What are the differences between a Non-O visa and a Non-OA visa in Thailand, and what are the insurance implications for those over 70?

I"m shutting this down, since this post has gotten far off the rails. Thank you.

I have often wondered

They do have different requirements and paperwork

Is there an advantage with an OA ?

I came here with an O for retirement.

It just seemed like less paperwork

> non-o visa

The "O" stands for "other". Some of the reasons these visas can be issued INCLUDE (but not limiting to):

- Marriage to a Thai national

- Raising Half-Thai child

- Raising a foreign child

- Being a trailing spouse

- Being over 50

ALL Non-O visas allow entry for 90 days. MOST Non-O visas are sold as single entry, which means it can be used ONCE, and then a new Non-O visas must be acquired. NO health insurance is required for these visas. To stay beyond the 90 days, a one year extension of stay is acquired. [Note: I'm ignoring the Multiple Entry Non-O visas for simplicity].

>non-oa visa

A Non-OA visa is issued to people who are over 50 years old, who has 800K THB in a foreign bank account in local currency, or has a pension of at least 65K THB a month in foreign currency, and allows entry for one year. This is a multiple entry visa, and on each entry, the visa holder will be stamped in for a year, or for the length of the medical insurance. This visa requires medical insurance, which may be increasing soon to 3M THB. To stay longer then the (potential) two years, a one year extension of stay based on retirement must be acquired, ALONG with approved health insurance.

[In-country Non-O visa]

One type of visa that wasn't mentioned is an in-country Non-O visa. SOME immigration offices allow a person to purchase an in-country Non-O visa based on retirement, if they have more then a certain amount of time remaining on their existing "admitted to" stamp. This visa allows a person to stay in Thailand for 90 days. These in-country Non-O visas DO NOT require health insurance. To stay longer then 90 days, a one year extension of stay based on retirement must be acquired.

THE NON-OA VISA IS THE ONLY VISA THAT REQUIRES HEALTH INSURANCE

> In some countries 70 is a cutoff age to apply for a new insurance policy.

Insurance companies are private companies, and as such, can decide the people who they are willing to insure. Contact the insurance companies that are part of the Non-OA visa scheme. See Marty's comment for the links to the approved insurance companies.