What are the new health insurance requirements for expats in Thailand from November 1st?

Oct 29, 2021
3 years ago
Eddie *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
AXA replied: We would like to inform you that we will officially announcement for new policy coverage as new requirement 50,000 USD on 1st November.
5,103
views
33
likes
163
all likes
59
replies
0
images
24
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
AXA announced a new health insurance requirement for expats in Thailand, stating that from November 1st, there will be a minimum coverage of 50,000 USD. However, community members are skeptical about this amount being sufficient, with some discussing their experiences and frustrations regarding insurance quality and costs. There are also inquiries about the specific requirements for returning expats and the relevance of existing health coverage, as well as concerns regarding the complexity of travel regulations in Thailand.
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.
Joe *********
Hello Ladies & Gents,

I’m in the U.K.

I’m looking for a good insurance company for a 4 month visit in Thailand,would it be fair to ask if any are recommended,that the insurance company highlights on my certificate that it covers for covid 19.

I had one, the covid cover information was there,but lost on page 62 of the small booklet.

Needing to download an insurance certificate and then send in for visa and pass.

All help appreciated

Regards to all
Zen ******
Some updates about insurance can be found on the government PR page in the link below. Seems like expats can use Social Security and existing insurance

********************************************************************
**********
**********
*****
*****
*****
/posts/
*****
*****
*****
7/?d=n
Oscar ********
Does Emirates insurance cover it?
Massimo ************
I don’t think that there is another country beside Thailand reopening and making so difficult to travel there,it seams like they don’t want tourism to come back to boost their economy,or is it just me?
Joe *********
@Massimo ***********
It does seem to be very difficult to get through the documents they ask for.

Do they want tourists ?
Eric **********
@Josh *********
luma Thailand pass, very quick chose your cover and pay job done👍
Sri ***
@Massimo ***********
agree, I travelled to few countries after ban lifted, easy travel no issues at all, thai makes it difficult and don't want people to come,even USA doesn't have such entry restrictions
Massimo ************
@Sri **
exactly 😡
Alf **********
Scam. They don't understand basic English
เจสัน ******
My reply from AXA today was we don't do 50k USD policy! Would only quote on 100k USD.
Edna *******
Jay Tolputt try after November 1.
เจสัน ******
@Edna ******
I'm not sure I really want to give them my business. The incompetent agent so far has sent me someone else's quote, and doesn't know that they will have a suitable product available after 1st November. Call me a cynic but I think they were chasing the comission on 100k policy knowing full well that there was 50K product on the horizon. That's my opinion anyway. 🙂
Ji ***********
An expat living in thailand but just went to other country for 40 days. Then,Returning to thailand still need to buy insurance?
Martin ********
@Ji **********
You know how good they are at anticipating exceptions.
Ji ***********
@Martin *******
not sure.
Greg ********
@Ji **********
That is what everybody thinks is the current situation. Unless of course your current cover in Thailand covers it. You have to get insurance to for the rest of your visa. so if you have 9 months left on bvisa you need 9 months cover - that is how it is currently being interpreted.
Ji ***********
@Greg *******
😅 wow. Thank you.
Greg ********
@Ji **********
It still needs clarified but that is how it is currently written.
Sonny **********
Or selfinsure if possible. No arguments, no loss!
Sonny **********
Sorry if I misunderstood the issue discussed !
Greg ********
@Sonny *********
You mean you tell them you will cover any medical costs yourself? Not possible - you need to show insurance cover to get approved to visit
Sonny **********
@Greg *******
I live here permenently on a non-O so yes I can, and I do.
Greg ********
@Sonny *********
Not if you go out and come back in you cannot. That is what is being discussed here. Insurance requirements for those wishing to enter thailand at the moment. So if you live here as we do you still need this insurance to get back in if you leave
Terry **********
@Greg *******
yes, that’s the way they get the non-O. Not required if you are just extending within Thailand - but once you go out and try to come back, they hit you with it.
Greg ********
@Terry *********
Yes, for this new Thaipass. You current cover may be fine. The cover I get from my company is fine so no need for extra.. A few colleagues have been in and out lately
Sonny **********
@Greg *******
I dont leave.
Greg ********
@Sonny *********
So why are you babbling on about insurance in this context then. Did you forget your medication today?
Abel *********
Any health insurance policy that is capped at only 50,000 USD isn’t worth the paper it is written on. And also this AXA insurance has a very bad value for money / is way too expensive. Don’t be fooled. I have UNLIMITTED protection for half the price. Also, do people really want to risk having to fight for their rights at a Thai court? Seriously: Get a decent Heath insurance from your home country.
Marc ***********
The only benefit of AXA is the asymptomatic coverage... That's it
Alessandro **********
@Abel ********
sure scientist. Then if home country issuea a travel ban while you are stucked in Thailand, should you need hospitalization you'd be in troubles because home insurance refuses to cover as it's already happened. Very smart 👌
Abel *********
Do you imply stupidity or something. A smart cookie would clearly avoid insurances that exclude coverage in events like that. Some insurances tried sneaking out like this in their terms in the past. But especially since COVID, they all realized that does not make sense. So today (at least in my home country), hardly any reputable travel health insurance would try to exclude either pandemics or coverage based on travel warnings.
Graham ********
It doesn't matter if its any good or not, most people just want a certificate to get into the country. If I get sick I can pay for it myself.
Brian ********
@Abel ********
us oldies can't get insurance so we can't leave the country why can't we show a bank statement
Edna *******
@Brian *******
not true, I’m 80 and got one after a lot of research and getting help on this site. I’m visiting family and friends in Thailand in December from the US.
Marc ********
@Abel ********
The problem is will thai immigration or the flight staff accept your insurance.

Maybe better having a "useless" insurance to show for everybody who might don't want you to let you on the plane or entering the country. So they will let you trough.

Nothing stopps you from having your own and "superior" insurance
Martin ********
Think about it, do you think Immigration wants to look at the coverage details for every type of insurance tourists would get? Much easier to stick to the Thai polcies. Somebody can then look at and approve a finite number of policies. Much more practicable.
Jordi ********
@Marc *******
Thai embassy website in the Netherlands now states you can only have Thai insurance. Of course they do that after I already took care of it with a Dutch company 😭
Rūta *********
@Jordi *******
that has been corrected and confirmed that any insurance not only Thai is allowed. Check
@Richard *********************
🙂
Jordi ********
@Rūta ********
I now noticed it only says so for STV so maybe that is the difference. They tend to make it very hard to get a STV. Normal TV, every insurance allowed.
Rūta *********
@Jordi *******
no, no, it’s for everyone. I have many people from my country now approved with insurances and most of them are going for “visa on arrival” (what ever it’s called now “exempt”) which means visa they get on arrival. I think they all get STV 🙂
Jordi ********
@Rūta ********
I dont think you are aware of the STV process then;). Also Visa on arrival and Visa exempt are two different things. For STV (special tourist visa) the Thai embassy in The Hague now ONLY excepts Thai insurance. I went at the beginning of this year with a normal tourist visa (TV) for which my Dutch insurance was sufficient.
Rūta *********
@Jordi *******
i travelled back in July. And I have lived here for 5 years. Visa exempt is exactly the same process as before covid called “visa on arrival”...

Well then go with thai insurance, just in case. That will work no matter what..
Jordi ********
@Rūta ********
an STV gives you a total of 3 x 90days so that is not something they give on arrival. Sorry for your friends.
Jordi ********
@Rūta ********
but yeah, it feels like the same process, you are absolutely right.
Ekkehard *******
@Jordi *******
The processes for Visa Exempt and Visa on Arrival are different.
Jordi ********
@Ekkehard ******
dont tell me tell her;)
Jordi ********
@Rūta ********
Good for you but still wrong:).

***************************************************************************************************************


Cant find the info graphic right now but some countries can not get a visa exempt but only visa on arrival or the other way around and it definitely effects the max days you can spend and what you can do with it after you arrive.
Todd *********
@Marc *******
Abel must be new here lol
Abel *********
@Marc *******
As if I would like to pay for an additional inferior product for no extra benefit at double the price of my original one. No thanks.
Marc ********
@Abel ********
I would not like to either. But if it is a guarantee for me to enter without any problems I would do it.
Todd *********
@Ab**
best of luck collecting if needed
Abel *********
@Todd ********
Exactly. Best of luck to those, who are stuck with any of those Thai company insurances then, when those refuse payment. Good luck at fighting this in the Thai legal system, where people don't even understand the language. Good luck finding lawyers who speak both Thai and English well, and paying them. Thank you, but no thank you. With a health insurance from ones home country, you know the legal framework and you know your rights (at least the more fortunate cookies in the jar). And if court is needed later, it will be in your own country and in your own language. No-brainer, really.
Todd *********
@Ab**
actually not much of your assessment is correct. But enjoy 🍻 😂
Dimitris ************
Rajeshkumar **********
F
Greg ********
@Abel ********
It is not much cover is it in the grand scheme of things.
Kenken ********
@Abel ********
which health insurance do you recommend?
Abel *********
@Kenken *******
Any good one from your home country, that 1) has unlimited coverage for all medically advised in- and outpatient treatments, 2) does not exclude pandemics / COVID-19 and 3) covers irrespectively of you home countries travel bans / countries travel risk assessments. Where I am from (Germany), there is many of those to choose from. All of them much superior to the Thai ones on offer. All of them cheaper, too.
Zen ******
Thank you.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else