Government wants foreign visitors to be insured

[Welder]

Pradit mulls including health cover in visa fees

Various state agencies have agreed in principle with the Public Health Ministry’s proposal to require foreign tourists to buy travel and health insurance before arriving in Thailand.

 

The ministry on Wednesday made the proposal at a meeting with representatives from the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Royal Thai Police and various other government ministries.

 

Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, who chaired the meeting, said the ministry proposed the cost of health insurance coverage might be included in visa fees.

 

 

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[QuotaMan]

What about expats?

 

From time to time I read of guys who don't have enough money to cover their expenses needing expat fundraisers in order to cover the costs.

[Welder]

What about expats?

 

From time to time I read of guys who don't have enough money to cover their expenses needing expat fundraisers in order to cover the costs.

If the cost of health insurance coverage would be included in visa fees then the expats would be insured as well I guess?

[999Baht]

It's a good idea to always have travel insurance anyway.

I always do so no problem for me. You never know what could happen over there.

Always better to be covered.

[sinbad5]

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

[padfoot]

There are all kinds of problems with trying to enforce this. Do they collect the money at immigration? When people buy their tickets? Included in the visa fees? How about those who have coverage? Do they show their card or proof of insurance at immigration? Or when buying their tickets? If you pay at immigration do you get a card with your name on it? Will a 20 year old pay the same as a 60 year old? How about those with previous health problems, do they pay more? Is a health screening required? Who will run this? A Thai politician with his hand in the till? Will there be a much longer wait at immigration now? Will this required coverage work at all hospitals? Or just government hospitals?

[overseas516]

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Agree +1 

[sabato]

With all the balcony 'accidents' in Pattaya, maybe they should throw in life insurance to boot

[hombremestizo]

If it's not going to be more than the yearly fee for migrant workers, then no biggie i guess, but she should make it that there are multiple hotel locations in the different tourist areas that travelers can go for treatment and pharmacies for prescriptions.

[geezerrb]

There are all kinds of problems with trying to enforce this. Do they collect the money at immigration? When people buy their tickets? Included in the visa fees? How about those who have coverage? Do they show their card or proof of insurance at immigration? Or when buying their tickets? If you pay at immigration do you get a card with your name on it? Will a 20 year old pay the same as a 60 year old? How about those with previous health problems, do they pay more? Is a health screening required? Who will run this? A Thai politician with his hand in the till? Will there be a much longer wait at immigration now? Will this required coverage work at all hospitals? Or just government hospitals?

My point of view is it is another form of taxation and is only going to be marginal for the tourist trade, although there are plenty of idiots out there that do travel without, or with so many exclusions it makes Thailand (as well as other places totally excluded). I may be "anal" but researched my insurance options to ensure I have full repatriation cover now and have options when I retire to LOS.

 

With all the balcony 'accidents' in Pattaya, maybe they should throw in life insurance to boot

This is very poignant for me at this moment, never forget whether by what you have consumed even without realisation, any balcony can be a "death trap". A female workmate asked me to edit for grammar and punctuation her BF's "best mans speech". She was not going because she had "issues" with the bride.

On the eve of the wedding in Cyprus, part of the EU ( where a great number of the staff, doctors and nurses are trained via our MOD), the boy ended up in hospital minus an eye, smashed up, no personal insurance only the EU reciprocal agreement. His family now have to finance his repatriation which in his condition is going to cost many thousands.

Always be aware in any travel policy the consumption of alcohol or drugs is the first "get out" they use to wash their hands of responsibility.

[casinoclub]

There are all kinds of problems with trying to enforce this. Do they collect the money at immigration? When people buy their tickets? Included in the visa fees? How about those who have coverage? Do they show their card or proof of insurance at immigration? Or when buying their tickets? If you pay at immigration do you get a card with your name on it? Will a 20 year old pay the same as a 60 year old? How about those with previous health problems, do they pay more? Is a health screening required? Who will run this? A Thai politician with his hand in the till? Will there be a much longer wait at immigration now? Will this required coverage work at all hospitals? Or just government hospitals?

 

Adding to your list "how long is the coverage?  Everyone's stay is different", "Pre-existing condition?", and etc.

 

No, it wouldn't work like that.  It'll be a general "pool" coverage and one flat fee for everyone calculated based on average length of stay, the average make up of the tourist pool, and the cross reference with a actuarial tables for incidental health issues and potential coverage needs to arrive one generic number for ALL visitors for the duration of the visa validation depending on the visa type.

 

In the US, my employer subsidize my health coverage.  When you add a dependent or spouse, they don't ask anything about your dependent other then eligibility and quote you one price.  The coverage cost for your healthy 15 year old son will be the same as your your 60 year old wife with cancer.  So in much the same way they do those calculation, that's how I imagine the insurance would work.

[BARRYROB2]

I'm still learning how this country is run. It seems anyone "white" is a target to get money from. Dont these people that run this country realise that a large part of their income is from tourists travelling for a holiday. Adding health insurance costs to a tourists budget may make them think twice about holidaying in Thailand. There are a number of Asian countries that provide much the same as Thailand but dont have this added "tax". Anyway why is it necessary. The way I understand it if a traveller requires medical treatment they have to pay at the hospital and in many cases wont treat a person without payment. All health insurance will do is ensure that medical staff do get extra money into the facility which will probably mean the rates will go up as it is covered by insurance.

[Billyboy294]

I blame Obama.

[Rambone]

"Dr Pradit said the meeting agreed on setting up a sub-committee to work on the issue and decide on the level and type of insurance coverage that would be required for tourists in cases of emergency care and the return of dead bodies."

 

That's something you want to put in your travel brochure!  All those dead tourists are really putting a strain on the system...

[austland]

I'm still learning how this country is run. It seems anyone "white" is a target to get money from. Dont these people that run this country realise that a large part of their income is from tourists travelling for a holiday. Adding health insurance costs to a tourists budget may make them think twice about holidaying in Thailand. There are a number of Asian countries that provide much the same as Thailand but dont have this added "tax". Anyway why is it necessary. The way I understand it if a traveller requires medical treatment they have to pay at the hospital and in many cases wont treat a person without payment. All health insurance will do is ensure that medical staff do get extra money into the facility which will probably mean the rates will go up as it is covered by insurance.

+

[sunnycoastguy]

I wouldnt travel with out it ,so thats fine by me.

[casinoclub]

I wouldnt travel with out it ,so thats fine by me.

If you are traveling multiple destination, I assume you would buy one to cover ALL the destination and then the mandatory one in Thailand? And if you are single destination to Thailand would you then skip out and go with the mandatory one? Say you do and got hurt during transit? Then?

 

:-) Just curious what the solution might be.

[Sexyfarangman]

Pradit mulls including health cover in visa fees

Various state agencies have agreed in principle with the Public Health Ministry’s proposal to require foreign tourists to buy travel and health insurance before arriving in Thailand.

 

The ministry on Wednesday made the proposal at a meeting with representatives from the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Royal Thai Police and various other government ministries.

 

Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, who chaired the meeting, said the ministry proposed the cost of health insurance coverage might be included in visa fees.

 

 

View the full article

 

 

Since you don't need a visa for a 30 day visit, I assume it will only apply to those who stay longer.

[DaffyDuck]

There are all kinds of problems with trying to enforce this. Do they collect the money at immigration? When people buy their tickets? Included in the visa fees? 

 

Flat fee, same amount, included in the visa fees - or payable at immigration (no different than the usual admission fees from some countries).

 

The money goes into uncle somchai's Thai Insurance fund, and being Thai, no actual claim will ever be paid out, and uncle somchai and his family (oddly, all government ministers) enjoys an even fatter wallet and new foreign cars.)

 

 

 

[Sexyfarangman]

I blame Obama.

 

Doesn't Obama care cover Thai health insurance?