Health Insurance

[ginseng 0]

I am 32 and in perfect health however I have been denied health insurance before and don't want that to happen again. Here is what happened.

 

When I graduated college I went off my families health insurance and had to get my own. I signed up for All State health insurance. I regularly made the payments for a year and a half. At this point I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome which required surgery. I had had several doctor visits which were covered by my insurance, however after the surgery itself I received a call from the doctor stating my insurance refused to pay. I called in and asked why and they said it was pending further review.

 

At this point I had to fill out a number of new forms, be blood tested for drug use, HIV and grant access to my entire medical history. 2 things, and perhaps this is my own fault. When I was 14 I had a head injury. This was fairly serious that required an operation and that I be hospitalized for several months. However after this I was basically fine, still in perfect health. Second thing, during college I got depressed over breaking up with some chick and went to see a shrink. He prescribed Paxil which I took for about a week then found a new chick.

 

I did note that I had a head injury but I had forgotten all about visiting the psychiatrist. All State claimed that I didn't give enough information about my head injury, but in particular that I didn't note I had suffered from depression and received psychiatric medicine. neither thing had anything to do with my carpal tunnel whatsoever but basically that was a loophole that allowed them to get out from covering me. They refunded my policy money but didn't pay the surgery which was much more than I had paid into the policy.

 

 

If I purchase individual insurance in Thailand I was wondering will they have access to my US medical records? I don't mind disclosing these two events but who knows if there is some other little thing I forgot about that will let them evade paying for my medical care. It seems insurance companies have become even more aggressive in avoiding claims and I wouldn't be surprised if some stupid thing popped up, like when I was 12 and broke my arm etc...

 

What has been your experience buying personal insurance in Thailand. Most ideal for me would be if they did a physical and based my premium on that since as I said I'm in perfect health to my knowledge. Is there any Thailand based insurance company available for Farangs that doesn't have US based offices? I can't change the past so I don't want it to haunt me forever and prevent me from getting insurance.

[kev0184 12]

i was with the BPH for a yr on there insurance, there was no medical required for cover, and the form was pretty basic, i never used the cover. this yr i have swapped to BUPA, i took the option with the medical prior to getting the cover, this was done at BPH cost me 2,500baht, and it was very extensive, i took this option as i am a insulin dependant diabetic and wanted to make sure that they didnt use it as a get out clause.

 

there was no mention of getting my records fronm the UK, they based the cover on the medical. I think this is the type of thing you require.

[Eneukman 1]

When I took out my current health insurance policy, I had to declare any existing conditions - in my case high blood pressure and even though it is kept well under control by the medication I take, I am not covered for any cardiac problems. I have a wrist monitor so I can check it on a regular basis and I would say that a reading of 119/74 taken a minute ago was pretty damn good!

 

I may change my provider next year as one of their agents I spoke to thought they would cover me but charge a premium of around 10%. That would be acceptable to me.

 

I find it despicable that insurance companies can use the escape clause because you forgot to mention something that is totally unrelated to what your claiming for.

 

Alan

[ginseng 0]

i was with the BPH for a yr on there insurance, there was no medical required for cover, and the form was pretty basic, i never used the cover. this yr i have swapped to BUPA, i took the option with the medical prior to getting the cover, this was done at BPH cost me 2,500baht, and it was very extensive, i took this option as i am a insulin dependant diabetic and wanted to make sure that they didnt use it as a get out clause.

 

there was no mention of getting my records fronm the UK, they based the cover on the medical. I think this is the type of thing you require.

 

That does sound ideal as my present health should allow me easy access to insurance. It's just stupid unrelated things from my past they can use to try to weasel out. What does BPH, and BUPA stand for? Can I get this right in Thailand?

 

I find it despicable that insurance companies can use the escape clause because you forgot to mention something that is totally unrelated to what your claiming for.

 

Alan

 

Me too. Michael Moore talks about this in Sicko and unfortunately it was a reality for me. I've been fine with my work group policy but I don't want a repeat of prior problems, when I go on my own again.

 

The worst part was the letter they sent me, it was very antagonistic as if I had tried to commit a crime or something. I understand it's a business but some of them really do not want to play fair.

[kev0184 12]

BPH is the bangkok pattya hospital, BUPA is the british united provident association, now worldwide of course,there are at least 3 offices in patts, a search on thaivisa.com under medical will get you the address and numbers

[hybrid 1]

i was with the BPH for a yr on there insurance, there was no medical required for cover, and the form was pretty basic, i never used the cover. this yr i have swapped to BUPA, i took the option with the medical prior to getting the cover, this was done at BPH cost me 2,500baht, and it was very extensive, i took this option as i am a insulin dependant diabetic and wanted to make sure that they didnt use it as a get out clause.

 

there was no mention of getting my records fronm the UK, they based the cover on the medical. I think this is the type of thing you require.

 

are they covering your diabetees , I thought they would not cover pre existing conditions ?