Are you in Thailand, or planning to leave for retirement or as an expatriate? Depending on the type of visa you are applying for – OA Visa, OX Visa or LTR (Long Term Resident) Visa – health insurance is compulsory to obtain your visa. But not all insurance is created equal: international health insurance offers much more comprehensive coverage than local Thai insurance, which is often limited in terms of coverage and ceilings.
In this article, find out more about the specific requirements of each visa and how to choose the best insurance to protect your health and enjoy your stay with complete peace of mind.
Is health insurance compulsory in Thailand?
If you are retired, over 50 and wish to reside in Thailand, you must take out expatriate insurance in Thailand. This applies to you if you hold an O-A non-immigrant visa or an O-X non-immigrant visa. These visas are intended for long-term stays. The Thai government introduced this requirement to deal with the growing number of unpaid medical bills in hospitals. These were due to accidents and health problems encountered by expatriates who had not taken out insurance.
Thailand visa: insurance requirements
Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay)
The O-A visa is for people aged 50 and over who want to stay in Thailand for an extended period. This visa is valid for 1 year and is renewable provided you meet the Thai government’s criteria. To obtain this visa, you must take out health insurance for Thailand covering a minimum of :
- 40,000 baht (approx. €1,100) for outpatient treatment.
- 400,000 baht (approx. €11,000) for hospital treatment.
These amounts provide sufficient coverage for routine medical expenses and emergencies.
You will also be required to have :
- a valid passport,
- a clean criminal record,
- financial guarantees before signing up for your visa.
Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay for Pensioners)
The O-X visa is an option for retirees aged 50 and over of certain nationalities. France, the UK, the USA and Italy are among the 14 countries that can apply for this visa. This visa allows you to reside in Thailand for up to 10 years. On the other hand, the insurance requirements for this visa are higher. You will be asked to:
- minimum coverage of 3 million baht (approx. €80,000) for medical expenses
- insurance valid for at least one year, renewable each year.
Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR)
The LTR visa is a recent initiative by the Thai government to attract wealthy expatriates, highly skilled professionals and retirees. Eligibility criteria and insurance requirements for this visa are specific. These require particular attention when purchasing expatriate insurance. The insurance conditions are as follows:
- Take out expatriate insurance with a minimum cover of 1,700,000 baht (approx. €46,000) for medical expenses.
- Insurance must be valid for the entire duration of your stay (you must provide the insurance company’s certificate as proof).
- The insurer must be recognized by the Thai authorities
With Mondassur, you can take out long-term resident (LTR) visa insurance for Thailand, valid with the Thai authorities.
Destination Multiple Entry Visa - DTV (M)
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV ) is designed for digital nomads, remote workers and people wishing to take part in cultural or sporting activities in Thailand. This visa is valid for 5 years, with stays of up to 180 days, renewable on the spot. Although health insurance is not compulsory for this visa, we strongly recommend that you take it out. Appropriate insurance protects you in the event of accident or illness, and also covers your travels in Southeast Asia. So you can enjoy your stay in Thailand with peace of mind.
Why good health insurance is essential in Thailand
Thailand offers high-quality medical care, but costs can be high for uninsured foreigners. Among the most common examples of illness or accident among retirees in Thailand are :
- scooter accidents ;
- road accidents as a pedestrian;
- tropical diseases such as dengue fever and malaria;
- food poisoning ;
- burns or sunburn…
In addition to the obligation to take out insurance to obtain your visa for Thailand, good health insurance is essential. It guarantees you access to the best health care facilities without financial worries.
How to choose health insurance for Thailand?
Mondassur offers several insurance policies with different levels of cover to suit your needs and budget. For more comprehensive coverage, we offer the Gold Expat expatriate insurance contract. For simpler coverage, our Gold Start expatriate insurance policy is ideal. Finally, for older people, ourretiree insurance policy Gold Visa will cover retired expatriates in Thailand.
These packages offer solid guarantees to protect you effectively during your stay. Our packages are valid with the Thai authorities for validation of Thai visas.
Do I need international or local Thai insurance?
In Thailand, international health insurance is strongly recommended over local Thai insurance.
Why? Mondassur’s international insurance offers far superior coverage in terms of :
- Geographical coverage: International insurance covers treatment worldwide, unlike local insurance, which is limited to Thailand.
- Quality of care: They give access to the best private hospitals, with more extensive cover, higher ceilings and repatriation in case of emergency.
- Flexibility: International insurance offers freedom of choice for treatment and medication, with no local restrictions.
- Multilingual service: Unlike local insurers, international insurers offer multilingual customer service, ideal for expatriates.
- Global network: We have healthcare partners all over the world, for efficient care even when traveling.
Conversely, local insurance policies are often limited in terms of cover and reimbursement ceilings, and may impose significant exclusions, particularly for chronic or pre-existing illnesses.
What’s more, they don’t usually cover treatment outside Thailand, which can be a problem if you need to travel. You should also remember to renew your insurance every year to maintain continuous coverage, and be prepared for visa waiting times by starting the process 2 to 4 months before your departure.
