tonydabbs

Well since you've bothered to resurrect a zombie thread from years ago, perhaps you could share your experience and recommend decent insurance companies and perhaps even specific plans you think are good?

Particularly ones that can't be cancelled due to age or high utilization, as long as you keep paying consistently from say before 50. . .

Yes, I can recommend some. But you need to understand that there is no ideal medical coverage. Taxpayer supported health care is probably the most practical way to go, as long as the taxes don't start eating us alive.

Private health insurance without taxpayer support has to keep raising your premiums as you continue to get older. That is reality, and you need to prepare for it.

I have BUPA Thailand and have not had any problems. Over the years 2 claims, both paid directly to the hospital, no payment by me.

Be aware though that once you make a claim, if you later want to increase your level of cover, whatever the prior claim was for will be excluded. Best to get a high level of cover from the very start.

If you enroll by a certain age and don't miss any payments you are guaranteed lifetime cover. Premiums will go up as you age, of course.

If you upgrade with any company in Thailand, pre-existing conditions that weren't exluded in your earlier coverage will most likely be excluded in the upgraded portion of your coverage. If you had the earlier coverage for more than two years, you will most likely continue to be covered for the newly discovered problems for up to the same amount you were covered for in the earlier policy.

All Thai Baht health insurance companies (regulated by the Thai govt.) will pay directly to the hospital if it isn't a government hospital and if it is on their list of authorized direct-pay private hospitals. Most of the private hospitals are on the lists and new ones are added. Finding a good hospital that the insurer will pay directly to should not be a problem.

I understand that the changeover will take place on 1 April 1999.

What you are talking about is called a deductible (by Americans) and an excess by Europeans.

Buying high coverage health insurance with a high deductible is a good practical way to go.

I lean towards 40,000 Thai Baht deductible. The highest deductibe available in Thailand is 340,00 Thai Baht. Sorry. No one million baht deductibles

Only three of the highest coverage insurers in Thailand offer deductibles. Bupa doesn't.

By "highest coverqge insurers in Thailand" you mean local companies right ? Not the international ones ?

Of course. These companies are under regulation by the Thai government and sell in Thai Baht.

Many international insurers are setting up offices in Thailand, but they can only sell to expats and their (Thai)families. None use Thai Baht.

What you are talking about is called a deductible (by Americans) and an excess by Europeans.

Buying high coverage health insurance with a high deductible is a good practical way to go.

I lean towards 40,000 Thai Baht deductible. The highest deductibe available in Thailand is 340,00 Thai Baht. Sorry. No one million baht deductibles

Only three of the highest coverage insurers in Thailand offer deductibles. Bupa doesn't.

Use Thai-based insurance. They are cheaper and they pay directly to most of the private hospitals in Thailand.

Government hospitals and hospitals outside of Thailand have to paid by you and then you submit a claim to the insurance company.

Health insurance is very tightly regulated (inspite of some of the b.s. you read in the forums).

If you have a problem with the insurance company contact the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC).

They will help you if you are in the right, and sometimes even when you might be in the wrong.

Keep in mind, though, pre-existing are not covered by insurance in Thailand. And, they have up to 2 years to discover any pre-existing conditions that you "forgot" to mention in your application.

Hi,

In Thailand health insurance is annual pay. Bupa does have a monthly pay program, but I don't know if you will be able to qualify.

Thai Health Insurance (THI) will insure children without insuring a parent. (annual pay only)

Anyone can use a government hospital. Show your passport ID and pay.

I have never heard of a government hospital charging expats more.

If it was for Thailand, only Bupa or Thai Health Insurance (THI) will insure your child without insuring a parent. You might check with Bupa.

There are also International insurers that have special packages for insuring students going abroad to study.

How old is the child?

I have been skimming the insurance thread for years. Seldom do I agree with the complaints or comments I read.

Sometimes I jump in with my own comment to correct misinformation.

There was one writer on this thread I gave a "Like" to. But others down the line might have qualified also.

Danny4tsa and Gary A definitely didn't qualify for a "Like". Just the opposite.

In any case, I didn't see any mention of the (Thailand) Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). The OIC is here to assist you if you are in the right. And, if there is serious doubt in their mind about which of you is right or wrong, they will rule in favor of the insured. I have experienced them in action.

Yes, you can. Why didn't you ask your insurance broker?

As for legal technicalities of you qualifying for a tax deduction through your company, I don't know. Check with your attorney on that.

I do know for sure, though, that you can have your company bllled for your personal health insurance

I have type 2 diabetes that I inherited from my mother and activated when I started eating poorly while under a lot of work presure. Food and exercise are important.

Below are good suggestions for exercise.

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/fitness/ideas-for-exercise/types-of-exercise.html

In terms of food, I have read about Glycemic Index and Antioxidant rich food. I had read somewhere that pineapple and watermellon were high in antioxidants for lowering blood sugar. They have certainly been working for me; but can't find them mentioned anywhere now

http://www.deathtodiabetes.com/Antioxidant_Rich_Foods.html

There is no magic exercise that is supposed to reduce blood-sugar levels; but, walking 30 minutes a day is most often recommended. Eating watermellon, pineapple and cinamon help to keep blood-sugar levels down.

There is only one bread-winner :-), the life insurance is for me only.

You are thinking like a Westerner, not a Thai.

I am thinking that I should take a policy that a Thai person would take out,

Thais purchase life insurance as a personal savings program (savings endowments) for themselves or a loved one. This approach, therefore, tends to make high death benefit coverage quite expensive.

AIA brought this concept to Thailand, after finding it successful in China. Before AIA arrived here life insurance companies couldn't survive here marketing "bread-winner" death protectention. In China and here in Thailand, the idea was that their extended families would take care of them if the family bread-winner died.

So what should you do? This is where we Westerners get into the age-old argument over whether Term Insurance or Whole Life insurance is best. It just depends on how long you need the coverage for (how long you need to provide "bread-winner" financial security for your family). If the need is only for 10 years or so, Term Insurance might be best. If you don't plan to die soon and you have at least one loved who will be financially dependent on you indefinetely, you need to find a good Whole Life plan. Don't depend on Thais to help because this concept is new to them.

You need to shop and compare for yourself. Focus on death benefit, cost and length of coverage.

But is it too late to pay for BUPA or other health insurance ?

Yes!

will insurance cover related costs or complications ?

No.

insurance companies require you to take out the cover before leaving your home country.. Is this correct?

This is somewhat correct. There are exceptions, though. You just have to find them (go googling?)

Or, you can contact the sponsor of the "Insurance" thread.

For THI, is this called, "Maxi Healthy"?

Yes. Maxi Care and Maxi Healthy are the same. But each plan is preceded by MC as opposed to MH.

Both Bupa and Thai Health Insurance (THI) offer Supplemental Major Medical. It kicks in to pay when covered portions your group hospital coverage are used up. They are good to have, but nothing is perfect.

Bupa Extra Care pays 80% up to the limit of the plan you choose,

They also increase your Daily Room and Board coverage.

THI Maxi Care pays 90% and offers higher limits, but they don't supplement your Daily Room & Board coverage until after you have stayed 61 days in the hospital.

Most hospitals in Thailand charge less than 3,000 baht per day for room and board and nursing care. But, some of the popular "expat hospitals" charge 6,000 to 9,000 baht per day. Be careful.

Siam Samsung is a life insurance company regulated by the rules for life insurance in Thailand. Life insurance companies normally sell health insurance as a rider on a life insurance policy. The health insurance is normally basic hospital coverage without any coverage expanders (such as major medical).

Life insurance in Thailand mainly focuses on building up savings (savings endowments with death benefits) rather than focusing on death benefit for family protection. The marketing focus is on building up savings for ones future, not financial security for ones family. That is why the premium seems so high to some expats. Comparing the cost of life insurance for savings build up here with the cost life of life insurance for the financial security of loved ones in your home country is like comparing "apples and oranges." There is very little similarity.

The savings account concept of life insurance was successfully introduced here by AIA about 70 years ago after life insurers who had focused on financial security for loved ones had failed. Life insurance is sold here following AIA's lead, now. And now, every Thai has a friend or relative selling life insurance. Siam Samsung must be a new addition, though.

The question is, do you want to build up savings? Or, do you want good health insurance coverage?

If you are on a limited budget and your highest priority is good health insurance coverage, then look at the General Insurance companies (AXA, Bupa, LMG PHC, THI, etc.).

Otherwise, Siam Samsung Life is probably a pretty good company. Always remember that insurance in Thailand is tightly regulated by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). You can turn to them if you have a problem. Life Insurance and General Insurance, though, are governed by two different sets of rules

If you are between the ages of 60 and 65 there are 4 companies in Thailand that will insure you. (5, if you include AXA IE)

If you enroll with Bupa at age 60, the coverage is renewable for life. If you enroll beteween the ages of 61 to 65 the coverage is renewable to age 70. You can't enroll with Bupa at age 66 or beyond.

One Thai owned company will allow you to enroll to age 65 and will insure you to age 80.

One Thai-based company from the USA will insure you for life, but, if you enroll at age 60 and above, you have to take a physical.

One Thai-based company out of New Zeland will insure you for life and won't require a physical.

If you are age 66 and older, only these last 2 Thai-based companies will insure you.

But, there are still a number of International companies you can still apply with.

wouldn't it be most beneficial if the insurance kicked in from the date of birth in case there were any immediate problems?

For you, yes. But not for the insurance company.

I am covered by AXA through my job.

Check with your employer. In anycase, AXA won't start covering a child until they are 6 months old.

All other health insurers have a 15 day waiting period, as stated by AA.

Only Bupa and Thai Health Insurance (THI) will insure a child without also insuring a parent.

Otherwise, you might consider government health care, as Mario advised.

What are the approximate monthly premiums for basic to mid range plans?

Health insurance in Thailand is annual pay, in most cases. The premiums are determined by your age.

Also i would be more interested in finding out about plans where the bill is paid automatically by the insurer,

All Thai-based health insurance plans will pay directly to private hospitals in Thailand. If you use a government hospital, you have to pay yourself and then get reimbursed by your insurer. Also, if you are treated at a hospital outside of Thailand you have to pay the hospital and then file a claim to get reimbursed.

Are there any others including Thai insurers that are more affordable and offer this facility?

I recommend going with Thai-based health insurance. It tends to be much cheaper than International health insurance. But, it lacks many of the "bells & whistles" that some International plans provide. Keep in mind, though, that you pay for those "bells & whistles."

Thai-based health insurance is tightly regulated by the Thai government under the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC). When in doubt (the facts support both sides) the OIC tends to lean towards the insured rather than the insurance company.

Do you get a full payment if you should have an illness after a few months

There is no "pot of gold" build up required. Keep in mind, though, that most insurers don't cover medical problems that existed at the time application (pre-existing conditions). Insurers have up to 2 years to find and exclude coverage for any conditions that you didn't mention in your application. So they will most likely be very suspicious of any illness that you get hospitalized for shortly after getting the insurance. You will be fully covered for accidents, of course, as soon as you start the coverage.

If you do have a medical problem that you want covered, then you need to look for an International health insurance plan that will cover it. It will be costly, though. Otherwise, just take a Thai-based plan and accept the treatment exclusion they give you.

If you are talking about Bupa Thailand, you should understand that health insurance companies in Thailand are tightly regulated by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). Most policyTerms and Conditions and Standard Exclusions are the same here. Differences in the coverages can be found in the Policy Endorsements attached to the Terms and Conditions. The best health insurance depends on how much annual premium you are willing to pay.

By the way, you are probably reading the PA (Personal Accident) portion of Bupa's Terms & Conditions. PA insurance is actually AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) coverage. PA has nothing to do with treatment coverage.

When you say accident insurance do you mean to cover damage to your own car?

If so, absolutely, you can't get that here in Thailand. Parts would be too difficult to obtain.

If you are asking about 3rd Party Liability insurance if you damage someone else's car, you can get that quite easily.

Our problem as I see it is residency.

If you have an address in Thailand you are a resident of Thailand.

This will allow you to purchase health insurance in Thailand.

but our residence status makes this a little unusual

No it doesn't.

in Australia the law states no difference in price based on age

That is because the insurance is tax payer supported. It is not here.

Will our residency status affect a local or expat short term policy?

Health insurance is annual renewable coverage. A short term policy is travel insurance.

Will our residency status affect a local or expat short term policy?

Travel insurance will provide up to 6 months coverage. But you must purchase it from outside the country that you are traveling to.

Before you can register you have to have Compulsory 3rd Party liability insurance. You can get it at the same place you register your bike, if you want. It provides about 100,000 baht liability protection if you kill or injure someone with your bike, and up to 5 million if you kill or injure a lot of people. It provides no liability protection for property damage.

To be safe, though, you should also get Voluntary 3rd Party liability insurance . It pays in addition to the Compulsory coverage and covers 3rd party liability for property damage and covers some Bail Bond to help get you out of jail, if necessary. There are some other benefits also. The cost is about 2,000 baht, more or less.