What are the best visa options for a 67-year-old UK expat considering health insurance challenges in Thailand?

Do you need health insurance for Non Immigrant Retirement O visa ? I got Retirement O visa in February 2023 without health insurance, applying for it again now in Australia and this time they want the health insurance ? Who does insurance for 90 days ?

Check out liberty Medical. I am 72 high blood pressure and pay about $600 a year (23,000 baht). I used udon brokers.

Most of the Thai individual health insurance you get is going to be useless. Besides excluding pre-existing conditions, look at the amount it pays for hospitalization per day. Usually to collect the full amount whether it’s 500,000 or 3 million baht maximum per year, you would have to be in the hospital for 365 days. Often what you were going to collect for major illness, is a little more than the premium you pay in a year, unfortunately, you may as well self – insure.

That seems really high for health insurance in Thailand. Does anyone have any reccomendations for him? Because 1000 buchs a month is definitely scam money.

I am 67 as others said go o visa. Want insurance try Axa

Any recommendations of visa agents in Udon Thani

Where are you located?

Assist Thai Visa in Chiang Mai is awesome

Rhys was extremely helpful for my situation. A good visa agent can explain your options and assist on the paperwork and opening a bank account. While it is possible to do all this on your own it’s nice to have it all taken care of for you as well. Been a few years so I’m not sure the charges

Retirement visa doesn't need health insurance. Just prepare 800,000 in your bank account then is done or use this agent for visa.

Non O visa here in Thailand, 800,000 in the Bank for Retirement Visa pay someone to do the 90 day reporting almost as good as the Elite but the 800,000 is always yours. Don’t waste 600,000.

Lived here more than 10 years Visa issues can always be sorted here in this wonderful Country.

I got insurance two years ago at 68 for 110,000thb and pre existing was not covered for 3 years, no claims so amount stayed the same now not covered for one more year. I can continue it as long as I pay for it.

Just about insurance.

1. Don't think you'll find any insurance who will cover you for pre-existing conditions.

2. At our age it's already pretty difficult to find decent priced health cover and once you reach 70, virtually impossible.

3. Whatever way you chose for your visa, I strongly suggest to take out a health insurance asap, even if your pre-existing conditions are not covered. Once you've 70, it gets VERY expensive.

I use Pacific Cross and paid 48'000THB per year. (Started when I was 60). Premiums have gone down over the years but last year I was diagnosed with COPD and cancer and now my premiums are at 48'000THB. They also claimed I had pre-existing conditions ( which is a pile of bollocks) and so only paid just over 40% of the total costs. Without Insurance, I would be pretty f**kt as "going back home" after 40 years is no alternative.

I'm 68 and decided to take the Elite route. However, I still have private health care cover.

I would suggest getting a Non-O based on being over 50. Less hassle than the marriage visa, a lot cheaper than the elite visa and no insurance requirement. You can apply for it inside Thailand, you just need to transfer 800k baht into a bank account in your name from overseas. You need 15 days left (21 in a couple of places) on your current permission to stay to apply. This gets you a 90 day Non-O visa and when you have less than 30 days left on that you apply for a 12 month extension. The 800k must be in your account for 2 months before applying for the extension and 3 months after then can't drop below 400k before being brought up to 800k again 2 months before the next extension application.

What about non o retirement? You don't need health insurance and you apply in Thailand. You need funds in bank and other simple paperwork.