Health insurance age bracket increase 60-64 Ouch !!!

[Nemises]

20 hours ago, gearbox said:

It is cheaper to fly 2 times per year to Oz and get travel insurance than to insure here. The travel insurance covers you in other countries...

Agree ???? 

 

But why go back twice a year when 12 months overseas cover is available?

[4MyEgo]

3 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Agree ???? 

 

But why go back twice a year when 12 months overseas cover is available?

 

Care to elaborate on the 12 months cover, are you saying there is 12 months cover on travel insurance, because if that is what you are saying, I find that hard to believe.

Edited March 23, 2021 by 4MyEgo

[Stevemercer]

I am in the 60 - 64 bracket and pay $27,000 per annum (fixed rate for each year). 

 

Like you, there had been a proposed 50% increase when I had turned 60. My wife negotiated with them. Dropping outpatient/clinic cover and paying a small increase for some deductibles kept the increase to a minimum. And they gave me a letter stating the premium was fixed for the age bracket.

 

However, I am a bit worried that, at some stage, the government will require insurance for all visa extensions (including 40,000 Baht for outpatient care). Any outpatient care component would be a killer at least under the current insurance premium schedules! I think most of us would agree we can easily 'self insure' for visits to clinics etc, because each visit is so cheap.

 

Like you, I have never claimed from this insurance. My wife is ex-government so I am also covered by her insurance and use this for my ongoing medical conditions (which are excluded from my insurance anyway). I have also been briefly hospitalised twice due to accidents, both were largely covered by the accident insurance on my ATM card.

 

My wife keeps urging me to ditch my private insurance on the grounds I never use it and am covered by her insurance anyway. I say I will keep it as long as I can afford the premiums. I want to keep my options open in case I have a serious accident or illness. It might help me get quicker or better care than otherwise just relying on the government service.

 

[Scott Tracy]

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

your cover is probably inadequate at that premium

 

What is 'adequate ' in your book?

[4MyEgo]

4 minutes ago, Stevemercer said:

I am in the 60 - 64 bracket and pay $27,000 per annum (fixed rate for each year). 

 

I take that to mean baht ?

[Scott Tracy]

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

your cover is probably inadequate at that premium

 

What is 'adequate ' in your book?

[Nemises]

46 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Care to elaborate on the 12 months cover, are you saying there is 12 months cover on travel insurance, because if that is what you are saying, I find that hard to believe.

Start believing mate!

 

Yes. 12 months travel insurance policies are available, well they were pre-covid. 
 

Some years I’d get the full 12 months cover, other years 9, 10 or 11 months depending on when I felt like returning to Aus. Here’s one for 10 months cover. 
 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Nemises

[from the home of CC]

21 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Really?

Do you really expect that an insurance makes individual priced for each customer? Think again!

 

Insurance is a number game. Males 50 years old cost in average x per year, 60 year old cost in average amount y. And maybe that amount y is 50 % higher than x. And obviously the insurance company takes the risk and has to make a profit. Nothing of that should surprise anybody.

With covid floating around I'm surprised it hasn't been raised till now. That Thai minister who caught it spent over 2 months in intensive care. A price tag like that would make most insurance companies cringe,  they must be hoping for an early death of their clients  who contract the disease.. 

[Stevemercer]

17 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

I take that to mean baht ?

Yes, I meant to say Baht. Sorry!

[Sheryl]

44 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Care to elaborate on the 12 months cover, are you saying there is 12 months cover on travel insurance, because if that is what you are saying, I find that hard to believe.

 

There are travel insurance policies that will cover for 12 months. But note the many limitations. It will nto cover cataract surgery, cancer treatment, most other health problems that are not an immediate emergency - or at most in those cases will just cover any additional costs in getting you back "home".

 

Also you cannot just get 1 12 month policy after another back to back, these policies are meant to cover trips away from home and could be invalidated if it is found out you actually live full time in Thailand.

 

For people who  spend say a few months a year back in their home country, have health care access there and are willing and able to return there for all non-emergency health needs then it is fine. But for your average expat living long term in Thailand, often with no place to stay back in their country of origin and sometimes no longer eligible for free health care there, and certainly not up for flying back every time they need health care of a non-emergency nature, it's another matter.

[4MyEgo]

9 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Start believing mate!
 

 

 

 

 

Fair enough, that does tell part of the story, now how about the fine print, does it say that you must be a resident of the country that you took the policy out from ?

 

In other words, for most expats living abroad, they are non residents, so this type of travel insurance policy wouldn't cover them.

 

I am assuming you are still a resident of the country you acquired the policy from, meaning you do not have a marriage or retirement extension, come to think of it, what visa/extension are you on to be able to have such a "valid" travel insurance policy that will cover you for 12 months ?

 

This would be too easy for us to obtain, but I know if we are non residents, we cannot take out travel insurance, because we are not travelling, if you know what I mean.

[Sheryl]

5 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Fair enough, that does tell part of the story, now how about the fine print, does it say that you must be a resident of the country that you took the policy out from ?

 

In other words, for most expats living abroad, they are non residents, so this type of travel insurance policy wouldn't cover them.

 

I am assuming you are still a resident of the country you acquired the policy from, meaning you do not have a marriage or retirement extension, come to think of it, what visa/extension are you on to be able to have such a "valid" travel insurance policy that will cover you for 12 months ?

 

This would be too easy for us to obtain, but I know if we are non residents, we cannot take out travel insurance, because we are not travelling, if you know what I mean.

 

Having a marriage or retirement extension is not I think the issue.

 

Rather it is: do you still have a home in your "home" country and spend time there regularly, coming and going from it to Thailand? some people do and for them, travel insurance makes sense, assuming they are able to access free or affordable health care back in their home country.

 

But it will not work for people who live in Thailand full time with no place to go back to in their home country.

 

i can't emphasize enough that travel insurance medical cover is designed to cover only such health care abroad as is absolutely essential to stabilize you until you can travel back "home" and to cover emergency repatriation. It is not designed to be comprehensive health coverage and won't substitute for it. It is a good choice for people who divide their time between their home country and Thailand, and have somewhere they can readily return to there at any time.

[Nemises]

18 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Fair enough, that does tell part of the story, now how about the fine print, does it say that you must be a resident of the country that you took the policy out from ?

 

In other words, for most expats living abroad, they are non residents, so this type of travel insurance policy wouldn't cover them.

 

I am assuming you are still a resident of the country you acquired the policy from, meaning you do not have a marriage or retirement extension, come to think of it, what visa/extension are you on to be able to have such a "valid" travel insurance policy that will cover you for 12 months ?

 

This would be too easy for us to obtain, but I know if we are non residents, we cannot take out travel insurance, because we are not travelling, if you know what I mean.

I’m officially still an Aus resident taking an 11 month (or thereabouts) “holiday” every year to Thailand. Been doing it for years even though I don’t physically live there (Aus). Never had a problem and as cheap as chips when compared to health insurance costs purchased in Thailand.  Only small print is that I must return to my “home” (my mates house) in Aus before taking off back to Thailand. (I “live” in Sydney so I must land in SYD not, say Darwin and head back to Thailand). 
 

I have a 12 month extension to stay in Thailand based on retirement. Have had it for years. 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Nemises

[DFPhuket]

I have annual travel insurance which will cover trips within the insurance year, but the policy stipulates that each travel period is limited to 120 days. In other words, I must return "home" between trips, and each trip can be no longer than 4 months.

 

Make sure you read the exact details of your policy if you are using an annual policy for a very long stay outside the country where it was issued.

[unblocktheplanet]

12 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Travel insurance is good for limited travel only and doesn't cover those of us who are non-residents, e.g. living out of their homeland for more than 6 months.

True of provincial insurance in Canada, too. Lose it if you're away more than six months per year.

[bwpage3]

Honestly is Thailand really all that as a retirement destination if you cannot afford decent health care?

 

So many posts over the years of people scraping by on 30,000 baht a month, how in the world could they afford to get health care when they get older?

 

Like many posters have mentioned, no one knows when that one accident or sickness can bankrupt your funds.

 

Self-Insured? Sorry, that is not a viable answer because if you are in your 60's or 70's, there will be no way to make that money back.

 

What happens when that one incident pops up and your retirement nest egg is wiped out? Then what?

 

All those that think Thailand is cheap, it is, if you want to spend the rest of your life in a one room flat, no car, and no health insurance.

 

You never know you need insurance until it is too late.

 

For the people that can afford it, good on you and you deserve to live your life in the location of your choice.

 

 

[wwest5829]

On 3/22/2021 at 7:44 PM, rumak said:

And thus some of us FOOLS  continue to self insure. 

 

you have good reason to rant.   I told them forty years ago what to do with their price increase.    Since then I have stayed with the most honest insurer i know,  with never a price increase.   

I too took out a policy on first arrival in 2011. The next year, I was told I entered a new age bracket and the rate would go up considerably ... OK, cancel my policy said I.

[elliss]

On 3/22/2021 at 8:18 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Really?

Do you really expect that an insurance makes individual priced for each customer? Think again!

 

Insurance is a number game. Males 50 years old cost in average x per year, 60 year old cost in average amount y. And maybe that amount y is 50 % higher than x. And obviously the insurance company takes the risk and has to make a profit. Nothing of that should surprise anybody.

 

    Let us be precise .

    Over 60. .. No profit for Insurance companies . 

    Plan B . Spend your pensions on ladies younger ..

   

[OneMoreFarang]

5 minutes ago, elliss said:

 

    Let us be precise .

    Over 60. .. No profit for Insurance companies . 

    Plan B . Spend your pensions on ladies younger ..

   

Why else would the insurance companies insure people? Because they have such a good heart? 555

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, Nemises said:

Start believing mate!

 

Yes. 12 months travel insurance policies are available, well they were pre-covid. 
 

Some years I’d get the full 12 months cover, other years 9, 10 or 11 months depending on when I felt like returning to Aus. Here’s one for 10 months cover. 
 

 

 

travel insurance <> standard health insurance

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, Nemises said:

I’m officially still an Aus resident taking an 11 month (or thereabouts) “holiday” every year to Thailand. Been doing it for years even though I don’t physically live there (Aus). Never had a problem and as cheap as chips when compared to health insurance costs purchased in Thailand.  Only small print is that I must return to my “home” (my mates house) in Aus before taking off back to Thailand. (I “live” in Sydney so I must land in SYD not, say Darwin and head back to Thailand). 
 

I have a 12 month extension to stay in Thailand based on retirement. Have had it for years. 

Of course it is much cheaper, it covers far, far less. Won't pay for cataract surgery, hip/knee replacements, cancer care or much of anything else other than emergency stabilization until you can fly back "home". Naturally that costs a lot less than a policy that would pay for all those things.

 

Are you willing & able to fly back to Australia (often at your own expense unless special medivac transport needed) any  time you need to be hospitalized or get other than minor health care? If so then fine - though  you may find that the cost and inconvenience of those trips (which will get more likely/frequent as you age) outweighs the savings. Since you are supposedly on a "trip", unless your condition warrants a special flight, the travel policy won't even pay for it, you're expected to just move up your "return" flight. They'll pay any extra charge for that and if your condition requires it maybe an upgrade, that's it.

 

 

[rumak]

1 hour ago, bwpage3 said:

Honestly is Thailand really all that as a retirement destination if you cannot afford decent health care?

 

So many posts over the years of people scraping by on 30,000 baht a month, how in the world could they afford to get health care when they get older?

 

Like many posters have mentioned, no one knows when that one accident or sickness can bankrupt your funds.

 

Self-Insured? Sorry, that is not a viable answer because if you are in your 60's or 70's, there will be no way to make that money back.

 

What happens when that one incident pops up and your retirement nest egg is wiped out? Then what?

 

All those that think Thailand is cheap, it is, if you want to spend the rest of your life in a one room flat, no car, and no health insurance.

 

You never know you need insurance until it is too late.

 

For the people that can afford it, good on you and you deserve to live your life in the location of your choice.

 

 

 

your post makes many assertions and assumptions based on your personal opinions.

almost every sentence sounds like a fear mongering advertisement by the insurance monopolies .   

You obviously do not agree with those of us who make the choice to handle our own health requirements the way we see fit.    Again,  assumptions that many can not afford to take care of ourselves.... and possibly be living in one room flats and scraping by.  

It would be a welcome relief if forums would consist of intelligent people who post their opinions and could actually realize that there are many ways and lifestyles for each individual to choose from.  

These "debates"  get very boring with the "must insure or you are a fool"  group trying to warn others of the great dangers that can befall them.   Just insure yourself .  It is your choice !   Like living in the country..... or the city.   Riding a motorcycle or afraid of the consequences.    The list goes on and on.      

The OP here is about the always raising of premiums by insurers.  Many here are happy not to pay for it.    Others are happy to pay for it.    Simple

Edited March 23, 2021 by rumak

[Nemises]

8 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

Are you willing & able to fly back to Australia (often at your own expense unless special medivac transport needed) any  time you need to be hospitalized or get other than minor health care?

 

 

A relative of mine from Aus suffered a stroke whilst holidaying in the USA a few years back.  His travel insurance paid to fly him (and an appointed specialist international flight carer/nurse) home to Aus ...first class! Was not special medivac transport and the patient never paid a cent for the flight upgrade, nor for anything else. 

[LosLobo]

3 hours ago, Nemises said:

I’m officially still an Aus resident taking an 11 month (or thereabouts) “holiday” every year to Thailand. Been doing it for years even though I don’t physically live there (Aus). Never had a problem and as cheap as chips when compared to health insurance costs purchased in Thailand.  Only small print is that I must return to my “home” (my mates house) in Aus before taking off back to Thailand. (I “live” in Sydney so I must land in SYD not, say Darwin and head back to Thailand). 

A lot of PDS' I have seen require the policy holder to reside in Australia and have a valid Medicare card.

After not living permanently in Australia for five years you are no longer entitled to a Medicare card under Centrelink's strict residency policy.

I would suggest that any claims you make under travel insurance could become problematic.
 

[topt]

25 minutes ago, Nemises said:

A relative of mine from Aus suffered a stroke whilst holidaying in the USA a few years back.  His travel insurance paid to fly him (and an appointed specialist international flight carer/nurse) home to Aus ...first class! Was not special medivac transport and the patient never paid a cent for the flight upgrade, nor for anything else. 

I would guess the cost of Aus medical care as being significantly less to the Insurance Co. than USA medical costs........

[Mark Nothing]

1 hour ago, rumak said:

 

your post makes many assertions and assumptions based on your personal opinions.

almost every sentence sounds like a fear mongering advertisement by the insurance monopolies .   

You obviously do not agree with those of us who make the choice to handle our own health requirements the way we see fit.    Again,  assumptions that many can not afford to take care of ourselves.... and possibly be living in one room flats and scraping by.  

It would be a welcome relief if forums would consist of intelligent people who post their opinions and could actually realize that there are many ways and lifestyles for each individual to choose from.  

These "debates"  get very boring with the "must insure or you are a fool"  group trying to warn others of the great dangers that can befall them.   Just insure yourself .  It is your choice !   Like living in the country..... or the city.   Riding a motorcycle or afraid of the consequences.    The list goes on and on.      

The OP here is about the always raising of premiums by insurers.  Many here are happy not to pay for it.    Others are happy to pay for it.    Simple

Many years ago I issued a pink slip to the insurance/medical industry and took full responsibility for my well being.  It works if you are open minded and read the right books.

[scubascuba3]

3 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Honestly is Thailand really all that as a retirement destination if you cannot afford decent health care?

 

So many posts over the years of people scraping by on 30,000 baht a month, how in the world could they afford to get health care when they get older?

 

Like many posters have mentioned, no one knows when that one accident or sickness can bankrupt your funds.

 

Self-Insured? Sorry, that is not a viable answer because if you are in your 60's or 70's, there will be no way to make that money back.

 

What happens when that one incident pops up and your retirement nest egg is wiped out? Then what?

 

All those that think Thailand is cheap, it is, if you want to spend the rest of your life in a one room flat, no car, and no health insurance.

 

You never know you need insurance until it is too late.

 

For the people that can afford it, good on you and you deserve to live your life in the location of your choice.

 

 

total <deleted> post

[Chris.B]

22 hours ago, ctxa said:

 

 

I decided to self insure back in China, having more money than it is needed to self insure, for sure. Yet trust me, I regretted it a lot when I broke my hand and had to fork out close to 15k USD for a surgery, not like I couldn't afford it..... But I realized that saying goodbye to 15k USD for instead avoiding to pay 500 USD / year, was a mistake only a fool would have made. And so I felt like a fool 15K USD lighter ????

 

My personal advice, even if you have the funds, don't self insure. Because everything is good, until something big comes up and then you feel like a fool ????

 

 

What sort of policy is that, which costs 10 USD a week ? ????

[ctxa]

1 hour ago, Chris.B said:

What sort of policy is that, which costs 10 USD a week ? ????

 

Won't mention any names, since I am in no way afilliated with either of them. So I'll just post some pictures of their prices: 

 

In Thailand: 

 

 

I am lucky to be in the 19-25 group, which also happens to be the cheapest. But still, it is 447 USD per year. Pretty good. Most of them are this way. You get up to 4,000 THB per day for a standard room, or 8,000 THB per day allowance for ICU. Maximum allowance of up to 780,000 THB per policy year per accident / disease. Would have absolutely covered my 14k USD surgery.... 

 

 

[Nemises]

5 hours ago, LosLobo said:

 

 ...no longer entitled to a Medicare card under Centrelink's strict residency policy.

 

 

A medicare card (in Australia) is able to be kept by returning home just once every five years.

 

Hardly "strict".