Health insurance options in Thailand

[newbruisers23]

Hello,

 

Looking for a health insurance option.

I'm on a Long term visa (non immigrant O).

Age: Middle 30's.

Decent health.

Looking for an option that I can pay the premiums monthly, if possible.

 

Any recommendations?

 

[Don Mega]

https://www.acs-ami.com/en/lps/expatriate-health-insurance-tsk/?part=tsk&utm_source=ThailandStarterKit&utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=leadgen&utm_term=tsk

[newbruisers23]

2 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

https://www.acs-ami.com/en/lps/expatriate-health-insurance-tsk/?part=tsk&utm_source=ThailandStarterKit&utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=leadgen&utm_term=tsk

Thanks a bunch! On it now

[Sheryl]

I suggest you work through a broker. I have been very happy with AA.

aainsure.net

 

they will provide you with comparisons, give you frank feedback on the insurer's reliability. It does not cost more, and they will help if any problems with claims afterwrads

 

At 30-odd years old you have a wide range of good choices

 

Things to keep in mind:

 

- foreign expat policies usually better value for money and will usually not raise premiums based on claim history where as Thai policies can and usually will (weak regulatory environment here)

 

-some but not all foreign policies have direct payment arrangements with Thai hospitals, so look for that as a criteria

 

-how long you plan to stay in Thailand/SEA is important, if expecting to settle here for life only consider policies that guarantee lifetime renewal and look at how premiums rise with age (the least expensive now might not be the least expensive in  10-20 years time).

 

- all else being equal it is preferrable to get a policy from a company that does its own underwriting.

 

- outpatient cover in Thailand is usually not worth it but do make sure an in-patient only policy covers: day surgeries, outpatient chemotherapy and radiation treatments (for cancer) and dialysis

 

 

 

[newbruisers23]

7 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I suggest you work through a broker. I have been very happy with AA.

aainsure.net

 

they will provide you with comparisons, give you frank feedback on the insurer's reliability. It does not cost more, and they will help if any problems with claims afterwrads

 

At 30-odd years old you have a wide range of good choices

 

Things to keep in mind:

 

- foreign expat policies usually better value for money and will usually not raise premiums based on claim history where as Thai policies can and usually will (weak regulatory environment here)

 

-some but not all foreign policies have direct payment arrangements with Thai hospitals, so look for that as a criteria

 

-how long you plan to stay in Thailand/SEA is important, if expecting to settle here for life only consider policies that guarantee lifetime renewal and look at how premiums rise with age (the least expensive now might not be the least expensive in  10-20 years time).

 

- all else being equal it is preferrable to get a policy from a company that does its own underwriting.

 

- outpatient cover in Thailand is usually not worth it but do make sure an in-patient only policy covers: day surgeries, outpatient chemotherapy and radiation treatments (for cancer) and dialysis

 

 

 

Super helpful, thank you!

[dadadede]

On 11/30/2019 at 1:44 PM, Sheryl said:

I suggest you work through a broker. I have been very happy with AA.

aainsure.net

 

they will provide you with comparisons, give you frank feedback on the insurer's reliability. It does not cost more, and they will help if any problems with claims afterwrads

 

At 30-odd years old you have a wide range of good choices

 

Things to keep in mind:

 

- foreign expat policies usually better value for money and will usually not raise premiums based on claim history where as Thai policies can and usually will (weak regulatory environment here)

 

-some but not all foreign policies have direct payment arrangements with Thai hospitals, so look for that as a criteria

 

-how long you plan to stay in Thailand/SEA is important, if expecting to settle here for life only consider policies that guarantee lifetime renewal and look at how premiums rise with age (the least expensive now might not be the least expensive in  10-20 years time).

 

- all else being equal it is preferrable to get a policy from a company that does its own underwriting.

 

- outpatient cover in Thailand is usually not worth it but do make sure an in-patient only policy covers: day surgeries, outpatient chemotherapy and radiation treatments (for cancer) and dialysis

 

 

 

Thank you Sheryl for this post.

I am currently looking for an health insurance too (i'm 29 and very healthy). I live in BKK, my company provides me an health insurance but I am not really happy about the benefits and I wanted to get better ones.

I come from France where everything is covered, so the idea not being fully covered causes me some stress, as I am not used to this.

 

Why do you say the OPD is not usually worth? Because it increases the premiums too much?

I have been told that here in Thailand eventual rx, tac etc can be very expensive. Do they fall in the OPD coverage? Or maybe they can fall in IPD?

I dont plan to have any of them but the insurance is thought to help in these cases...

 

PS I can share with you my benefits to get your PoW, maybe they aren't that bad after all. I would like to know the opinion of somebody who lives here.

 

Thanks!

[brewsterbudgen]

7 minutes ago, dadadede said:

Thank you Sheryl for this post.

I am currently looking for an health insurance too (i'm 29 and very healthy). I live in BKK, my company provides me an health insurance but I am not really happy about the benefits and I wanted to get better ones.

I come from France where everything is covered, so the idea not being fully covered causes me some stress, as I am not used to this.

 

Why do you say the OPD is not usually worth? Because it increases the premiums too much?

I have been told that here in Thailand eventual rx, tac etc can be very expensive. Do they fall in the OPD coverage? Or maybe they can fall in IPD?

I dont plan to have any of them but the insurance is thought to help in these cases...

 

PS I can share with you my benefits to get your PoW, maybe they aren't that bad after all. I would like to know the opinion of somebody who lives here.

 

Thanks!

Try Luma.  They're a French company but specialise in SE Asia.  They have a very helpful office in Bangkok.

 

https://www.lumahealth.com/personal-insurance/thailand/

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, dadadede said:

Why do you say the OPD is not usually worth? Because it increases the premiums too much?

I have been told that here in Thailand eventual rx, tac etc can be very expensive. Do they fall in the OPD coverage? Or maybe they can fall in IPD?

 

 

Yes. OPD cover increases the premiums by far more than it is worth. They will almost double them.

 

Ordinary OPD visits here even at the most expensive hospitals do not cost much (unless you make the mistake of buying medication from the hospital pharmacy - do not do that! Except for narcotics almost all medications can be bought without prescription at a pharmacy). A consultation with a top specialist at the most expensive hospitals may cost around 2000 baht (excluding tests and medications).

 

Where OPD becomes expensive is for things like cancer treatment - chemotherapy and radiation - and dialysis. Many in-patient only policies still cover outpt cancer care and dialysis and almost all will cover day surgeries.

 

Sorry I am not sure what you mean by "rx, tac".

 

If you are employed in Thailand then by law you have to be included under the Social Security scheme -- even if your employer also provides some sort of private insurance.  This provides unlimited coverage for both inpatient and outpatient care including medications but you have to attend just 1 hospital that you are registered at (or another hospital they refer you to if they cannot provide the care needed). Selection of that hospital is important. In the Bangkok area now it is  difficult as many hospitals are no longer accepting SS enrollees and those that are may sometimes not  be good quality. care (especially private hospitals). You are usually best off selecting the largest government hospital on the list, but then you will face long waits for care and other inconveniences (a simple doctor visit may take all day).

[dadadede]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 

Yes. OPD cover increases the premiums by far more than it is worth. They will almost double them.

 

Ordinary OPD visits here even at the most expensive hospitals do not cost much (unless you make the mistake of buying medication from the hospital pharmacy - do not do that! Except for narcotics almost all medications can be bought without prescription at a pharmacy). A consultation with a top specialist at the most expensive hospitals may cost around 2000 baht (excluding tests and medications).

 

Where OPD becomes expensive is for things like cancer treatment - chemotherapy and radiation - and dialysis. Many in-patient only policies still cover outpt cancer care and dialysis and almost all will cover day surgeries.

 

Sorry I am not sure what you mean by "rx, tac".

Sorry, it is an x-ray. I do high intensity sport so it can happen I can have an injury, so I guess xray exams will fall under the OPD benefits right? I think my insurance caps OPD by 3000THB per visit. max 30 visits per year. In the 3000THB should be included visit+exams(xray)+medications, right?

I live close to Samitivej hospital, so I am going to this hospital at the present.