Brit Backpacker Hurt in Crash Faces Large Bill

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

Health insurance and travel insurance are completely different types of policies with different conditions and different coverage.

Jumping on random bike no helmet no insurance would pay that. She needed to show reasonable care.

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

Long term expats now have to pay upfront before tests even at government hocpitals

That is incorrect.

15 minutes ago, impulse said:

Her insurance policy was only valid if she had flown directly from the UK, not from Vietnam, where she had travelled prior to Thailand.

That sounds really weird.

I've never heard even a rumor of something like that. A country specific health insurance for holiday travel? That one would need writing in invisible ink, never mind any supposed small print. Never come across it and I have looked very deeply into insurance policies because I need one that works.

It's quite usual to make exclusions like 'No travel USA' like I always get. Makes a huge difference with the premium. Or dangerous sports or whatever. But 'only valid in country ticketed to'? I don't believe that. And if you had it you'd be an absolute idiot to then travel to another country.

But who knows? Anyone know which company that was and which policy version? Isn't in the linked article.

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That is incorrect.

I've never had to. But after treatment or whatever, a nurse has always guided me directly to the cashier and pharmacy desks 555

38 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

It is alleged that she was unconscious so how do they know if there was an accident as has been stated.

Witnesses, possibly? Perhaps she remembers the motorcycle ride until she was knocked on the head when she hit the ground?

3 hours ago, NedR69 said:

Another Backpacker Begpacker, and soon there will be be a go-fund-me to prove this.  Usual Brit suspect.

Can you read? A GFM has already been set up. And it is not only Brits who do stupid things like letting their inadequate insurance run out. There are plenty out there who cannot read, let alone understand the small print or some of the words in GGs contribution earlier. NO, they do not read the history, probability theory, actuarial and mortality tables.

So she didnt have a policy....she had an expired one.

10 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

They keep coming and doing stupid things. Random stranger, no helmet. Fmp fools.

Very sorry this happened to her but as the frequency increases my sympathy level drops too.

1 minute ago, Suetape said:

Very sorry this happened to her but as the frequency increases my sympathy level drops too.

I never even use motorbike taxis and they are pros. Too much risk. Young Thais ride at 80kph no helmet too.

25 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Health insurance and travel insurance are completely different types of policies with different conditions and different coverage.

Jumping on random bike no helmet no insurance would pay that. She needed to show reasonable care

Clearly, you do not understand point (or the coverage) of health insurance.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

.....anyone who has been reading in would be well advised to stay off scooters in Thailand. They seem to figure into so many tragedies

Ill say on the contrary; a scooter is freedom, rent one and enjoy whatever lenght of your stay is OFC under condition you got a DL, are a cautious driver and having a decent accident insurance. Im an old geezer doing roughly 10K km a year in Pattaya and so far theres only been a couple of close calls, both involving gay falang drivers (assume they are gay driving in a city wearing skimpy shorts only)

23 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Witnesses, possibly? Perhaps she remembers the motorcycle ride until she was knocked on the head when she hit the ground?

What about CCTV? They are everywhere in the tourist areas of Pattaya and would assume it would be the same in other high density tourist areas

35 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

People should stop commenting in this manner, there is no "fine print " on insurance policies, there are policy conditions which are printed in normal font.

Then you will have to raise your rather petty complaint with a whole wider audience than AN because, despite some policies being in 'normal font', the terms and conditions are still globally referenced as 'fine print', even by the insurance companies that issue them.

Moot point anyway. Regardless of them being in reduced font or normal, most silly buggers renting or riding on a scooter in Thailand haven't bothered to read them anyway.

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

...conditions are still globally referenced as 'fine print', even by the insurance companies that issue them

Nonsense, the insurance industry does not officially refer to their policy conditions as "fine print". Generally, the reference to fine print comes from commentators such as those that are found here, not the industry.

I'm glad that I survived being young. In hindsight did lots of stupid things, so I have no stones to throw.

Ill say on the contrary; a scooter is freedom, rent one and enjoy whatever lenght of your stay is OFC under condition you got a DL, are a cautious driver and having a decent accident insurance.

Sure... It's all fun and games and wind in your hair until someone loses a leg, or worse. Which is 20-40x as likely in a km on a scooter than a km in a car with your seat belt fastened.

But, of course, it's up to you...

10 hours ago, phil2407 said:

So understandable if driving the scooter without licence & exceeded the 31 days insurance coverage but was a passenger (by a coward that just left her)

If you're on a motorbike taxi & they crash does your travel insurance cover you for that as some of the drivers have 0 liability insurance or again refused?

Following the pony trekking incident I did thoroughly read my policy. At one point it did say riding or passenger on a motorcycle was not covered. How ever it went on to say further on that you must have the appropriate driving license for riding a motor bike. So your guess is as good as mine.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Health insurance and travel insurance are completely different types of policies with different conditions and different coverage.

Why quote me? Look at the post i replied to before commenting. But you don't, you just like to get in your one or two liners and appear smart. But all it does is show you're a smartass.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

4 hours ago, Front Row said:

she should have read the fine print on her travel insurance policy

People should stop commenting in this manner, there is no "fine print " on insurance policies, there are policy conditions which are printed in normal font.

You know fully well what is meant by the term “fine print”... also often termed "small print"... It is a common colloquial or layman’s expression referring to the terms and conditions contained within an insurance policy.

These terms and conditions are often neither straightforward nor easily comprehensible to the average policyholder. They are frequently drafted in dense legal language, contain complex cross-references across multiple sections of the policy documentation, and rely heavily on technical or ambiguous terminology that is not readily understood by a layperson.

Insurance policies also commonly employ broad or deliberately flexible wording that creates interpretive “space” or “wiggle room” for exclusions or limitations of liability. For example, policies may refer to “dangerous activities”, “reckless conduct”, or “high-risk behaviour” without specifically defining or exhaustively listing the activities to which those terms apply. This lack of precision can allow insurers considerable discretion when determining whether a claim falls within, or outside, the scope of coverage.

In practice, policyholders are often expected to interpret extensive contractual documentation - sometimes spanning dozens or even hundreds of pages (yes one of my past polices was over 100 pages) - while important exclusions, limitations, conditions precedent, and insurer rights may be dispersed throughout the policy wording rather than clearly consolidated in a single section.

I’m currently in the process of arranging travel insurance for my son, and it is an absolute minefield. On the surface, policies appear straightforward - “multiple trips per year, up to six weeks per trip” - but once you start examining the policy wording and exclusions, the limitations become far less clear.

For example, he may be covered for travel from the UK to Thailand, yet if we subsequently take a short family trip from Thailand to Vietnam for a weekend, the insurer may argue that he is no longer covered because the travel originated outside the UK, because the journey constitutes a separate trip, or because the policy only covers trips commencing and ending in the country of residence.

Many policies also contain restrictive clauses relating to:

• onward or intra-regional travel,

• consecutive trips,

• residency requirements,

• one-way tickets,

• gaps between journeys,

• “country of departure” definitions,

• undeclared destinations,

• and travel deemed to fall outside the insurer’s definition of a “covered trip”.

Some policies further rely on vague or broadly drafted terminology such as “non-routine travel”, “extended stays”, or “high-risk destinations”, without clearly defining the precise circumstances in which coverage may be refused.

The result is that what initially appears to be comprehensive annual cover can, in practice, become heavily conditional, highly technical, and open to interpretation once the 'fine print' is scrutinised.

She is 26, Ask your parents for assistance. Your parents still can help

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I’m currently in the process of arranging travel insurance for my son, and it is an absolute minefield.

Right I had to wade through 91 pages to find that riding a motorcycle or passenger is not covered but else where its says that I must have the correct license to ride a motorcycle?????????

1 hour ago, blaze master said:

So she didnt have a policy....she had an expired one.

No helmet, so they wouldn't have paid out even if she'd had western insurance.

9 hours ago, Tyke said:

She could use the money she's now saved on a lip job

Saddened to see that you and others think this funny. Just hope that you are never involved in such an accident.

17 minutes ago, impulse said:

Sure... It's all fun and games

A scooter is the workhorse and necessity in most households and OFC is a car safer but not very practical in most Thai cities.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Sure... It's all fun and games and wind in your hair until someone loses a leg, or worse. Which is 20-40x as likely in a km on a scooter than a km in a car with your seat belt fastened.

But, of course, it's up to you...

U live in a [larger] Thai city?

1 hour ago, bunnydrops said:

I'm glad that I survived being young. In hindsight did lots of stupid things, so I have no stones to throw.

Nice comment

......like is like a box of chocolates 😆

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Nonsense, the insurance industry does not officially refer to their policy conditions as "fine print". Generally, the reference to fine print comes from commentators such as those that are found here, not the industry.

Yes dear. If you say so dear.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

fine print”... also often termed "small print"... It is a common colloquial or layman’s expression referring to the terms and conditions contained within an insurance policy.

These terms and conditions are often neither straightforward nor easily comprehensible to the average policyholder. They are frequently drafted in dense legal language, contain complex cross-references across multiple sections of the policy documentation, and rely heavily on technical or ambiguous terminology that is not readily understood by a layperson

The "fine print" that is referred to in discussions such as those on AN is worded that way in order to suggest that there's something nefarious or fraudulent about the policy conditions. What you are suggesting they do is just false because under FCA rules, insurers must treat customers fairly and communicate in a clear, fair, and not misleading way, aiming for plain language that the average policyholder understands.

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Health insurance and travel insurance are completely different types of policies with different conditions and different coverage.

Why quote me?

I quoted you because you referred to health insurance when the subject is not health insurance it is travel insurance, two very different things.

Is sad situation but four thousand pounds not exactly impossible amount. Two month pay at UK in the minimum wage?

Maybe should not be dumped there forever if she has no friends et cetera, this is real "trap", but most people can get this money, and it is fair to pay it.

9 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I quoted you because you referred to health insurance when the subject is not health insurance it is travel insurance, two very different things.

Which is what i implied in my post.

As i said, read the post replied to before quoting, time and time again you're confirming a not positive opinion on your mental faculties.

10 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I wouldn’t personally describe him as sensible. Irresponsible and reckless are two that spring to my mind.

The type that women love.