Sheryl

They will also raise by age bracket. You can get a chart now showing current rates by age group which will give you an idea of what magnitude of increase to expect and at what age. The increases are most marked after age 65. For the simple reason that need for medical csre and thus size and frequency of claims substantially increases at that poinh and keeps doing so. It makes zero sense IMO to opt out of a policy because of these higher rates in old age since you are at that point quite likely to have a large claim in the forseeable future...and anyone who can't afford insurance premiums certainly can't afford to self pay that. If unable to afford continued insurance it may be time to consider a move back home. All of which should have been thought through/planned years in advance, since there is nothing unknown or unpredictable about age related changes in premium. Previous or current state of health and prior use of policy (or lack thereof) is not a good predictor of future need for health care once you are elderly.

Would definitely be considered reckless and excluded on that ground. In most cases insurer will not know the precise way the fall occurred though. This sort of reckless behavior often occurs in conjunction with intoxication. Likely the insurer in question either had a "balcony exclusion" or went by the blood dlbohol level.

Obviously, give this full history to any future anethetists and surgeons. Vomiting after anesthesia is not an "allergy". It is a common side effect and can usually be controlled by giving an anti-emetic drug. It would likely be the morphine in the second procedure that made you vomit (and the fentanyl in the first) , propofol usually does not (in fact has anti-nausea properties). Some people are extremely prone to nausea and vomiting from opiods. I am one...even a tiny dose of codeine in cough syrup has me vomiting severely. I avoid opiates as much as possible and when I require anesthesia (or post op pain meds) I tell both surgeon and anethetist in advance and request that they give anti-emetic drugs prophylactically. One dose in OR before I wake up then at regular intervals thereafter. Does the trick. If you do not normally get nauseous from opoids (e.g. if you take them in other situations without nausea) then the culprit may be Naloxone which is routinely given in the OR/procedure room or recovery room to reverse the effect of opiods when these have been used for short term IV sedation. Naloxone too often causes nausea. Either way answer is the same: - avoid opiods/synthetic opoids as muchs as possible. For IV sedation, easily done if doctor is informed of the need. -when opoids are unavoidable (for example post op pain after surgery), administer anti-emetic drug routinely with each opoid dose. Do now wiait for nausea to occur first. The hot feeling you got in your chest the second time was from the morphine and a common reaction.

A common method is to sit on top of the railing and attempt to take a selfie.

Yes 800 for retirement, 400 is for marriage.

Not too many balconies in Thailand fit that description and certainly not those at hotels in back-packer type price range. Even so, people don't tend to accidentally fall off even Thai balconies unless drunk/drugged or acting rashly.

Varies with policy but blood level that equates to legal intoxication is commonly used. His alcohol blood level would likely be in his medical records. Balcony falls are the type of thing that immediately raise insurer's suspicion of either intoxication or suicide attempt both of which would exclude coverage in pretty much any policy.

Reduces, but certainly does not eliminate. And many of us would have as much or even higher medical expense if back in oud home countries.

Vivacor is made by Astra Zeneca. The local brands of rosuvastin are not made by "unknown" companies but by well known local pharm companies. These are of course smaller than the big internationals bug they are well known iN SE Asua and regulated.

Crestor has NOT been taken off the market. It is still on the market as are many other brands of the same drug. A large number of drugs interact with coumadin (warfarin). That is never a reason to take something off market. Rather a reason to caution people on coummadin to be wary of interactions. Not only with other drugs but also with some foods.

Different brand names for same thing do either will do.

Yes. Thai policies only, and specifically the Pacific Cross policy OP is considering renewing. Insurers based in Western countries are not allowed to increase premiums based on claims history. Nor are they allowed to newly exclude a condition that developed after the policy was issued. Haven't seen any that singled out cancer for a much lower level of reimbursement either.

You need to see a trained therapist. There are some good Western ones but mainly in Bangkok. Where are you located? Drugs will just worsen your situation in the long run. Note that benzos are highly addictive.

Cigba Global offers 2 plans: "Close Care" which is limited to country of residence and country of nationality, and Global Health which covers worldwide (2 options: including or excluding USA). You apparently got quote only for the latter. The issues I mentioned for PC are clearly written into the policy. You do not have to rely on anecdotal reports, it is there in black and white.

As I understand it Chubb bought out only Cigna's health and life jnsurance in Thailand and some other countries and there remains a Global Cigna expat policy isfmsued out of UK. OP should check with a good broker to sort this out.

You have to create an account. No idea why you cannot but note that membership is restricted to health professionals. As others have said Vivacor is just a different imported brand name for Rosuvastatin. Therd are also locally made versions which usually cost less.

It sounds like you refer to Cigna Thailand not Cignal Global. Or have you not taken into accojnt hhe cover for emergency care when travelling? Cigna offers both deductible and copay options which reduce premiums. And their premiums at older ages do not rise as dramatically as PC. Be sure to look at premiums for the age bands above yours. And remember the additional 25% increases after large claims in addition to age rtlated increases. In the long run this policy will cost you far more and in addition -- and this to me is a clincher -- will not cover you for any chronic illness you develop beyond the initial years claim (and in the case of cancer, cover you even at first claim only up up 100k which in your case is 0 cover since less than your deductible). At which point you are also unabld to get a different policy. Since you are planning to live out your old age in Thailand you may well (in fact probably will) end up with a policy that has become completely unaffordable and does not cover your health conditions (cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke to name just a few things that would be excluded aferr first year of claims and have a high chance of occurring in old age). This is all clearly spelled out in the policy terms. These are not policies suitable for growing old in Thailand. Better for younger people here temporarily.

I suggest you contact Cigna Global as it seems what you had was not Cigna Global but Cigna Thailand. Go through a broker specializing in international expat policies e.g. [email protected] [email protected]

If you can find a program at an actual university (there are some) this should work fine. It is the stand alone language programs (some of which people enrol in but rarely attend) that are looked at more dubiously

Self ear cleaning: be very, very careful so as not to puncture ear drum. Inserting cotton wads safer than Q tip and do nto try any hard metal instruments (including those sold as ear wax removers -- if that is necessary have a trained person do it) There are things you can put in the ear that help dissolve wax. A brand of drops called I think "Dewax", or a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide - see https://www.entsinusorlando.com/earwax-removal/hydrogen-peroxide-solution/

Good feedback on this doctor https://www.bangkokpattayahospital.com/en/doctor-profile?v_id=205&depid=28

There is a great difference between external otitis (infection of the outer ear) and otitis media (infection of the inner eat). External otitis can be treated with ear drops alone and cannot cause hearing loss.

According to the MRI report (which does need to be supplemented with a direct MRI reading by a specialist) changes at C4-C5 are mild which if true would not warrant surgery. Even at C5-C6 the report lists only moderate narrowing which also does not usually equate to surgery in the near term, though it may worsen over time to an extent that requires it. I'm not sure you understand how very common these findings are (even in perfectly asymptomatic people) and what the usual threshold for needing surgery is? However, the symptoms you report are at odds with the MRI report so its accuracy needs a review. Compression fracture would usually be treated with neck brace and PT (cervical traction), has this been done? Besides the actual MRI film bring Xray film with you if available. A great deal can be seen on XRay including things like bone spurs which sometimes get missed and can account for symptoms worse than the narrowing would otherwise cause.

Best to make an appointment, which can be done by phone or online. He is in high demand and theere onlt Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. 420k if a private international hospital is quiet possible (depending on exact type of surgery) but would be much less at a government hospital and of course free if obtained through the universal scheme, though that process can be slow. What hospital is your GF covered at under the universal ("30 baht") scheme? It will be where she is listed in a housebook (tabian ban). And from whom/where did she get this 420k+ quote? You said Sriraj advised no surgery needed and also that is not a private hospital so it sounds like she has consulted someone else at a private hospital.

5 million is about right for the most likely to be incurred in a single hospitalization in a private hospital (worst case scenario, but worst case is what one should plan for). If using only government hospitals can be 1.5 - 2 million. And of course need a way to replenish these funds as used.