Health Insurance Requirement For
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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, October 25 – Thursday, October 31, 2019 Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 43 20 Baht SOUTH KOREAN TOURIST DROWNS ON RACHA DIVE TOUR > PAGE 2 NEWS PAGE 3 Wipeout taxi driver finally to FREE hear judgment PASS HEALTH INSURANCE LIFE PAGE 13 REQUIREMENT FOR Local elephant sanctuary steps RETIREES FALLS FLAT up, hands-off AS ‘NON-IMM O’ VISA LOOPHOLE EXPOSED An officer at holds up an application for an extension stay at the Phuket Immigration Office earlier this year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot The Phuket News plying for a one-year permit to stay. on its website an announcement on one-year year extension,” he said. [email protected] Hence, any foreigners staying on Oct 8, stating that the change in the Yet Col Kathathorn would not a “Non-Immigrant O-A” visa can Immigration regulations follows the confirm that one-year permits to stay huket Immigration this week change their permit-to-stay status Cabinet resolution made on April 2 would no longer be approved for those finally confirmed that the to “Non-Immigrant O” and avoid this year. The order, issued by Royal applying under “Non-Immigrant O” SPORT PAGE 29 Pmandatory health insurance the mandatory health insurance Thai Police Commissioner-General visa status. Under immigration regu- requirement for people staying in requirement. Chakthip Chaijinda on Sept 27, spe- lations, that option is still available. the country on permits to stay under The loophole is expected to greatly cifically states that the new rule is to The Phuket News understands Nuengrutai “Non-Immigrant O-A” visa status do affect expat retirees staying in Thailand come into effect on Oct 31. that Phuket Immigration is likely to not apply to those staying under the on such so-called “retirement” visas. However, Phuket Immigration be under considerable pressure to makes Thai general “Non-Immigrant O” visa – The mandatory health insurance Chief Col Kathathorn Kumthieng abide by and uphold the new health league history which foreign retirees can choose to requirement is to come into effect this confirmed to The Phuket News this insurance rule instituted by officials use instead of the O-A visa to continue coming Thursday (Oct 31). week, “People applying under the in Bangkok, but yet cannot deny ap- their stay in Thailand. Under the new regulation, all Non-Immigrant O visa do not need plicants the right to change their visa The admission renders enforc- foreigners applying for a one-year health insurance, but people applying status as already permitted under ing the mandatory health insurance permit to stay on an O-A visa must for permits to stay under different Immigration regulations. requirement pointless as Phuket Im- have health insurance coverage for up visas will get the different benefits To that end, Col Kathathorn this migration this week also confirmed to B40,000 for outpatient services and of the visa they are applying under. week also denied a rumour that that foreigners can change the visa up to B400,000 for inpatient services. “For example, a foreigner who has Phuket Immigration had submitted conditions under which they are ap- The Immigration Bureau posted Non-Immigrant O-A visa will get a an official request to postpone the... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019 [email protected] Jet-ski riders warned after beach tourists News ‘buzzed’ > p5 Korean tourist, instructor drown on Racha dive tour Mandatory health insurance POLICE HAVE YET TO reveal any details about the flops on ‘O’ visa loophole circumstances leading to the The Phuket News death of a South Korean tourist [email protected] who drowned while on a dive tour at Koh Racha Ya, south of Continued from page 1 Phuket, last Saturday (Oct 19). ...health insurance requirement until Sunghyun Cho, 37, was on Family members wait the rules had been “made more clear”. a dive tour to see coral reefs outside the morgue at The claim was presented to The at Ao Lah, the northernmost Vachira Phuket Hospital. Phuket News from a reliable source and bay on the east side of the cited a high-ranking officer at Phuket island, when he began moving freelance dive instructor to Immigration claiming that in total eight frantically underwater as if join the dive tour. major Immigration offices in the country experiencing breathing dif- Capt Somkiat would not – Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong ficulties, according to initial confirm which company had Khai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Petchaburi, reports. hired Mr Pongsathorn to join Chonburi, Rayong and Phuket – had all Pongsathorn Madnui, the dive tour to Racha Yai submitted such requests. the 34-year-old Thai dive last Saturday, though initial Regardless, when asked about the A foreigner fills in an application for an extension to stay in Thailand at the instructor leading Mr Cho reports identified the company rumor, Col Kathathorn said, “It is not Phuket Immigration Office earlier this year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot on his dive, went to Mr Cho’s as Island Wonders Co Ltd. true. The health insurance requirement assistance, but both men Of the circumstances for Non-Immigrant O-A visas will start do not require health insurance. Phuket oblique and confusing explanations of “collapsed” before reaching directly related to the two on Oct 31. Nothing has changed. If we Immigration officers will not ask for it.” visa requirements available through the surface. drowning deaths on the dive receive any updates, we will share that Lt Col Worapol also confirmed the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The dive was reportedly tour, Capt Somkiat said, “In information.” option for foreigners to change their visa The main MFA website in Thailand to a depth of no more than the trip, each instructor was Regarding foreigners exercising the status from within Thailand. makes no mention of any health insur- seven metres. responsible to take care of option to change their visa status, Col “For example a foreigner on a tourist ance required for foreigners to be issued The men were pulled two tourists.” Kathathorn said, “I don’t want to point visa can apply to be under a Non- a Non-Immigrant O-A visa, which allows onto the boat, which took Including Mr Cho, there out which one is good for any particular Immigrant visa, such as a Non-Imm O, the foreigner to be permitted to stay for them to shore at Chalong Pier were 40 tourists on the boat foreigners. It is their choice whether they Non-Imm B (Business), Non-Imm Ed one year from the date of first entry – but before they were taken to the on the day. apply under a Non-Immigrant O-A visa (education), or other (type of visa). They it does state that the mandatory health Accident & Emergency unit Capt Somkiat declined or a Non-Immigrant O visa – those are can come to apply for the visa type that insurance is required in order for Non- of the yet-to-open Chalong to answer further questions. the options. Foreigners can choose which the foreigner is qualified for.” Immigrant O-A visa holders to be granted Hospital, where doctors tried “My investigation is not to apply for to stay in the Kingdom of However, like Phuket Immigration an extension to stay in the country. unsuccessfully to revive them. finished yet. There will be Thailand.” Chief Col Kathatorn, Lt Col Worapol Oddly, the website also no longer lists Capt Somkiat Sarasit of no charge against the com- Col Kathathorn declined to answer also avoided expressly confirming that the requirements for a Non-Immigrant the Chalong Police, the officer pany until the investigation any further questions on the issue, and foreigners can change their visa status O visa. investigating the deaths, told is finished. Now I need to instead referred other officers to give from Non-Immigrant O-A to Non- Meanwhile, directly contradicting The Phuket News that he had investigate the cause of death further explanations. Immigrant O. the main MFA website, the website for confirmed that Mr Pongsathorn and learn more details. I need Lt Col Worapol Panpetch, who holds The confusion over the options open Royal Thai Embassy in London plainly was a qualified dive instructor. to talk with witnesses,” was the position of Inspector at Phuket to retirees to be granted one-year permits states that the health insurance is required He also confirmed that Mr all he would say. Immigration, also confirmed, “It is to stay – along with the Non-Immigrant in order to be issued a Non-Immgrant Pongsathorn was hired as a The Phuket News correct. Non-Immigrant O visa holders O visa loophole – comes amid much O-A visa. Patong Police hunting for foreigner wanted for $30k theft from exchange booth PATONG POLICE HAVE contacted police stations “This might have led the he was going back to his yet to develop any leads in across the island, and exchange counter staff to hotel to get the Thai baht to tracking down a foreign Phuket Immigration, but trust this man,” Col Nikorn be exchanged, but he never man who made off with have yet to develop any noted. returned,” he said. US$30,000 in cash from a leads in determining the The man arrived at the “The staff waited until currency exchange booth man’s whereabouts, Col booth again at about 1pm on 3pm, and starting to suspect in Kalim Tuesday last week Nikorn said. Tuesday, saying that he had something was wrong, they (Oct 15). “Investigators have B900,000 cash to exchange. checked the envelope in The man is about 168cm checked CCTV in the area “He said he wanted to the satchel to find that it tall, has grey hair and is and collected what evidence check that the booth had contained only pieces of estimated to be about 60 we have, and filed a request Police have yet to learn anything about the man who enough US banknotes to white paper and two US$100 years old, Patong Police for an arrest warrant to walked away from a currency-exchange booth in Kalim exchange for the Thai baht,” banknotes.