Alan Sutherland

What are the new insurance requirements for foreigners applying for the O-A retirement visa to live in Thailand?

19 October 2021 by Alan Sutherland

Last week Thai authorities announced a number of changes to the insurance requirements for foreigners applying for the Non-immigrant O-A (Long Stay) retirement visa. It seems some of the details are still being worked through, but most Thai Embassies have already begun implementing these changes (effective 1st October 2021) and many insurance companies in Thailand have already started updating their existing policies and developing new products in order to meet these requirements.

These rules differ depending on whether you are applying from your home country or whether you are already in Thailand renewing your visa. However, all foreigners applying for their first O-A retirement visa from overseas are now required to meet these new requirements. The new rules require applicants to maintain a health insurance policy that covers all kinds of medical treatment (both in-house patient and out-patient) including COVID-19 related treatment, with a minimum coverage of 3,000,000 THB, during the entire period of stay in Thailand. It seems the previous requirement to have Outpatient coverage of not less than 40,000 THB has either been upgraded or removed (This is a developing story – To be advised).

Foreigners currently residing in Thailand on an O-A retirement visa will be permitted to extend their visa under the old guidelines until the 31st of August 2022 (an insurance policy of 400,000 THB Inpatient coverage (including outpatient coverage of 40,000 THB). However, commencing 1st September 2022 onwards, ALL Long Stay Visa holders will be required to move to the new criteria – an insurance policy that provides 3 million THB Inpatient coverage which includes all kinds of medical treatment (both in-house patient and out-patient) including COVID-19.

At this stage, the easiest and most affordable solution for retirees applying from overseas is the LUMA Travel Pass. This plan already meets these minimum requirements and can be purchased online in 5 mins by any person aged 1-75 years of age. Although this insurance cannot be extended beyond 12 months this product is very affordable and offers a very convenient and accessible method to meet these requirements. Please see the following link…

Thai Travel Insurance – COVID insurance for expats traveling to Thailand

For persons already in Thailand and for persons 75 years and over, we offer a wide range of immigration compliant insurance products payable on an annual or monthly basis. These products come from a wide range of recognised companies including AETNA, AXA, April, Cigna, LMG, LUMA, Pacific Cross and Regency for Expats. Regardless of your age or health status, we offer a wide array of insurance options for families and retirees visiting or moving to Thailand.

Please contact Thai Expat Club / Health if you have any questions or require any further information regarding retirement or travel insurance for Thailand.

Telephone or WhatsApp +6689-897-9435

Website: https://thaiexpatclub.com/

Additional Links:

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this report has been obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Thai Expat Club makes no representation as to the accuracy and completeness of such information. Information and opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. In particular, Thai Expat Club does not guarantee the accuracy of information related to immigration processes and requirements in this report nor do we accept any liability for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of the use of such information or opinions in this report. Readers are advised to do their own research before making decisions relating to visa transfers and migration to Thailand. All rights are reserved.
This report may not be reproduced, distributed or published by any person in any manner for any purpose without the permission of Thai Expat Club

COVID-19 Insurance for Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus within mins – AXA Sawasdee Thailand

21 July 2021 by Alan Sutherland

Three of the most common questions received from foreigners over the past few weeks are:

What is the Phuket Sandbox program?
What are the entry requirements for foreigners traveling to Phuket under the program?
Where can I get COVID-19 insurance for the Phuket sandbox?

Q. What is the Phuket Sandbox program?

A. Launched on July 1, 2021, the Phuket Sandbox program allows fully vaccinated foreign and Thai travelers to enter Thailand without quarantine. Although they do not have to quarantine in the hotel, they must remain in Phuket for the first 2 weeks. After that time they are free to travel as they please. A similar program has since been established for Samui Island (called the Samui Plus program). After the first 3 days, visitors are allowed to travel on “sealed routes” as long as they travel with service operators that have received approval under the Samui Plus scheme. The Samui Plus model includes the islands Koh Samui, Koh Phangan & Koh Tao. If they test negative in their third test, which is taken on day 12 or day 13 of their arrival, they can travel to other provinces after completing the 14-day Samui Plus program.

To be eligible for the Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus program foreign travelers must travel from countries/regions with a low to medium risk of COVID-19 as announced and constantly updated by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). They must also have already stayed in the said countries/regions no less than 21 days before the travel date. International travelers must have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no less than 14 days before the travel date.

Both the Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus programs have been established by the Thai authorities in an effort to reopen the country for International Tourists. Other similar programs are set to follow.

Q: What are the entry requirements for foreigners traveling to Phuket or Samui under these programs?

A: Visitors should make sure they have covered all the necessary requirements and have all the required documentation. This includes:

A passport with at least six months validity;
Have been in a Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved country for 21 days or more;
Been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or the World Health Organisation (WHO);
Have booked and purchased return air travel;
Have booked and paid for accommodation, and required RT-PCR test/s at an SHA Plus hotel;
Have purchased medical insurance with COVID-19 treatment coverage of at least US$100,000;
Have tested negative for COVID-19 no longer than 72 hours before travel.

Q: Where can I get COVID 19 Insurance for the Phuket Sandbox ( or Samui Plus) program?

A: In order to enter Thailand under either of these programs you’ll need to secure COVID-19 Insurance that meets the requirements of the Thai authorities which includes:

Coverage of up to THB 3.5 million (equivalent to at least USD $100,000) for medical expenses due to injury or sickness including COVID-19
The insurance policy must cover the length of your stay in Thailand. It can be 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, or even 12 months.

Note: You must ensure that you retain the certificate of insurance, to prove that you have the required coverage. Without it, you will not be granted entry into the country. Also, note that this policy will be in addition to any general health insurance policy that you may need to obtain your visa or retirement extensions.

To purchase the correct COVID Insurance and receive the certificate within minutes, please check this page.

BUY NOW

Thai Expat Health makes it EASY for foreigners to obtain the certificate of insurance required to meet the Thai government’s entry requirement (insurance covering all medical expenses including COVID-19 and worth at least 100,000 USD). We have assisted many clients to receive their certificate of insurance in the FASTEST possible time with a MINIMUM of fuss. Our service is provided FREE of charge and you benefit from our personalized help and experience.

Please contact Thai Expat Club / Health if you have any questions or require any further information

Telephone or WhatsApp +6689-897-9435

Website: https://thaiexpathealth.com/

Additional Links:

https://www.tatnews.org/2021/07/phuket-sandbox-faqs/

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-thailand-pandemics-lifestyle-travel-36e1f45062ae6244c45bf88c997d4927

Applying for a Retirement Visa for Thailand during COVID-19

25 December 2020 by Alan Sutherland

If you’re reading this article, you’re most likely interested in traveling to Thailand over the COVID-19 period and wondering what visa option is best for you. Particularly if you’re considering applying for a retirement visa from your home country, then this is for you.

After visiting the Thai Embassy website, you will discover that there are a number of visa options available, including the standard ‘O’ category retirement visa for persons over 50 years of age. The requirements are pretty much the same as previously published except for one additional insurance requirement – applicants now need to have health insurance to cover a minimum of 100,000 USD which includes coverage for COVID-19. This is in addition to the previous requirement to have health insurance which includes a minimum 400,000 THB for Inpatient and 40,000 THB coverage for Outpatient visits.

https://thaiembdc.org/2020/11/17/oalongstay/

One of the main issues is that if you apply for the retirement visa from your home country you will need to pay for 12 months of health insurance upfront to obtain an insurance policy that meets the above requirements. The process of obtaining insurance usually takes 10-14 days. You must then present your insurance coverage certificate to the Thai embassy in your home country in order to obtain the Certificate of Entry (COE). As well, you will need to have confirmed booking at an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) Facility, and a booking on a repatriation flight which might not be available from your country for another month or so. Even then flights may be cancelled, and a new booking required after you have applied for your visa. All of this affects the amount of time your insurance policy remains valid after you have paid the premium and submitted the insurance certificate to the embassy to obtain your COE. The longer it takes for you to acquire the visa and COE in your home country, the less time you will have remaining on your insurance policy.

So, getting back to the question of whether it’s better to apply for an O-A retirement visa in your home country or after you arrive in Thailand. Provided you are 50-74 years of age, one option is to apply for a Tourist Visa from your home country first (60 days + 30 days extendable) or Special Tourist Visa (If available) then apply for the retirement visa after you arrive in Thailand.

For a Tourist Visa, you only need to have a 90-day travel insurance policy which you can easily purchase by going to our website https://thaitravelinsurance.com/travel-plans/. This policy (Luma Thailand Pass), for persons 1-74 years of age, includes cover for COVID-19 to $100,000 USD and meets the Thai government requirements for both the Tourist and Retirement visa. It can be issued in 5 minutes which is a huge advantage over other forms of insurance coverage. It is also well known to Thai Embassies and so is readily accepted.

Once in Thailand, you can apply for a 3-month non-O visa, then the 1-year retirement visa extension through any number of visa agents here. Also, once you have decided on the most appropriate visa for your extended stay, you are welcome to contact us again and purchase a full comprehensive in-country insurance policy (The Luma Thailand Pass cannot be extended) to cover the length of your new visa as required by the Thai government. It seems the government has relaxed on an earlier requirement to start the process of applying for a 90-day non-immigrant visa from a Thai embassy or consulate. I would encourage you to do your own research but the visa agents we discussed this option with, inform us that it is indeed possible.

Contact Thai Expat Club/Health if you have any questions or require any further information

Telephone or WhatsApp +6689-897-9435

This report may not be reproduced, distributed or published by any person in any manner for any purpose without the permission of Thai Expat Club.

Get Insurance for the Corona Virus (COVID-19) quickly and easily through Thai Expat Club

4 April 2020 by Alan Sutherland

Two of the most frequent questions received over the past few weeks include;

Does my existing policy cover me for Corona Virus (COVID-19)?
Where can I buy additional coverage for the Corona Virus (COVID-19) in Thailand?

Firstly all of the personal medical insurance (PMI) policies we offer are through reputable, well-established Insurance companies such as AETNA, APRIL, CIGNA, LMG, LUMA. PMI Insurance offered through all of these companies includes coverage for the Corona Virus as well as other viral infections. On the other hand, most standard Travel Insurance companies do not extend cover to viral outbreaks or pandemics. For example, World Nomads announced the Corona Virus as an exclusion to their policy when the virus reached epidemic (now pandemic) proportions on the 23rd January 2020.

Although many insurance providers have their front offices closed most continue to offer excellent online phone and email services for sales and claims processing. APRIL for example offers a certificate to show their policies are valued at 100,000 USD and include cover for the Corona Virus. This certificate is now required by the Thai government for persons traveling into Thailand. AETNA also provides an online Doctors Service and advice for policyholders seeking support over this period. In addition to offering excellent coverage some of our insurers such as LUMA and Cigna are also posting tips and advice on avoiding the virus and what to do in case you may be showing symptoms.

So where can I buy additional coverage for the Corona Virus? Initially several Thai Banks such as SCB and Life Insurance companies in Thailand were offering minimal rebate based coverage. However they have quickly ceased doing this. The only company I am aware of at the time of writing is Frank.co.th. For 450 THB or 850 THB expats in Thailand on a Work Permit can buy 50,000 THB or 100,000 THB worth of coverage. There is a 14 day waiting period and the claim is paid post-treatment. Also while this insurance is not open to retirees or persons staying here on a long term visa it is still useful in providing some relief to expats who work in Thailand and hold a work permit. (Please see link below if you wish to purchase this insurance).

Special-offer-for-COVID-19 Campaign Frank

DISCLAIMER:

The insured person MUST RESIDE IN THAILAND during the time of policy issuance (In case of a foreigner, He/She must reside in Thailand longer than 6 months and Passport and WORK PERMIT documents will be required )
If your policy number has already been issued, NO REFUNDS are allowed.
14 days waiting period
Enter: CRPARTNER5 at the payment page to receive your 5% discount

Thai Expat Club recommends purchasing full personal medical insurance to provide the greatest level of security and financial protection. For non-Thai citizens who need to go to a private hospital you will be asked to produce your insurance card or evidence that you have the means to pay. In some cases the hospital may even withhold your passport making it more important than ever before to have quality medical insurance as an Expat in Thailand.

Thai Expat Club offers insurance from reputable companies that offer superior levels of customer service and claims support. In most cases your insurance application can be approved in less than 7 days and coverage can begin as soon as payment is received.

Phone: +66 (0) 89-897-9435

Useful Links:

https://www.frank.co.th/en/corona-virus-insurance
https://www.worldnomads.com/countrydomain/row/help/insurance/recent-events/travel-alert-coronavirus-january-2020#Alert

7 Things you should know before buying health insurance in Thailand

17 July 2018 by Alan Sutherland

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The cost of medical treatment in Thailand

5 November 2017 by Alan Sutherland

Thailand is ranked as the 3^rdmost popular country in the world for medical tourism with cost savings of 50 to 75 per cent compared to the US. There are over 1,000 hospitals in Thailand, of which over 470 are private. Thailand’s advantage is its low cost and the high quality of medical treatment provided by Thai private hospitals. To date, 42 hospitals in Thailand have been accredited by the JCI which is considered the gold standard in health care. See table below.

Major surgeries Cost comparison of major surgeries between US, Singapore and Thailand (in US$)From data provided by medicaltourism.com
Procedure	US	Singapore	Thailand
Heart bypass	123,000	17,200	15,000
Heart valve replacement	170,000	16,900	17,200
Angioplasty	28,200	13,400	4,200
Hip replacement	40,364	13,900	17,000
Knee replacement	35,000	16,000	14,000

Source: http://medicaltourism.com/Forms/price-comparison.aspx (Prices as of 2016)

While it may be true that Thailand is significantly lower in terms of the cost of medical treatment compared with the United States and Singapore treatment options and procedures can still be expensive. Whether or not you are living in Thailand as an expat, visiting Thailand as a tourist or coming here specifically for medical treatment it is vitally important that you have insurance coverage to ensure you are protected in the case of unforeseen illness or accident.

For example, many tourists coming here suffer an unexpected motorcycle accident which can run anywhere from 200,000 THB to 2 million THB (US$6,000 to US$60,000).

Please see the following table for more recent costs of other common illnesses, accidents and medical services at different hospitals in Bangkok.

Illness / Accident / Service	Treatment	Average Cost / Range (in US$)
Dengue fever	The seriousness of Dengue and length of stay can vary from case to case – Average 3-day admission	Average: $1,200 Range: $650 to $2,500
Motor cycle accident	Admission after an accident involving fractured shoulder/upper arm/ broken femur to a serious accident involving head trauma, ICU or cranial surgery	Average: $6,000 Range: $6,000 to $60,000
Normal birth	Vaginal delivery including prenatal care	Average: $2,000 Range: $1,300 to $2,300
Caesarean Birth	Including surgery, 2-3 days admission and prenatal care	Average: $3,000 Range: $2,000 – $4,000
Hospice and palliative care cost	Monthly Care	Average: $1,750 Range: $1,500 to $2,000
Medivac	Domestic transport from somewhere inside Thailand to a hospital in Bangkok	Average: $11,000 Range: $8,500 to $12,000
General Health Screening	The price can vary depending on what’s included in the actual package.	Average: $500 Range: $400 – $800
Organ transplant	There are some restrictions in place in Thailand for organ transplants, e.g. organ needs to come from a relative.	Average: $30,000 +

Source: Information provided by Euro-Center Bangkok 2017

Without adequate health insurance, it is clear that the cost of any illness, accident or associated medical service has the potential to wipe out your savings and leave you with few options in terms of care and quality of treatment. Having adequate insurance not only provides great peace of mind but also ensures access to quality treatment for you and your family.

Thai Expat Club offers access to affordable health and medical insurance for foreigners living, visiting, working or retiring in Thailand. We deal almost exclusively with APRIL, AETNA, BUPA, LMG, MSH, William Russell and NZI for a higher range of benefits at affordable prices. We help clients avoid the confusion which comes from not being able to speak the language or communicate satisfactorily with staff in Thai Insurance Companies.

Our service is FREE and we often save you money by offering a plan which is more closely matched to your lifestyle and budget.

Contact Thai Expat Club today and let us help you with your health insurance requirements.

Tel. 089-897-9437 or visit our website:

https://thaiexpathealth.com/

Useful Links

www.health-tourism.com/thailand-medical-tourism
www.health-tourism.com/hospitals-thailand
www.keyvisathailand.com/top-10-hospitals-in-thailand
medicaltourism.com/Forms/price-comparison.aspx
www.frankit.in/blog/5-best-countries-for-medical-tourism

www.worldatlas.com/articles/leading-causes-of-death-in-thailand.html

Also check out this useful guide for medical tourists on the best ways to save money, how to prepare for the trip, and the cost of major procedures in various countries.

Making Healthcare More Affordable: Traveling Overseas for Medical Procedures