@Bob *******

Yes, with no insurance, the US is much more expensive. Insurance in the US is pretty expensive though my Thai policy is about the same price but with a 40,000 baht deductible. In Thailand I am paying the first 40,000 baht because healthcare here is so inexpensive.

My US insurance policy deductible for an emergency room visit was $150 (5,150฿). I pay less than that for an emergency room visit in a private hospital in Bangkok without insurance.

People from countries with government health care of course have a different perspective.

@David ****

Earlier this year I paid 20,000 baht to stay 2 nights in a private room in a private hospital in Ubon Ratchathani. I was recovering from Dengue fever so there weren’t any medical procedures involved other than blood tests and monitoring.

So you can extrapolate to a motorbike accident that requires surgery and a hospital stay of 2-4 weeks possibly in a more expensive or less expensive hospital. It could add up to 500,000-1,000,000 baht or $15,000-$30,000.

A recent interview about the tax issues

@Nan *********

Then your assertions about 2 million baht dowries need to be put in context.

@Nan *********

My Thai wife’s cousin married a young Thai man. They work factory jobs in Bangkok. The sin sod was 50,000฿. The same ceremony and same place we were married in Sisaket province. The family keeps the money.

Yes it does vary from place to place and on the family circumstances.

This is mildly interesting with regards to what a Thai male is interested in with regards to Thai women. As a westerner, intelligence is a plus but a university education is not the only marker of intelligence. Get to know her first. Career aspirations may or may not be interesting but if a westerner is wealthy enough then that may matter less. Introvert/extrovert is about personality and that is a factor in relationships no matter where you are from. Again . . . get to know her first.

Sin sod - there is a sharp divide among foreigners about this. My take on sin sod is to look at the costs of marriage holistically. Son sod is just a line item. If the wedding is what you both want and can afford then go for it.

I’m going to assume from your comments that you are not considering age gap relationships.

The cost of the plan will also depend on the deductible. Choosing a higher deductible will lower the cost. Routine care is very inexpensive in Thailand. Pay for this out of pocket. My plan deductible is $1,200 and in 7 years have never had a medical bill more than $600 and that was only once and included 2 nights in a private room.

The Pacific Cross website has their plan options and approximate costs. I’ve never made a claim with them but their customer service has been excellent.

@Rich ***

That is correct which is why I recommended the O. When I got my OA in 2017 there was no insurance requirement.

Some other differences:

OA is a 1 year multiple entry visa vs the O being a 90 day single entry

Each time you enter the country with an OA during the first year of validity you get a yearlong permission to stay stamp. I got 19 months on my OA before I started applying for 1 year extensions inside Thailand.

You can qualify for an OA with money in your home country bank account though you must deposit the 800,000 baht into a Thai bank account for your 1 year extension inside Thailand.

You have to get a criminal background check in your home country to get an OA. There is also a medical certificate to be signed by a doctor.

It is possible to get an O visa from your home country Thai consulate as well as being able to get it here inside Thailand.

First make sure you have an OA visa and not an O visa. Some people mix these up. You can only get an OA visa in your home country.

The OA has some unusual features. It would be helpful to know when your OA was issued and whether you have traveled outside Thailand in the past year. The answer for you could be complicated.

Brandon is correct though, at some point you can extend your visa for 1 year. There is the issue of your current health insurance policy as well. You need to ask immigration if your current health insurance policy will qualify for a 1 year extension inside Thailand.

I had an OA visa in Bangkok for 6 years.