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What are the insurance requirements for a Non-O visa for retirement in Thailand, especially regarding costs for health insurance?

Apr 19, 2026
12 days ago
Michael *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The highest out of pocket cost, after accommodation, appears to be health insurance.

For an initial 90 day non-o, converted into a 1 year retirement stay year by year, what are the requirements for insurance?

I have seen numbers near $usd400 per month!

(For a 65+ retiree)

Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The initial question pertains to the insurance requirements for retirees on a 90-day Non-O visa that is extended annually. Many commenters clarify that there are no mandatory insurance requirements for the Non-O visa, making it optional. However, health insurance is highly recommended due to potentially high medical costs in Thai private hospitals. Several responders shared their experiences, discussing costs that can range significantly, with some suggesting self-insurance as a viable option if one has sufficient funds. Key points also addressed include challenges with insurance payouts, the varying costs based on age and health conditions, and the potential future of mandatory health insurance for retirees in Thailand.
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FarangJ********
If you are already sick and / or continue with bad habits then health insurance will be a major cost.
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Graham ******
"what are the requirements for insurance?" - none
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Marty *******
You don't need but it's better. However the cost will vary due to any pre existing problems you may have or had. ie high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart etc
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John **********
I'm 68, I paid 65k baht this year for 1 million baht inpatient insurance cover plus 2.8k baht for accident cover with AIA.
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Petr *********************
@John *********
1 million baht is not much, are you sure is not 1 million US Dollars ? That would make sense
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Robert ***********
@John *********
I believe that is a health rider on a life insurance policy, I don't believe AIA sells health insurance as most people understand it. My last policy here was with CIGNA Thailand which cost about 130k for the year. The deductible was 600k plus co-pay on the next 1 mill plus only half my body was covered due to pre-existing conditions. When Chubb took over CIGNA Thailand, Chubb declined to renew my policy, which saved me the trouble of not renewing it.
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John **********
@Robert **********
I have zero deductible. No pressure existing conditions
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Robert ***********
@John *********
agreed. But what you have is life insurance, with a medical rider. It's not the typical health insurance policyost people understand
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Robert ***********
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Stephen ********
@John *********
the problem I encountered with Cigna was that they tripled my premiums despite no claims because I dared to have a birthday. They said I reached a 'higher risk pool'. People assume rates may go up by inflation plus a bit. Be warned folks! ( now I pay as I go, which can need deep pockets)
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John **********
@Stephen *******
Mine increases every 5 years, si it stays the same in between. I'll pay the same every year until I'm 71. Seems fair
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Stephen ********
@John *********
and at 71 what happens? Bodies are like old cars. Need more maintenance the older they get, which scares insurers.
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John **********
@Stephen *******
it goes up by whatever it goes up by.
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John **********
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Elías ********
@John *********
that sounds like a rational price
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Elías ********
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Chris ********
Visit a site like
@Expat******
and see if they can help you
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Rini *********
How dos self insure works ? How much do i have to put in a bank account? Kup kum ka...🙏
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Patrick ********
One could go self insured when "younger" and in general good health assuming one can afford to cover a broken leg or short hospital stay if it happens. It's person choice and I've done this in KL in my 40s where health costs private are Thai levels or below and most private Drs UK or Oz trained In ones 50s or 60s this may be more of a gamble as the possibility of a more serious or longer term issue obviously increases, I'm now considering insurance for peace of mind and assume that many would even if they could "self insure" in theory as they get to 50+ or 60+ - a personal choice and risk clearly
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Rini *********
John Wenman thank you ! Its a risk !
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Rini *********
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Paul ***********
I self-insure. And use government hospital in Buriram if needed.
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Jay ****
Paul Bengtsson the best way. Screw throwing away money to some conartists that will do anything to not pay out.
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Jay ****
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Robert ***********
Health insurers and their customers in Thailand, even the international names, are governed by Thai insurance rules, which are not at all similar to the international rules that many will be familiar with. Anyone considering taking out health insurance here should familiarise themselves with those rules before hand.
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John *********
No requirement for Non O

Retirement Visa. Non OA there is and the insurer must be on the designated list. Depends on your age and pre conditions. Remember that your medical records are likely to be available to the underwriter in the event of a claim. Which if not declared will make that invalid. Travel on Non O and standard travel insurance for 3 months.

Source your Medicare locally via a recommended and reputable broker. You choose, or self insure. watch out for Notice periods and exclusions. At 66. With No pre conditions I pay 95,000 annually with Pacific Cross. 5M Cover. No excess. In Patient/out Patient. 8000Baht Room a day. Out patient care is very reasonable, so you could lose that and save a little. Good cover and I consider that a very reasonable premium. For solid cover. Specialist Expat Cover with someone like Cigna will likely double the premium. A Comprehensive medical to present to an underwriter can be a solid negotiating tool regarding your premium. Give yourself time as the process can take weeks.
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Patrick ********
John Kenealy Very good advice and pointers. Thank you John. I'm on the cusp of the right age for many visas, although will need to and want to continue working I expect on non Thai work as I have my own international micro business focusing on Singapore and to an extent London, I have lived in KL for 10 yrs but now moving to Thailand with my gf who is half Thai and we lived together in KL where she worked as an expat for CISCO. I may go for the DTV or more likely the SMART visa if I can get it, but any considering the retirement visa. She will not need a visa, which helps. But I will need health insurance and have looked at Cigna, although have been a bit put off by their quotations that seem double many others in cost. I not sure what to go for and it is hard in terms of comparing "apples with apples" and all and any tips are useful. Money can be tight at times as my cashflow is very tight at times, although I may be able to access a modest but sufficient pension soon early if I take less and this would get me to the THB65,000 a month although I would struggle with the THB800K deposit unless this can somehow be avoided with the income from the pension etc. All best wishes to you John and everyone with their lives in Thailand and elsewhere. Patrick
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John *********
Patrick Puddle - Cigna. Don’t go there… Promise you the moon. Give you the hard sell.

Take your money and then they are truly awful believe me. Online platform that is just pitiful . Expensive and when I needed them I’m on the phone in the middle of the night to an imbecile in some call centre stateside. They declined to cover me as they were obliged to. Their mistake. No apology nothing. I paid the hospital myself.
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John **********
@Patrick *******
if you want to work remotely from Thailand then your only option is the DTV
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Patrick ********
I also have a long term health condition that should not produce side effects or impact my life expectancy within reason and I would expect to pay for the associated pills privately myself separately to any insurer. Kidney related
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Patrick ********
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Yo***
the famous problem with insurers in Thailand is, when you got urgent health issue, like surgery or big treatment, not like flu or some small injuries or usual illness, your health insurance company does not want to pay all or at all. they make thousands of reasons of why is not able to pay the hospital bills. And, for hospital, they wont let you go home or not willing to continue treatments until you pay the bill or your insurance pays the all outstanding bills. Even you paid good in time every month, Well, anyway this is really bad for you patient. After you even paid all bills, you still need to fight with your insurance company to pay the bills. This is extra costs and stressful process. Is it worthy? or even make worsening your health. That is why I said, if you have enough budget somewhere else, use it simple. and focusing on recovery. no need to worry about insurance company and hospitals. You pay all with your own money. Hospital happy, you are happy too.
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Gary *******
You don’t need it for NON - O …
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Alon *******
Talk to
@Tipanan *******
she can help you with your insurance needs.
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Yo***
I think in soon future, Thailand will apply mandatory health insurance to all foreign retirees related to any type of visa. or deposit more than 2 millions THB etc..only for health issues or something like that. I believe that Thailand has enough burden from not paying bills by foreigners in Thai hospitals. They will change something like that.. yes, this is only my opinion.
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Petr *********************
Young but foreigners keep economy going, much more revenue for the government than cost of hospital bills, so Thai government should pay unpaid medical bills !!
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Petr *********************
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Jim *********
There are no requirements for insurance with a non immigrant O based on retirement initially or for a one year extension. There is a medical insurance requirement for an O-A visa and visa extension. The ฿800,000 is required in your Thai bank account to cover an emergency. Insurance is optional. I used to buy accident insurance but haven't for many years now. medical insurance doesn't cover any existing conditions and I'm 70 so I would be paying a lot for the little they might cover. I have heard and read over the years it is difficult to get medical insurance to actually pay out on claims here.
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MagicalJac**********
Jim McGowan I had 800 K in my bank for the non O retirement extension and I had a motorcycle accident, i used about 150K to pay my hospital bills and then immigration refused my extension because funds dipped belie 800K.

If your problem is NOT life threatening then do what many people are doing now and that is take a 10.000K flight to india and get your surgery there in a high quality hospital for dramatically less.

Thailand used the be competitive but now with the two tiered pricing structure its not anymore.
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Neil ********
MagicalJackfruit9772 strange, as you can reduce the 800k to 400k after 3 months, as long as you top it back up to 800k before 2 months.
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Jim *********
MagicalJackfruit9772 that would be an issue! And you are correct about the two tiered hospital pricing system. I use a credit card at Bangkok Phuket Hospital when I go as I get a higher exchange rate that I get from BKK Bank with a wire transfer. I still have a residence in California and have Medicare and a supplement plan, so I do my medical when I am there. like the hip replacement last July I had done at Stanford University Hospital and I am getting my dental implants done here. India would probably be cheaper! The last two dentists I saw in California were from India anyway. But I have a house here, not in India. Nothing in life is ever free or easy. If it was, everyone would do it! I hope you recovered well from your accident. I guess accident insurance here would be a good thing. Knock on wood, 22 years of riding a motorcycle here and I am still accident free. I have a strategy I use when I ride here. I use the pack as protection, when the road is clear I lose the pack! Repeat at the next traffic light.
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Jim *********
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Mike *******
If you have a few million baht to self-insure, you can do that. My wife went in for a stroke and stayed 4 days. Total bill at a private hospital = $2000 US.
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Ole ***************
Mike Orbon I broke my left arm when falling, quite complicated, cost around 1 million baht in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but insurance cover all
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Ted ********
Ole Kristoffersen which company?
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Ted ********
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Mike *******
We got most of it back from AIA. The policy was $1500 US.
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Gary *******
Mike Orbon 6 months ago I was admitted for a series of strokes. My insurance company paid out 50% despite suffering a previous stroke 6 years early and noted as an existing pre-condition.
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Gary *******
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Gary ***********
It's ridiculous, far more than I was paying in the UK
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Allan *******
The problem is do you trust them to pay up when you need them to. And you MUST be 1,000,000% honest to your health history to date. You can get diagnosed at international but treatment at government hospital to make cheaper. Good luck.
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Alan *******
Allan Rawai and get ripped off by them. I've just Paid Thb1390.00 for Antibiotics that cost Thb 490 at Pharmacy.
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Allan *******
Alan Jacks yes, I've lived here 22y.
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months of tablets used to cost me 34,000b some can't get in pharmacy or supercheap but through medicare bkk
*****
,000b.
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Allan *******
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Stuart *********
There is no requirement for insurance, but it’s probably better to get some.

Check out some of the Thai insurance companies, Axa, AiA, etc.
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Stuart *********
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