Over 80 on OA Extensions for 14 years. Chiang Mai.

[sirwilly]

Hi I am 0ver 80 years of age and came on an O-A visa in 2005 and have been doing Extensions of Stay at Chiang Mai Immigration each year since, this year will be the 15th year I use the 800k baht method in Thai bank. I am to old to get health insurance so is there any provision for the very elderly like myself. I look forward to replies. William

[lopburi3]

At this time the only viable work around seems to be to start over using non immigrant O visa entry (either visa from other country and enter or exit/return and apply for change to non immigrant for 2,000 baht and show of financials).   With time one would hope that a better solution might be found - but from the still uncorrected on-line 90 day reporting not being available to those without a recent entry not too sure.

[KKr]

If you must be insured, that is a difficult situation.

 

One thought is to pursuade one of the insurers to write a policy for the required amount, with a first risk amount that is similar, ( for a nominal fee. )

Then one would be insured !!

[Max69xl]

20 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

At this time the only viable work around seems to be to start over using non immigrant O visa entry (either visa from other country and enter or exit/return and apply for change to non immigrant for 2,000 baht and show of financials).   With time one would hope that a better solution might be found - but from the still uncorrected on-line 90 day reporting not being available to those without a recent entry not too sure.

"but from the still uncorrected on-line 90 day reporting not being available to those without a recent entry not too sure."

What has this got to do with the OP's question?   

[Max69xl]

1 minute ago, KKr said:

If you must be insured, that is a difficult situation.

 

One thought is to pursuade one of the insurers to write a policy for the required amount, with a first risk amount that is similar, ( for a nominal fee. )

Then one would be insured !!

Really? Please explain!

[lopburi3]

2 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

"but from the still uncorrected on-line 90 day reporting not being available to those without a recent entry not too sure."

What has this got to do with the OP's question?   

The we may not get a quick resolution - still none except exit/enter for the 90 day on-line reporting and they have had years to fix that. 

[Davut]

Oh dear,  can someone clarify this one please.

 

My understanding is that "health Insurance" is only needed for new O-A visa after 31 October 2019 to gain entry into Thailand.   And,   for those who are currently on "extensions" (and started with 0-A) health insurance is not required at this time?

This gentleman who is 80 yrs (sirwilly) has no chance of getting health insurance in Thailand from what I have read.

 

Perhaps Ubon Joe can clarify this one?

[tgeezer]

Wait for Immigration to raise the subject, they probably won’t.  If they do tell them that you tried but can’t get insured because of your age. Leave it there, do not try to convince them of anything. If you do not get an extension you could ask what you should do, you are in their hands. I can not see that after fourteen years and money in the bank that any one will push the issue because there is no practical reason to prevent you extending your visa. I expect that you have always found that if you don’t upset them or allow them to paint themselves into a corner, Thai people can be very accommodating and understanding and the older you are the better. 

[Max69xl]

38 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

The we may not get a quick resolution - still none except exit/enter for the 90 day on-line reporting and they have had years to fix that. 

I still don't understand what you're talking about. 

[NoshowJones]

3 minutes ago, tgeezer said:

Wait for Immigration to raise the subject, they probably won’t.  If they do tell them that you tried but can’t get insured because of your age. Leave it there, do not try to convince them of anything. If you do not get an extension you could ask what you should do, you are in their hands. I can not see that after fourteen years and money in the bank that any one will push the issue because there is no practical reason to prevent you extending your visa. I expect that you have always found that if you don’t upset them or allow them to paint themselves into a corner, Thai people can be very accommodating and understanding and the older you are the better. 

Your last sentence, Thai people in general yes, but the Thai government or immigration???????

[Max69xl]

5 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Your last sentence, Thai people in general yes, but the Thai government or immigration???????

They are still people and the OP is 80 years old. 

[tgeezer]

4 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Your last sentence, Thai people in general yes, but the Thai government or immigration???????

How many people say TIT ? It is true, this is Thailand, Immigration are Thai people we come here because of these facts. 

[kokopelli]

Perhaps see a visa agent.

[bbi1]

Why would there be any "special provisions" for you? They require over 50's to have health insurance on retirement visas and for very good reason. They don't want unpaid hospital bills by any uninsured aging population who are most at risk. You either need to get it or leave Thailand when they reject your extension and go back to your home country.

[bbi1]

11 minutes ago, kokopelli said:

Perhaps see a visa agent.

What does a visa agent have to do with needing the required health insurance?

[lopburi3]

5 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Why would there be any "special provisions" for you?

Because there is no current option to buy any qualified insurance and that is not the fault of the poster who may well have much better insurance and who retired here meeting the conditions of stay.

[bbi1]

5 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Because there is no current option to buy any qualified insurance and that is not the fault of the poster who may well have much better insurance and who retired here meeting the conditions of stay.

If the requirements for a retirement visa is health insurance and no health insurance company will insure then the OP will need to get a different visa which doesn't require it, meaning an Elite visa which will work best and give up to 6 years here. Alternatively the other option is to leave Thailand.

[Expattaff1308]

The op doesnt mention if he is married or not.

If he is, can he not change his reason for extension from retirement to marriage thereby doing away with the high premium insurance offered by the cartel. 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, KKr said:

If you must be insured, that is a difficult situation.

 

One thought is to pursuade one of the insurers to write a policy for the required amount, with a first risk amount that is similar, ( for a nominal fee. )

Then one would be insured !!

None of the "approved" insurers have policy that allows for this and Thai insurers tend not to think outside the box (to put it mildly). The only insurer on the immigration approved list that might possibly respond would be Pacific Cross. Nothing to lose by trying but I am not optimistic.

 

Otherwise as long as CM Imm requires this for extensions of stay on old OAs the only recourse currently available for those over 75 or with significant pre-existing conditions is to leave and return with different visa type: O, Elite, Investment etc. 

[lensta]

Change your visa from OA to O then you don't need insurance. Immigration said this themselves a couple of weeks ago.

[TheAppletons]

1 hour ago, Davut said:

Oh dear,  can someone clarify this one please.

 

My understanding is that "health Insurance" is only needed for new O-A visa after 31 October 2019 to gain entry into Thailand.   And,   for those who are currently on "extensions" (and started with 0-A) health insurance is not required at this time?

This gentleman who is 80 yrs (sirwilly) has no chance of getting health insurance in Thailand from what I have read.

 

Perhaps Ubon Joe can clarify this one?

  You've got some catching up to do.  

[Sheryl]

39 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

What does a visa agent have to do with needing the required health insurance?

It is possible though not yet known that a visa agent might, through their ability to access higher level IOs with discretionary power , be able to get extension without one of the approved insurance policies (which an 80 year old any way cannot get).  Maybe because a more senior officer would understad it is not really required, or maybe because senior officer would waive the requirement. 

 

Potential problem I see with this approach is it might lock you into having to use agent every year and if there were ever a crack down on use of agents you might then be in a fix.

[Mango Bob]

53 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Why would there be any "special provisions" for you? They require over 50's to have health insurance on retirement visas and for very good reason. They don't want unpaid hospital bills by any uninsured aging population who are most at risk. You either need to get it or leave Thailand when they reject your extension and go back to your home country.

So I guess those who on an Non O never had an unpaid hospital bill.  Where Have you been?

[amexpat]

57 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

They require over 50's to have health insurance on retirement visas and for very good reason. They don't want unpaid hospital bills by any uninsured aging population who are most at risk.

But the policies they promote would pay little if anything toward the hospital bills. Maybe another reason?

[tgeezer]

Being in what I assume to be a similar position to the OP except that I had an O visa and am 74.  If a decree appears requiring me to have insurance I will behave as I have advised him to behave.  Is it reasonable to expect someone of 80 to start scamming or leave the country and start over again in the same way as someone aged 55 might be expected to do? As consideration of his case moves further up the line of command it is bound to encounter someone with some compassion or desire for a quiet life.  He has more to gain by my way than he has by avoiding the issue. 

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by tgeezer

[from the home of CC]

imo at 80 yrs old I would not be using an 'agent' to try and bribe an IO ( truthfully that would be the only 'function' of an 'agent' in this case). Giving people advice to break the law (facilitation to corruption) is both irresponsible and idiotic. As other posters have suggested go the elite or the o visa route.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, bbi1 said:

Why would there be any "special provisions" for you? They require over 50's to have health insurance on retirement visas and for very good reason. They don't want unpaid hospital bills by any uninsured aging population who are most at risk. You either need to get it or leave Thailand when they reject your extension and go back to your home country.

 

And how exactly can he get it when the only policies Immigration will accept are from a few hand picked Thai companies who do not insure people his age? For all we know he may already have excellent insurance cover from a foteign company, many of us do.

 

Are you aware of the details of this new insurance requiewment? It woll not in any way address the problem of unpaid hospital bills and in fact may well worsen it by encouraging people to waste money on inadequate policies 

[vivananahuahin]

why they don't make a black list from the hospitals bills(names, nationality,age, not yet pay) and make a data base and transmit to the immigration office,it is so easy when they come to the IOs they can control this,now they aim one type op persons may be with the most integrity and financial means,they have always minimum 400.000 on the bank account,it is just an idea i am not a minister.And i am very curious which age are not paying the bills because the first question when you go to the private hospitals is, have you an insurance or a credit card and without i think they will not help you,about the government hospitals i don't know,but they are always under "the oath of Hippocrates".

[Expattaff1308]

32 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

And how exactly can he get it when the only policies Immigration will accept are from a few hand picked Thai companies who do not insure people his age? For all we know he may already have excellent insurance cover from a foteign company, many of us do.

 

Are you aware of the details of this new insurance requiewment? It woll not in any way address the problem of unpaid hospital bills and in fact may well worsen it by encouraging people to waste money on inadequate policies 

Exactly, Im 66 and searched all those listed on the 'approved list' some dont insure over 65, others the premiums are twice as much as other companies are for only the minimum cover required by Imm, some need you to have a complete medical costed between 7,500 and 10,000 which they will meet part of the cost if they accept you, seems these chosen few are exploiting the situation for their own pockets.

Then as we know any pre existing conditions wouldnt be covered which places the policy as an expensive useless waste of money.

What happened to the idea of having the equivalent in a separate bank account for those who couldnt get Ins for whatever reason or even the 400k we are not allowed to spend from our 800k in the bank.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Expattaff1308

[sqwakvfr]

I have thought what would I do if I was 80 and needed to/wanted to stay in the Kingdom?  If I had the 800K Baht in the bank I would consider the most drastic option:  Get a 5 year Elite Visa with 500K of the 800K.  I know the cost is steep but drastic times might require a drastic decision.  No Health Insurance Requirement for the Elite Visa(at least not yet?).