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What are the health insurance requirements for renewing a Non-OA retirement visa in Thailand for individuals over 70?

Non-OA VisaRetirement VisaHealth Insurance RequirementsVisa ExtensionExpat Life in ThailandImmigration Procedures
Oct 30, 2022
2 years ago
Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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?
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TLDR : 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.
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.
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
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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James ********
@Bill **********
 please make your own Post... thank you.
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you.
2 years ago
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James ********
@Penny *******
 I updated my reply ...see the timeline Tod Daniels replied too recently.
2 years ago
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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"
2 years ago
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James ********
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 Thank you James. Any idea of approximate timeframe for getting the Non O visa, in your experience?
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No trailing spouse. We each have separate documentation.
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m Canadian. My husband has a US passport. We are together in Thailand.
2 years ago
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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?
2 years ago
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James ********
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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?
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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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...
2 years ago
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James ********
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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.
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No.
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
 No. I have had many extensions already - through the COVID times!
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am on an extension of OA visa.thx to all for your information.
2 years ago
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Stephen *******
@Penny *******
 Then you aren't renewing an O-A visa. Why mention it?
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Stephen ******
, OP is applying for a 1-year extension based on retirement from a Non-OA entry stamp. <- this is important.
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephen ******
 I mean this is not our first Non-OA extension/renewal.
2 years ago
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Penny ********
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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
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 thanks.
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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Simon *****
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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 😮 )
2 years ago
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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?
2 years ago
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I 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.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Penny *******
, And did you check the criteria? There are criteria & requirements for those who don't get the insurance from Thai companies.
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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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
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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Craig *******
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Penny ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks. But this notice is dated December 27, 2021. Has this not been updated recently?
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Penny *******
 nope, you carry the 3 million (100K USD) insurance

the rule took effect Oct 1st, 2022

Read this translation of the Police Order the last line..
2 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
it mentions the 100K USD (3 million baht) coverage.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
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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

*************************************
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
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