Video: Popular British YouTuber in Thailand diagnosed with cancer but has no insurance

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But he warns other expats, especially those younger than himself to take out insurance.

Why didn't he fly back to the Uk and get it done for free?

Looks fit enough to travel, would only delay his chemo 1 day.

[connda]

9 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Had Prostate Cancer myself 20 sessions of Chemo about 20 minutes  each day 5 days a week plus two overnight  stays for internal checks  Bumrungrad international hospital Bangkok 

all paid for by my Medical insurance over 1 million Baht 

best move I ever made having a decent World wide Medical Insurance company 

If you'd gone to a government hospital, then you could have paid the treatment costs out of pocket.
If you had gone to India you could have paid the treatment costs out of pocket.

If you have the insurance to afford the inflated costs of a premium private hospital, good for you.  Now reality.  Will your insurance company cover future prostate cancer coverage.  Perhaps you are independently wealthy and can afford the 'new' premiums your insurance company will charge you - if they cover you at all. And if you can afford the inflated premiums as you become elderly, you could probably pay 'cash out of pocket' for the treatment in the first place.  Or you have worked at a company that have given you cradle to grave coverage - not everyone is so lucky. 
Don't compare yourself to others who are less fortunate.  Doing so simply make those of you who feel superior look like compassionateless asses.  If you have something constructive for the OP - Ok.  Otherwise, why pretend you are superior to others.  It's really disingenuous.  And it sucks. 
Just stop.

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, samran said:

Wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy.

 

Best he get back to the NHS before he ends up destitute and in Thailand. Treatment ain't cheap.

He will have been out of the country too long to get NHS treatment. They aren't fools, "who is your family doctor", "who referred you to us", ''what's your address". I have known two guys who have gone down that path, you end up paying double the normal cost of NHS treatment.

[Kieran00001]

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

Never tell the NHS anything if you can make it back go back and as all brits are on ever on holiday here with no rights to settle permanently no lie to tell is there????  

 

No, just because you are on a non-immigrant visa does not mean that you are classified as a permanent resident in the UK, you have to spend I think it is 6 months of the year there to retain your full rights, or have been back for 90 days already.

[simon43]

....lemon and baking soda to form a alkaline environment.

 

My elementary level chemistry informs me that lemon contains an acid - citric acid...

[atyclb]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

He says he can pay for it but still puts up a gofundme. 

 

Just curious why does he not go back for free treatment ?

treatment in the uk would be the best option

[CGW]

1 minute ago, simon43 said:

My elementary level chemistry informs me that lemon contains an acid - citric acid...

 

2 minutes ago, simon43 said:

My elementary level chemistry informs me that lemon contains an acid - citric acid...

Which once metabolised by the body then produces alkaline products - But - there is a lot more to it than that, - it has no effect on the PH of the blood (luckily, else you would be dead!) 

[Runamile]

Why do Brits and others not "Get It". Entitlement to NHS services are based on residence not contributions. If you are out of the country for more than 2 years you lose any entitlement, unless you were overseas working for a British company. I have heard of a generous interpretation of that last point being made. I have heard of generous interpretations being made by other agencies, then a return being made to NHS. Mostly, though it's simple. You have been out of UK for 2 or more years. The NHS show you the door. You aren't and haven't been permanently resident. I fail to see what is so hard to understand, but think that most people just run their lives around the mythologies perpetrated say here. That is very dangerous when it come's to your health. Research it.

[connda]

8 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

He will have been out of the country too long to get NHS treatment. They aren't fools, "who is your family doctor", "who referred you to us", ''what's your address". I have known two guys who have gone down that path, you end up paying double the normal cost of NHS treatment.

Just an honest, curious question.  What does a foreigner who comes into the UK via the Calais tunnel pay as compared to a British citizen who has lived out of country for a number of year.  Is there any difference.  I'd expect the immigrate would need to pay more than a native-born citizen. 

[shackleton]

5 minutes ago, connda said:

If you'd gone to a government hospital, then you could have paid the treatment costs out of pocket.
If you had gone to India you could have paid the treatment costs out of pocket.

If you have the insurance to afford the inflated costs of a premium private hospital, good for you.  Now reality.  Will your insurance company cover future prostate cancer coverage.  Perhaps you are independently wealthy and can afford the 'new' premiums your insurance company will charge you - if they cover you at all. And if you can afford the inflated premiums as you become elderly, you could probably pay 'cash out of pocket' for the treatment in the first place.  Or you have worked at a company that have given you cradle to grave coverage - not everyone is so lucky. 
Don't compare yourself to others who are less fortunate.  Doing so simply make those of you who feel superior look like compassionateless asses.  If you have something constructive for the OP - Ok.  Otherwise, why pretend you are superior to others.  It's really disingenuous.  And it sucks. 
Just stop.

I think you are missing my point it was good fortune I have been paying into a Medical  insurance policy for years

I have been with this company over 20 years as with out it I could not afford to pay the cost of my Cancer treatment 

I am not wealthy and don't lack compassion for others as you are making out

just agreeing with him on people having medical insurance as he is asking others to do 

[malibukid]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

He says he can pay for it but still puts up a gofundme. 

 

Just curious why does he not go back for free treatment ?

good point.  why doesn't America or the UK pick up the tab for it's expats here.  what would the equivalent treatment cost there?  problem is that to be eligible for Medicare you have to be 65+ in the States. not sure about the UK but i think everyone is covered by the NIH?

[Pravda]

Was about to donate until I clicked on the video and heard paaattaaayaaaa song.

 

No sympathy for anyone who pronounces Pattaya like a chav

[sqwakvfr]

I used to watch some of his old videos.  He once took a trip to Spain and I believe he owned a house or his mother owned a house in Spain?  I believe he is not poor and has some assets he could liquidate to pay for his medical care.  Also, in latest video he was in a VIP type of hospital room with a living room.  It is rough that he has cancer and at 58 he could have purchased health insurance form a lot of companies in Thailand.  Many companies will not write policies for people over 60.  I thought he was much older than 58.  

[smedly]

10 minutes ago, Runamile said:

Why do Brits and others not "Get It". Entitlement to NHS services are based on residence not contributions. If you are out of the country for more than 2 years you lose any entitlement,

strictly by the rules yes, there are also exceptions if you worked for certain government dept's

 

who checks the rules is the question, most people won't have a problem

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

He says he can pay for it but still puts up a gofundme. 

 

Just curious why does he not go back for free treatment ?

I sympathise with him over the cancer, we all walk a tightrope when it comes to that.  However it is time to get on a plane and go back to Blighty. In the long run it would be the best thing for him and his family in Thailand.  Don't put them through the trauma and anguish of nursing you when struggling with money.

[KarlS]

34 minutes ago, connda said:

Yeah we know.  There are about 10% of the TV community who are "holier than thou", compassionateless jerks can't get enough of telling everyone else how better off they are than everyone else and how those who are not wealthy would be better off simply flying off a building in Pattaya then asking for money via GoFundMe.  Have any of you heartless people ever considered that the Go Fund Me community is made up of compassionate humans who have empathy of others, who believe in the saying that, "There but for the grace of God go I?" 

How many Thousand Baht have you "compassionately" donated? 

[smedly]

2 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I used to watch some of his old videos.  He once took a trip to Spain and I believe he owned a house or his mother owned a house in Spain?  I believe he is not poor and has some assets he could liquidate to pay for his medical care.  Also, in latest video he was in a VIP type of hospital room with a living room.  It is rough that he has cancer and at 58 he could have purchased health insurance form a lot of companies in Thailand.  Many companies will not write policies for people over 60.  I thought he was much older than 58.  

its already been said

 

the guy is a sponger and is not being entirely honest, sorry about his med issues but he'd be getting nothing from me

[Scotssing]

I watched is video on YouTube yesterday. He was contrite, took responsibility for his decision to defer getting insurance and at no point asked for money. The report in this thread says someone else set up the GoFundMe. Maybe he knew about it, maybe he does not. Maybe he is happy to accept the money. We do not know.

 

But what struck me on YouTube was that almost all the comments were commiserating with him about the cancer and offering moral support. Ok this thread is not a direct response to him but there is precious little compassion for someone with cancer here

 

Get well soon and know many of us who have been through this cancer business are with him

Edited March 11, 2019 by Scotssing

[hobobo]

1 hour ago, boloa said:

I think the Go Fund Me page was set up by a friend without Kev's knowledge. kev has said he has the money to pay for his treatment and has taken full responsibility to why he has no insurance. ....Know doubt the haters will be out in force on this thread !!!!

 

Maybe the go fund me page was set up by a friend so that they can all get pissed once kev is out? Post #4 mentions that there's an account "buykevabeer" out there, perhaps it needs topping up?

[jonclark]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Don't get it. why not simply fly back home and get it for free ? If it costs a 'million' baht, then i'm sure a friend would let him stay for half of that whilst he visited the hospital. Go fund my lifestyle page ? 

Isn't there a rule that if you are classed as 'not ordinarily a resident of the UK' then you cannot use the NHS for free? Initial Emergency treatment is free for all nationalities but I am not sure after living abroad for x number of years you can just rock up and expect treatment for chronic or acute conditions. I know they have tightened up on women who flew in to use the NHS maternity wards and then flew back  (or used the baby to apply for leave to remain) . If this is cancer then for cancer treatment to begin he wouldn't have to have a GP who would provide the initial referral for treatment to start and also i'd expect the waiting times to be in the months not weeks. 

[shy coconut]

19 minutes ago, connda said:

Just an honest, curious question.  What does a foreigner who comes into the UK via the Calais tunnel pay as compared to a British citizen who has lived out of country for a number of year.  Is there any difference.  I'd expect the immigrate would need to pay more than a native-born citizen. 

Depends whether the guy was granted asylum. If so they would probably get the same

treatment as a citizen.

[Odysseus123]

2 minutes ago, Scotssing said:

I watched is video on YouTube yesterday. He was contrite, took responsibility for his decision to defer getting insurance and at no point asked for money. The report in this thread says someone else set up the GoFundMe. Maybe he knew about it, maybe he does not. Maybe he is happy to accept the money. We do not know.

 

But what struck me on YouTube was that almost all the comments were commiserating with him about the cancer and offering moral support. Ok this thread is not a direct response to him but there is precious little compassion for someone with cancer here

Well..moral support...

 

I was stricken with cancer but I did not ask for any financial support,.

 

Actually an American friend offered $5,000 dollars and a Dutch friend offered3,000 Euros..both of which I declined upon the the premise that "How can I repay you if I am dead?"

 

I had private health insurance but,basically,the blades of the scissors had closed..

 

I still can't understand this GoFundMe thing..

[monkeycu]

1 hour ago, bristolgeoff said:

Another beggar for go fund me.shameful site 

My cats pregnant and my dog left home.

Any chance of a Go Fund Me donation

[Dene16]

1 hour ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

am not as old as he is, but I have insurance. I would be ashamed to have to put my hand out on a go fund me, or other money raising effort.

I also have insurance, but, and it is a big BUT. when you get to a certain age, about 65, more so 75, it becomes completely unaffordable 

It has been posted on here numerous times that insurance cost is something like 5000 to 10000 baht per week and  excludes any pre existing conditions so probably out of reach to the majority of expats.

To be honest when he got to sixty he would of probably decided to self insure once he saw the costs

[vogie]

31 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

No, just because you are on a non-immigrant visa does not mean that you are classified as a permanent resident in the UK, you have to spend I think it is 6 months of the year there to retain your full rights, or have been back for 90 days already.

I have found this information from the goverment website, it would appear what you are saying is not entirely correct.N Health care is based on you being an ordinary resident, and you can be classed as an ordinary resident from day one of your arrival back to the UK, just as long you can convince them that you are back to stay.

Please let me know what you think as I think it is a handy bit of info to know.

 

Ordinary residence tool
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/.../Ordinary_residence_tool.pdf

 

 

[Nip]

1 hour ago, Khaeng Mak said:

I hope the chemo helps him with his accent.

Chemo would certainly help your warped sense of humour. 

[mike787]

YEP!  Another weekly GoFUNDME...Sorry, gave ALL my baht for sin sot to my thai honey and her boyfriend for beer...this one's on you all...

Edited March 11, 2019 by mike787

[soalbundy]

25 minutes ago, connda said:

Just an honest, curious question.  What does a foreigner who comes into the UK via the Calais tunnel pay as compared to a British citizen who has lived out of country for a number of year.  Is there any difference.  I'd expect the immigrate would need to pay more than a native-born citizen. 

No idea, I don't make the laws.

[JungleBiker]

Besides insurance, some "preventative maintenance" would have been a good idea; and still would be. Stuff like regular exercise, Intermittent Fasting (IF), a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) diet, etc. These things don't cost anything and they can even help reverse many chronic diseases. It's not rocket science. You only live once. 

Good luck to you Ken. Wishing you a speedy recovery.  

[crickets]

An experienced expat who has lived in Thailand for a long time and did not get health insurance. Need i say more.