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Early reports that the Thai Cabinet has agreed in principle that all non-immigrant one-year visa holders will need Covid coverage to renew their stay appear to be overkill. The suggestion was that all foreigners in need of an annual renewal would need coronavirus coverage to the tune of 3 million baht.
It now appears that only holders of annual O / A visas will be affected. O / A visas are only issued by Thai embassies abroad, although annual renewal can be done at Thai immigration offices. Most of the holders are retirees. The Firm has suggested that those who cannot purchase Covid insurance in Thailand – there is usually a maximum age of around 70 to start – can also buy from companies based abroad.
The reality is that most retirees in Thailand have an “O” visa either granted by a Thai embassy abroad or, more likely, issued by the Thai immigration office. They currently do not need any insurance to renew their annual residence permit and there is no mention of them in the Cabinet announcement. Some O / A visa holders have become “O” in recent years, but many immigration offices require you to leave the country first to cancel the O / A.
The key point, however, is that nothing has been set in stone at this point. The Cabinet asked the immigration office, along with other agencies, to look into the details and come up with firm proposals. Thus, it will probably take several months, perhaps longer, before a warrant for action appears in the Royal Gazette. Much could change in the interim period.
The whole question of foreigners and insurance in Thailand is getting bogged down. All foreign visitors arriving since early 2020 have required Covid insurance, but it is easier to obtain before entry than when you renew your visa. Some foreign visitors are required separately and in addition to having general (non-Covid) medical insurance, but not all: it depends on the visa you are applying for.
So, as usual, the devil will be in the detail that we won’t see for a long time. But most observers believe long-term elderly people in Thailand, sooner or later, will need some sort of insurance coverage to satisfy Thai critics who have long claimed that foreigners are bankrupting health services. because they don’t pay their bills. Covid-19 has taken this debate to a confused head.
It is also true that advanced Thai expatriate seniors – between the ages of 75 and 100 – often cannot get insurance in Thailand, especially if they have pre-existing conditions. But Thai private hospitals confirm that these are often wealthy people who have no choice but to self-insure. So, it is very likely that self-insurance will become a clear option for the first time, and additional wads of cash in the bank or other evidence of financial strength will do. As for how much and in what form, only time will show.
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