Thai authorities are in the process of preparing guidelines for new rules requiring foreigners aged 50 and above living in Thailand to buy health insurance from July onwards. The new regulations will require expats on a long-stay visa to have an insurance plan that covers THB 40,000 (USD 1,280) for outpatient treatment and THB 400,000 (USD 12,800) for inpatient treatment.
These new rules are being introduce as Thailand has more than THB 300 million (USD 10 million) of unpaid bills that foreign expats have accumulated since 2016. In the future, applicants for long-stay visas will be required to purchase a health insurance.
The Public Health Ministry has suggested that visa applicants purchase health insurance from one of the companies listed on www.longstay.tgia.org. The ministry has also told relevant agencies to plan how health insurance policies bought overseas will be verified.
(Sources: The Nation; The Thaiger)
