jerrymahoney

From: AXA Travel Sawasdee Thailand: Inbound Travel Insurance for Thailand visitors Claim > Does AXA offer cashless facilities at hospitals? Do I have to pay upfront at the hospital? For outpatient (OPD): No, AXA doesn’t offer cashless for OPD treatment. You must make payment first and reimburse with AXA later. For Inpatient (IPD): Yes, we do offer cashless if you’re admitted as an inpatient in AXA hospital network. You may be required to make payment to hospitals when we do not receive in time all information or documentation required to conclude the claim assessment. You can submit claim form including all required documentation for us to consider reimbursement. https://www.axa.co.th/faq-sawasdee-thailand-inbound#collapse21 This is a list of AXA travel insurance inbound to Thailand hospital direct pay network https://thailandgi.cdn.axa-contento-118412.eu/thailandgi/0cced181-c61e-4296-a092-fdbfc8388977_Hospital-Table-EN.pdf

My experience was that CIGNA Global (not CIGNA Thailand) even within the same hospital group would pay direct with hospitals in Bangkok with the RamKhamhaeng Group and Thonburi Group but not to to hospitals in the same group upcountry. So I don't see why the big surprise that private hospitals might generally not pay direct to government hospitals or that they do not pay direct to ALL private hospitals. Insurers would have a list as to who is in their direct pay category.

the hospital that misdiagnosed my cancer! That's a funny name for a hospital.

Guidance How charges for NHS healthcare apply to overseas visitors Updated 31 December 2020 Within England, free NHS hospital treatment is provided on the basis of someone being ‘ordinarily resident' (first sentence) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-the-nhs-charges-overseas-visitors-for-nhs-hospital-care/how-the-nhs-charges-overseas-visitors-for-nhs-hospital-care

As I said, I have never had any dealings with a government hospital. I suspect that it heavily leans toward the insurers not wanting to deal with government hospital accounting departments than the other way around.

No. I have never dealt with a government hospital. I think it is mostly the other way around: Insurers will only work direct pay with hospitals that the have previously approved Indeed that was the main impetus to my leaving CIGNA Global -- because I was moving to an area where they had no approved direct pay private hospitals. The procedure for dealing with a not previously approved direct pay private hospital was onerous. I once tried to see if CIGNA Global would work direct pay with KhonKaen Ram hospital who was unapproved at the time while the main Ramkhamhaeng hospital in Bangkok was approved. Sorry -- Could not be done. That is my personal experience. Not 'I reckon'.

Maybe it is the other way around: Some insurers will not pay direct to government hospitals. One pays the hospital first, then is reimbursed by the insurer. That presumes the insurer agrees to reimburse at all.

At least per Ms. Spry's father, she is now at a "state hospital" on Koh Samui.

As per Ms. Spry's father: Since her accident on February 9, Ruby has had issues with her travel insurance who have refused to pay for her treatment first in the nearest hospital to her crash then at a state-funded hospital on Ko Samui. https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/dad-injured-cornish-woman-thailand-8152154

whilst my recent claim was denied my previous claim in 2016 was approved. its a mixed bag !! Sure but it's like the old newspaper saw: It isn't news when the plane lands safely.

Be careful with that. If Vernon Unsworth hears you, he might sue.

This is quote from the injured Ms. Spry's father: Joe wanted to warn others travelling to places like Thailand or event America to check they have the right paperwork in place before going. He added: "There must be tens of thousands of people who go to Thailand every year and hire these motorbikes thinking it's oK as everyone has them. You see young kids drive them so people think it'll be OK too, but, if you do not have a motorbike driving licence or the right travel insurance in place for things like this, they won't pay up if anything happens to you." https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/dad-injured-cornish-woman-thailand-8152154

Well then, my apologies. You mean SOME claims do get paid? One might have a hard time realizing that after reading some of these topics.

... and then they deny your claim, anyway. Right?

From NY Times Feb. 18, 2023 (paywall): The (Carter) center did not elaborate on what conditions had prompted the recent hospital visits or his decision to enter hospice care.

All these Federal actions may become a side-show compared to state actions in Georgia: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/georgia-judge-release-parts-grand-jury-report-trump-election-probe-rcna70397

There have been no details made of the medical condition that prompted this hospice decision. It seems that the doctors said Mr. Carter would have to be re-admitted to the hospital, and the former President said: No way

My favorite line about President Carter was, after serving one term as Georgia governor, he went into his mother's room one morning and said: Mother, I've decided to run for President. Miss Lillian replied: That's nice, Jimmy. President of what?

While you are right about "small print" being an idiom, some people use the term to suggest that the insurer employs it to be able to build exceptions into a policy that it hopes the casual policy holder will fail to notice.

Yes including maximum age limits to apply for new accident policies in Thailand.

Well I am sorry to hear that. I guess I am just a Pollyanna on here. I have had 3 major surgeries in my 20 years in Thailand. None were life threatening. All were covered by insurance.

OK. I jumped too soon on that one. Hopefully when the insurance came through your deposit was refunded.

You didn't just hand her your self-insurance card?

This is from the UK.GOV report Safety & Security in Thailand -- ROAD TRAVEL: Motorcycles or scooters for hire in beach resorts are often unregistered and can’t be used legally on a public road. Before you hire a vehicle, make sure you’re covered by your travel insurance and check the small print of the lease agreement. Don’t hand over your passport as a guarantee against returning a motorcycle or scooter. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/safety-and-security Note: It says to check the small print on your vehicle lease agreement. It doesn't say to check the small print on your travel insurance.

No -- but he sells sea shells by the seashore.