Answered4 years ago
What are the health insurance requirements for renewing a Non-OA retirement visa in Thailand for individuals over 70?
My husband and I have non-OA retirement visas which we will renew at Koh Samui in early November. What are the current health insurance options to meet the Non-OA visa renewal requirements for persons aged 70 years and over?
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around the health insurance requirements for renewing a Non-OA retirement visa in Thailand for individuals aged 70 and above. While one commenter mentions doing a border bounce and switching to a Non-O visa which doesn't require health insurance, others clarify that the OA visa has a mandatory $100k health insurance requirement that has increased recently. They suggest checking the current insurance providers approved for this visa category. The key point highlighted is that the Non-O visa may not have the same health insurance obligation, thereby presenting alternatives for expats.
35 repliesnewest first
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Toni ************
You can exit the country and re-enter on a NON-O retirement visa. In contrast to the OA visa, NON-O retirenment visas do not require health insurance
James ********
I suggest you keep it Simple...
Do a border bounce...
Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia land border crossings are OPEN.
In the days PRIOR to your current extension of stay ENDS... leave Thailand and re-enter VISA EXEMPT.
You will get 45 days stamp plus one 30 day extension of stay.
That gets rid of the OA based retirement Visa and extension of stay.
Apply for the Non O Visa as retiree and the One year extension of stay as retired from your local Thai immigration office. Show your 800,000 Thai baht on deposit in a Thai bank account in your name only.
NO health insurance is required for the Non O Visa or One year Extension of Stay as retired.
Do a border bounce...
Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia land border crossings are OPEN.
In the days PRIOR to your current extension of stay ENDS... leave Thailand and re-enter VISA EXEMPT.
You will get 45 days stamp plus one 30 day extension of stay.
That gets rid of the OA based retirement Visa and extension of stay.
Apply for the Non O Visa as retiree and the One year extension of stay as retired from your local Thai immigration office. Show your 800,000 Thai baht on deposit in a Thai bank account in your name only.
NO health insurance is required for the Non O Visa or One year Extension of Stay as retired.
James ********
@Bill **********
please make your own Post... thank you.
Penny ********
OPThank you.
James ********
@Penny *******
I updated my reply ...see the timeline Tod Daniels replied too recently.James ********
@Penny *******
...Penny Dawson Tod Daniels has replied in other posts many times about the steps.
Here's one reply from Tod...
"okay, lets sort this out a little clearer.
What you do to GO from a 60 day tourist visa entry OR a 45 day visa exempt entry to a "retirement visa" is actually a THREE step process.
You GO to the immigration office and first apply for a 90 day non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement).
The 800K baht needs to be in a thai bank account in your name only BUT it does NOT need to be in there any length of time.
In Bangkok you need a minimum of 15 days left on your current entry stamp or a 30 day extension from that stamp to apply for the 90 day Non-O visa in country.
When you apply you will pay 2000baht and get a receipt that says you come back in 14 days.
When you go back they will stamp a Non-O visa into your passport, stamp it USED, and give you a new 90 day stamp.
Then when you have 45 days or less left on that stamp (and your 800K baht has been in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months) you go back and apply for the year extension (again based on being over 50 "retirement") for 1900baht. That is issued on the spot.
SO the three steps (in Bangkok) are
1 - Apply for the 90 day Non-O (2000baht)
2 - go back after the under consideration stamp runs out and get the visa inked in
3 - go back after the stamp runs down to 45 days or less and apply for the year extension 1900baht"
Penny ********
OP@James *******
Thank you James. Any idea of approximate timeframe for getting the Non O visa, in your experience?Penny ********
OPNo trailing spouse. We each have separate documentation.
Penny ********
OPI’m Canadian. My husband has a US passport. We are together in Thailand.
James ********
@Penny *******
as a Canadian you can get an Affidavit of Income from your Canadian Embassy in Bangkok to use with Thai immigration for your one year extension of stay as meeting the financial requirements.But your husband is American...
And the affidavit of income is not issued by the US Embassy in Bangkok.
Hmmmmm....
What is your current OA based extension of stay based on?
Do you already have the 800,000 Thai baht in a Thai bank account in your name only ?
Is one of the spouses a TRAILING SPOUSE?
James ********
@Penny *******
are you applying for yourself only?Or is there a foreign spouse which is with you in Thailand?
What is your passport nation?
James ********
I have placed the TOPICS of
Retirement extension
And
BORDER RUNS
And
Changing the OA to Non O on your post...
CLICK on them
and all posts about them will pop up to read.
Retirement extension
And
BORDER RUNS
And
Changing the OA to Non O on your post...
CLICK on them
and all posts about them will pop up to read.
James ********
@Penny *******
@Tod ********
has replied in other posts many times about the steps. Here's one reply from Tod...
"okay, lets sort this out a little clearer.
What you do to GO from a 60 day tourist visa entry OR a 45 day visa exempt entry to a "retirement visa" is actually a THREE step process.
You GO to the immigration office and first apply for a 90 day non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement).
The 800K baht needs to be in a thai bank account in your name only BUT it does NOT need to be in there any length of time.
In Bangkok you need a minimum of 15 days left on your current entry stamp or a 30 day extension from that stamp to apply for the 90 day Non-O visa in country.
When you apply you will pay 2000baht and get a receipt that says you come back in 14 days.
When you go back they will stamp a Non-O visa into your passport, stamp it USED, and give you a new 90 day stamp.
Then when you have 45 days or less left on that stamp (and your 800K baht has been in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months) you go back and apply for the year extension (again based on being over 50 "retirement") for 1900baht. That is issued on the spot.
SO the three steps (in Bangkok) are
1 - Apply for the 90 day Non-O (2000baht)
2 - go back after the under consideration stamp runs out and get the visa inked in
3 - go back after the stamp runs down to 45 days or less and apply for the year extension 1900baht"
But the graphic prepared by Ellie shows...
Wannikea *********
Is this the first year on your OA visa, if so you can exit and reenter thailand just before it expires to get stamped in for another year if you have insurance for that year in place. Then do your extension next year.
Penny ********
OPNo.
Penny ********
OP@Wannikea ********
No. I have had many extensions already - through the COVID times!Penny ********
OPI am on an extension of OA visa.thx to all for your information.
Stephen *******
@Penny *******
Then you aren't renewing an O-A visa. Why mention it?
Ellie *******
@Stephen ******
, OP is applying for a 1-year extension based on retirement from a Non-OA entry stamp. <- this is important.Penny ********
OP@Stephen ******
I mean this is not our first Non-OA extension/renewal.Steve ********
To clarify the terminology, you cannot "renew" any visa. Once the visa expires, you move in to "extensions of stay", in the case of OA visa, you apply for a new extension every year. The only way to get a new visa is to return to your home country and apply through the embassy. The OA extension has a mandatory US$100k health insurance requirement
Penny ********
OP@Steve *******
thanks.
Simon *****
@Penny *******
No need to go back to your home country for the extension. Just go to the Immigration Office where you live. The current insurance requirement is 3M Baht inpatient.Tod *********
This is the form they make OA visa/extension holders sign (and in bangkok you hold it up under your chin and they take a picture of you holding it so you can't say you didn't know about it next year 😮 )
Steve ********
@Craig ******
Once you're past 75 it's difficult, although there's a few that cater. Best bet is to get it before you hit 75 surely?Penny ********
OPI asked about the age as I believe that not all insurance companies will cover people 70 and over. I realize that all NON-OA visa holders need insurance.
Ellie *******
@Penny *******
, And did you check the criteria? There are criteria & requirements for those who don't get the insurance from Thai companies.Tod *********
@Penny *******
and that's why I said "click around" on the link I provided checking the 13 approved companies and see what their enrollment policy is.Steve ********
@Penny *******
All the TGIA insurance companies will take on new clients up to 75. As far as I know, once you're in, most if not all, guarantee renewal up to age 99
Craig *******
@Steve *******
yes, that’s the case with my Thai health insurance provider. Once you’re in, you can renew at later ages but I’m not sure about getting a new policy once you’re past 70-75yrs.Penny ********
OPThanks. But this notice is dated December 27, 2021. Has this not been updated recently?
Tod *********
@Penny *******
nope, you carry the 3 million (100K USD) insurancethe rule took effect Oct 1st, 2022
Read this translation of the Police Order the last line..
Tod *********
it mentions the 100K USD (3 million baht) coverage.
Tod *********
there is no "for persons aged 70 and over" it's anyone who holds an OA visa
Oct 1st the requirement went to 3 million coverage from the old 40k/400k out/in-patient that it used to be
This is the website where you get the insurance from an approved thai provider
Oct 1st the requirement went to 3 million coverage from the old 40k/400k out/in-patient that it used to be
This is the website where you get the insurance from an approved thai provider
*************************************
Tod *********
@Penny *******
You're gonna hafta click around on that link i provided to look at the policies, the deductibles, the premium and if they'll let people who are 70 enroll or not.Activity
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