Mum’s plea after ‘big-hearted’ son, 29, who rescues Thai dogs, struck with brain tumour and needs £15,000 to fly home

[geriatrickid]

On 9/28/2018 at 6:52 AM, anterian said:

If I was in that position I would simply die, but then I am 82 and have had a good run for my money. I have no insurance simply because premiums at my age are a rip off , but at his age they should have been affordable. 

No. He would have been uninsurable. Even if he had insurance for other health issues, he would not have been covered.  He previously had cancer. It is believed that the cancer reappeared in the brain. He was not in remission for enough time to avoid the dreaded pre-existing condition.

This poor guy was on borrowed time. Sadly he may only have a few weeks left if he is not able to access appropriate care.

[StevieAus]

On 10/2/2018 at 7:07 AM, car720 said:

someone please enlighten me as to what insurance everyone is talking about?  Not Travel Insurance, that's for sure.  Does anyone seriously believe that a Thai insurance company would pay up?

It’s called Health or Medical Insurance.

Why would you make such a nonsensical statement about Thai Insurance Companies?

I have several Thai and Expat friends with such cover who have never experienced a problem with a claim not being met.

Two weeks ago our young daughter was hospitalized in a private hospital, we didn’t even have to make a claim everything was dealt with by the hospital and the company agreed over the phone to meet the full cost of all the treatment.

[balo]

2 hours ago, elgenon said:

Sorry, but I always wonder how guys this age are able to live in Thailand.

 

Probably a digital nomad , do online work from their laptops. 

 

[BestB]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

 depends on hospital i only pay nurse to dress wound or similar + doctor

Nursing charge has nothing to do with dressing a wound.

 

nursung charge is applied for nurse asking or checking your weight/height and blood pressure.  Or if doctor has a nurse working with him , nursing charge would be applied just because she was in the room. 

 

Either one is just money making with no substance but they still do it

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

Last time i was quoted health insurance without repatriation, over a year it worked out at  500 baht a day. so where is the "cheap" insurance ???

Unless you are close to 80 years old, that is a ridiculous rate and likely was for both in and outpatient coverage. An inpatient only policy  (which is all you usually need here)n if you are say 65 can be gotten for around USD $3000 - $3500 annually, less if you accept a deductible (excess). And I am talking about international companies. 

 

Younger, then even cheaper.

 

If however nearing 80 years old  then indeed policies can be close to USD 4000 - 5000 a year.

[Sheryl]

16 minutes ago, BestB said:

Nursing charge has nothing to do with dressing a wound.

 

nursung charge is applied for nurse asking or checking your weight/height and blood pressure.  Or if doctor has a nurse working with him , nursing charge would be applied just because she was in the room. 

 

Either one is just money making with no substance but they still do it

Not the above either.

 

Remember that the word for nurse and hospital in Thai is the same. (Actually hospital is "house of nurses/nursing" but the first word can be omitted). The "nursing charge" is a hospital charge,

 

Nurses (especially used in the broad sense including nurses aids ) do quite a bit that may not be directly visible to the patient. The do the patient scheduling, for one. Ensure specimens etc sent to lab and that results come in and reach the relevant doctor. Call to follow up. Address any issues/problems that may arise in the waiting or examination areas. In private hospitals they escort patients from place to place and also transport the patient records around. Order tests that are needed. Etc etc. But this "nursing charge" is not paid to specific people and certainly doesn't make its way into the nurses' pockets. It is, as mentioned a general hospital add-on and assigned at a flat rate to everyone not individually assessed.

[The manic]

54 minutes ago, balo said:

 

Probably a digital nomad , do online work from their laptops. 

 

He worked as a DJ

[The manic]

35 minutes ago, car720 said:

 

You are in Thailand with your family.

No offence my friend but we live in different worlds.

Not really. So you dont have a family? How does that stop you getting medical insurance? I am intrigued.  What world do you live in?

[The manic]

On 9/29/2018 at 10:58 AM, Classic Ray said:

Most policies I know of are limited to 3 months travel per trip outside of the home country. OK if you travel home 4 times a year, but useless otherwise.

6 months.

[Tony125]

4 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Last time i was quoted health insurance without repatriation, over a year it worked out at  500 baht a day. so where is the "cheap" insurance ???

Depends on age , company and deductible. I am USA citizen have Gov Insurance that is uncancelable as long as I pay (rate is low) but I have done Google search for friends stating "cheap health insurance in Thailand" and since they use  cookies to see what you look at have been inundated with ads for health/life insurance  with them even  calling me .

As far as hospital costs I had an angioplasty after a heart attack at Vibahvadi ( private ) Hospital (emergency surgery) that cost me $8,000 USD, I called a major hospital in Boston, MA USA  that I have gone to since I was 5 yo and asked how much would the operation cost there, quoted me $47,000 USD. Could have had it done at Pattaya/Bangkok Hospital for $4,500 USD but I was in Bangkok when I had the attack.

[Media1]

22 hours ago, BestB said:

Why some people insist on posting nonsense and batstool myths.

 

i lived in Thailand and had travel insurance as I already explained .

 

Had a shoulder surgery and physio for 3 months , all paid by insurance, total around 480000 baht.

 

All I had to do was to submit claim over email. With doctors report and recommendation 

Which company may I ask and the amount yearly 

[BestB]

2 hours ago, Media1 said:

Which company may I ask and the amount yearly 

Allianz and from memory was either $250 or $350

[Wullie Mercer]

On 10/2/2018 at 7:09 AM, car720 said:

and a friend of mine, aged 32, dropped dead of a heart attack in my lounge room in Kalasin.  When it hits it hits and that's it.

I hate people who have smart arse quips when it is not happening to them.

Totally agree, being suddenly sick is no joke, believe me.

[petedk]

17 hours ago, BestB said:

Nursing charge has nothing to do with dressing a wound.

 

nursung charge is applied for nurse asking or checking your weight/height and blood pressure.  Or if doctor has a nurse working with him , nursing charge would be applied just because she was in the room. 

 

Either one is just money making with no substance but they still do it

 

I went in to have stitches removed and they wanted to take my blood pressure and check my weight. I told them that I was in a week ago and they did that to me. I didn't need a repeat.

When the bill came they added the 800 baht or whatever it was, so I complained and yes, they deleted the charge.

[ncc1701d]

8 hours ago, BestB said:

Allianz and from memory was either $250 or $350

You paid usd $350 a year and got that much coverage? That’s impressive.

[BestB]

26 minutes ago, ncc1701d said:

You paid usd $350 a year and got that much coverage? That’s impressive.

Not USD, AUD and it was 15 or so years ago. 500000 is hardly impressive, it’s under $20000

[Sheryl]

Which an insurer would be well within it's rights to do as pre-existing conditions are excluded when the policy is taken out.  "Trying to get out of paying" is not the appropriate description. 
 
If an insurer had to use that clause in a policy it would only be because the insured was trying to claim for something that he was not covered for, in other words he was trying to get something that he was not entitled to and he had not paid the premium for.

It is important to understand the difference between a policy issued on a Moratorium basis and one issued with Full Medical Underwriting.

On a Moratorium basus the application process is simple but for an initial time period (usually 24 months) any claim related to a pre-existing condition is excluded. The great disadvantage is that there can be some uncertainty as to what will be covered in that 2 yr period as the insurance company willl make determination as to whether related to pre-existing oroblem at that time. Once the 24 months are up everything is covered provided you were symptom and treatment free during those 24 months. If you required treatment during those initial 24 months of the policy (even though not paid for by the insurance) then the 24 month click starts clicking again from the time treatment stopped.

Under Full Medical Underwriting you must complete a very detailed health questionnaire at the time of application and might also be asked to submit medical records or Dr certificate related to specific prior illnesses. Less often, might also have to undergo a physical check up. After the underwriters have reviewed the information they will decide what if any conditions are excluded as pre-existing and these are specified in your policy. Anything not so specified is covered and there is no uncertainty and no room for surprises as long as you were truthful in your application details. If exclusions are applied inutially you can get them reviewed at a later date and if you have been without need for further treatment for say 2 years or more, the company will usually lift the exclusion. Conditions that require lifelong treatment will of course remain excluded.

It is almost always in your best interest to apply under Full Medical Underwriting.

The above pertains to ordinary medical insurance. Travel policies are a bit different and simpler. They do not do full medical underwriting but have specific language defining what is covered re pre existing problems and contrary to what many people assume, many travel insurance policies will cover "acute exacerbations" of pre existing conditions including medical evacuation back home. Not all, but many.



Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Sheryl]

6 months.

There are policies that will cover for 12 consecutive months. And at least one that will allow a consecutive 12 month renewal.

But make no mistake, this is for temporary travelers only with an established home and health cover or NHS eligibility in their country of residence. It will cover only urgent care and the insurer may at their discretion opt to pay to bring you home for care rather than pay for you to receive it abroad...in which case their obligation ends once they have brought you safely back to your home country. Obviously won't do that if you are too unstable to travel and will also usually just pay for you to be treated abroad if the cost of doing so is not muvh more than the cost of repatriating you. But if you have a major accident that is going to entail multiple surgeries and prolonged rehabilitation they will likely pay only for initial emergency care to get you stable enough to be transported home and then the transport, with the rest to cone under your home country health cover.

This is why it costs so much less than regular health insurance and why there is usually a requirement that you have insurance or NHS/Medicare eligibility in your home country.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Just Weird]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It is important to understand the difference between a policy issued on a Moratorium basis and one issued with Full Medical Underwriting.

On a Moratorium basus the application process is simple but for an initial time period (usually 24 months) any claim related to a pre-existing condition is excluded. The great disadvantage is that there can be some uncertainty as to what will be covered in that 2 yr period as the insurance company willl make determination as to whether related to pre-existing oroblem at that time. Once the 24 months are up everything is covered provided you were symptom and treatment free during those 24 months. If you required treatment during those initial 24 months of the policy (even though not paid for by the insurance) then the 24 month click starts clicking again from the time treatment stopped.

Under Full Medical Underwriting you must complete a very detailed health questionnaire at the time of application and might also be asked to submit medical records or Dr certificate related to specific prior illnesses. Less often, might also have to undergo a physical check up. After the underwriters have reviewed the information they will decide what if any conditions are excluded as pre-existing and these are specified in your policy. Anything not so specified is covered and there is no uncertainty and no room for surprises as long as you were truthful in your application details. If exclusions are applied inutially you can get them reviewed at a later date and if you have been without need for further treatment for say 2 years or more, the company will usually lift the exclusion. Conditions that require lifelong treatment will of course remain excluded.

It is almost always in your best interest to apply under Full Medical Underwriting.

The above pertains to ordinary medical insurance. Travel policies are a bit different and simpler. They do not do full medical underwriting but have specific language defining what is covered re pre existing problems and contrary to what many people assume, many travel insurance policies will cover "acute exacerbations" of pre existing conditions including medical evacuation back home. Not all, but many.
 

Thanks for that but I understand insurance already, probably much better than you do, I didn't ask for clarification of anything so perhaps you should have posted it as a general comment on this thread! 

 

I also know what your comment pertains to and the differences between the different policies and their underwriting requirements.  My comment that you tried to lecture me on stands.

[paulikens]

On 10/1/2018 at 2:42 PM, snoop1130 said:

British man facing £100,000 bill after falling ill in Thailand without insurance

By Lucy Middleton

 

George Gannon, pictured with girlfriend Natalie Hobbs, woke up on September 25 unable to speak or move his legs (Picture: Caters News Agency)

 

A British man who fell ill in Thailand is now at risk of being stranded on an island after his hospital costs went into the thousands.

 

George Gannon, 29, awoke on September 25 to find that he had lost the ability to speak and move his legs.

 

The social media consultant and DJ, who has lived in Thailand since 2014, was then diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour and rushed to hospital in Koh Samui by ambulance boat.

 

Now George, originally from Basingstoke, is facing mounting medical bills, including at least £600 a day for his treatment and £3,500 for an operation, as he doesn’t have health insurance.

 

Full Story: https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/01/british-man-facing-100000-bill-after-falling-ill-in-thailand-without-insurance-7993797/

although he doesnt have insurance which it a bit if a silly thing to do,even if you have insurance you've still got to have that money to hand as the insurance company wont pay out till ya back in ya home country &with all the relevant paperwork. so to a degree its irrelevant if you have insurance or not. 

 

[BestB]

7 minutes ago, paulikens said:

although he doesnt have insurance which it a bit if a silly thing to do,even if you have insurance you've still got to have that money to hand as the insurance company wont pay out till ya back in ya home country &with all the relevant paperwork. so to a degree its irrelevant if you have insurance or not. 

 

Incorrect. Insurance company issues letter of guarantee to hospital. It’s onky small claims that you pay yourself and get money later

[paulikens]

7 minutes ago, BestB said:

Incorrect. Insurance company issues letter of guarantee to hospital. It’s onky small claims that you pay yourself and get money later

depends what you mean on small claims?i know for one i havent got a cple of thousand pounds lying about

[BestB]

4 minutes ago, paulikens said:

depends what you mean on small claims?i know for one i havent got a cple of thousand pounds lying about

Small means small , few thousand baht . With my claim , prior to having anything done, I submitted claim , insurance company issued letter of guarantee and surgery went ahead.

 

For physio , I paid my own money, 1000 per visit, doctor visits 1200, then emailed receipts and was refunded into account of my choice .

[The manic]

45 minutes ago, paulikens said:

although he doesnt have insurance which it a bit if a silly thing to do,even if you have insurance you've still got to have that money to hand as the insurance company wont pay out till ya back in ya home country &with all the relevant paperwork. so to a degree its irrelevant if you have insurance or not. 

 

Not true

[elgenon]

On 10/3/2018 at 1:20 PM, balo said:

 

Probably a digital nomad , do online work from their laptops. 

 

I meant as far as a visa. I thought they were cracking down on visa runs.

[Jingjock]

On ‎9‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 12:28 PM, atyclb said:

so poster B corrects poster A's claim it is a bacteria by falsely stating it is a virus

does anyone even take 1 minute to lookup these things before proclaiming causes of diseases / syndromes ???

Yes I read about it on the net, another brit got it here the following year, took tablets and is back in the uk. Also in Bay of Plenty NZ many got this syndrome through floods going in their drinking water mixed with all sorts of germs etc. None died, if treated soon you can recover

[drummer boy]

On ‎10‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 4:50 AM, ukrules said:

 

Once you've already had cancer once your chances of getting any kind of cheap insurance are pretty low.

you are so right very hard to get insurance here in Thailand that goes for heart conditions stents etc' I have tried they don't wont to no !

 

[WonnabeBiker]

Airlines won't take him in First class, with the privacy screen in place and a nurse accompanying him and a dozen release forms signed? He will be quiet, wear adult diapers... Just wondering.

 

Wish Thailand would make VISAs easier and add health insurance for tourists. Short-term visitors get that with their gold cards or can buy it for a month in their home countries.

 

Euthanasia would be an act of kindness for many soi dogs. I saw one running scared with his front leg hanging by a bit of skin. Wish I had the chance to catch him and have him put down painlessly!

[Tony125]

Update 4  ( From GoFundMe page )

Posted by Sarah Evison

19 hours ago

  

Hello from Koh Samui 
some fabulous news thanks to all you wonderful people. This morning George had not only the bandages removed, but also the stitches out. He has gone for another CT scan for a follow up and we are now awaiting a fit to fly certificate. George and Natalie are so very grateful, as am I and my whole family. The road continues upon our return when George attends hospital and they assess for treatment. We are yet unsure when we will fly home, but we are coming home soon England!!
We are forever in your gratitude guys for all the support, love, good wishes and donations 
Go Team George!!

[Tony125]

Update 5

Posted by Sarah Evison

1 day ago

   Share

 

 

We are coming home! George has been given his fit to fly certificate and so we leave the beauty of Koh Samui on Wednesday returning to the UK on Thursday of this week
without you this would not have been possible and the whole family thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity 
but unfortunately it doesn't stop here. Upon our return, George will start cancer treatment at the North Staffs hospital in Stoke. His girlfriend, Natalie and George will be staying with my family whilst he undergoes whatever treatment he requires. It's not going to pleasant nor easy, but we look forward with positivity and light in our hearts. 
Please do not stop donating as any amount is , believe me, going towards Georges wellbeing in the future
Again , thank you all