O-A Visa Health Insurance Thailand: How Much Cover You Need
- Published: 16 October 2026
- Category: Insurance guides
O-A Visa Health Insurance Thailand: How Much Cover You Need
Updated: 16 October 2026
Compiled by PrakanThai.com
You are in your sixties, you have family in Thailand, and you want to stay for the long term. You start on the retirement visa paperwork and the first question comes up straight away: do you need health insurance, how much cover, and who can you buy it from?
There isn't one number. The rules for a first application and for an extension in Thailand are different. This guide sets out both, plus what to check in the policy before you pay.
How much health insurance do you need for an O-A visa?
Short answer: Holders of the Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay, 1 year) visa must have health insurance that covers their entire stay in Thailand. Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guideline, an application at a Thai embassy or consulate needs medical cover of at least USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000. Extensions in Thailand still follow the 2019 criteria: at least THB 40,000 for outpatient care (OPD) and at least THB 400,000 for inpatient care (IPD).
| Situation | Minimum cover | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Applying for an O-A visa at an embassy or consulate | At least USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000, covering all medical expenses | Amended criteria, effective 1 October 2021 |
| Extending an O-A visa in Thailand | OPD at least THB 40,000 and IPD at least THB 400,000 | 2019 criteria |
The simple rule: applying from abroad, look at the THB 3 million total. Extending in Thailand, look at the OPD and IPD limits separately.
Can you use a Thai or a foreign insurer?
Both. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guideline accepts Thai health insurance, foreign health insurance, or state welfare cover from the applicant's own country.
- Thai insurer: buy from one of the companies taking part on longstay.tgia.org, the Thai General Insurance Association's site.
- Foreign insurer: use the Foreign Insurance Certificate form downloaded from longstay.tgia.org. The insurer signs it, and it is certified by a Thai embassy or through the document certification process of the applicant's country.
Which Thai insurers offer O-A visa health insurance?
As of 16 October 2026, 14 companies are listed under the O-A visa section on longstay.tgia.org.
| Insurer | Insurer |
|---|---|
| Bangkok Insurance | Chubb Samaggi Insurance |
| Viriyah Insurance | Dhipaya Insurance |
| Thaivivat Insurance | Muang Thai Life Assurance |
| Allianz Ayudhya General Insurance | Pacific Cross Health Insurance |
| Thai Health Insurance | The Navakij Insurance |
| AXA Insurance | The Falcon Insurance |
| The Thai Setakij Insurance | Generali Insurance (Thailand) |
The list can change. Check longstay.tgia.org again before you buy.
Example plans: how do Bangkok Insurance and AXA compare?
Both insurers are on the TGIA list and both sell a plan built for long-stay visa applicants. They are designed very differently: one pays from the first baht, the other gives a high limit but you carry a deductible.
| Item | Bangkok Insurance | AXA EasyCare Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Inpatient limit | THB 400,000–3,500,000 per year, across 5 plans | THB 2,000,000 or 4,000,000 per hospital stay |
| Outpatient | THB 45,000–105,000 per year | THB 1,500 per visit, up to THB 45,000 per year |
| Deductible | Optional: none, or THB 50,000 / 100,000 / 300,000, applied to inpatient costs | Required: THB 100,000 / 200,000 / 300,000, applied to both inpatient and outpatient benefits |
| Entry age | 14 days–75 years, renewable to 100 | 15 days–80 years, renewable to 99 |
| Visas named in the brochure | O-A, O-X (14 nationalities), STV and foreigners in general | O-A, O-X and LTR |
For an extension in Thailand, Bangkok Insurance Plan 1 gives OPD THB 45,000 and IPD THB 400,000, within the 40,000 / 400,000 criteria. For a first application at an embassy, the plans with inpatient cover of THB 3 million or more are Bangkok Insurance Plan 5 (THB 3,500,000 per year) and AXA Plan 2 (THB 4,000,000 per stay).
Example, for illustration: an applicant aged 63 chooses Bangkok Insurance Plan 1 with no deductible. The premium starts at THB 47,090 a year. With a THB 50,000 deductible it drops to THB 35,318, a saving of 47,090 − 35,318 = THB 11,772, but you pay the first THB 50,000 of every hospital stay yourself.
On a plan with a THB 100,000 deductible, if covered costs come to THB 250,000, the insurer pays 250,000 − 100,000 = THB 150,000 and you pay THB 100,000. AXA premiums depend on age, plan and deductible, and are shown on the quote.
Neither plan covers pre-existing conditions that were not cured before the policy started. Both have a 30-day waiting period for illness, and 120 days for some conditions such as tumours, cancer, hernia and cataract. Accidental death cover is not the focus of a visa health policy. If you want it, see personal accident insurance for seniors, up to age 75, which accepts foreigners with a Retirement Certificate.
Can you use the same insurance for an LTR visa?
Not automatically. The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa has its own criteria. Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs document, applicants need one of the following:
- Health insurance covering hospital treatment of at least USD 50,000 for the whole stay in Thailand
- Social security benefits that cover treatment in Thailand
- A deposit of at least USD 100,000, held for at least 12 months at the time of application
What should you check before buying O-A visa insurance?
- New application or extension, because the minimum cover is different
- Period of cover, which must span your whole stay in Thailand
- Deductible: the higher it is, the lower the premium, but the less you receive when admitted to hospital
- Waiting periods and pre-existing conditions: if you have an ongoing condition, declare it truthfully on the application
- Certificate for the visa: Thai insurers on the TGIA list can issue it. With a foreign insurer, you need the form and certification described above
Each embassy and immigration office may ask for different supporting documents. Check with the office where you will apply before you buy.
What do you need to send for an O-A insurance quote?
Just 3 things
- The passport page showing your name and date of birth
- Whether this is a first application or an extension in Thailand
- Any ongoing conditions or treatment history (if any)
We compare plans from the listed insurers we work with and send you a written quote within one working day, in English or Thai. If one plan is better value, we say so. If the conditions differ, we explain before you pay.
LINE Official: @prakanthai · Tel. +66 2 459 2223 · See all health insurance products or get a quote
Frequently asked questions
Can I use travel insurance for an O-A visa?
It depends on whether the policy meets the cover limits and covers your entire stay. The clearest route is a certificate from an insurer listed on longstay.tgia.org, or the Foreign Insurance Certificate form.
I'm 75. Can I still get O-A insurance?
Yes, but there are fewer options. Bangkok Insurance accepts new applicants up to age 75 and AXA EasyCare Visa up to 80. Both can be renewed, and premiums rise with each age band.
I have an ongoing condition. Can I still buy cover?
You can apply, but pre-existing conditions that were not cured before the policy started, and their complications, are not covered by either example plan. Declare your health truthfully on the application, because leaving something out can affect a later claim.
What if no insurer will accept me?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guideline says applicants who are declined need a denial letter, plus evidence of assets, deposits or insurance totalling at least THB 3,000,000.
Who approves the policy and pays claims?
The insurer decides whether to accept the policy and pays claims. Visa approval is a matter for the embassy and the immigration office. Prakanthai, as a broker, compares plans, coordinates and follows up for you.
Note
This article is based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guideline for the Non-Immigrant O-A visa, the insurer list on longstay.tgia.org, the Bangkok Insurance Public Company Limited brochure for health insurance for foreigners (2-1001-03-MEI 01-68) and the AXA Insurance Public Company Limited EasyCare Visa brochure (CX202606-20), as at 16 October 2026. It is general information, not part of any insurance contract, and not legal advice on visas. The criteria may change following government announcements. Acceptance of cover and payment of claims are decided by the insurer. Prakanthai.com is a non-life insurance broker, not an insurer, licence no. 5104000004, serving customers since 2004. Read the policy and the quote in full before you decide.