53 minutes ago, Genericnic said:

I travel a lot and cannot imagine going without travel insurance. I use BUPA International Travel Insurance and it costs me US$337/year - less than US$1/day. (This is not a recommendation for BUPA, just a reflection of what I use. WorldNomads also has very good plans) I am 69 years old so the premium would most likely be less for someone younger. That cost includes 100% medical coverage (unlimited) and optional non-medical coverage and trip cancellation coverage. Motorcycle accidents are not excluded unless part of an "active participation in any motorsport show, motorsport race or motorsport competition." I have never needed to make a claim and, as with all insurance, I hope I never do but it is a cheap price to pay for peace of mind when traveling. 

 

There is no excuse for traveling without insurance. If you can't afford less than the price of a cup of coffee a day to protect yourself, you probably can't afford to travel.

 

Just my thoughts on it.

 

David

 

 

fully agree with that,

I have quite a comprehensive travel insurance myself, wouldn't go without

 

48 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Given the vast amount of money the Thai government and Thai people make out of tourism, surely they can afford to help tourists who have serious accidents and can't fund their own medical bills? It would be the Buddhist thing to do too. One might almost think that the pursuit of profit for its own sake might even be regarded as more important than the principles of decency and religion, but I'm certain that can't be the case. ????

 

my comment : bah bah bo bo

 

48 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Given the vast amount of money the Thai government and Thai people make out of tourism, surely they can afford to help tourists who have serious accidents and can't fund their own medical bills? It would be the Buddhist thing to do too. One might almost think that the pursuit of profit for its own sake might even be regarded as more important than the principles of decency and religion, but I'm certain that can't be the case. ????

There wouldn't be a tourist who bought their own insurance if the Thai government bailed out every accident victim. Have you ever heard of personal responsibility? Now everyone who has a problem with the law or medical expenses want to start a gofundme page because they've been too irresponsible to take care of their own problems.

1 hour ago, Genericnic said:

I travel a lot and cannot imagine going without travel insurance. I use BUPA International Travel Insurance and it costs me US$337/year - less than US$1/day. (This is not a recommendation for BUPA, just a reflection of what I use. WorldNomads also has very good plans) I am 69 years old so the premium would most likely be less for someone younger. That cost includes 100% medical coverage (unlimited) and optional non-medical coverage and trip cancellation coverage. Motorcycle accidents are not excluded unless part of an "active participation in any motorsport show, motorsport race or motorsport competition." I have never needed to make a claim and, as with all insurance, I hope I never do but it is a cheap price to pay for peace of mind when traveling. 

 

There is no excuse for traveling without insurance. If you can't afford less than the price of a cup of coffee a day to protect yourself, you probably can't afford to travel.

 

Just my thoughts on it.

 

David

 

Well your insurance is very cheap I came to Thailand 6 months ago the ticket was AUD$ 650 my insurance for top-cover for just 1 week was AUD$ 200 

9 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

Travel insurance is a moot point as it doesnt cover you for riding a bike without a license etc. Most of these stories that appear on Thaivisa , the people have insurance but void it by riding without a license, helmet or drunk etc.

Then expect others to pay for their irresponsibility.

2 minutes ago, White Christmas13 said:

Well your insurance is very cheap I came to Thailand 6 months ago the ticket was AUD$ 650 my insurance for top-cover for just 1 week was AUD$ 200 

Shopping around is always a good idea. 

 

David

 

30 minutes ago, MekkOne said:

800.000 THB in the bank?

For a tourist ? 

10 minutes ago, White Christmas13 said:

Well your insurance is very cheap I came to Thailand 6 months ago the ticket was AUD$ 650 my insurance for top-cover for just 1 week was AUD$ 200 

Still cheap compared to emergency treatment and a spell in ICU in Thailand.

Everyone should have travel insurance but what ever happened to the millions of baht received from the 100 baht increase on arrival tax imposed on all tourists to cover medical expenses for tourists injured in Thailand.  This was introduced 6 years ago when tourist arrivals were a mere 30 million (300 million baht)  Tourist numbers have apparently been going through the roof each year.  Must have at least 1.8 billion not taking into account interest earned.  Where is that money?

 

1 hour ago, LomSak27 said:

No it won't ... If you have 30 million bucks you are going to let it sit around until tourists splatter? Methinks it will get appropriated for many different purposes, including a new Benz, condo for the mia noi, Rolex's, well the list is endless.

No ,it won't .....because it will help only a few .

if you know what the hospitals charge here.......30 million is a drop on a hot plate.

His issues, as reported in the Irish Mirror article, would seem to be extensive.   30k Euros (just a million and a bit Baht) aren't likely to cover the hospital bills.

I think a comment in The Irish paper from the family stating that the government hospital doesn't have the people or resources is unfair, firstly they move him into a ward or moved him to a bigger hospital if they felt it was needed but they did it because he is recovering, they could have arranged a private ward, plus I cannot believe they haven't enough nurses, perhaps they don't understand that Thai's will stay with the patient to deal with the simple tasks or perhaps they do not want to care 24hrs for themselves. Plus to state the doctors are more specists in the private hospital is not quite true. Thailand hospitals have lots of experience with motorbike accident patients, which 95 per cent of the time involves head injuries. Plus most private hospital doctors also work part of their time in the general hospitals too! Opening up the skull is standard in head injuries to relieve pressure.

57 minutes ago, balo said:

I only drive a car here and always class A insurance. 

 

After 8 years on Thai roads I have only been involved in one minor incident , when i bike hit my right side. But luckily nobody was injured. 

I noticed on a another thread that you acually do 10k bicycle trips every day, how do you cope with an accident with your bicycle/pushbike? Just curious.

6 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

noticed on a another thread that you acually do 10k bicycle trips every day, how do you cope with an accident with your bicycle/pushbike? J

Thats me "living on the edge" . But I only follow one route and that's down beach road , from N-Pattaya to Pratumnak hills-Jomtien.  Then return Pattaya 2nd road back to Terminal 21. 

And the traffic is very slow here so as long as you keep your eyes open at all times you'll be safe.

I can't remember I had a close one , but I do look out for the big buses , they can be dangerous if you get too near.

 

 

More idiots traveling with no insurance.. it is so inexpensive 

now let’s bludge of other people!

stupid is stupid does

1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

Most travel insurance doesn't cover motorbike accidents, even if licensed, wearing a helmet etc anyway.

 

A bit like not telling the insurance company that you're on a skiing holiday (dangerous pursuits), then trying to claim?! (Don't come running to me with a broken leg!!☺️).

 

Maybe I'm a wimp, but I've (almost) always avoided motorbikes in Thailand. If I'm going to be on one I'd rather that I'm the driver, not a Thai who thinks he's/she's Valentino Rossi!!

Travel Insurance link to Revolut premium card cover MB if you have proper licence and helmet. It’s valid for 45 days start automatically as you geoloc by app on your smartphone. 

1 hour ago, jak2002003 said:

Also it seems people use them when they want money for some sob story situation, a situation which is usually of their own making, and they want perfect strangers to pay for their mistakes?  Is that right?

 

What a crazy world we live in now where people can't take any responsibility for their actions and depend on total strangers to bail them out.

That's how I feel about regular health insurance. I have to subsidize total strangers who chose to lead unhealthy life styles. A situation of their own making.

Poor diet, overweight, smoking, no exercise. Now I'm paying to treat their diabetes, hypertension, heart disease etc. that would be impossible for them to pay for on their own.

17 minutes ago, ningnong said:

That's how I feel about regular health insurance. I have to subsidize total strangers who chose to lead unhealthy life styles. A situation of their own making.

Poor diet, overweight, smoking, no exercise. Now I'm paying to treat their diabetes, hypertension, heart disease etc. that would be impossible for them to pay for on their own.

 

You also have to subsidize crazy motorists, fraudulent household insurance claims, false lost luggage travel claims etc. You also subsidize the unemployed, the disabled, fat cat politicians etc through your taxes. 

Edited November 24, 20187 yr by giddyup

I wonder why they are only asking for 30k pounds?

 

thats not much when it comes to life saving procedures and extended hospital stays.

 

side note: many times it's hard to get insurance to cover. They try to get out of paying. Just for those who think all their problems are over with coverage. 

2 minutes ago, Dick Crank said:

I wonder why they are only asking for 30k pounds?

 

thats not much when it comes to life saving procedures and extended hospital stays.

 

side note: many times it's hard to get insurance to cover. They try to get out of paying. Just for those who think all their problems are over with coverage. 

They won't pay if you don't comply with the policy's fine print.

3 hours ago, missoura said:

It was suggested years ago to charge each tourist one dollar for accident insurance. This year that would be about $30 million bucks. Thailand could cover medical expenses for any tourists seriously injured and still put money in the Thai government's pocket. The slogan might go like this.

 

Our Money says you'll be Safe in Thailand

 

I think the concept might actually work...

Our money we take from you if you come here says we won’t be stuck for your bills for being a broken Pratt without insurance.

TO BE SURE TO BE SURE  ...must have insurance when coming to the land of smiles ,same as the fools who don't have money in the bank for marriage or retirement visas ..it's like an insurance policy ...is it not .....( shows you're legit about wanting to stay here )......

Trolls to the left me ,Trolls to the right ,Troll in front of me ...seems anything i say is never right .....

Edited November 24, 20187 yr by CARLO BALDASSARRE

I'm getting a bit sick of reading these sick stories. Not one single mention of adequate (or any) medical travel insurance. So, I presume because the begging bowl is out, he had none, or the very minimum. I will not be putting my hand in my pocket, although I sympathise to an extent with his family. 

4 hours ago, giddyup said:

That gofundme page is getting a serious workout from tourists who can't be bothered with insurance.

Yes. I'm having something done at hospital next week, but my insurance only covers 80%. I'd appreciate it if everyone would send cash for the 20% balance  ( or more ).  Thanks for your speedy responses.

2 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

Yes. I'm having something done at hospital next week, but my insurance only covers 80%. I'd appreciate it if everyone would send cash for the 20% balance  ( or more ).  Thanks for your speedy responses.

Give me your bank account details plus pin number, I'll see what I can do.

2 hours ago, overherebc said:

For a tourist ? 

It's quiet a topic ATM so I just thought as you were asking if he didn't have any driving license (as a driving license will save yo from an accident) or helmet (will not make you avoid an accident, will contain some damages) or insurance (if they are looking for money he probably didn't had one or the one he had didn't cover vehicle accidents) to ask if he had the money to retire in Thailand in the bank... IMHO my question fit this topic as yours...

 

I guess at this stage we don't know the full circumstances of what happen and if he did have any insurances but If they have started a go fund me page leaves you wondering, but I do know one thing,these idiots where in todays paper will be probably the next ones to start a go fund page. Notice the local wearing a helmet.

Wow. As if we all haven't done dumb things in our lifetime. I broke my neck while bull-riding in my early 40's after many years of rodeo circuits. My own fault, my own stupidity, but luckily had the support of hundreds of people and recovered. If I ever needed encouragement again, I sure as hell would know better than to expect it from the perfectionist snobs in this forum. Must be nice to sit on your high horse in a predominantly impoverished country, look down your noses at the less fortunate & think you're special.  

Maybe all tourists to Thailand should be forced to have a Crowd funding page before travelling here. Oops, sorry, I mean travel insurance.

It seems to have become a regular thing - appeal to strangers for money whenever injury, illness or tragedy cannot be paid for by the victim or their family. Are we to follow this to its logical conclusion and donate every time stories of varying degrees of balefulness, culpability and sheer stupidity are related online? Or do we close our hearts, turn away and say, 'not my problem'? I suspect most of us fall somewhere between the two stools. But as for myself, I confess I am beginning to feel harder-hearted every time a new tale of woe appears.