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What are my options for obtaining a visa to Thailand when health insurance is a barrier?

Visa Options Non-O Visa Non-OA Visa Health Insurance Requirements Expat Advice Thailand Immigration Retirement Visa Insurance for Elderly Expats

Jun 12, 2025

2 days ago

Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

🙄 Hi members. 

Hit a big snag when doing E-visa..I'm 70 years old. 

Been passed good to travel

By Doctors... this is where problems start. 

Because I've had Major operations no insurance company wants to know me.

They all push me to Insurance Brokers who want a arm and leg... I'm applying for non immigrant OA..

It's asking for insurance policies..any way around insurance.. have funds to cover my self..plus the money you need for Bank. 

Am I looking at wrong visa 

Is there a better option. 

Have home but can't live in it.

PS.. in Thai Girlfriend name 

Thanks..

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The original poster is experiencing difficulty in obtaining health insurance required for a Non-OA visa due to age and medical history, leading to confusion about which visa would be more suitable. Community members suggest that the Non-O visa does not require health insurance and is a better choice for someone in this situation. They highlight that the Non-O visa can be applied for before arriving in Thailand, and some discuss alternatives such as self-insuring or using travel insurance instead. Overall, it's proposed that the poster should pursue the Non-O visa to avoid health coverage issues.

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.

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Martyn *******

I do not have a retirement visa but am 73, try a company called mr Prakan. Alternatively there is a website in Thailand for health insurance, can’t remember the name but will look it up for you. Btw if you apply when in Thailand the insurance requirement in unnecessary I am led to believe.

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Rok ********

The only way around is non-o which does not require insurance. Even with no pre-existing conditions the Non-OA was so complicated i opted for non-o instead (even insurance agent advised me so).

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Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

is that retirement over 50...

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Nongnuch ********

@Peter ********

in the e-visa online system it is such:

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Nongnuch ********

@Peter ********

it's this visa

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Nongnuch ********

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Dca *****

@Peter ********

How to select Non–O on the Thai eVisa website

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Brook ********

Get a non O visa and travel insurance from WorldNomads or Allianz

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Tammy **********

Just come on over and go through an agent mate - no probs at all. They will get you your 90 day Non O, one year extension and the bank account👍

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Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tammy *********

can I multiple entries

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Nongnuch ********

@Peter ********

there is NO MORE 365-days multi entry Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa since October 2023. Only the 90-days single entry version remains obtainable

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Nongnuch ********

@Peter ********

once you get your "1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement" inked, you can buy a multiple re-entry permit for this one-year stay permit. for 3800 THB

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Nongnuch ********

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Tammy **********

@THAI *************

should be able to help and give you all the relevant current information

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Tammy **********

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David *******

O visa doesn't require you to have medical insurance.

But the OA visa does

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Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

which one is O visa

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David *******

@Peter ********

it's listed as "O" visa

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David *******

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Jenny ******

WR Life have specifically designed policies for people over 60.

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Gregory ********

Non O visa—no insurance needed

Can get insurance—just will have exclusions—they dont check that

Home—in Thai name—why say cannot live in—you can get a usufruct for 30 years—that means you dont own ,but have the use of the property for next 30 years

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Ken ********

Not sure if this still applies but at one time a little while back the banks and insurance companies made you buy a one year ins policy (5000bht) when you opened a new account not sure if it still applies?

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Jonnie *******

that was a sales gimmick, I refused the policy as I already had insurance cover and still got the account opened

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Sue **********

no it doesn‘t work anymore. That was BKK Bank.

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Sue **********

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Billy *********

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Billy *********

I got this quote AXA don't think it gives you cover but gets OA visa I'm told

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Nongnuch ********

@Billy ********

but you need to have a contract with before you turn 70 years old, only then it remains renewable every year until you are 99 years old. However the premium will be higher and higher, the older you get!

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Billy *********

@Nongnuch *******

never knew about contract before 70 will keep it in mind

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Nongnuch ********

@Billy ********

the maximum entry age with AXA could be 75, I only vaguely remember it was 70. You need to check their fine print

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Nongnuch ********

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Julian *******

@Billy ********

it’s very little cover for such a high premium

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Julian *******

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Lili ********

Don’t worry too much! I learned it the hard way when private hospital Bangkok hospital took me to Police station with 3 insurance policies n one of them with direct billing agreement. For newcomers they only want the sheiks etc. In that league who do not need insurance. Government hospitals r inexpensive n lots of private specialists clinics charging around 1,000 baht per visit. If you cannot purchase insurance just start learning government hospital system n have a Thai to come with you at the beginning n you will be fine.

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Stuart ***********

You are applying for the wrong visa in your circumstances. Choose the non O (not OA) on the Thai Embassy website, then you do not need health insurance or criminal checks. Good luck.

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Paul ***************

Apply for Non O visa , 90 days, open bank account , than get the year extension .

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Anna *********

Try non O visa

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John ********

Travel to Thailand and apply for the Non O when you arrive, but you need to deposit 800,000 thb in a Thai bank but no health insurance.

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Graham ******

You don't need to be in Thailand to get the Non-O Visa

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Stuart ***********

this is virtually impossible now as banks will not open accounts for tourists. He needs to get the non O before coming to Thailand.

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John ********

@Stuart **********

apply for visa and immigration will give you an extension visa stamp in your passport to allow time to open bank and deposit money.

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Stuart *********

To apply for the visa in country you need a Thai bank account and 800k deposit in it.

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Stuart ***********

to apply for the non O inside Thailand you need 800,000 in a Thai bank and it's virtually impossible to open an account on a tourist visa. The method you are suggesting used to be possible, but the banks have cracked down on this now, so it's virtually impossible. Much easier to get the non O before coming to Thailand.

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John ********

@Stuart **********

in that case open a bank account with your OA then on renewal just change to a NON-O in person at the immigration office. You will only need to hold the life insurance for the 1st year

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Nongnuch ********

you cannot change from the O/A to an O extension inside Thailand, and the required insurance for an O/A visa is not a life insurance, but a health insurance. At age 70 with pre-existing conditions impossible to get

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Stuart *********

You can’t change from a Non OA to a non O in country. If you enter non OA you have to extend based on the non OA which requires mandatory insurance.

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Stuart ***********

or simply get the non O before coming to Thailand 🤷

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Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart **********

non 0 is that tourists visa

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Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart **********

non 0..is that tourists visa...I was trying non immigrant visa

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Stuart ***********

@Peter ********

non O is not a tourist visa. It is an immigrant visa. The 'O' stands for 'other', so it used for a few purposes, but it covers things like retirement and marriage. It is the best choice for you. Most people retiring to Thailand use this visa type.

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John ********

@Stuart **********

I thought you had to be in Thailand the apply for the NON-O

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Stuart ***********

no, you can apply for it online at a Thai Embassy before coming to Thailand. That's why I advised him to get it.

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Stuart ***********

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Kool *******

The OA visa also has the option to self-insure with the equivalent of US$100,000 in a bank account in your name only.

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Ant ***********

Non - O

Not required

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Anne *******

Get the insurance that isn’t . Lol

Something cheap that won’t cover pre-existing

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Jeremy ********

You can buy the elite visa…no health insurance required

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Baron ***********************

@Jeremy *******

That’s good for me to know, thanks!

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Basim *******

@Baron **********************

Elite visa minimum cost is 650,000 baht for 5 yrs

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Baron ***********************

That’s great! Perfect for me! The longer the better.

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Basim *******

@Baron **********************

Yes but be careful ; these are nonrefundable fees (not bank deposits)

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Baron ***********************

🫤

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Baron ***********************

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Stuart *********

The Non OA visa requires health insurance. The Non O visa doesn’t.

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Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

which one is Non O visa

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Dick ********

@Peter ********

non O the one that says for no longer than 90 days. You enter with that visa then open a bank account, deposit 800k baht and then apply for one year extensions of stay ad infinitum.

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Stuart *********

@Peter ********

Choose Non Immigrant and then chose retirement as the purpose of visit.

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Stuart *********

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