I just received an email from the US embassy in Bangkok advising me that effective October 31, 2019, all long-stay (O-A and O-X) visa applicants must have health insurance.
We had all heard that something like this was coming; I raised this issue a couple of months ago but I was advised that this did not apply to people renewing their visa. Nevertheless, my wife and I, at ages 69 and 72, are not eligible for insurance with any carriers that I am aware of, and our current visa renewals will expire in four months.
If this is true, we will have to reconsider our plans going forward. Can anybody provide any intelligent comment on this?
TLDR : Answer Summary
Following the US embassy's notification about mandatory health insurance for long-stay (O-A and O-X) visa applicants effective October 31, 2019, many expats express concerns regarding eligibility and costs. Discussions highlight mixed signals about insurance requirements and coverage options for elderly applicants, particularly those aged 70 and above. Several users share experiences with different insurance providers and emphasize the importance of clarifying visa classifications and requirements through local immigration offices.