Etaoin Shrdlu

Perhaps consider this school:  https://www.mandarin.ac.th

It looks like they teach in both Mandarin and English.

I once had a similar situation with a family member who booked through a different aggregator's website and had difficulty getting a favorable response to our request.

We ended up calling the airline's Bangkok office and got things sorted.

Qatar's Bangkok phone number is 02 618 0400

4 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

Most are not.

Yes, only something like 20 percent or so are.

2 hours ago, JCauto said:

That would be because there haven't been any attacks on Arabs and Ethiopians and their homes, businesses and places of worship. Should they report non-news events on the news? Is this some new standard of whataboutism? This would literally make discourse impossible as you would not just have to talk of the news of the day, you'd have to also talk about the things that didn't happen to everyone at the same time!

I will concede that not al muslims are Arabs, but many are:

https://globalnews.ca/news/10035853/israel-hamas-conflict-islamophobia-antisemitism-canada/

I haven't been able to find much in the way of claim settlement ratios apart from those of Indian insurers, but I tend to agree that the total percentage of medical claims paid is probably in excess of 90 percent. It may differ a bit from market to market, but a denial rate of greater than 10 percent or thereabouts on a market-wide basis would surprise me. The Indian regulator seems to do a good job of getting insurers to be transparent. It would be nice if regulators in other jurisdictions were as good. 

Even in heavily-regulated markets like the US, it is extremely difficult to obtain information on the percentage of claims that are denied or not fully paid by insurers.  Here are a couple of links to articles that discuss this issue:

https://www.propublica.org/article/how-often-do-health-insurers-deny-patients-claims

https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/claims-denials-and-appeals-in-aca-marketplace-plans/

These articles mention that the denial rates can range between 2% for some insurers, to almost 50% for others. A company co-founded by the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in one year denied 66% of claims according to the ProPublica article linked above.

Given the lack of transparency on the part of insurers, and legislators' apparent unwillingness to pry open that black box, it isn't possible to determine what portion of claims are denied for completely legitimate reasons and which part are denied due to bad faith or unethical practices by insurers. The ProPublica article mentions that less than 1% of policyholders whose claims were denied appeal the denial, which may or may not mean that most denials were for legitimate reasons.

While hard data on claims denial rates is difficult to come by, an insurance broker will usually know how well or poorly his clients have been treated and will avoid placing his clients' business with insurers that have poor claims-paying attitudes. Not surprisingly, insurers that charge higher premiums tend to have better claims-paying attitudes than those that charge lower premiums, but not in every case.

This whole issue highlights the drawbacks of having to rely upon profit-driven private sector insurers to spread the risk of healthcare costs, especially when regulatory oversight is poor and insurers are not held accountable for their misdeeds.

This company is a managing general agent and not a retail insurance broker.

Their website states that if you make an inquiry, they will refer you to a broker that has a distribution agreement with them. I don't think it is possible to know how good the broker's service is in this instance since we don't know to which insurance broker they would refer you or which you might select from their list of "providers".

They are up front with their providers, which includes the names of brokers or other agents they may work with and the AM Best ratings of the insurers that these providers use, although they do list a broker that uses an insurer that isn't rated by AM best.

With the exception of Cigna Global, all of the providers listed have US addresses, so one could presume that they fall under the state insurance regulator in their respective states. This is probably better than trying to hold a broker responsible if they come under the regulation of an insurance authority on a Caribbean island or under no regulation in a Middle Eastern free zone. Cigna Global would be regulated by the PRA and FCA in the UK, so that's ok.

You are probably going to be ok if you contact this company and they refer you to one of their providers, but I would avoid an insurer that does not have an acceptable AM Best financial strength rating.

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

They also sell HEPA sheets, specifically for air purifiers, and ACs.  Or you can be generic rolls or sheets and custom cut your own.

 

 

Thanks, I'll look into that.

We have a Philips 1215 air purifier and it works well.

Replacement filters from Philips Thailand run about 1,500 baht for the charcoal filter and 2,000 baht for the HEPA filter. Replacement filters on Lazada cost less than 350 baht for both. I suspect the Lazada HEPA filters aren't really up to standard, but will test one using an air quality monitor and see if it is ok.

Chances of getting a tourist visa may not be so great for your stepson.

With a parent in the US and no strong ties to Thailand (no job, assets, etc.) he may be turned down. Consular officials deny tourist visas to people whom they suspect will seek to convert a tourist visa to a green card once they arrive in the US.

7 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

Valentines day .... really or is that just a theory ?

 

If Valentines Day a major thing here?

Yes, it's a major thing here.

Just try to get a table in a popular restaurant on Valentine's Day evening.

Valentine's Day.

Everyone taking their tilac out to dinner tonight.

25 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

That is pretty wide! Could refuse your claim even if you were totally unaware (no symptoms) at the time of taking out cover!

Yes, and this is also true of some medical insurance policies, so careful review of policy terms and conditions is advisable, as is clarification from the insurer in the event of any ambiguity, before entering into a contract of insurance.

21 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Thanks for your information. I supplied the info that they (SBC) request upon their website to give a quote and added detailed explanations of my two 'pre-existing' conditions. I was surprised that the broker came back with a positive response, no mention of my pre-existing conditions and also quoted the exact premium payable. 

Personal accident and travel insurance proposals don't require the same level of underwriting scrutiny as medical insurance policies for a number of reasons.

For starters, the limits are low and the coverage is fairly narrow in that it only covers urgent care and the policyholder is expected to return to their home country once able to fly if longer-term treatment is required. The insurer isn't going to pay millions of baht to treat cancer, stroke or heart problems on an on-going basis.

Also, the definition of pre-existing conditions is anything, whether diagnosed or not, that is present at the time of policy inception or start of travel. This gives the insurer broad latitude to deny or limit cover. 

Detailed disclosure of pre-existing conditions isn't normally required for the type and level of cover this policy provides.

12 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

So medical expenses arising form accidents are covered unless due to intoxication, driving without a license, etc.

Yes, medical expenses arising out of an accident, unless an exclusion applies and subject to the policy limits (and sub-limits if applicable), are covered.

The main insuring agreement in the terms and conditions actually refers to "injury or illness". I think the term "injury" is actually broader than "accident" since an injury could be the result of a foreseen or intentional event, while "accident" requires a lack of intent and/or being unforeseen. Being assaulted in the course of being robbed isn't an accident, but injuries sustained should be covered. Some coverages, such as the optional Accident Extension Benefit would only apply in the case of an accident and not illness. Sorry to digress.

48 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

General Terms and Conditions apply to all insured persons and if nothing else is specified in your policy, these are the full extent of the limitations for you.

 

reading it, the main limitations appear to be:

 

1. Only "urgent" medical care is covered.  This is typical or travel policies. Necessary but elective surgeries etc would not be covered, neither would routine care. If you are in fact just visiting Thailand this may be fine but if actually living here, would not be equivalent to full health cover.

 

2. Exclusion for " events which are in any way connected with the insured’s conscious self-inflicted injuries or disease, reckless behaviour, abuse of alcoholor drugs or other prohibited substances, or with self-exposure to
unnecessary risk (except in case of trying to save a human life)," " claims related to consequences of excessive consumption of alcohol, drug
abuse, etc"  and " driving motor vehicles without holding appropriate official permits". These too are standard travel insurance policy clauses. (Also excludes injury from diving, downhill cycling, competitive racing and other "extreme" sports. This too is usual).

 

I find the wording about chronic diseases (which would include your pre-existing hypertension) confusing as in  Article 6 it states "Urgent Medical Treatment, transportation, medication and any other
costs in relation to acute deteriorations of Chronic Illnesses are
covered up to the specific limit stated in the insurance cover chart." but in Article 8, Special Exclusions, it lists "deterioration of Pre-existing Medical Conditions" as an exclusion. I suggest you email them specifically equesting clarification on this point, it is important. A stroke or heart failure could be considered a deterioriation of your chronic  hypertension.

 

Regarding accidents, in Article 6 it states "Costs of Urgent Medical Care and doctor’s visit due to an injury or illness of the Insured are covered" but makes no specific mention of hospitalization.  In Section 5 it states "if the Insured is admitted to hospital as an in-patient for more than 48 hours as a result of an accident while staying abroad, we will pay to the amount stated in the schedule for each day of hospitalisation (from the 3rd day inclusive) up to a maximum of 10 days" only if you take out the additional Accident Extension cioverage. I think, but am not 100% certain, that this is referring to a daily payment separate from actual hospital charges (hence kicking in only from day 3 onward; it would be intended to compensate for other incidental costs incurred due to prolonged hospitalization).  @Etaoin Shrdlu do you read it same way?

 

 

51 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

General Terms and Conditions apply to all insured persons and if nothing else is specified in your policy, these are the full extent of the limitations for you.

 

reading it, the main limitations appear to be:

 

1. Only "urgent" medical care is covered.  This is typical or travel policies. Necessary but elective surgeries etc would not be covered, neither would routine care. If you are in fact just visiting Thailand this may be fine but if actually living here, would not be equivalent to full health cover.

 

2. Exclusion for " events which are in any way connected with the insured’s conscious self-inflicted injuries or disease, reckless behaviour, abuse of alcoholor drugs or other prohibited substances, or with self-exposure to
unnecessary risk (except in case of trying to save a human life)," " claims related to consequences of excessive consumption of alcohol, drug
abuse, etc"  and " driving motor vehicles without holding appropriate official permits". These too are standard travel insurance policy clauses. (Also excludes injury from diving, downhill cycling, competitive racing and other "extreme" sports. This too is usual).

 

I find the wording about chronic diseases (which would include your pre-existing hypertension) confusing as in  Article 6 it states "Urgent Medical Treatment, transportation, medication and any other
costs in relation to acute deteriorations of Chronic Illnesses are
covered up to the specific limit stated in the insurance cover chart." but in Article 8, Special Exclusions, it lists "deterioration of Pre-existing Medical Conditions" as an exclusion. I suggest you email them specifically equesting clarification on this point, it is important. A stroke or heart failure could be considered a deterioriation of your chronic  hypertension.

 

Regarding accidents, in Article 6 it states "Costs of Urgent Medical Care and doctor’s visit due to an injury or illness of the Insured are covered" but makes no specific mention of hospitalization.  In Section 5 it states "if the Insured is admitted to hospital as an in-patient for more than 48 hours as a result of an accident while staying abroad, we will pay to the amount stated in the schedule for each day of hospitalisation (from the 3rd day inclusive) up to a maximum of 10 days" only if you take out the additional Accident Extension cioverage. I think, but am not 100% certain, that this is referring to a daily payment separate from actual hospital charges (hence kicking in only from day 3 onward; it would be intended to compensate for other incidental costs incurred due to prolonged hospitalization).  @Etaoin Shrdlu do you read it same way?

 

 

With respect to your final paragraph, my reading is that this limitation applies only to the optional "Accident Extension Package Benefits" that provides a cash benefit of Euros 50 per day subject to a two-day deductible. I don't read it as applying to necessary urgent hospitalization expenses arising from a covered accident or illness. This is a typical cover under a personal accident policy and a previous employer of mine referred to it as "hospital cash". In my opinion, it isn't a meaningful benefit.

With respect to your penultimate paragraph, I suspect that the underwriter is trying to differentiate between non-urgent manifestations of a pre-existing condition and acute exacerbations of a pre-existing condition requiring urgent care. The former would be excluded, but the latter possibly covered. As you stated,  it is worth asking for clarification from the underwriter to make sure.

7 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Thanks again! Thinking of the ten day in-patient hospital limit already mentioned above. This policy does seem strictly time limited. For those of us with somewhere to stay and free National Health Service treatment in our home countries this is less of an issue. Unfortunately, for those of us for whom this does not apply, this policy is less than ideal! 

I think this product is primarily marketed in EU countries, so these shortcomings may be less of a disadvantage. Still, the low limit would seem to preclude adequate limits for serious accidents or illnesses requiring lengthy hospital stays and/or medivac to the home country.

These are things a good insurance broker should be pointing out to their potential clients.

Thai insurance regulations also prohibit an insurance broker licensed by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner from inducing someone in Thailand to contract insurance with an offshore insurance company.

7 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Thanks for the clarification. It's important therefore to consider this insurance to be annual travel insurance but with the trip duration limit (sometimes 31 days) removed plus the ability to commence cover whilst outside your home country. It is disturbing that the 100,000 Euro limit would be inadequate in a worst case scenario.

Another thing to consider: If a serious accident or illness occurs, and in the insurer's opinion the policyholder is fit to travel back to their home country to obtain treatment, coverage would not continue if the policyholder decides to stay abroad. If the policyholder repatriates, coverage under the policy would also terminate and further treatment in the home country would be at the policyholder's (or their regular medical insurer's) expense. Read Article 6 2.2. 

It is a travel insurance policy and the coverage, limitations and exclusions are typical for this type of cover.

It isn't a medical insurance policy and won't provide the level of cover that a real medical insurance policy is intended to provide.

The limit of Euro 100,000 is also too low to contemplate a catastrophic accident or illness and/or full medivac expenses.

Option 2 is likely your best bet.

Our children attended international schools and had outside tuition in Thai language, but this would not have been adequate preparation for a Thai university's domestic program. 

Some Thai schools have very good bilingual programs. I saw evidence of this when our children competed against students from Thai schools in debate competitions.

I would avoid the government schools.