Health Insurance mandatory for long-stay foreigners

[Rex (Admin)]

That is one of the things agents do now already, lah; facilitate the application process without the need to demonstrate insurance.

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[fceligoj]

Rex, I think you made it under the wire.  For all the rest of you on a Non Immigrant "O-A" Visa, be prepared.

A golfing friend of mine went to Khon Kaen Immigration on Thursday the 28th of Nov.  He was attempting to renew his Marriage extension based upon the Non "O-A" visa.

Everything was going along as it should with no issues until at the end.  The I/O did not ask him any questions, but got up and went back to talk to a senior person in Immigration.  They talked for quite a while and then went in to see the Supervisor.  The three of them got on the phone to some one either in the regional office or back to Bangkok.

The I/O came out and told him that he is the first individual that had come in to renew his Marriage Extension based upon a non "O-A" visa.  He needs to have insurance before they can approve.  (This is all new so it is more than just those who are getting a NEW Non "O-A" visa, it will be for everyone that has an "O-A" and is attempting to renew.)  He said he had an AIA Policy that exceeds the minimum requirement, but they said they CANNOT accept it as coverage since AIA would not sign up with Immigration as a provider.  (The only way AIA will provide the medical insurance for it to be tied to a Life Insurance policy.)

Rex, is Aetna on the Immigration list of acceptable Medical Insurance providers?

He is on his way this Sunday, the 1st, to Laos to get the Non IMM type "O" Marriage Visa.  He is not going to Savannakhet but to Vientiane instead.  Said he will report back on whether he was successful or not.

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[Rex (Admin)]

Thanks for the report, Frank.

Just to keep the record straight, I am on an "O" not an "O-A."  I have posted about the insurance issue because at first, I was not clear about "O" vs. "O-A" situation.  However, I do have Aetna (BOOOPA), but only inpatient. When I investigated rates, I learned that it would cost an additional B50K on top of my B72K to add outpatient. One of the worst deals I have ever seen.  B50K would get me a maximum of of B75K of coverage during the year. At the time, there was no option for only the Imm required B40K coverage. If they use the same formula, B40K would cost nearly B28K. Ridiculous.


I would be surprised if Aetna was not on the approved list, but I don't know one way or the other.

The other option for your friend is to use an agent.

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[fceligoj]

He feels there is no need since once he has the Non "O" Visa based on marriage he will use the Non "O" to get a new marriage extension at Khon Kaen Immigration.  Then no need for a visa run every 90 Days.  He will report on his success, etc., once he is back.

On the Medical Insurance side, I have a reasonable policy with AIA for about B50K a year (of course tied to a life insurance policy with my wife as the beneficiary.)  It gives me B25K of outpatient coverage, but like I said AIA refuses to belong to the group of insurance company 'qualified' by Immigration.  (You have to wonder how much of a kickback the insurance companies on the approved list have to pay.)

Rex, sorry that I assume you had an "O-A" with all your concern with the medical insurance.

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[TerryLH]

He is on his way this Sunday, the 1st, to Laos to get the Non IMM type "O" Marriage Visa.  He is not going to Savannakhet but to Vientiane instead.

Does he have an appointment?

 

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[Rex (Admin)]

If he doesn't, I guess he will find out on Monday morning that he needed one.  It is not like the good old days when you could just drop in at the Consulate.  Leading up to my renewal last month, as I was considering my options, I was going to book an appointment at Vientiane as a fall-back in case my application went pear-shaped.  I don't recall it being as busy as someone told me, but you still need to plan ahead.  Ain't life in these here modern times wonderful?

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[russell17au]

You can get the same visa at Savannakhet and there is no appointment needed just romp up like we used to do at Vientiane plus there is also the extra of being able to get a multi entry if it works out better for you. The only reason I got the multi entry was because of Khon Kaen Immigration and now it gives me 15 months to see what happens here with the strength of the baht and any changes to the rules that they may think up. Savannakhet is not much different in travel time.

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[Savannah20]

Some info that I did not really read:


https://www.aetna.co.th/en/long-stay-visa/

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