Cost of Health Insurance for Expats

[Guest Albatross]

As I will be retiring in Pattaya this coming year 2014 I was wondering if someone has some real numbers when it comes to purchasing health insurance in Thailand.

As I will be over 60 I imagine it will cost me more but would like some numbers.

I have contacted several insurance companies but do not trust what they have quoted over the intranet.

Thank for any information available.

 

[VPI78 11,528]

I'm a bit younger and the annual premium for me with a 5 million Baht cap for BUPa's Platinum plan is about 70,000 Baht. You can get reasonably close estimates just by trying BUPA's website.

 

https://www.bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/detail.aspx?iid=1#.UfvwYm26m-U

 

I bought my policy through them at their Convent Road Bangkok office.

[jacko 8,822]

Long topic really, but depends how comprehensive you feel you need it to be....will there be 'exclusions'.

I made this up in January when looking at 'comprehensive' plans......all in Thai baht.

Company-Product Max Claim p.a Max on room/ICU Premium Overseas Cover

BUPA-Platinum 2m 2 million 10k/16k per day 57,175 Worldwide exc USA

AXA Smartcare Optimum- Classic 2.5 million 10k/As charged 51320 Medical required 1.5 million

ACS ASIA 1c 15 million 7.5K 49740 100% 7 weeks max

April 30 million 100% 70200 100%

 

Then there are much cheaper plans which give limited cover broken down into categories... and example being the plan offered at The Expats Club. There are 3 plans and 4 age groups, varying from 18,000 baht to 37220 for your age excluding out-patient options.

The exclusions is important, the companies are quick to lump a lot of them in there for any issue...... if you have high BP or Hypertension,so much gets excluded, the premium stays up there and you wonder what you are covered for!

I found communicating with BUPA to be okay and you could always send an email to an insurance brokers. eg AA.

Edited August 3, 2013 by jacko

[Gary 4,119]

I had a policy with LMG Thailand. I don't remember for sure what it cost but I bought it before I was 60 years old. I bought from LMG on the condition that I would never be cancelled because of age. What they didn't tell me was that they could and did price me out because of age. I cancelled the policy when I was 65 years old. In the years that I had the policy, I had one claim for appendicitus.

 

If you are over 60 years old you will pay through the nose for probably a shit policy and you can be sure that your premiums will increase substancially every year. I am self insured now and if worse comes to worse and I am able to travel, I will return to the USA for any super expensive treatment. Unfortunately no one knows what kind of coverage retired US expats will have available in the US now that the government is involved.

[BigDUSA 71]

I had a policy with LMG Thailand. I don't remember for sure what it cost but I bought it before I was 60 years old. I bought from LMG on the condition that I would never be cancelled because of age. What they didn't tell me was that they could and did price me out because of age. I cancelled the policy when I was 65 years old. In the years that I had the policy, I had one claim for appendicitus.

 

If you are over 60 years old you will pay through the nose for probably a shit policy and you can be sure that your premiums will increase substancially every year. I am self insured now and if worse comes to worse and I am able to travel, I will return to the USA for any super expensive treatment. Unfortunately no one knows what kind of coverage retired US expats will have available in the US now that the government is involved.

 

I had a policy with LMG Thailand. I don't remember for sure what it cost but I bought it before I was 60 years old. I bought from LMG on the condition that I would never be cancelled because of age. What they didn't tell me was that they could and did price me out because of age. I cancelled the policy when I was 65 years old. In the years that I had the policy, I had one claim for appendicitus.

 

If you are over 60 years old you will pay through the nose for probably a shit policy and you can be sure that your premiums will increase substancially every year. I am self insured now and if worse comes to worse and I am able to travel, I will return to the USA for any super expensive treatment. Unfortunately no one knows what kind of coverage retired US expats will have available in the US now that the government is involved.

You have Medicare coverage when you return to the US. FYI Government has been involved with Medicare since it's inception.

Edited August 4, 2013 by BigDUSA

[Trvlr 50]

I am not old enough for Medicare, which is the U.S. government run health program for people 65+. But old enough to wonder about it. I looked at it briefly and found that:

If you are collecting social security benefits you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. This covers hospital stay.

Part B covers doctor visits, tests etc. This you have to pay for, but you have to sign up the year before for it during a sign up period. This is obviously to prevent scofflaws from trying to pay a premium only when they need medical care, instead of paying all year which is what insurance is. The same people who have been yelling about the Health Care law's requirement that everyone be insured.

The premium this year was $104 a month for most people.

There is a Part C and D also, but if you sign up with some insurance companies they automatically include it. Kaiser does - just check on their website.

 

By the way, no private insurance company comes even close to the low administrative cost that Medicare has. All private companies have administrative costs that are several times more than Medicare's.

[MM 6,562]

Are you sure about that cost for Part B? I thought it was more like $20/month.

 

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[Trvlr 50]

If we are talking about the same thing then yes I am sure. I saw that number at two sites. It changes every year.

But I just scratched the surface. You may want to dig deeper.

[MM 6,562]

Are you sure about that cost for Part B? I thought it was more like $20/month.

 

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Seems you're right...I seem to recall reading somewhere that it was about $19/mo...must have been dreaming.

[bratpack 91]

I have a basic plan with axa,which i have had for 8 years and will be covered until i am 69,with not claiming anything.This costs me 19,000 baht a year,no outpatient cover and no need to pay first, i have a card to display to hospital.

 

Of course i am not covered the same as paying 60,000 baht a year,but if i needed a few million baht to save my life, i am sure i will have no problems

[jballstate 326]

$104 is about right for the part "B" per month and this does not include prescription drugs. You can take out a medicare supplement, I have one through AARP which takes your part "B" premium and covers your part "B" coverage plus most prescription drugs at no additional cost. Now if you go with out part "B" or prescription drug coverage you have to pay an additional penalty for each month you did not have the coverage. That could run the cost up quickly. Of course medicare covers nothing out of the USA so you better hope you can make it back to the USA if you have a serious problem.

Are you sure about that cost for Part B? I thought it was more like $20/month.

 

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[Gary 4,119]

I emailed Social Security with expat questions about part B. The lady told me to save my money because Part B would be basically useless for me.

 

The question is what will Obamacare do to the existing medicare benefit?

[js007 795]

I emailed Social Security with expat questions about part B. The lady told me to save my money because Part B would be basically useless for me.

 

The question is what will Obamacare do to the existing medicare benefit?

 

With regard to Medicare Part B and those living overseas: There's a penalty for each year you don't sign up for Part B after you're eligible. For example, you're eligible for Medicare Part B, but living in Thailand. You could sign up, but Medicare doesn't do you any good in Thailand unless you return to the USA for treatment. Still, there's a penalty (10% of the premium) for each year you don't participate). And you're not automatically enrolled in Part B if you're living overseas, so pay attention.

 

And for those wondering about Medicare Part C? That's an plan whereby insurance companies can offer private coverage to those enrolled. It's in lieu of regular Medicare and must be at least as extensive as Medicare. Medicare pays the insurance companies a fixed sum per year per enrollee, the the company makes money if you don't get much medical treatment. Some of these plans may offer benefits over and above what Medicare would normally cover, such as coverage for eyeglasses, etc.

 

Edited to correct my misinformation.

Edited August 24, 2013 by js007

[Trvlr 50]

" Still, there's a penalty (10% of the premium) for each year you don't participate)."

 

I think a clarification is needed because it is a little more complex and could hurt people who are not aware. This is what I found on the web regarding the Part B penalty:

 

Part B is Medical Insurance (doctors fees, etc.)

If you are living abroad, you will not automatically receive Part B, for which there are monthly premiums. It does not cover expenses while abroad; however American medical insurances may require that you sign up for it. TRICARE, the medical care program for military (active and retirees) and their families, which does provide coverage abroad, also requires signing up for Part B.

 

BEWARE: There is a penalty attached to late sign-up for Medicare Part B: for each 12-month period you are eligible for Part B but do not sign up, your premiums for life are increased by 10%. So, for instance, you sign up 5 years after becoming eligible, your premium will be 50% higher than someone who had signed up when initially qualified.

 

People who anticipate returning to the US in their later years – as well as those who regularly spend time in the US -- may find it financially advantageous to pay premiums for Part B while still living abroad.

---

I did not even know about this penalty, so all this is a learning process for me. Which means, take anything I say with a pinch of salt and do further research.

 

About the Obamacare question above, I have not read anything that says it will change Medicare. Down the road it may, but so far no.

Many consider that Medicare treats expat Americans unfairly, but so far no one has been able to effect any changes.

Edited August 24, 2013 by Trvlr

[js007 795]

" Still, there's a penalty (10% of the premium) for each year you don't participate)."

 

I think a clarification is needed because it is a little more complex and could hurt people who are not aware. This is what I found on the web regarding the Part B penalty:

 

Part B is Medical Insurance (doctors fees, etc.)

If you are living abroad, you will not automatically receive Part B, for which there are monthly premiums. It does not cover expenses while abroad; however American medical insurances may require that you sign up for it. TRICARE, the medical care program for military (active and retirees) and their families, which does provide coverage abroad, also requires signing up for Part B.

 

BEWARE: There is a penalty attached to late sign-up for Medicare Part B: for each 12-month period you are eligible for Part B but do not sign up, your premiums for life are increased by 10%. So, for instance, you sign up 5 years after becoming eligible, your premium will be 50% higher than someone who had signed up when initially qualified.

 

People who anticipate returning to the US in their later years – as well as those who regularly spend time in the US -- may find it financially advantageous to pay premiums for Part B while still living abroad.

---

I did not even know about this penalty, so all this is a learning process for me. Which means, take anything I say with a pinch of salt and do further research.

 

About the Obamacare question above, I have not read anything that says it will change Medicare. Down the road it may, but so far no.

Many consider that Medicare treats expat Americans unfairly, but so far no one has been able to effect any changes.

 

I don't really follow all this, but apparently, as part of the "Affordable Care Act," some of the Medicare reimbursements to doctors will be reduced to help pay for the cost of the new Act. And in response, many doctors will no longer see new Medicare patients. It's all in a state of flux and could change at any time. Fortunately, health care in Thailand isn't always expensive. If you're healthy, it might pay not to worry about it all if you're a US citizen, but for the Medicare Part B premium and the penalty if you don't sign up.

Edited August 24, 2013 by js007

[Hentietruter 0]

We are a Broker for Health and Home Owners insurance. Welcome to contact us, let's see what we can work out. Master Safety - 038 426 423 or mastersafety1988@gmail.com

 

 

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[Grandpollo 366]

We are a Broker for Health and Home Owners insurance. Welcome to contact us, let's see what we can work out. Master Safety - 038 426 423 or mastersafety1988@gmail.com

 

 

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[VPI78 11,528]

Free dashboard video cam with each policy sold.

55555, good one. I guess you irritated the shill because you got a red mark for the post so I neutralized it.