Do I need health insurance from Thailand for my retirement visa, or is insurance from the Netherlands acceptable?

You don’t need insurance if you go for a non O visa

You need health insurance for certain Thai retirement visas, such as the Non-Immigrant O-A and O-X visas, but it is not required for a standard Non-Immigrant O retirement visa. The insurance may be from any country

kan een nederlandse zijn

Non immigrant non O don't need to provide insurance

Insurance within Thailand

You should start by applying for a 90-day, single-entry Non-Immigrant O visa in your home country. Ideally, do this before traveling to Thailand, and make sure you understand the visa’s validity period and permitted length of stay.

Once you arrive in Thailand, you’ll need to register your passport using a Thai phone number. Make sure you get a receipt as proof. You’ll also need to obtain a certificate of residence from immigration, which is typically valid for 30 days.

You’ll need a TM.30 receipt from your landlord as well. Once you have these documents, you can visit a bank to open an account. Kasikorn Bank (KBank) is often a good option for expats, although requirements can vary by branch. You will need a second ID.

Health insurance isn’t generally mandatory for every Non-O retirement visa, but requirements can vary depending on your visa type and circumstances. Depending on your age, you may be able to find a decent policy in Thailand for a fraction of what similar coverage might cost elsewhere. You can also check out SafetyWing for international insurance options.

Alternatively, you can choose to self-insure by setting aside several thousand baht—or more, depending on your needs—to cover unexpected medical expenses.

Good luck with the move and getting everything sorted out!

People should always have insurance however there are differences in the retirement visa. Non-O no insurance requirement, Non-OA insurance required and if choosing a Thai insurance provider I believe the MFA provide a list of accredited companies. For international insurance policies there are specific stipulation. I don't know what they are but the evisa website will provide info.

Most people use the 90-day non-O visa to start their retirement in Thailand, primarily because that visa does NOT require insurance.