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How does having a retirement visa in Thailand affect my travel insurance coverage?

Oct 28, 2025
3 days ago
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have just got a retirement visa until December 2026. I am just wondering how that affects my travel insurance, I currently have a yearly worldwide travel insurance bought travelling from uk . I just wondered if anyone had any issues continuing to use this type of insurance after getting a retirement visa. I suppose the insurance could say I am not travelling if I have visa, or do you think they known the complexities of travel in Thailand. I don’t stay any more than 6 months and I do go to other countries . I am going to get a psa test , not through insurance but the hospital needs to see my passport so it made me think if I ever had a medical emergency then would the hospital declare to the insurance company I am a retirement visa holder.

I know I will obviously have to check with insurers but just wondered if anyone had come across this , or am I overthinking it?

The other question is do Thai government inform your own country that you have been granted a retirement visa ? I’m just thinking the tax implications etc.

I know it’s probably questions I should have asked before getting visa lol before all the smart Alex and Annie’s start to roast me .

Thanks in advance for replies
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses concerns about how holding a retirement visa in Thailand might impact travel insurance coverage, particularly regarding potential issues with insurance validity and claims during medical emergencies. The owner expresses uncertainty about travel insurance terms and whether they would be affected by any non-travel status due to the retirement visa. Additionally, they inquire about whether the Thai government informs their home country about the visa status and the associated tax implications. Several comments from the community emphasize checking the specific terms and conditions of insurance policies, highlighting common limitations on coverage duration for stays abroad, and the likelihood of renewal challenges for insured travelers who no longer maintain residency in their home country.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
John *********
Most have maximum stays of no more than 30 or 60 days, maybe 90 days, check with your travel insurance if it’s still valid
John **********
Your travel insurance will be fine until it expires but you probably won't be able to renew it. You should inform your government yourself that you no longer live there
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
I only stay in Thailand 6 months maximum go home to uk then to Spain a month then travel Europe but my home is in uk , so would I need to tell uk government. I was kinda pressured into getting retirement visa as I had hassle coming to Thailand by immigration a bot like others that are reporting on here
Ally ************
@Ar ******
The answer is 'no'.. you are still living in the Uk for long periods.. and are probably still tax resident there.. and if you are already collecting your state pension.. then remember if you tell them you now reside overseas you will lose the indexation benefit attached to it.. so you will not get the yearly rpi uplift in future years.. the rule of thumb is that if you still have a Uk address that fulfils the definition of a 'home'.. which doesn't need to be owned by you or even rented by you.. then you are not compelled to tell anyone your primary residence is somewhere else.. especially when you travel extensively as you appear to do.. the fact you've been granted a retirement visa here doesn't mean you have emigrated to Thailand.. it simply means you can reside here long term and come and go without any immigration issues.. theoretically you could have long term visas in several countries.. but still be a Uk resident!
John **********
@Ar ******
Ah I assumed with a retirement visa you were here full time. In your case you remain a UK resident and taxpayer as you don't spend long enough out of the country to lose your tax status. But if you spend 180 days or more inside Thailand in a calendar year you also become a Thai tax resident so it may be worth limiting your stays in Thailand to under 180 days per calendar year
Ally ************
The real issue will be the ability to renew it.. since most travel insurance is sold to people in their home country.. on the basis that they will be travelling but returning to said country at some point.. and maintain a permanent residence in that country.. a maximum trip length is a standard clause in almost every policy for this reason.. with 60 or 90 days being the norm.. since genuine tourists rarely holiday abroad for longer than this in a single trip.. that's how insurers protect themselves from the excessive risk associated with someone living overseas for an extended period.. and if you have a claim for medical expenses say, they are likely to seek copies of your passport pages to prove your travel history.. ie. how long you have been in the country where you are hospitalised and whether you have spent time in other countries immediately prior to that.. so they can check if your claim meets the
*****
day rule.. i have never seen a multi-travel annual policy that does not contain such a limitation.. and where a longer travel period is granted (eg

180 days) there is often a clause limiting the time in any one country.. meaning your cover would not be active if you stayed in a single country for those 180 days.. since that would be tantamount to living there.. so a clause might say 'max 180 days per trip with max 60 days in any one country' or words to that effect.. i bought a 90-day travel policy when i first came to Thailand for that reason.. knowing i'd fulfill the claim requirements during this initial period.. but knowing that I'd be wasting my money with an annual policy.. and i couldn't buy another 90-day policy upon expiry without returning to the Uk.. since that insurer only offered cover to Uk residents with a Uk address who are in their home country at the time of purchase.. and most insurers follow similar principles of business.. because it's basically a short term holiday policy and not a permanent health insurance policy.. the premiums for the latter being 10-20 times higher for most people.. so I'd check your policy again and even raise the question of maximum trip length with your insurer directly.. as well as ability to renew if you are no longer living in the country where you bought the policy 👍 Ps. Speaking as former general insurance broker with direct experience of t&c's.
Sasi ************
@TeacherNok **************
Very interesting questions
Nicholas *********
From France at least visa covers perfectly for 3 months
Richard ********
Nobody can answer that question.

Just read all the t&c of your insurance contract carefully.

The answer is in black and white.
Michael ******
If its annually holiday insurance you have? it only covers you for first 30 days from your arrival in a foreign land, personally l have a policy which covers me for first sixty days in a foreign land from date of arrival as l never stay in a foreign land more than sixty days.
Wayne *********
@Michael *****
mine is annual and covers me for 60 days not 30. Obviously depends on insurance company
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
It’s more the visa situation
Peter *******
Depends who your insured by, travel insurance is just that, travel !!!

Mine states no longer than 90 days per trip.
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ******
yes I had that through my bank but this one is worldwide travel for a year no stipulations on how long, it’s designed for people going away long trips
Tim **********
Who did you take that cover with
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tim *********
true travel
Tim **********
Thankyou.
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tim *********
true travel
Mick **********
@Ar ******
the basic policy covers 30days at a time. Travel plus upto 70days maximum with true travel
Fr***
I also have yearly travel insurance. But most, if not all, have maximum amount of days from leaving your home until return home. Or, extend duration of vacation with insurance BEFORE leaving home. Mine is 10 weeks, but can extend. Terms of your insurance is best discussed with insurance company.

Been a retired person, your travel insurance does ofc still apply. Return to your home within time limit and it works fine.
Jim *******
@Fr***
It is a travel insurance, rarely used. Like, my colleague, happened to be in London, when that volcano erupted (2010) and stopped most of the flights out of London and around Europe. He had no travel insurance, had to pay on his own money for 2 weeks hotel, maybe 10,000 US$ until the flights resumed. That is not health insurance.
Ar *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fr***
this is a yearly one , kinda like the old style backpackers one
Fr***
@Ar ******
Look for travel duration in insurance terms. I also have yearly, and used for many years.
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