Adelphi Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 I am in Thailand and due to renew my O-A visa mid February. I have been relying on my excellent travel insurance up until now which expires 21 Dec (which I can renew). I understand that I will need an "approved" O-A type health insurance policy when I go to Pattaya immigration to renew my O-A visa. I had intended to take out the health insurance policy from Pacific Cross to begin 21 December when my travel insurance expires. However, a friend has said that the health insurance must start on the same day as the new O-A visa. Can anyone clarify this point please? Also I read some time ago that some immigration offices may no longer ask for health insurance on renewal. It would be very helpful if anyone who has recently used the Pattaya office to renew an o-A visa can share any up to date information on this point. As always than you very much in advance to all of those who post positive replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Sounds like a job for @Peter Denis He will sort you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVENKEEL Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 11 minutes ago, Adelphi said: I am in Thailand and due to renew my O-A visa mid February. I have been relying on my excellent travel insurance up until now which expires 21 Dec (which I can renew). I understand that I will need an "approved" O-A type health insurance policy when I go to Pattaya immigration to renew my O-A visa. I had intended to take out the health insurance policy from Pacific Cross to begin 21 December when my travel insurance expires. However, a friend has said that the health insurance must start on the same day as the new O-A visa. Can anyone clarify this point please? Also I read some time ago that some immigration offices may no longer ask for health insurance on renewal. It would be very helpful if anyone who has recently used the Pattaya office to renew an o-A visa can share any up to date information on this point. As always than you very much in advance to all of those who post positive replies. I just did my OA extension at Jomtein via an agent. 3,000 bht (total) for medical ins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Just now, EVENKEEL said: I just did my OA extension at Jomtein via an agent. 3,000 bht (total) for medical ins. Total for the full service please, include all costs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 19 minutes ago, Adelphi said: I had intended to take out the health insurance policy from Pacific Cross to begin 21 December when my travel insurance expires. However, a friend has said that the health insurance must start on the same day as the new O-A visa. You cannot apply for a OA visa at immigration. You will extending the permit to stay from a OA visa you got when you entered the country. You should contact the office where you will be apply about when the insurance need to start. It varies from office to office. I assume you will have 800k baht in Thai bank for 2 months on the day you apply for the extension or proof of 65k baht income. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackayae Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Are the old health insurance requirements still in effect? I have insurance through PC but am looking for a cheaper alternative. I never used it this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 1 minute ago, mackayae said: Are the old health insurance requirements still in effect? Yes You could look here for lower cost insurance. https://longstay.tgia.org/home/companiesoa Check LMG insurance that offers a lower cost insurance with a 200k baht deductible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 6 minutes ago, mackayae said: Are the old health insurance requirements still in effect? I have insurance through PC but am looking for a cheaper alternative. I never used it this year. As Joe states LMG is the cheapest throwaway insurance, I paid 6000 baht ( with a 200k deductible ) at age 59 . Of course if you are looking for actual coverage then set your sights higher and look at Pacific Cross policies, the cheapest LMG is really only considered a gateway to obtaining OA extension . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVENKEEL Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 19 minutes ago, jacko45k said: Total for the full service please, include all costs? 13,000 for extension, 3,000 for Med Ins and 1,000 for single entry. 17,000bht for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 11 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said: 13,000 for extension, 3,000 for Med Ins and 1,000 for single entry. 17,000bht for all. Thanks, just to confirm, the usual Extension fee (1,900) also included in all (17,000)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVENKEEL Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 3 minutes ago, jacko45k said: Thanks, just to confirm, the usual Extension fee (1,900) also included in all (17,000)? Yes, all included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerewardtheWake Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 As Andrew said, LMG insurance is a convenient means for obtaining or maintaining the O-A visa. The 200,000 deductible is for each medical occurrence. Presumably, if one has had a serious accident, the 200,000 Baht deductible will be used up and then coverage will begin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 20 minutes ago, HerewardtheWake said: As Andrew said, LMG insurance is a convenient means for obtaining or maintaining the O-A visa. The 200,000 deductible is for each medical occurrence. Presumably, if one has had a serious accident, the 200,000 Baht deductible will be used up and then coverage will begin. Up to 400,000 baht then you are on your own again ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adelphi Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 Thanks for all of the replies. Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrySeaman Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 At Jomtiem/Pattaya Immigration you need your insurance starting the day you submit your visa extension request. I normally do the visa extension myself but because of the new insurance requirement I used Chang Pattaya Services Co., Ltd. They are the copy and visa service next door to the Jomtiem Thai Immigration office. The charge was 22,000 Bt for everything, including 5000 Bt for the same health/accident insurance I got from my bank for 3000 Bt a couple of months earlier. Expensive but a lot less than the judicious prices for insurance from the companies shown as "approved insurance companies" on the Thai Immigration web site, not that I was eligible in any case because of age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 1. How old are you? 2. Are you looking just to meet OA requirement or do you also need meaningful cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwest5829 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 10 hours ago, HerewardtheWake said: As Andrew said, LMG insurance is a convenient means for obtaining or maintaining the O-A visa. The 200,000 deductible is for each medical occurrence. Presumably, if one has had a serious accident, the 200,000 Baht deductible will be used up and then coverage will begin. With the addendum that, for someone in my case, the pre-existing conditions would rule out any coverage dealing with the heart or circulation. I just rationalized the 11,400 baht insurance cost (age 73) as being as cheap as a trip out of the country to begin the process to change to an, “O Visa” (of course leaving and return right now made the plan moot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightsidecat Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 They will extend up to the date your new policy expires - in my case it was only for 8 months which I did intentionally to get off a summer renewal. In your case it will be 10 or 11 months. If you go with LMG they will date the plan on your renewal but stand alone it is basically useless. I also am using Pacific Cross as my main plan with no Outpatient and LMG as the O-A compliant plan. Having LMG as a secondary plan is actually quite useful due to fairly low limits with Pacific Cross maximums for daily roommates, , misc. expenses etc. Once you hit 200,000 with a claim LMG will fill in the gaps up to 400,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJAS Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 1 hour ago, lightsidecat said: I also am using Pacific Cross as my main plan with no Outpatient and LMG as the O-A compliant plan. So presumably the outpatient exclusion discount on your Pacific Cross policy more than covers the premium on your LMG policy then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adelphi Posted December 3, 2020 Author Share Posted December 3, 2020 15 hours ago, Sheryl said: 1. How old are you? 2. Are you looking just to meet OA requirement or do you also need meaningful cover? I am 62 and as far as I know in very good health. As I need to have insurance then I may as well have a meaningful policy but with a high excess to keep the premiums down. Paying say Bhat 300k excess for medical treatment in a year would not cause me a problem. I will hopefully do a visa run next year and move to an O visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 4 hours ago, Adelphi said: I am 62 and as far as I know in very good health. As I need to have insurance then I may as well have a meaningful policy but with a high excess to keep the premiums down. Paying say Bhat 300k excess for medical treatment in a year would not cause me a problem. I will hopefully do a visa run next year and move to an O visa. Now is indeed the time to get a good policy, before you have any ore-existing conditions. And assuming you plan on remaining in Thailand for life, you want one that guarantees lifetime renewal. Which may be difficult. I know AETNA offers that but only if you enrol before age 60. You should go through a broker both to assess options and things like whether renewal is guaranteed for life and whether there is a deductible option. .In addition broker can help later if any issues with claims. I use AA, www.aainsure.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeeTua Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 The insurance can begin before your permission to stay renewal date but you will only get permission to stay up to the expiration of the insurance in your case if you got a policy that expires 21 Dec 2021 that is when your permission to will expire. I have insurance with Pacific Cross and on an O-A visa extension of stay. I used AAinsure broker that Sheryl mentioned and they were very good at working with Pacific Cross to get my new policy to align with a full one year of permission of stay. The high deductible policies can get your premium down nicely. Benny at AAinsure was very helpful for me. Looks like you need to get on it now if you want insurance to start at 21 Dec. They may work with you to give you a prorated policy that will renew at the start of your next permission of stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moontang Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 On 12/2/2020 at 7:42 AM, EVENKEEL said: 13,000 for extension, 3,000 for Med Ins and 1,000 for single entry. 17,000bht for all. Did you actually have the 800k in the bank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVENKEEL Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 58 minutes ago, moontang said: Did you actually have the 800k in the bank? Of course I did, what are you saying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moontang Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 58 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said: Of course I did, what are you saying? Some of the agents advertise no bank book required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleur3 Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 one remark. Medical insurance price depends on your age. So mentioning the price is not very worth if not mentioned age. Above 75 ibuying medical insurance is almost impossible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonray Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 13 hours ago, EVENKEEL said: Of course I did, what are you saying? He's saying why would you pay 13,000 baht for something that costs everyone else 1900 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVENKEEL Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 14 minutes ago, tonray said: He's saying why would you pay 13,000 baht for something that costs everyone else 1900 ? I pay for the ease of not dealing with trivial things like immigration. I usually have my secretary handle it but she's on vacation at the time. I pay more than 13,000bht for a decent bottle of wine, it's just money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olmate Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 7 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said: I pay for the ease of not dealing with trivial things like immigration. I usually have my secretary handle it but she's on vacation at the time. I pay more than 13,000bht for a decent bottle of wine, it's just money. But you don,t have insurance..hahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVENKEEL Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 Just now, Olmate said: But you don,t have insurance..hahah I already have blue cross/blue shield international ins. but thanks for asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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