ole1291

9 hours ago, Lorry said:

No, absolutely not.

Pretty much the opposite of EU regulations. 

You obviously are not very familiar with insurance regulations. 

UK regulations are much more business-friendly than EU.

The main fault line is Anglo-Saxon (business friendly, no customer protection,  so premiums can be cheap) - continental European (EU) (the nanny-state protects the consumer,  so premiums are higher).

 

In a serious condition,  I would not want to be in Umphang. The next place with more or less decent hospitals is Phitsanuloke, but in a really serious case (let's say, car accident with broken vertebra) an European insurance would bring the patient to Bangkok (even from Phitsanuloke).

Thai standard for these trips is an ambulance. European standard is a helicopter,  but only the rich here pay 400,000 for a helicopter. You probably wouldn't even know how to order one, even if you were willing to pay.

(Thai vivat used to pay for helicopter evacuation (unique selling point), AFAIK they gave up a long time ago. BTW their owner used to be Munich Re, I think they sold them,  you can try to find it out.)

 

If you are happy with the medical care in Mae Sot or Tak (I wouldn't), any Thai insurance will do. Medical care is cheap there. 

 

If you want the standards of Bangkok Hospital Phitsanuloke or the standards of Bangkok, in many cases a road trip isn't really advisable.

Transport will be your biggest problem.  I doubt you can find any insurance to help you with this.  

So, keep half a million ready on standby and get the 24hrs phone number of a trustworthy EMS helicopter (Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok has one, private ones are rare here. The military has them, find out whether they use them in Umphang - they use them sometimes on the islands,  free)

 

I agree. Actually a lot of patients die here during transport.

A typical case would be say a Motorbike accidents, injured person is brought to Umphang hospital (ill equipped and with a bad crop of newbie doctors), doctors decide they can't treat the patient and send him by ambulance to Maesot hospital  (4h drive, mostly on a windy mountain road), patient dies in ambulance before arriving (probably 5-6h after accident without any meaningful care).

I will definitely look into this helicopter thing.

Sheryl in her post lumped EU with UK regulations together (I think while talking of CIGNA), that's why I assumed they were similar. I freely admit knowing nothing about them.

Even bearing in mind what you said, I would still expect US regs to be safer than Thaï.

Maybe it's fair to say that with regards regulations for consumer protection: EU>US>THAI

With Thaï almost be a dice roll as whether you'll be screwed or not.

In this case I just don't have a choice, it's either US regs (but with a dubious company no ones seems to have heard about) or local with very little legal protection (again as to Sheryl s post).

I would like to point out though, in case other people are interested that at least AXA and April Thailand (according to AA Insure), contrary to what was said in the past on this forum, cannot raise premiums based on claims (community rated) or dump customers for no reason (or so I was told)).

Their premiums are similar to VUMI (around 1100$ per year for a 32 years old) but for a much smaller amount of coverage: 3.5 million dollars (VUMI) VS 3.5 million THB (AXA and April Thailand).

20 hours ago, howerde said:

A friend uses FWD, note i am not recommending them, but she uses them .this is in addition to to Thai social security scheme, as delays can be long, is is around 50ish no current health issues and pays 80 000 baht a year, not sure exactly what policy she uses.

https://www.fwd.co.th/en/products/       she has never needed to claim, but says they are a good company

I wasn't aware of them, thanks.

"In addition to Thai social security" meaning she would use them for scans etc and would then seek treatment in a Thai hospital? 

In the attached image, it clearly states that legal action would be settled in new york.

Also says they are reinsured by another company, to pay their claims in case of bankruptcy? 

Seems like a lot of their business is in South America.

OK, I'm now eyeing buying a policy from VUMI as the only foreign based insurance firm that will insure a Thai national.

Sheryl among others has been clear about avoiding local ones.

Problem is there isn't much info reviews about VUMI. 

On their website, they show they only had 6 million net income last year, not very impressive.

The whole point of subscribing now that we're young and have no medical conditions would be moot if in 10 years, the company goes bankrupt...

Good to hear.

Does that mean she is no longer insured? Any particular reason?

Thanks 

Hello,

I'm looking at options to insure my thai wife (mid thirties) here in Thailand.

I'm aware that as a Thai she's entitled to free healthcare but we live in a remote rural area (Umphang) and the local hospital is really ill equipped/doctors sub par etc...

The thought of her stuck there if she ever had a serious condition is really not pleasant.

I have been in contact with AA brokers.

Having browsed this forum and read about the downsides of local insurance companies/regulations, I asked about foreign based ones.

Alas it turns out international insurances firms will only insure foreigners, not Thai citizens, except for a company named VUMI, based in the US.

Has anybody heard/dealt with them before?

Are US insurance regulations broadly similar to EU/UK ONES?

I was also given quotes for AXA and April Thailand.

I realise they being Thai based, they can in theory raise their premiums based on claims, but my agent assured me that in their case, being community rated, that is not the case.

She also said that in her experience, they hadn't been problematic to pay claims (I had read that this can sometimes be an issue with Thai based firms, them claiming the problem is related to a pre-existing condition on flimsy grounds).

Would people here confirm that?

Any advice is welcome.