under the assumption that older people are more prone to illnesses and accidents. As Thailand releases plan after plan to lure back tourists, many complain that the complicated entry process, the rising costs, and constant changes to immigration policy not to the benefit of international travellers seems to be simultaneously pushing away the same expats with money that the country espouses to be courting. SOURCE: Thai PBS World thethaiger.com/hot-news/expats/thailand-requires-3-million-baht-insurance-for-non-immigrant-visas
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 21, 2021 15:39:47 GMT 7
Not sure how your post has selectively edited Banjo. In the link I see this:- foreigners with a non-immigrant visa including OA Visas staying up to one year inside of Thailand. Granted it suggests other non immigrant visas, though not specifically the O. I've seen the OX mentioned in the mix as well. Lots of hyperventilating out there on the expat forums; wondering if it'll be on top of the 2019 mandated requirements which were also only supposed to be for new applications, as this current change is mooted in some publications. Shock horror..... could it end up meaning that all long stay visa holders that just even re- enter the country must have the same 3 million baht Covid insurance as a tourist and if we never leave we won't be impacted. Only time will tell!!COVID-19 InsuranceThe outbreak of COVID-19 caused the Thai government to bring in new regulations meaning that anyone traveling to Thailand, regardless of age, will be required to show an insurance policy with coverage of a minimum of $100,000 of medical treatment, including COVID-19 coverage, upon arrival at the airport. It will also need to cover you whilst in Thailand for the entire duration of your stay, if it doesn’t meet all of these requirements then you won’t be allowed to enter the country.
www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/health-insurance-in-thailandRetirees could be facing new cash hurdles.
New financial headache for some retirement visa holders
A news report that some visas based on retirement could now require two insurances has stirred confusion on social media. Deputy public health minister Sathit Pitutecha, in comments first relayed by ThaiPBSWorld, is quoted as saying that applications for one year 0/A visas would carry the extra requirement of “health” insurance of US$100,000, or over 3 million baht. However, the minister did not provide any backup information.
O/A visas are one year (usually multiple entry) permissions of stay issued by Thai embassies abroad to wannabe retirees aged 50 and above. In 2019, a pre-pandemic era, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced a general medical insurance requirement of 400,000 baht (inpatient) and 40,000 (outpatient). The Thai insurance companies and consortia offering such a specific deal imposed an age limit of 75. However, some retirees had their own foreign-based policies which covered these requirements.
The 400,000 baht insurance was made mandatory in 2020 for renewals (actually extensions of stay) of the 0/A visa at Thai immigration offices. This has caused great difficulty for elderly expats who found that the insurance was simply not available, or was subject to exclusions, which meant that claims were impossible as the self-payment conditions amounted to the totality of the policy. However, some immigration offices allowed a flexible interpretation which permitted acceptance of insurance policies designed to cover accidental injuries or death payouts.
The deputy health minister appears now to be requiring a second policy, specifically for Covid-related illness, to be added to the required 0/A documentation. This is the same US$100,000 cover presently required of all entrants to Thailand, no matter what visa or permission they apply for. However and crucially, we still do not know what, if any, changes will be introduced from November 1 when the Thailand Pass replaces the Certificate of Entry. So the minister seems to be referring to renewals/extensions of stay of 0/A visa holders already here.
Most expat retirees with one year extensions do not in fact have 0/A visas, but 0 visas based on retirement. What concerns them is whether the latest 0/A regulations apply to them when they attend immigration for their annual extension of stay. Currently the answer is no. Many 0/A visa holders have sought to transfer to an 0 at their immigration office, only to discover that they cannot change without first leaving the country in a complicated procedure.
The Covid-specific US$100,000 insurance is available outside Thailand for entrants up to the age of 99, for example at covid19.tgia.org/ a Thai consortium which bases the cost only on duration of stay and country of departure. However, that popular policy is not available for retirees applying from within Thailand, whilst some other companies have a cut off age date around 75. So the whole insurance issue for foreigners based in Thailand is now extremely complex. Some commentators believe that Thai authorities are attempting to move retirees as a group from one year extensions to the Elite visa which lasts for five years, or more, but requires a non-refundable registration of at least 600,000 baht.Whether the squeeze is now taking root without escape tunnels remains to be seen.
This comment to the highlighted sentence, looks to have been written by a person after my own heart.
Excerpt: "Whether the squeeze is now taking root without escape tunnels remains to be seen." So in effect it'll only be a headache if you're some shiny arsed goody two shoes who forgets they're not in Kansas anymore. Because whether you agree with their use or not; so long as there are visa agents, there'll always be escape tunnels. With offices only too happy to oblige. Foreigners applying for non-immigrant (O-A) visas for stays in Thailand of up to one year are now required to have a health insurance policy with minimum coverage of three million baht for in-patient medical fees, instead of the previous 400,000 baht.
Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said today (Tuesday) that the new rule is intended to ensure that they will receive proper medical treatment if they fall ill during their long stay in the country.
According to the Thai Immigration Bureau and the Department of Consular Affairs, 3,768 foreigners were granted non-immigrant visas last and this year.
|
|
|
Post by onemore on Oct 21, 2021 15:45:06 GMT 7
How much is that in Aussie dollars please folks, my converter isn’t working properly and gave me a horrendous sum of money.
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 21, 2021 16:01:13 GMT 7
How much is that in Aussie dollars please folks, my converter isn’t working properly and gave me a horrendous sum of money. At today's rate of 25.11.....$121,000!! Bear in mind that 3 million is for coverage, though premiums for the current 400,000/40,000 requirements vary between baht 7,700 for under 70, which is virtually only a certificate from one particular insurance company to appease immigration; up to baht 200,000+ or $ 8000 per year for an over 75+ y.o. Cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by onemore on Oct 21, 2021 16:04:20 GMT 7
Bloody hell!! Are they actually trying to discourage foreigners?
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 21, 2021 16:49:06 GMT 7
Bloody hell!! Are they actually trying to discourage foreigners? That seems to be the consensus among many around the traps; from coming at all and discouraged enough, to get going outta here. Perhaps some never really wanted to come and others have been here way too long. I've actually finished my post now onemore so for my complete perspective you may like to review it. Cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 21, 2021 17:16:38 GMT 7
As a counterpoint to the thread title; some information that may make work if you are cash strapped but self assured, confident, not easily taken in and really want to stay here without the never ending ongoing changes to requirements spoiling your day. Note:- You can change your reason of stay, which will negate all insurance requirements and keep getting extensions. The Australian Embassy seems to be onboard as well; because now you no longer have to travel to Bangkok, make an appointment and whatever other rigmarole is involved to get your "Certificate of no Impediment to Marry" certificate. Simply read the instructions in the link below, fill in the forms, authorize a $150.00 charge from your credit card and wait in gleeful anticipation for the post person. Cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Oct 21, 2021 17:34:49 GMT 7
I think it was 3 - 4 years ago, I wasn't long out of hospital and had to renew my retirement visa, I just sat there in a stupor while the other half handled it, signing whatever they put in front of me. On the way home she said, "we changed your visa, you're on family visa now, they said there will be a lot of problems with retirement visa later on".
Maybe this was what they were talking about.
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 21, 2021 17:59:00 GMT 7
I think it was 3 - 4 years ago, I wasn't long out of hospital and had to renew my retirement visa, I just sat there in a stupor while the other half handled it, signing whatever they put in front of me. On the way home she said, "we changed your visa, you're on family visa now, they said there will be a lot of problems with retirement visa later on". Maybe this was what they were talking about. I remember you mentioning that on the quiet. Being able to buy from independent insurances may not be so bad; not as expensive as first thought. This just popped up in my feed; 30 days/Bht 3,100/$ 124 up to 365 days/Bht 31,500/ $1260 and aledgedly meeting immigration requirements. www.tuneprotect.com/airasia/ipass/index.phpWould it be safe to expect there's some leniency between marriage & family extension requirements other than the being married part; or is it essentially the same. Could being over seventy come into it?? If I wasn't so tight I'd go buy a printer; internet shops are non existent nowadays. Insurance companies, in fact everyone here wants hard copy. Don't understand it myself. Fill in whichever form, email it, done deal; but no, gotta do the runaround till you eventually find yourself in a Thai Post Office. Nevermind; cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by nomadic on Oct 21, 2021 20:37:24 GMT 7
Do I need to find a wife? I've been in hospital a few times and it was only a few thousand baht for short stays. A CT scan was 12,000 baht. A long way from 3 million baht. Anything must be cheaper than a wife though; so I am told. But again it only shows the greed of politicians. Millions of Thai's would starve without budget tourists but they are still besotted with rich ones only. Quality tourists they call them. GROWL.
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 21, 2021 23:52:47 GMT 7
Do I need to find a wife? I've been in hospital a few times and it was only a few thousand baht for short stays. A CT scan was 12,000 baht. A long way from 3 million baht. Anything must be cheaper than a wife though; so I am told. But again it only shows the greed of politicians. Millions of Thai's would starve without budget tourists but they are still besotted with rich ones only. Quality tourists they call them. GROWL. The way I'm reading it currently nomadic is that being nomadic may be the way to go. There are cheap policies everywhere of 3 million for entering the country that not only cover Covid but health issues as well. They are similar to travel insurance and able to be purchased by the month up to one year. The trick is you can only buy them outside of Thailand. It's going to be interesting to see how they go about rounding up everyone on an O-A Bachelor Visa to purchase the new one, as to all intents and purposes it looks like it's needed for entering the country not staying in it. Though I see a bloke elsewhere, who's currently in the US whinging about how his insurance agent has emailed him explaining he'll be paying for his normal 400,000/40,000 + Covid if he wants to be let back in in November. Well yeah; everybody has to have the 3 million Covid cover to get let in, even those on O-A's. When borders open if I do a jump to get an O Retirement, $12-1400 will work out similar to a years travel insurance from Oz. Like the jabs; anything will be better than nothing to keep on the.safe side, and there'll be no deductibles involved to suck up money if you get crook before the insurance hopefully pays out. Yeah, staring to think; storm in a tea cup. Cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 22, 2021 6:54:16 GMT 7
Slightly off topic but perhaps relevant. Here's the newly required entry requirements from 1 November with insurance requirements for all now being set at Bht 1.5 million/usd$50,000 as an entry fee. For full info on revised insurance, countries allowed in quarantine free; which is actually one day quarantine; but TIT. See in link:- asq.in.th/thailand-passOh, and if I've spoken in haste previously re storms & teacups; if all long stayers, including those on a non O will require the 3 million in health insurance, it works out to just under Bht 1000 per week with Bht 300,000 deductible at 65-70 y.o. range and reasonable future discounts for no claim. If it's going to be a requirement, I'm going to justifying it as "Country Rental" costs. So my monthly rent goes up to Bht 7,000 and I'm only on the hook for the first 300,000 in case of big future problems. Maybe that would be win/win; no agent fees over X years, yeah sounding better to me all the time. Just mustn't drop the ball on possible future impositions from Oz government. Cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by itsmylife08 on Oct 22, 2021 10:50:56 GMT 7
Omg how on earth could you afford that it's crazy, maybe some of you should consider moving over to the Philippines, there's one spot available very soon Cheers Itsa All of you guy's must feel so wanted, and be feeling the looovvvve
|
|
|
Post by bear on Oct 22, 2021 17:54:22 GMT 7
Hi ann commiserations, though do your best to not let it get to you. Not sure if this visa is what your post was referring to with doubling of money requirements but even if the info is out of date, an Australian OAP should make it over the line. You could always go for a holiday to see how it feels!! lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/Portugal tourist visa is free for Australian citizens. The stay is usually short with a period of 3 months and visa expires in 90 days. Applicant is not required to be present when applying for Portugal tourist visa. A total of 4 documents are required for applying Portugal tourist visa. You can also find useful tips from fellow travellers. (Source: visalist.io/portugal/visa-requirements/australia ) www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Lisbon#:~:text=Summary%20about%20cost%20of%20living,New%20York%20(without%20rent). I seem to have just scraped in here when they decided they would test us to see who was worthy!! Thailand was always my preferred destination since first visit in 2008. So I guess you could say one of two things; either that I'm committed or possibly should be. Bali & Indonesia, like Thailand now have Clean Rich Foreign Tourist syndrome. None of them seem to have thought of the fact that they won't be arriving in their millions and staying with the poor, in poorer areas to provide their own poor with a living like the relatively poorer western tourists did previously in their droves; not when there are probably just as good a destinations closer to home that are easier to get into, possibly more luxurious and just as cheap. Cheers bear
|
|
|
Post by nomadic on Oct 22, 2021 20:18:42 GMT 7
Possibly Malaysia for me if things go wrong. 3 months visa on arrival and can even own property unlike Thailand. More expensive but still affordable I think. Cambodia if that failed. But not much infrastructure there for old wrinklies. But yes, the Thai gov only wants our money and not us that has always been the case and they think we have bottomless money. Racism is rife in many ways they treat us.
|
|