SammyJ

I have seen that Aetna/Allianz gave a 10% rebate on a policy if no claims were made in previous plan year.

sorry, forgot a funny old saying a friend once told me--"Good clean living will only get you so far!"

yes, we are responsible to a degree--but, one can never be sure when a cancer shows up, or some unexpected illness or injury, despite one's best efforts at good health and safety!

exactly right--some choose to self insure to keep all money in a fund that grows each year--which of the PC plans do you have?

some of good options allowed by PC--20% for no claims--but, of course, this will change once you make a claim, and as you near the next age bracket 74/75 and, of course, you assume the first 40,000 baht of a claim.

Yes, of course Aetna Thailand is not directly the same as Aetna overseas as there is a CIGNA international and CIGNA Thailand--and everyone's experiences may vary---but for quite a few years, my family's experiences with Aetna Thailand have been very good. I think the OP was looking for private coverage for his Thai wife--and for that Aetna Thailand would be a good fit--he says she is 42 and in good health.

that seems wrong--they have an office, i was told here in Chiang Mai--try contacting them directly.

exactly, seems curious--but, will accept it at face value--very rare, even without any claims, that a carrier would reduce premiums but i do think that PC has it that premiums can be reduced 10% if there have been no claims in the previous plan year--like I said, i found PC to offer some options not seen in many carriers.

See my reply further down this thread--i have not seen any issue with having claims paid by the larger carriers with which I am familiar--some list issues, but "the devil is in the details" and without knowing the precise details of any case, one can't really say, I agree or not. Someone mentioned here in a comment, which is a key issue--read the fine print, and ask questions of any broker used--as someone shared, carriers' t&c will reserve the right for them to revise certain aspects at renewal--much of that is based on utilization during the previous plan year--and, so the problem often is not whether the carrier will pay claims, the problem is with increasing premium amounts often beyond the affordability of those expats here on a fixed retirement income.

Many Thai use Aetna for private insurance--of course, your wife, as does my Thai family, qualify to use Govt medical care (in some instances, it can be very good)--Aetna purchased BUPA, which was a quick and simple private medical carrier for many years. I was involved in health insurance in the US for quite a few years before coming to Thailand--I really don't see that much different, overall, in what is a for profit industry--all my Thai family has Aetna--and over many years, never had any issue with legitimate claims being paid directly to the hospital, Additionally, i have never seen anything done here that was really out of the ordinary for health insurance companies--it is a surprise that they will avoid paying a claim if they think they can--some are used to having a national health service or Medicare, etc, where pre-existing conditions may not matter, Again, my Thai family with Aetna has been served as well as insurance carrier I have seen.

That's pretty unusual--joining at 71--they have told some of my expat friends no new coverage 65 and older?? But, you may not have had any pre-existing conditions that concerned them, but, again, pretty unusual, any of us in later years almost always have something in our medical history that will cause concern. Yes, here--most only take in patient coverage as the outpatient coverage is relatively inexpensive--and PC allows you to adjust the deductible to lower the annual coverage--which PC plan do you have? Of course, that also will determine the annual premiums. And, while some here shared slow payment or coverage, again, that's not what i have seen--if they question claims or are slow to pay sometimes it has to do with reviewing if it is covered under the plan or was not doing to the claim involving a pre-existing condition.

Not sure if you are thinking of applying to Pacific Cross or have it already and are concerned about making a claim? Regardless, I know several expat friends who have Pacific Cross and like it and enjoy a variety of options it allows that some other carriers do not. However, if you have not applied, then, depending upon age (they do not offer new policies to those 65 or older--as is the case with most all carriers here) and pre-existing conditions, they may approve an application, If you qualify with them and all claims are legitimate, I have never heard any problem with them paying claims,

Actually, there has been some very informative articles in recent Bkk Post online.

Not really at all--these rules are not the bank rules but immigration's rules--Bkk bank is a bit more of a hassle come renewal time, as to get the previous 12 months statements, they must send to Bangkok for them, while other banks can print them out upon demand--for Thailand's largest bank to be unable to print out one's statements does seem strange, but knowing how they work, one just plans, at renewal time, for statements, and on the day the statements arrive, then, when picking up the statements, ask for the deposit letter, and update ur bank book--don't do that PRIOR to ur statements arriving--and I have only ever been charged 100 baht for these documents. Also, Bkk Bank is one of the banks that can take larger foreign transfer deposits, which is helpful for those doing the monthly income route to renew the retirement visa. So, it's not ideal, but with a little planning, it works--my bank back in the US gave me more headaches than my Thai bank here.

3000 dollars--over 100,000 baht--still would love to see carrier name and plan name, It might of benefit to others--I am assuming that you were covered by this carrier prior to the age of 65?

I would also like to see the policy of any plan that will cover someone in their 70's--would be interested to see the plan benefits and restrictions--it just doesn't seem realistic for quality comprehensive coverage--some expat friends here have had coverage for many years with a Thai company, and the company will continue to provide coverage past age 65, but often the annual premiums increase beyond affordability for many. Some believe that their carrier has promised them certain annual costs, but every policy i have seen contains a caveat that allows companies to increase premiums based on medical costs inflation and utilization.

While i am not the original poster of that information, but i don't think most medical health insurance will do that, but i think some travel insurance may exclude that, knowing that many tourists want to try their hands at riding motorbikes or scooters while on holiday, and it leads to frequent accidents. Don't know a comprehensive health insurance company that does not exclude pre-existing conditions--how they treat them may vary--most travel insurance also, if you read the fine print, also have pre-existing conditions exclusions--they are more for accident, injury, etc while traveling.

Yes, you might be able to buy some Travel Insurance, not regular health insurance, but some travel insurance has limitations on the length of time they will cover you-- or else it becomes more like health insurance--and most travel insurance will also have stipulations on pre-existing conditions. Of course, you may well know, coming from the US, that Medicare makes very clear that they will provide NO coverage at all--not even emergency coverage when traveling--if you are outside the US. They advise getting travel insurance, which unfortunately, very few older Americans do, as they do not realize Medicare's restrictions. In Thailand, most regular health insurance will not offer new policies to anyone over 65 or over--and the few that say they might, most often will reject an application after reviewing one's medical history, and seeing one's pre-existing conditions. Many think Thailand must have inexpensive medical coverage--paying for typical outpatient stuff, overall pretty inexpensive, but comprehensive medical insurance for better quality inpatient coverage can be costly--still inexpensive compared to the US--but many find it still outside their budget and end up self-insuring.

Suggest to ask the brother in law--these workers, btw, really do not work for Home Pro, just as with outfits like Home Depot and Lowes back in the US--Home Pro arranges installation but contracts that out--in the US, local contractors really wanted to be on the Home Depot lists as it got them more work.

I thought it was why not take out Putin and the NK idiot, but either way, stopping it with US and Nato, likely ends up with Russia using nuclear weapons and maybe the involvement of China, etc--a proxy war, is the only reasonable way I see at this moment.

i guess trying to avoid WW III is one reason!

----or more--I have read that some restaurants that use some of the delivery services only get paid once a month??

Yes, this is absolutely correct---the change of the ssd should not impact the correct wifi pw do you have the pw written down somewhere, or remember it?

It was my understanding from a friend in the US who went thru this, that to apply for residency, etc, US immigration requires one to return to their home country and go thru the process from there, Does anyone know if this is correct?

I think to ask, as you refer to your "life partner", but the key to this question is: are you legally married to your life partner? Even with a finance and wife, the process can be lengthy and difficult--if not legally married, you will need to think carefully about your options and still talk to some of those visa places that were recommended.