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Answered9 months ago

What health insurance options are available for diabetics on an OA visa in Thailand?

Einat *******
asked Jan 30, 2026
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Hello, Anyone here with diabetes and OA visa? which Thai insurance company you recommend that keeps up with immigration requirements?

Turned out that Axa Thailand does not cover individuals with this diagnosis. therefore I need to shop around for something else. Thank you all.
Answer summary
The post discusses the challenge of finding suitable health insurance for expats in Thailand with diabetes, particularly for those holding an OA visa. It highlights that many Thai insurance companies, including AXA Thailand, do not cover individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes. Contributors suggest looking into alternative visa types, like the Non-O visa, which does not require mandatory health insurance, and recommend contacting insurance agents or companies specializing in expatriate coverage. Some commenters share personal experiences managing diabetes in Thailand using government healthcare services, which they find affordable and satisfactory.
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Munich *****
Munich *****
Check this one from AXA you get without health check and of course no preconditions covered but it's licensed for LTR and cheap as likely a throw away insurance...

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


I am Type 1 and cover my medication by myself using insulin Fiasp (from India) and Tresiba (available in Thailand) with CGM sensors from Lazada/Shopee (Ottai M8) and I pay monthly not more than 100$ !!!!
***
price than back on Germany (need subscriptions there as well!!) and probably
***
price than in US.

I have an emergency health insurance though for around 150$/months to take and cover me in hospital or back to Germany just in case. No outpatient coverage as standard treatments are reasonable and easily paid by myself.
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Munich Tom thank you, as I wrote above - AXA will not sell us, because of diabetes...which insurance company did you choose for the 150$ /month?
Exciting*********
Exciting*********
Your best bet would be to contact
@Insurance ********************************
…. They would be able to give you more updated information on the companies that work with the OA visa allow what pre existing conditions
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
ExcitingTiger9136 thank you so much for this tip! really appreciate that
Julian *******
Julian *******
I have diabetes and I searched and searched and even international policies won’t cover pre existing conditions. I have wr life which has a five year moratorium on diabetes related illnesses, I use the government hospital for my diabetes management and frankly it’s excellent
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Julian Lewis thank you very much for this reply! finally someone with experience. so basically, lets see if I understand you, there is no insurance possible for anything related to the diabetes, yet, one can manage this by themselves because the service costs of medical treatment in a government hospital are reasonable.
Julian *******
Julian *******
Einat Yarhi correct. I use insulin and metformin. As well as statins. I get a check up and prescription every 3 months and full bloods tests every year. Honestly it’s better than the Uk nhs and affordable, my diabetes has improved significantly to the point I’m using 65% less insulin than I was in the uk.
Julian *******
Julian *******
I sent you a message
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Julian Lewis thank you very much...! yes...it make sense that when one is happy their health condition improves 🙂
Andreas *********
Andreas *********
Well, there are several roads leading to the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa and to the subsequent 1-year extended stay permit based on retirement

We are talking about the most common and persisting misunderstandings regarding the rules that come with applying for the “retirement visa” and the subsequent “one-year extension of stay permit based on retirement”. Misunderstandings happen because a “retirement visa” can mean 7 different visas and stay permits

The best way is to show up in Thailand on a 90-days single entry Non-Imm-O Retirement/over 50 visa” as it will get you a 90-days stay permit stamped. Within this period you have plenty of time to arrange for the application to the “1-year extended stay permit”

On a Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, there is no mandatory health insurance, no police report and no medical check needed.

In order to apply for the “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa” through the online E-visa system at the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country, you can use the proof of income of a monthly minimum of 65.000.- THB, by using your original pension or other income documentation.

Or you can use a deposit of a minimum of 800,000 THB or the equivalent in your home country currency, or on your home bank account, or on a Thai bank, or just anywhere in the World – as long as it is in your sole name

However, for the application inside Thailand, for the “1-year extension of stay permit” out of the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa, if you are a citizen of a country whose embassy in Thailand does not issue the “income affidavit” any more (these are the embassies of USA, UK and Australia) you would need a “12 months bank statement”, showing that for the past 12 months, you have been transferring from abroad to your Thai bank account a minimum of 65,000 THB, consecutively month for month.

If your embassy still issues an affidavit of income, you can use this method for the financial proof, which needs a monthly income or pension of a minimum of 65,000 THB

For British, Australian and U.S. citizens, in the first year there is no other way around, than depositing a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account and use this deposit for the financial proof which is required for the application to the “one year extension of stay permit based on being over 50/retired”

The alternative would be, if you don’t have that kind of money or are not willing to deposit in a Thai Bank account is, paying an agent to “arrange” the requirements, which I, however, do not recommend

As soon as you have accumulated the 12 consecutive months of 65,000 THB transfers year all you need to do is apply for the next 1year extension of the stay permit, using the 12- months bank statement to prove 12 months of transfers from abroad.

This application to a 1Year Extension costs a 1900 THB fee and you can theoretically do it all by yourself, or accept the help of an agent for the simplified legal service.

NOTE: It is income OR deposit.

However, there is a third method, called the “combination method”:

A combination mix of income and deposit. Some immigrations don’t allow the combination method in the first year.

And some Immigration want the deposit part to exceed 400,000 THB.

The combination method means that the sum of the deposit AND the monthly income exceeds 800,000 THB in one year.

But let’s continue with the “normal method” (visa issued in your home country, followed by the application to the 1-year Extension inside Thailand):

On the day of application to the 1-year extension, the 800,000 THB need to have “seasoned” in your account for two months, and this has to be proven with the “bank letter of guarantee” (rab roong thanakan).

You need:

*** an update TM30 registration of your accommodation in Thailand

*** your passport. Copies of passport detail page and page with the entry stamp

*** your bankbook and the “bank letter of guarantee” and an receipt of an ATM withdrawal of a small amount on the same day

*** a TM7 form (you will get it on Immigration)

***your signature in blue ink on all copies

*** (after May 1st 2025) a copy of your TDAC (digital arrival card)

*** 1900 Thai Baht

*** 1000 Thai Baht for the single entry permit

After been issued the “1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement”, the 800K need to remain in the account for 3 more months. After these 3 months, the deposit shall never go under 400,000 THB. And before you’re the application for the next “1-year Extension of Stay”, a minimum of 800,000 THB must have seasoned in the account for two months, again

On the day you get issued the “1-year extension of stay permit”, you should buy a re-entry permit for it.

A re-entry permit will keep your stay permit alive in case you exit Thailand before the expiry of the 1-year stay permit.

A single re-entry permit is 1000 THB on Immigration. A multi re-entry is 3800 THB. With a multi re-entry permit, you could exit and re-enter as many times as you wish during the whole stay permit period.
Frank **********
Frank **********
Most likely you will not be able to find insurance that will cover you.
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Frank Shevchuk oh, so not possible to have OA visa...?
Frank **********
Frank **********
Einat Yarhi as far as I know Thai Insurance companies do not insure people with preexisting conditions. But it is best to contact an Insurance Agent to find out for sure. I am sure someone in this group probably knows an Agent. Having said this a Non O does not require medical or a criminal check.
Frank **********
Frank **********
Einat Yarhi you are welcome and good luck.
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Frank Shevchuk thank you for this comment about pre-existing conditions. thats new information for me.
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
Suggest you look into the O visa instead where there are no mandatory insurance requirements
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Graeme Mort oh... I see. I am surprised...
Andreas *********
Andreas *********
Einat Yarhi you should keep away from the Non-O/A Longstay visa. Not a good option when you wish to live in Thailand for the rest of your life
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
Einat Yarhi the O-A visa requires mandated insurance a police checks and a medical certificate. The type O visa needs none of them
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Colin Boyland you also need a rental contract and you also need that the immigration office will be "willing" to grant this visa to you...this is many times a big-big problem if you chose koh phangan as your retirement destination
Colin *********
Colin *********
Einat Yarhi the Non-O Visa based on being over 50 years old, you can apply for from your home country without the requirements of the O/A as others have mentioned. Your proof of funds can be from the bank account in your home country (Australia possibly looking at your education in Melbourne).

With the O/A, I believe that to get a second year out of it, you have to exit Thailand and re-enter.

With a Non-O from the Canberra Embassy (assuming you're in Melbourne), you can enter Thailand on that, within three months of it being approved and get stamped in for 90 days. As soon as possible after arriving in Thailand, open a Thai bank account in your name only, as soon as possible to allow for the requirement of two months 'seasoning' before you can apply for a one year 'Extension of Stay". Deposit a minimum of 800k THB. Once that deposit has been in the account for two months, you can look at applying for the Extension at your nearest local Immigration Office. As I haven't gone through the process myself as yet, I'm not sure of what 'period of time' before the initial Visa expires, you can apply for the Extension, but it would be within the last 30 days (someone more knowledgeable can advise on that). Each year, you just apply for a new "Extension of Stay" at the Local Immigration Office.
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Graeme Mort with OA you get one year from the embassy. with O you get 90 days from the embassy. that a different time frame to find all you needto find within a new country before you need any visa renewal or extension. thats a big big difference!
Graeme ******
Graeme ******
Einat Yarhi not sure what you mean both the non O and Non O-A need approval through the e visa system and any extensions of stay for both requires immigration approval? The O-A will last longer than the 90 days of the O but if you want to stay long term in thailand then the O is a better option.
John **********
John **********
@Einat ******
then get the 90 day Non-O visa there, and get a 12 month extension of stay inside Thailand
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Graham Seal thats ok. I am in my home country.
Graham ******
Graham ******
Einat Yarhi but the Non-OA can only be obtained from your "home" country
Einat *******
Einat *******
OP
Graeme Mort yes, but O requires rent contract (OA doesnt) and more mportant is that O requires immigration office approval - in some locations, like Koh Phangan this means only through an agent...

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