HEALTH INSURANCE

[nitehawk42]

Why do Thai hospitals not accept American health insurance.

I am covered by Aetna (USA).

Edited August 21, 2019 by nitehawk42

[ThaiBunny]

Because some American insurers will pay for treatment anywhere in the world

[NCC1701A]

6 minutes ago, nitehawk42 said:

I am covered by Aetna (USA).

I have Aetna Thailand. I wonder if there is any connection between the two "divisions"? most likely not.

[ThaiBunny]

An American friend of mine has lived in Bangkok for many years and his US health insurer covers all medical expenses beyond the first $500 in any calendar year. I can recall more than 10 years ago American insurers were encouraging their members to travel to India or Thailand for (e.g.) hip replacements because they were so much cheaper than at home

Edited August 21, 2019 by ThaiBunny

[wgdanson]

39 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

Because some American insurers will pay for treatment anywhere in the world

Sorry, no comprendez. The OP asked why Thai hospitals WILL NOT accept American insurance, yet you say the opposite.

[ThaiBunny]

8 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Sorry, no comprendez. The OP asked why Thai hospitals WILL NOT accept American insurance, yet you say the opposite.

If you look at his post you will see he edited it after I posted my response

[wgdanson]

Sorry Bunny.

 

Edited August 21, 2019 by wgdanson

[Sheryl]

Many will. This is not universal.

 

What hospital did you encounter this in?

 

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

 

 

 

 

[Pib]

I expect the great majority of Thai hospitals will not accept American or any other country's insurance simply because it takes work and specific knowledge to file claims with insurance companies....file the claims in the format/in the detail required by the insurance company.    Instead, the patient must pay the hospital and then the patient file for reimbursement.  

 

Thai hospitals are familiar with Thai insurance companies....they speak the same language...understand the claim forms/requirements...the online claim systems...they can easily communicate to resolve a claim...etc.  

 

Yes, you do hear of a few Thai hospitals which will file claims with certain foreign insurance companies, but it's uncommon. 

[Pib]

10 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Many will.

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

Sheryl, 

  Can you list a some of those many...and which foreign insurance companies they favor?  Thanks.

[Sheryl]

All the large "international" hospitals in Bangkok will and so usually will their provincial affiliates. It is not in a hospital's interests to refuse to accept insurance....especially any hospital that treats many tourists or resident expats.

Many, many people have expat policies issued by companies based abroad, usually EU country or UK. I haven't heard of any of these being refused at a private hospital. My own insurance is issued out of France and has direct billing arrangement wirh all the major private Thai hospitals.

US insurance, if not a specific travel or expat policy, will usually not cover treatment abroad except perhaps in emergency so that may have been an issue.

Insurers can provide a list of Thai hospitals they have direct billing arrangements with and that is something to consider when choosing a policy. It is often possible to arrange direct payment for hospitals not on the list as well, but has to be discussed with the insurer and the hospital at the time.

Basically it is a matter of getting the insurer to send the hospital a GOP (guarantee of payment). That in turn requires the hospital to submit certain information often on an insurer-specific form. If the hospital has a halfway competent 3rd party payer office just need to have the insurance company send them the forms and instructions (in case of existing direct billing arrangement they should already have them).

As most of us know "cannot" is an overused phrase in Thailand and often the first resort whenever confronted with anything new or different. More often than not it is untrue.



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[scubascuba3]

The RSU Healthcare in Bangkok wouldn't go through my UK travel insurance, they only dealt with certain health insurance companies i hadn't heard of

 

 

[Pib]

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

As most of us know "cannot" is an overused phrase in Thailand and often the first resort whenever confronted with anything new or different. More often than not it is untrue.

 

My hospital here in Bangkok, Thonburi II Hosptial, is a "cannot."

[Sheryl]

You have private insurance or Tricare? Most Thai hospitals won't do direct payment with Tricare.

 

Thonburi and Thonburi 2 hospitals do not treat many non-Thais and I would nto class them as "international" hospitals. (For which reason their rates are are comparatively good).  That said, in case of inpatient hospitalization and assuming private insurance, not Tricare, it should be possible to arrange direct pay though you might have to contact the insurer yourself to initiate the process. I doubt there is anything you can do re OPD visits.

 

By the way I would pick Thonburi over Thonburi 2. Many of the top docs at Siriraj have hours at Thonburi. Not so much the case at Thonburi 2, it is rare that I find a doc I would recommend seeing there,

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

[Pib]

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You have private insurance or Tricare? Most Thai hospitals won't do direct payment with Tricare.

 

Thonburi and Thonburi 2 hospitals do not treat many non-Thais and I would nto class them as "international" hospitals. (For which reason their rates are are comparatively good).  That said, in case of inpatient hospitalization and assuming private insurance, not Tricare, it should be possible to arrange direct pay though you might have to contact the insurer yourself to initiate the process. I doubt there is anything you can do re OPD visits.

 

By the way I would pick Thonburi over Thonburi 2. Many of the top docs at Siriraj have hours at Thonburi. Not so much the case at Thonburi 2, it is rare that I find a doc I would recommend seeing there,

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

I use Tricare.   Thonburi II is only about a 5 minute drive from our home.   Many of the specialists that come to Thonburi II are from Siriraj or equally good HiSo hospitals.  Very happy with Thonburi II and doctors for the last 11 years the wife and I have used them.  And we have had the same general family practice doc for 11 years.    Plus a few years ago they opened their new building that doubled the hospital size.  

 

You are right about Thonburi Hosptial or Thonburi II Hosptial not treating many farangs but I figure that's simply because they are located in western Bangkok where not many farangs live.  But go over to central Bangkok and farangs are dime a dozen....along with many tourists in the hotels....along with quite a few hospitals that cater to foreigners "at a very healthy price."   

[Cucuy]

I expect the great majority of Thai hospitals will not accept American or any other country's insurance simply because it takes work and specific knowledge to file claims with insurance companies....file the claims in the format/in the detail required by the insurance company.    Instead, the patient must pay the hospital and then the patient file for reimbursement.  

 

Thai hospitals are familiar with Thai insurance companies....they speak the same language...understand the claim forms/requirements...the online claim systems...they can easily communicate to resolve a claim...etc.  

 

Yes, you do hear of a few Thai hospitals which will file claims with certain foreign insurance companies, but it's uncommon. 

They except TRICARE overseas that’s what I use. I use it all the time here.

[Pib]

15 minutes ago, Cucuy said:

They except TRICARE overseas that’s what I use. I use it all the time here.

Specifically who is "they?"  Are you saying Thonburi II Hospital?  And just to confirm you say "they" will direct bill Tricare?  

 

And to add I did see a list one time of approx 10 hospitals that would delay payment requirements for Tricare's 75% reimbursement...only require the patient's 25% cost share. Give the patient a month or so 30 days to file and get reimbursed from Tricare and then go pay the hospital the outstanding balance.

Edited August 23, 2019 by Pib

[Cucuy]

Specifically who is "they?"  Are you saying Thonburi II Hospital?  And just to confirm you say "they" will direct bill Tricare?  

 

And to add I did see a list one time of approx 10 hospitals that would delay payment requirements for Tricare's 75% reimbursement...only require the patient's 25% cost share. Give the patient a month or so 30 days to file and get reimbursed from Tricare and then go pay the hospital the outstanding balance.

Well Bangkok hospital where I live has accepted my OCONUS TRICARE for several years since I’ve been retired here I’ve never had a single problem with it at all. Would you like me to find the link for oconus TRICARE and send it to you? I can but I’d have to google it because I have not needed to login to my TRICARE for years man. But they always accept it every time no problem. I’m retired military im assuming that you are as well? Am I right? And yes they will direct bill TRICARE but you have to sign up for oconus TRICARE. Does that help?

[Pib]

Just now, Cucuy said:

Well Bangkok hospital where I live has accepted my OCONUS TRICARE for several years since I’ve been retired here I’ve never had a single problem with it at all. Would you like me to find the link for oconus TRICARE and send it to you? I can but I’d have to google it because I have not needed to login to my TRICARE for years man. But they always accept it every time no problem. I’m retired military im assuming that you are as well? Am I right?

No need for the link....I've been using Tricare for decades.  Yes, I'm retired military.  There is no list of Thailand hospitals which accept Tricare on the Tricare website.  The JUSMAGTHAI Tricare Office put out a list one time of hospitals that would accept Tricare but it was a limited list of 10 or so hospitals. 

 

Since Bangkok Hospital is in central Bangkok I expect it was on the list.   Do they direct bill "out-patient" care also?  Repeat, out-patient care?

 

 

 

[Pib]

For any of you living in central Bangkok Praram9 Hospital does accept Tricare for "in-patient" care. Below is the answer I got when asking in May 2019.  Please note the conditions/general exclusions talked at the end of the email which are:

1.  For outpatient treatment >> you pay and send a claim directly to Tricare.
2.  For inpatient treatment, you  pay 25 % exclude home medication and  ambulance service for taking you back home.

 

 

Quote

From: Amornrat Kunpolpitaksa <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2019
To: XXXXXXX
Subject: Fw: Do Your Accept U.S. Military "Tricare" Medical Insurance
 
Dear K.XXXXX,

Thank you for choosing Praram9 hospital.

Let me answer your question as below,

Do you accept U.S. military “Tricare” medical insurance?

Yes, we do.

By using Tricare medical coverage.  

We would like to request for relevant document  as below,

1.  a  copy of your passport  both you and your wife

2.  a copy of your Tricare medcal insurance.

3.  your SSN

4.  contact person in emergency case

5.  Your phone ( you and your wife )  and permanent address in Thailand

6. Your underlying disease for us to select our specialist properly.

I will prepare your hospital file number for your visit our facilities next time after getting documents from you.

Let me explain the conditions and general exclusion for using  Tricare medical insurance as follows

1.  For outpatient treatment >> you pay and send a claim directly to Tricare.

2.  For inpatient treatment, you  pay 25 % exclude home medication and  ambulance service for taking you back home.


If you need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you and Best Regards,

Amornrat Kunpolpoitaksa

Financial Manager

Phone  02 202 9999 ext 39401

Mobile  :  081 834- 4101
 

 

[Cucuy]

No need for the link....I've been using Tricare for decades.  Yes, I'm retired military.  There is no list of Thailand hospitals which accept Tricare on the Tricare website.  The JUSMAGTHAI Tricare Office put out a list one time of hospitals that would accept Tricare but it was a limited list of 10 or so hospitals. 
 
Since Bangkok Hospital is in central Bangkok I expect it was on the list.   Do they direct bill "out-patient" care also?  Repeat, out-patient care?
 
 
 

No I remember seeing Bangkok hospital on the list last time I was on the TRICARE website it’s there along with a list of other hospitals I’m sure about that I do remember it. But I have never really used TRICARE for outpatient care so I don’t know about that sorry. I’ve only used TRICARE for inpatient care only. When ever I do outpatient stuff I just go to the local clinic and pay for it out of pocket but it’s really not expensive at all. Inpatient care can get really expensive sometimes but thank God for TRICARE. Sorry if I didn’t help you.

[Cucuy]

No need for the link....I've been using Tricare for decades.  Yes, I'm retired military.  There is no list of Thailand hospitals which accept Tricare on the Tricare website.  The JUSMAGTHAI Tricare Office put out a list one time of hospitals that would accept Tricare but it was a limited list of 10 or so hospitals. 
 
Since Bangkok Hospital is in central Bangkok I expect it was on the list.   Do they direct bill "out-patient" care also?  Repeat, out-patient care?
 
 
 

Also I’ve visited JUSMAG before. Also I don’t live in Bangkok but there are Bangkok hospitals all over Thailand. See my last reply

[MargaretShackelford]

The insurance policies are different from the American policies. That's why they don't accept the insurance.

[Cucuy]

The insurance policies are different from the American policies. That's why they don't accept the insurance.

Well I know for sure that at least my local Bangkok hospital does in fact accept my TRICARE because I’ve been using it here for years now but I don’t know about other American insurance companies. TRICARE is easily accepted because it’s for the military and those of us who are retired military so oconus TRICARE is accepted pretty much world wide in most countries including Thailand I’ve been using my oconus TRICARE for several years now here in Thailand and it’s never been a problem it was just a little bit of a hassle getting signed up for oconus TRICARE. Oconus means overseas it’s a military term.

[Cucuy]

But like I said I don’t know about outpatient care because I’ve only used my oconus TRICARE for inpatient care only, and I’ve been using it here for several years now.

 

 

[Pib]

1 hour ago, Cucuy said:

No I remember seeing Bangkok hospital on the list last time I was on the TRICARE website it’s there along with a list of other hospitals I’m sure about that I do remember it. 

Here is what you are probably talking about....I listed the hospitals/providers below.  And obviously even the Tricare website list is not complete since Pararm 9 Hospital told me in May 2019 they will accept Tricare for in-patient service.  But the pickings are slim.

 

http://www.tricare-overseas.com/beneficiaries/resources/provider-search

 

Bumrungrad International Hospital

Bangkok Hospital Medical Center

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital

Chiangmai Ram Hospital

BNH Hospital

Piyachat Ruengvisesh

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital

 

And below is a quote from a 24 July 2019 JUSMAGTHAI Tricare Office Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

Tricare is an anomaly and indeed only the largest "international" hospitals do direct payment with them, presumably because their procedures/requirements are unusually complex or time consuming.

 

Private expat and travel insurance from US companies is widely accepted.

[mike787]

Corruption! 

[Cucuy]

Here is what you are probably talking about....I listed the hospitals/providers below.  And obviously even the Tricare website list is not complete since Pararm 9 Hospital told me in May 2019 they will accept Tricare for in-patient service.  But the pickings are slim.

 

http://www.tricare-overseas.com/beneficiaries/resources/provider-search

 

Bumrungrad International Hospital

Bangkok Hospital Medical Center

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital

Chiangmai Ram Hospital

BNH Hospital

Piyachat Ruengvisesh

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital

 

And below is a quote from a 24 July 2019 JUSMAGTHAI Tricare Office Newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah I think that was it. If you’re signed up for oconus TRICARE the hospital will accept it just talk to the hospital administrator or case worker. I have been using my TRICARE for years here because I’m signed up for oconus TRICARE. It was definitely a hassle getting signed up for oconus TRICARE though but it’s doable I did it years ago when I retired here for both my wife and I. But again I’ve only used it for inpatient care such as emergency room visits and procedures and surgeries, I’ve never actually used my oconus TRICARE for inpatient care only outpatient care. So I don’t know about the inpatient care sorry about that. When ever I do my little inpatient care things I just go to my local doctors clinic down the street from my house and I just pay for little things like that out of pocket because the clinics are decent and they are cheap anyway.

 

Oh and take what JUSMAG says with skepticism because they don’t seem like they know what’s going on anymore. I don’t think that JUSMAG office has very good leadership.

[Cucuy]

My local Bangkok hospital is very well familiar with TRICARE as well because they have a lot of veterans living around here. Whenever I go to the hospital they know and my case worker actually asks me in English for my oconus TRICARE card and TRICARE covers a lot especially if it’s one of my rated disabilities. We’re covered pretty well by TRICARE for living abroad.