Medical Insurance in Thailand

[Rhoel 2]

Recently my UK medical insurance ran out and I applied to BUPA for insurance cover here. They started throwing in a heap of exclusions related to a minor heart complaint 15 years ago: A change of lifestyle and diet ordered by my specialists earned me a clean bill of health. They said they would write a check on that.

 

My UK insurance were happy with the prognosis and gave me 100% worldwode cover.

 

Now BUPA TH have decided that they will only provide cover with excludions on all heart related conditions Considering that one day I might find myself in ICU with some caredio-vascular condition not related to the original condition, I am worried that someone from BUPA will walk up and say tough, we aren't going to cover the bill.

 

Unfortunately, the only way I can renew my UK cover is to go back to the UK to re-sign - just cannot be done remotely.

 

What options do people suggest. Take the risk or find another medical company.

 

And what other companies are there in LOS.

 

TIA

 

Rhoel

[aqua4 2]

Taking the risk and going to another agent might present a problem as at the time of payment they might go an check-up to see if you had been anywhere else in Thailand for coverage. Then they screw you.

[short 215]

Rhoel, you just fucked up my retirement plans.

[Owen` 2]

This is a big deal.

 

For Americans, lobbying your congressman to allow Medicare to pay medical expenses outside the US is a good thing. If you're under age 65 it means nothing, but there are huge US expat retiree communities on the pacific beach in Mexico and they are clamoring hard for this. It would help in Thailand long term, too.

 

As for pre-age 65, I think you have to shop around and shop hard. It should be possible to find a policy that covers you, but you will have to pay more for it. There would also be some merit in knowing just what an angioplasty procedure costs at a Thai hospital so you know exactly what you're setting yourself up for if you try to self insure.

[Badtz 0]

Rhoel there is :

 

Thai Health, Bupa and NSI

 

I went with Thai Health after physically checking at all the hospitals in Pattaya about which hospitals have contracts with which Insurance companies. I initially went with NSI, because they have the most coverage. I then went to two hospitals that they did not have contracts with and cancelled my policy. The only company with contracts with all the local hospitals was Thai Health (as of November of last year).

 

Goto www.aainsure.net

The guy that I worked with is an Englishman named Joe. He can show you all the policies available to you and guide you in the right direction. Hope you get your dilemma resolved.

[kdc1899 1]

Recently my UK medical insurance ran out and I applied to BUPA for insurance cover here. They started throwing in a heap of exclusions related to a minor heart complaint 15 years ago: A change of lifestyle and diet ordered by my specialists earned me a clean bill of health. They said they would write a check on that.

 

My UK insurance were happy with the prognosis and gave me 100% worldwode cover.

 

Now BUPA TH have decided that they will only provide cover with excludions on all heart related conditions Considering that one day I might find myself in ICU with some caredio-vascular condition not related to the original condition, I am worried that someone from BUPA will walk up and say tough, we aren't going to cover the bill.

 

Unfortunately, the only way I can renew my UK cover is to go back to the UK to re-sign - just cannot be done remotely.

 

What options do people suggest. Take the risk or find another medical company.

 

And what other companies are there in LOS.

 

TIA

 

Rhoel

Do you have a "power of Attorney" option in your country?

 

If you don't have to have a physical and it's all about paperwork, Power of Attorney" should work.

[LukDod 0]

Rhoel there is :

 

Thai Health, Bupa and NSI

 

I went with Thai Health after physically checking at all the hospitals in Pattaya about which hospitals have contracts with which Insurance companies. I initially went with NSI, because they have the most coverage. I then went to two hospitals that they did not have contracts with and cancelled my policy. The only company with contracts with all the local hospitals was Thai Health (as of November of last year).

 

Goto www.aainsure.net

The guy that I worked with is an Englishman named Joe. He can show you all the policies available to you and guide you in the right direction. Hope you get your dilemma resolved.

If you want to be insured with Thai Health, you can obtain some exceptional group rates by simply joining the Pattaya Expat's Club, which meets every Saturday.

 

Via the AA Brokerage you'll end up paying about 1/3 of the rates that Thai Health asks. For example, I've their "WH4000" plan, with an annual cost of 31K-Bt for my age group, yet via the group coverage available to the Expat's Club, I'm charged only 9,707-Bt. Quite a savings!

[Owen` 2]

If you want to be insured with Thai Health, you can obtain some exceptional group rates by simply joining the Pattaya Expat's Club, which meets every Saturday.

 

Via the AA Brokerage you'll end up paying about 1/3 of the rates that Thai Health asks. For example, I've their "WH4000" plan, with an annual cost of 31K-Bt for my age group, yet via the group coverage available to the Expat's Club, I'm charged only 9,707-Bt. Quite a savings!

 

 

Do you guys know if the Expats Club recommended (or sponsored) group plan addresses explicitly the critical point made by the OP?

 

Namely, do those plans exclude pre-existing conditions? And if so, how strictly?

 

In the US, the big issue with healthcare is group plans vs non group plans. There is a difference in premium payments, yes, but a huge (and quiet) difference is group plans (through an employer) cannot cancel a person for making claims (getting sick) and they generally are also not allowed to exclude for pre-existing conditions.

 

So . . . data?

[short 215]

I used to work for a small company that had pretty good health insurance. One day the hot HR lady sent out a questionaire asking everyone if they prefered a prescription plan with a high cost sharing and low plan price, or a plan with low cost sharing and high plan price. Well since most of the employees didn't take medicines, the low cost plan won out. What no one realized at the time was that there was one employee that was very well liked that had a serious medical condition and consumed lots of medications. The change in the medication plan eventually drove him to seek employment elsewhere.

 

My point is that insurance companies have many ways to 'legally" discriminate.

Edited March 31, 2006 by short

[UncleSam 0]

Do you guys know if the Expats Club recommended (or sponsored) group plan addresses explicitly the critical point made by the OP?

 

Namely, do those plans exclude pre-existing conditions?  And if so, how strictly?

 

In the US, the big issue with healthcare is group plans vs non group plans.  There is a difference in premium payments, yes, but a huge (and quiet) difference is group plans (through an employer) cannot cancel a person for making claims (getting sick) and they generally are also not allowed to exclude for pre-existing conditions.

 

So . . . data?

Most of companies (I will say more than 99%) are self insured in the U.S.. Insurance company is just media between the employees and healthcare providedrs. Therefore the insurance companies don't care whether the people with pre-existing conditions are excluded or not. Why are they self insured? Because the companies don't have to pay high premiums to the insurance companies and the companies can get the contracted (discounted) deal with healthcare providers.

 

The biggest problem with healthcare in the U.S. is just doctors and hospitals charge too much, not the insurance companies. I just had tonsil surgery in January. It was only 30 minuate surgery. I walked out of hospital after 2 hours. The total bill was over $5,000, where I was responsible for about $400 after my insurance. Insurance companies have to charge you high premium to stay in business.

[Rhoel 2]

Just a quick up date:

 

I discovered that I have insurace cover through my work - the certificate is in Thai and I suspect its the 30B Thai deal. The named hospital isn't a bad one, certainly as good as many in my home area in the UK.

 

The discussions with BUPA are now offically closed - they have refused to reconsider the 70,000B premium on providing just half cover: They say its a all or nothing deal - an easy choice: Becuase I now know I have the basic Thai insurance, its given me the a little breathing space and the ability to tell them to shove it. I have to go to their offices next week to reclaim my premium. If they refuse to refund all, I have a lawyer ready in the wings to give them hell.

 

A work collegue just added another possible to the list of insurers - Aythutiaya Bank (of however the fook you spell it). They have a combined health/life insurance whch gives good cover and in the event of your death, will fly your body home if the doctors really fuck up.

 

Just to really piss the insurers off, I went looking at a new Yamaha motocycle today - 54,000B with all the trimmings. It is tempting - I've lived in Chiagn Mai now for 18 months and haven't seen that much of it - jsut not a practical option using tuk-tuks or Songtells: A bike is a good option as you can stop it anywhere and hop off and take a piture or whatever. I have looked at buying a car but the asking price is just stupid.

 

I'll keep you all posted on the A.Bank deal when I have more information.

 

For those in the UK, STA do a one year insurance for those staying outside the UK for mor than 3 month - the omly downside is the policy laspes if you return to the UK. It's used mainly by the VSO and back-packer brigade but the policy seemed not to have an age limit ... if you are out here teaching, writing that best-selling novel or just avoiding the winter horrors, it is well worth checking out.

 

Rhoel

[Rhoel 2]

Rhoel, you just fucked up my retirement plans.

I try to please :-)

 

Seriously, there are work arounds and I'm now discoveingg them: Fortunately, it's only because BUPA started making stupid exclusions, I started to find better and cheaper alternatives.

 

I'll post more later once I have more (english) paperwork.

 

Curiously, when I went to STA's office here they denied all knowledge of VSO type insurance: No, STA only do foriegn travel, not for Thialnad. I later found out that it was just that rep's office which didn't have the relevant paperwork - head office did: It pays to check out the website first and get the head office to mail the right stuff to you.

 

Rhoel

[irishman 0]

Since I am on the wrong side of 60 and fast closing on 65, I have also been interested in the possibility of getting medical insurance here. But there is something different in the Thai or asian mindset. If you have insurance ( and just getting it is a major problem also ) and you need to use it, there is an element of the culture that approves of screwing you out of the coverage. The previously existing ailment clause is one of the ways that they do this. For example, I had glomerialur nephritis (sp) as a kid. It is a kidney infection which was a side effect of having strep throat. I was cured completely and haven't had any kidney problems for over 40 years. But as soon as I put that on my application, there was an exclusion for any future kidney problems. Also, just to apply, I had to pay something more than 8000 baht for a complete and comprehensive medical exam. Then I was quoted an exorbitant premium which would expire at age 65 and I would have to face the possibility of no insurance thereafter.

 

Before anyone retires here, they really must consider the health care aspect. But I'm fortunate that I can self insure and even if I have a problem, I probably can cover it. It's scary I know but it's still worth it living here.

 

For those of you who are younger, you can get pretty good deals thru the local expats club and is probably a good idea to do so. But for anyone over 60, it is a real problem and I don't know of any solution short of self insurance.

 

Cheers

[whitespider 1]

Since I am on the wrong side of 60 and fast closing on 65, I have also been interested in the possibility of getting medical insurance here.

Interested in? I would have thought it an absloute must - infact it was the first thing I made sure I had in place and could afford before moving.

 

Does anyone have any idea of the best costs for (good cover level) "family" insurance. I currently pay 192,000 a year but reading this forum males me think it could be a lot cheaper.

 

If it helps I am 44, wife 31 and kids 10 and 2.

[aqua4 2]

I discovered that I have insurace cover through my work - the certificate is in Thai and I suspect its the 30B Thai deal.

 

 

Rhoel,

 

 

That 30 Baht scheme is for Thai nationals only I think.

[Owen` 2]

Heads up, minor.

 

There is an expats group in Guadelajara Mexico who have been quietly pressuring for years to get Medicare to cover medical expenses outside the US.

 

If you're older than 65, recommend that you investigate what they are doing and write your Congressman to add some impetus. Remember, you do still probably pay some income tax to the US so you are entitled to be a squeaky wheel.

[Gary 4,119]

I have health insurance with Liberty Mutual Group. It covers 1,250,000 baht per incident. This post got me curious and I was looking at my policy and was surprised to find that if I am driving or am a passenger on a motorcycle I am not covered. I have had this policy for three years and had one claim. I had acute appendicitis. I went to a private hospital in Loei because I damn sure couldn't have made it to Bangkok. My bill was 48,000 baht total. The insurance company paid all but 15 baht. I don't know what the 15 baht was for but I didn't complain. Was the hospital in Loei good? I lived and was treated well so I guess it was OK.

 

My premium is a little over 20,000 a year. I am 61 years old.

[Rhoel 2]

Rhoel,

 

 

That 30 Baht scheme is for Thai nationals only I think.

I have a work permit and pay taxes here - I was told by the admin girls it was the 30B deal ... I do carry a certificate which is in Thai, telling em which hospital I can go to.

 

Finally got arounfd to claiming back my 70,000 from BUPA - I'll follow up on Gary's post and talk to Liberty ... having more than one line of insurance looks best for me at present.

 

I'll post more when I have the details.

 

Rhoel

[Shit_Happens 31]

I have health insurance with Liberty Mutual Group. It covers 1,250,000 baht per incident.

My premium is a little over 20,000 a year. I am 61 years old.

Hi Gary. Is Liberty a Thai company. My wife, daughter and I will be moving to Thailand before the end of this year and health insurance is near the top of my list to do. If it is a Thai company would you have a website or some other contact info.

Thanks

Colin

[Gary 4,119]

Liberty Mutual is an American company. My agent is in Pattaya on on 3rd road. The name of the company is PCD International. The contact number is 038 422 825 and the fax is 038 374 196. The agent I found most helpful, Paul Chow, is now gone and a farang lady now takes care of my policy.

[Shit_Happens 31]

Liberty Mutual is an American company. My agent is in Pattaya on on 3rd road. The name of the company is PCD International. The contact number is 038 422 825 and the fax is 038 374 196. The agent I found most helpful, Paul Chow, is now gone and a farang lady now takes care of my policy.

Thanks Gary. I will get a fax off to them.