The 400/40 Thai Health Insurance Policy

[Pinot]

I don't know what to call it but it's the insurance policy that apparently is going to be required for expats.  The maximum inpatient limit per year is 400,000 with a maximum outpatient limit per year of 40,000 baht. Let's call it the 400/40 policy.

 

I'm 69. I've been paying ACS out of France 112,000 a year now for a great policy that covers inpatient up to 2 million USD. No outpatient. The problem is it goes up 10% a year and will end when I'm 75. So, I was looking for an alternative. Pacific Health is now offering a 400/40 for about 46,500. I think that's a pretty good deal but it is subject to significant increases in premiums and you need a physical if over 65. I was going to go with that policy till I found a better policy when I used NowCompare. The Regency Thailand Long Stay Health insurance plan is similar to Pacific Health but no physical required. You do have to use government hospitals for both policies. 

 

The out patient coverage under the Regency plan is better. There are no limits in the number of visits. 

Outpatient surgical  THB 20,000

Pre & Post Hospitalisation  THB 5,000

General GP/Doctor Visit  (1 visit per day)  THB 1,500 per visit

Specialist Visits (1 visit per day) THB 2,000 per visit

Prescribed Medication THB 5,000

Imaging & Lab Tests THB 5,000

Physiotherapy  THB 10,000

 

The in patient coverage is the same/similar under both policies

Room & Board including nursing care  THB 3,000

Theatre Fees THB 50,000

Intensive Care THB 5,000 per day

Surgeon’s Fees THB 100,000

Anesthetist THB 10,000

Professional fees THB 10,000

Rehabilitation THB 10,000

Kidney Dialysis THB 10,000

Oncology THB 100,000

Emergency Room Treatment THB 100,000

Organ transplant THB 100,000

Local Ambulance Full Cover

Hospital cash benefit THB 500 per day

Room type WARD

 

This is again for government hospitals only and the thought of staying in the open ward is scary but you can always upgrade to a better room out of your own pocket. If you're under 70 this is good policy at a good price. It won't be cancelled for age and the rep assured me the yearly increases will be minimal and it won't be called for age. 

 

I throw this out there as my research into a healthcare policy I can live with going forward. It's the best alternative I've found. I'm not in anyway connected to this.

 

If you want more info search NowCompare.com. The rep I've been speaking with is [email protected]

 

 

[BritManToo]

There's no insurance required by expats, and probably never will be.

At 69 you'll probably be dead before you need to worry about it.

Me too.

[marcusarelus]

How about physical exams for new policies?

[Roy Baht]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

There's no insurance required by expats, and probably never will be.

At 69 you'll probably be dead before you need to worry about it.

Me too.

Yeah, it's funny the mandatory health insurance requirement has suddenly disappeared from news sites & forums--and has yet to appear on any Thai embassy websites I can find.  It's not mentioned on the Non-O-A list of requirement at the Thai Consulate in L.A. or New York, nor at the embassies in London or Beijing.  You just need proof you don't have "Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Drug Addiction, Elephantiasis, and Third Phase of Syphilis" (Thank god! said the people with Second Phase of Syphilis.) Just another law on the books that may or may not be enforced at a later date. Having health insurance is not a bad idea. Requiring everyone to have the exact same kind of health insurance on a moment's notice was.  And people in their 70s who are for the most part ineligible for private insurance, will most likely never need it. We'll see.
 

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

1. This is going to be required for issuance of O-A visas (obtained in your home country) and is already required for O-X visa. To date there has been no mention of it being required for incountry extensions of stay which is what most of us are on.

 

2. For the O-X visa (and soon, but not yet, the O-A visa) 400k and 40k are not the maximums but the minimums.

 

The O-X visa requires an insurance policy from one of a handful of Thai companies, and these are very bad value.  It has been said that the O-A requirement, when it comes online, will accept any policy (including international ones) that meets the minimum requirements but this is nto sure and details nto yet issued. I have no idea, given the complexity of insurance policies, how Thai Embassies and consulates would go about determining if a given policy met the requirements.

[Roy Baht]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

1. This is going to be required for issuance of O-A visas (obtained in your home country) and is already required for O-X visa. To date there has been no mention of it being required for incountry extensions of stay which is what most of us are on.

 

2. For the O-X visa (and soon, but not yet, the O-A visa) 400k and 40k are not the maximums but the minimums.

 

The O-X visa requires an insurance policy from one of a handful of Thai companies, and these are very bad value.  It has been said that the O-A requirement, when it comes online, will accept any policy (including international ones) that meets the minimum requirements but this is nto sure and details nto yet issued. I have no idea, given the complexity of insurance policies, how Thai Embassies and consulates would go about determining if a given policy met the requirements.

1. Yeah, I'm wondering if those currently holding visas will be forced to buy insurance when extending or will be (literally) "grandfathered" in.

2. You're right. It's on the O-X list https://thaiconsulatela.org/en/visa/visa-type/non-immigration-visa-category-o-x/ This strikes me as odd as the O-X is the harder visa to get (requiring a larger deposit), but seems (as you suggest) to require the purchase of insurance that is worse than 0-A's will be required to.

 

Thanks for the post

[Puchaiyank]

Thanks for sharing your research...many folks would purchase healthcare insurance if a quality policy at a reasonable price were offered...

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

'm wondering if those currently holding visas will be forced to buy insurance when extending or will be (literally) "grandfathered" in.

 

 

At the moment there is no requirement for extension and none has been mentioned.

[The Man Who Sold the World]

Health insurance is a very complex issue. No two persons situations are identical, personal needs and requirements are varied. As with individuals, insurance policies are complicated and complex legal documents, it is almost impossible to compare different insurance policies on an "apples-to-apples" basis.

 

But, one truth remains, IF Thai Immigration stipulates that you/me/we require a medical insurance policy as a condition of our visa(s) and/or annual extensions - We Will Comply with the requirement and purchase a policy, or, Leave.  

[Pinot]

13 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

How about physical exams for new policies?

Yes for the Pacific Health policy, no on the Regency. You will be reimbursed for the Pacific Health physical. 

[Pinot]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

1. This is going to be required for issuance of O-A visas (obtained in your home country) and is already required for O-X visa. To date there has been no mention of it being required for incountry extensions of stay which is what most of us are on.

 

2. For the O-X visa (and soon, but not yet, the O-A visa) 400k and 40k are not the maximums but the minimums.

 

The O-X visa requires an insurance policy from one of a handful of Thai companies, and these are very bad value.  It has been said that the O-A requirement, when it comes online, will accept any policy (including international ones) that meets the minimum requirements but this is nto sure and details nto yet issued. I have no idea, given the complexity of insurance policies, how Thai Embassies and consulates would go about determining if a given policy met the requirements.

The Regency rep tells me that I will be given a document saying I have the 400/40 policy if asked. I'm betting that this doc will eventually be required. I didn't want to wait till I was over 70 and could no longer buy a policy. It's a good minimal (basic?) insurance policy for older expats going into their 70's.

 

I recently had an operation for varicose veins in my legs at Bangkok Hospital in Phuket. This involved plugging up the offending veins with glue, the "new" way to accomplish this procedure. The cost of the operation was 330,000 baht that insurance paid fully. That's why I want insurance.

 

Probably cataract surgery will be eventually be needed. That cost will more than make up for insurance policy costs. 

 

The outpatient coverage will reduce the cost of the policy. I'm usually seeing a doctor a couple times a year for one thing or another. Not looking forward to using a government hospital but so it goes. You can go to any of them anywhere in Thailand. There are some good ones.   

[Sheryl]

11 hours ago, Pinot said:

The Regency rep tells me that I will be given a document saying I have the 400/40 policy if asked. I'm betting that this doc will eventually be required. I didn't want to wait till I was over 70 and could no longer buy a policy. It's a good minimal (basic?) insurance policy for older expats going into their 70's.

 

I recently had an operation for varicose veins in my legs at Bangkok Hospital in Phuket. This involved plugging up the offending veins with glue, the "new" way to accomplish this procedure. The cost of the operation was 330,000 baht that insurance paid fully. That's why I want insurance.

 

Probably cataract surgery will be eventually be needed. That cost will more than make up for insurance policy costs. 

 

The outpatient coverage will reduce the cost of the policy. I'm usually seeing a doctor a couple times a year for one thing or another. Not looking forward to using a government hospital but so it goes. You can go to any of them anywhere in Thailand. There are some good ones.   

 

if you already have a cataract, even an early one, it will not be covered as it would be a pre-existing condition.

 

Inclusion of outpatient coverage substantially increases premiums, often as much as 3 fold. Usually buy more than you would use.

[Pinot]

Both Pacific Health and Regency includes 40k of inpatient coverage. I believe the Thai government told the insurance companies to write policies that way.

 

Other insurance policies have expensive inpatient coverage that don't seem to be worth it. I find seeing a Doctor in Thailand to be about what the deductible is in the US, so a bargain. 

 

I was offering cataracts as a fairly common procedure. 

 

 

11 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

if you already have a cataract, even an early one, it will not be covered as it would be a pre-existing condition.

 

Inclusion of outpatient coverage substantially increases premiums, often as much as 3 fold. Usually buy more than you would use.

 

[Kelsall]

On 7/26/2019 at 10:47 PM, Sheryl said:

1. This is going to be required for issuance of O-A visas (obtained in your home country) and is already required for O-X visa. To date there has been no mention of it being required for incountry extensions of stay which is what most of us are on.

 

2. For the O-X visa (and soon, but not yet, the O-A visa) 400k and 40k are not the maximums but the minimums.

 

The O-X visa requires an insurance policy from one of a handful of Thai companies, and these are very bad value.  It has been said that the O-A requirement, when it comes online, will accept any policy (including international ones) that meets the minimum requirements but this is nto sure and details nto yet issued. I have no idea, given the complexity of insurance policies, how Thai Embassies and consulates would go about determining if a given policy met the requirements.

This is what concerns me.  I have a US-based policy that runs 150 pages.  There is no mention of coverage limits though I am sure they are well above the Thai requirements, given US medical costs. 

[wgdanson]

On 7/26/2019 at 8:59 PM, marcusarelus said:

How about physical exams for new policies?

See my previous posts on this matter. I think the OP is referring to Pacific CROSS not Health.

You will not get much serious work done for Bht 400,000 even in a Government Hospital.

[wazzadg44]

2 hours ago, wgdanson said:

See my previous posts on this matter. I think the OP is referring to Pacific CROSS not Health.

You will not get much serious work done for Bht 400,000 even in a Government Hospital.

I had 35 radiation treatments and 3 chemotherapy treatments (3 over night stays ) over 7 weeks at Buddhasinaraj hospital (Gov ) in Phitsanulok with all associated follow ups,meds etc for 200,000 baht which I paid for myself so 400,000 would cover a whole lot more.

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, wazzadg44 said:

I had 35 radiation treatments and 3 chemotherapy treatments (3 over night stays ) over 7 weeks at Buddhasinaraj hospital (Gov ) in Phitsanulok with all associated follow ups,meds etc for 200,000 baht which I paid for myself so 400,000 would cover a whole lot more.

I guess you are saying it is OK there, if necessary.

[stament]

On 7/27/2019 at 7:57 AM, Pinot said:

The Regency rep tells me that I will be given a document saying I have the 400/40 policy if asked. I'm betting that this doc will eventually be required. I didn't want to wait till I was over 70 and could no longer buy a policy. It's a good minimal (basic?) insurance policy for older expats going into their 70's.

 

I recently had an operation for varicose veins in my legs at Bangkok Hospital in Phuket. This involved plugging up the offending veins with glue, the "new" way to accomplish this procedure. The cost of the operation was 330,000 baht that insurance paid fully. That's why I want insurance.

 

Probably cataract surgery will be eventually be needed. That cost will more than make up for insurance policy costs. 

 

The outpatient coverage will reduce the cost of the policy. I'm usually seeing a doctor a couple times a year for one thing or another. Not looking forward to using a government hospital but so it goes. You can go to any of them anywhere in Thailand. There are some good ones.   

How much is the Regency policy you didn't say. Presumably this claim wouldn't be fully covered under Regency, was it in a private hospital for 330k?

[Pinot]

On 8/28/2019 at 6:00 AM, stament said:

How much is the Regency policy you didn't say. Presumably this claim wouldn't be fully covered under Regency, was it in a private hospital for 330k?

With the 400/40 policy you have to go to a government hospital. 

 

I just paid for the policy yesterday to start October 1. No more Bangkok hospital. The price was $1495 in USD, a bargain at 69 years old. Can't believe outpatient is covered including medication. The policy is $3000 less than what I'm paying now although I am stepping down from $2,000,000 coverage, a big step down.

[Pinot]

On 8/18/2019 at 11:42 AM, wgdanson said:

See my previous posts on this matter. I think the OP is referring to Pacific CROSS not Health.

You will not get much serious work done for Bht 400,000 even in a Government Hospital.

400000 baht coverage in a government hospital goes a long way towards covering almost everything IMHO

[wgdanson]

3 minutes ago, Pinot said:

400000 baht coverage in a government hospital goes a long way towards covering almost everything IMHO

I did read that they are proposing to double the charges for farangs in Government Hospitals. 

I have been to several of those places with family members, and would not want to have to stay or be treated for anything serious in one. 

[zhorik]

so are you stating that there are no policies for the over 70's? If there are then what will the costs be for a 400/40?

[Pinot]

On 9/5/2019 at 10:27 AM, wgdanson said:

I did read that they are proposing to double the charges for farangs in Government Hospitals. 

I have been to several of those places with family members, and would not want to have to stay or be treated for anything serious in one. 

Plenty of good ones around, some not so good ones.

 

1 hour ago, zhorik said:

so are you stating that there are no policies for the over 70's? If there are then what will the costs be for a 400/40?

There maybe some but I didn't find any. The cut off for signing up for all of them would seem to be 70

[wgdanson]

3 minutes ago, Pinot said:

Plenty of good ones around, some not so good ones.

 

There maybe some but I didn't find any. The cut off for signing up for all of them would seem to be 70

I just did Cigna Close Care at 71. No medical needed. up to Bht 12M cover. Prostate excluded. Direct billing in many hospitals. No excess. In patient only. Bht 125,000 premium. I have peace of mind...................but lower bank balance. 

[Pinot]

Just now, wgdanson said:

I just did Cigna Close Care at 71. No medical needed. up to Bht 12M cover. Prostate excluded. Direct billing in many hospitals. No excess. Bht 125,000 premium. I have peace of mind...................but lower bank balance. 

I think you were lucky to find that, there aren't many. How much do the premiums increase yearly. My previous plan was increasing 10% a year. Also when do they stop insuring you? My previous one was 75. Both are important factors.

 

The increases of the Regency where minimal but I don't remember what they said. Recency will not cancel the policy for age. 

 

This 400/40 is not a great Medical policy but I felt I could supplement (upgrade room for instance instead of a ward) and be treated at the best government hospital if need be by flying to it. Since I knew they were going to cut me off in 6 years with a rapidly escalating yearly premiums I decided to make a change. 

 

It's also an alternative to self insuring. 

[wgdanson]

5 minutes ago, Pinot said:

I think you were lucky to find that, there aren't many. How much do the premiums increase yearly. My previous plan was increasing 10% a year. Also when do they stop insuring you? My previous one was 75. Both are important factors.

 

The increases of the Regency where minimal but I don't remember what they said. Recency will not cancel the policy for age. 

 

This 400/40 is not a great Medical policy but I felt I could supplement (upgrade room for instance instead of a ward) and be treated at the best government hospital if need be by flying to it. Since I knew they were going to cut me off in 6 years with a rapidly escalating yearly premiums I decided to make a change. 

 

It's also an alternative to self insuring. 

I was quoted about an 8% annual increase, unaffected by any claims I make, up to when I kick it.

For Bht 85k premium at age 71, the 400/40 is not worth it as it would just about cover a case of terminal piles !   LOL

85k for 400k cover or 125k for 12M cover. No brainer.