Proof of Medical Insurance proposed for Retirement Visa

[travelerjim]

Here's a topic of much concern for retirees and expats on 1 year retirement visas...
Thailand is losing BIG amounts of Thai baht in the medical care & treatment of expat retirees...
What is the solution?

Proof Of Medical Insurance Proposed For 1 Year Visa
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637 ... n=featured (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637123-proof-of-medical-insurance-proposed-for-1-year-visa/?utm_source=newsletter-20130505-1639&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=featured)

http://pattaya-today.com/news/news-from ... -tourists/ (http://pattaya-today.com/news/news-from-around-pattaya/compulsory-insurance-for-expats-and-tourists/)

The government is considering forcing foreigners to buy health insurance before traveling to Thailand.

Public health minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said that 2.5 million foreigners out of a total of 22 million visitors appeared at Thai hospitals last year, but a significant minority were unable to pay which resulted in a financial burden for local hospitals. He explained that the main problems concerned foreigners hospitalized in emergencies, especially traffic accidents and heart attacks, and the costs associated with taking care of corpses, particularly autopsies and cold storage.

The situation is particularly acute in tourist-dominated resorts. The state-run Banglamung Hospital, near Pattaya, estimated that unpaid bills from foreigners amounted to 2 million baht in 2012. The government Vachira Phuket Hospital claims that free treatment for foreigners is costing them 3 million baht a year. Total costs nationwide are in the region of 70 million baht annually.

As regards older expats on one year visas, the most likely outcome is that applications will need to be accompanied by valid medical insurance or proof of a greater income or cash deposits than is currently required (800,000 baht for a retiree visa and 400,000 for a farang with a Thai spouse).

A spokesperson for the Immigration Bureau said there were no imminent financial changes to the one-year visa rules, but the matter is under review. In the 1990s, he explained, there was a requirement to provide a certificate of good health before a long-stay visa was granted. тАЬThe rule was dropped because the letters were often issued after a very cursory medical examination or no examination at all.тАЭ

(see articles/links for complete news release)

tj

[SmoothLegs]

2 million and 3 million baht per year loss, that is peanuts. People I know that had to go to the hospital had bills between 500.000 and 1 million for 1-2 weeks treatment (incl. intensive care, which is the most expensive daily base)

Maybe if there was a real good Thai insurance, for retirees or younger expats, which does not exclude many things, people would buy them more

It's a requirement for a retirement visa in Malaysia but there's a get-out-of-jail-free card "unless its not available" which it usually isn't if you're over 60.

[Up2U]

It's a requirement for a retirement visa in Malaysia but there's a get-out-of-jail-free card "unless its not available" which it usually isn't if you're over 60.
Yeah, but we live and have assets in Thailand. With ASEAN just around the corner, look for more standardization with Thailand taking the lead in these new requirements.

[puckered_penguin]

This is derived from a newspaper article originally reported in some local rag in Pattaya a few months ago.

I notice that the op here, traveler Jim, is a medical insurance salesman so guess there no better way to drum up business

I would worry about it when and should it ever happen. If it should happen then current retirees might well be granted grand-father rights of no change in their status or requirements to meet that status.

Retirees who originally had to show savings of 400.000 in the bank before it was raised to 800,000 still have to show only 400,000 Baht.

[travelerjim]

puckered_penguin...

By the statement you made:

"I notice that the op here, traveler Jim, is a medical insurance salesman so guess there no better way to drum up business"

May I say that you really do not know me...
my sole purpose was and is to alert and advise...
clearly, the Thais and ASEAN countries are looking at this issue.

What will or whether anything may happen..is pure speculation...
TIT is the adage often said.

Take good care,

tj

[Manforallseasons]

If you are uninsured but not penniless you might find the following of interest. (Copiied from Teak Door)



Pattaya opens first euthanasia clinic for expats

World class...but Pattaya is a magnet for suicide addicts

Thailand's world class Hospital has opened its first of several government funded euthanasia clinics to curb the high number of expat suicide deaths that occur in the region, particularly Pattaya City.

So far 37 deaths have been recorded in this area alone, prompting a meeting between city councillors, embassy representatives and doctors from the hospital.

Widowed or bereaved spouses were invited but none attended or were present at the meeting, but two relayed messages to the meeting, citing sick parents or eating their lunch. Officials were satisfaied with the reasons.

Relaxed...A patient awaits his fate in the new facility last night

''We want to make things as painless as possible, we understand that many cases of depression, terminal illness, alcoholism and getting with the wrong kind of partner can be a major cause of mental trauma and we want to avoid the general public having to witness such gruesome acts of this nature'' A senior speciaist was quoted as saying at the meeting.


Luxury...rooms are painted neutral to calm the nerves

Facilities such as neutral coloured rooms and bed sets will be installed, as well as limited access to balconies and sharp objects. All clinics will be installed on low level floors.


Safety first...Some luxuries are prohibited

''We will remove all belts and shoelaces from patients upon arrival, they will be allocated a stay of three days maximum whilst they ponder their futures''

Senior Nurse Pongporn Wittayau said at the meeting. She added:

''Banking facilities will also be state of the art in the building, with money transfers to Thai nationals not incurring any additional charges. The inaugural National Bank Of Isarn will open its first public branch within the hospital, offering patients the knowledge that their monetary affairs will be well taken care of once they have passed on to the big beer bar in the sky''

Optional access to the internet and an international dial telephone, charged at standard rates, will be available at a small cost. Patients will be offered three ways and levels of ending their lives, via painless injection, electric shock, or being beaten with blunt instruments by a group of local hoodlums, with the latter being the cheapest.

City officials believe it will be very successful and are planning similar facilities in Phuket and Koh Samui.
__________________

[RichLB]

May I say that you really do not know me...
my sole purpose was and is to alert and advise...
clearly, the Thais and ASEAN countries are looking at this issue.

While not a popular opinion, I think the idea is a good one. I do have a question though. Many of us are on Medicare (from the US) and since Medicare does not cover outside the country bills we carry supplemental insurance. In my case, this supplementary insurance only covers emergency treatment outside the USA. Would this satisfy the potentially new regulation?

[Smiles]

" . . . Pattaya opens first [World class] euthanasia clinic for expats . . . Widowed or bereaved spouses were invited but none attended or were present at the meeting, but two relayed messages to the meeting, citing sick parents or eating their lunch. Officials were satisfied with the reasons.

The inaugural National Bank Of Isarn [is located within the hospital] . . ., "

:laughing3: :laughing3:

Although not well known, the 2nd branch is located two doors down from our town house in Hua Hin. Open 24 hours for someone's convenience.

[Up2U]

May I say that you really do not know me...
my sole purpose was and is to alert and advise...
clearly, the Thais and ASEAN countries are looking at this issue.

While not a popular opinion, I think the idea is a good one. I do have a question though. Many of us are on Medicare (from the US) and since Medicare does not cover outside the country bills we carry supplemental insurance. In my case, this supplementary insurance only covers emergency treatment outside the USA. Would this satisfy the potentially new regulation?
I suspect it would unless they want to see an paid up annual premium. My situation is similar but I pay monthly and not annually so that could be a problem?

[Beachlover]

I reckon this is a good idea too RichLB... At the very least, everyone should have insurance to cover emergency treatment and medical evacuation back home if needed.

Having said that, if you've decided live there, you really should have insurance to cover treatment locally, just as you would at home.