@Nongnuch *******

I had this 5000 baht insurance. I had an accident and Kasikorn paid in full.

@Nongnuch *******

I am not suggesting changing the reason of the visa. However you can choose retired or married for the visa 1 year extension after the first extension. I could extend my OA visa as married if I chose to. I’m happy to let Tod weigh in on this.

First your age is going to matter and expect that preexisting conditions won’t be covered on a new policy. My strategy was to buy into a policy with a large deductible (40,000 baht in my case) which will lower the cost. Pay for routine care yourself. Keep money in savings ($100,000+ ??) to pay for what the insurance won’t cover. The insurance is for a catastrophic health event. If you are over 70 then any new insurance may be a problem.

@Graham *****

OK two years and then he can switch but the interesting question is dropping the insurance if extending as married.

At first an OA visa requires health insurance. You will have to do this the first year. If you have then extend your OA visa for 1 year as married then, I believe, you no longer need health insurance. Check the details on this with Tod Daniels in this group or the Thai visa advice Facebook group.

If you extend an OA visa as retired then you need insurance. If you extend as married, I don’t think so.

@Frank *********

You do have to return the proof life form. If you are using a US address then you have to know it arrived and have it forwarded to to you. I’ve never seen an option to submit the proof of life online. Some people will already be receiving SS in the US and then move to Thailand. Once someone gets settled here the it is a good idea to tell SS your new Thai address. Social Security totally supports Americans living long term overseas. Expats in Thailand are supposed to use the Social Security office in Manila, Philippines. That’s the office to which I send my Thailand address changes. Strangely though the proof of life letter must be returned to the US office using the envelope provided. I go to the expense of sending it using the Express Mail Service (EMS) which will also track the letter.

@Frank *********

There is a big difference between physically being in the US and simply returning the proof of life form that Social Security will send to your Thai address.

@Tk ******

You do not have to spend any time in the US. I’ve been on Social Security in Thailand since 2018. I was in Thailand four years during Covid and never in the US more than 2 weeks per year when visiting. I think other countries have rules such as you described but not the US.

Social Security has my Thai address but my benefits are deposited into my US bank. My US bank has my sister’s US address.

Part of the answer is to check the website for the Thai consulate in your country.