I'm interested in what a expat should do in regards to getting a major illness whilst living in specifically Thailand,I could add in all of Asia eg Philippines( but I will just leave it as a expat in Thailand example)

I mean I'm not knocking Philippines they probably have better oncology hospitals than Thailand 

 

So what are the stages of this if God forbid this should happen to you 

 

So this is the scenario your over 60yo retired in Thailand , and you  HAVE expat  health insurance.

 

You get a major illness eg cancer 

Do you stay in Thailand ,or go back to your own country?

 

Now what if you don't have expat health insurance?

 

Is there a big gap fee for oncology eg radiation 

 

A well known YouTuber a few years ago developed cancer , unfortunately he had no expat health insurance and was apparently going to take it out at 60 but only reached 59 when he got cancer .

 

Unfortunately he paid millions for treatment in Thailand before going back to his country where sadly he passed away I believe at age 60

 

So the thing is , can we rely on the expat health insurance for major illness ?

Can we afford to go without it if there was a major illness?

 

It's ok saying oh I will go back to UK Australia or wherever if I got a major illness but you will be on a waiting list there to see a specialist if your using the public health system, and then if you get worser you will rely on carers etc ,so maybe better to stay in Thailand and get treatment there 

 

 

Have you planned this ?

Have you planned for emergencies,?

 

 

 

Don't have any insurance, so, yes, this would mean booking a flight home.

I was private messaging with a very esteemed member of our little group recently.

 

He got ill, Thailand doesn't have the medicine he needs, he went home.

 

On the basis of his example, I have maintained my expensive medicare. Add on my decent Cigna health plan here and a dedicated large emergency fund, and I am covered at the level of presidents and movie stars.

 

But it's down to luck as to how many bowls of khao soi noodles I have left in front of me.

22 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Have you planned this ?

Have you planned for emergencies,?

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

Yes.

 

Add another 20 years

9 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Don't have any insurance, so, yes, this would mean booking a flight home.

 

 

If you were fit to fly.........................

This is why I like to plan.

 

Obviously much different if you have a (genuine) partner that lives with you ....but let's look at the say 65yo single male retired to Pattaya living alone in a condo .

 

Planning for emergency probably doesn't come into most of them , even some don't have a Will made or point of emergency contact .

 

As I said it's ok not to have any insurance if you have the cash 

..but...fail to plan because it won't happen to me ...is ridiculous 

 

It's ok to say ..oh I will go back to Australia or UK if I get a illness,but have you planned that?

Where will you stay?

Who will look after you during chemo or whatever?

 

Plan now !!! 

I planned, thousands of USD on expat medical insurance over the years.

 

I got sick (suspected prostate cancer)

 

My medical insurance refused to cover the cost (long story, already covered in other posts)

 

I had to return to the UK for treatment on the NHS

 

The waiting times are not too bad (cancer treatment is prioritised), although I'm grateful that prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer type.

 

So.... you can make as many plans as you like, but  'bad luck' can scupper your well-thought out plans.

 

Another example:

A week before flying back to the UK I was stung by a box jellyfish on Koh Phangan.  Totally unexpected event, most people die of heart failure within 10 minutes of the sting.  I also 100% felt and thought that I was going to die (as I flailed around on the floor of a beach restaurant as locals frantically poured vinegar on me and commented in Thai that I would be dead in a few minutes).

 

Amazingly I recovered.....

 

These 2 recent events have changed my view on planning for the future, 'cos you never know what plans the Grim Reaper has!

It's a gamble what ever you do. I remember Kev in Pattaya, who the OP refers to, saying he had a friend paying into BUPA for ten years. When he got cancer the amount the insurer paid for was about the same as the premiums he had paid in. After 75 the premiums become very expensive and you never know if they will pay up or even not go bust before you need them. Thought of getting insurance a few years ago then did not, so far saved about 400k. WeLife is tempting as they don't want a medical. 

I have world coverage but I'm not sure what would happen in case of accident because any refund claim I file has a box that says "was this caused by an accident"? I assume if I tick the box my health insurance would want to recoup the money from the guilty party's insurance. Good luck with that in Thailand. Even getting an acceptable police report (one where I don't come out as "grossly negligent") could be difficult.

 

Public transportation are assumed to insure their passengers. What about if Songtaw has an accident with me on board? Even the best insured may be less protected than they think.

19 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

This is why I like to plan.

 

Obviously much different if you have a (genuine) partner that lives with you ....but let's look at the say 65yo single male retired to Pattaya living alone in a condo.

Yes, my plan is not to get seriously ill the next few years.

 

My ex-girlfriend was my backup. I told her to 'put me on the next plane in case I get seriously ill'. Now I'll have to be strong enough to do this by myself...

 

Anyhow, getting a bit older, I am planning to swap Asia for the old world in a few years, for possible age-related healthcare needs.

19 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I planned, thousands of USD on expat medical insurance over the years.

 

I got sick (suspected prostate cancer)

 

My medical insurance refused to cover the cost (long story, already covered in other posts)

 

I had to return to the UK for treatment on the NHS

 

The waiting times are not too bad (cancer treatment is prioritised), although I'm grateful that prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer type.

 

So.... you can make as many plans as you like, but  'bad luck' can scupper your well-thought out plans.

 

Another example:

A week before flying back to the UK I was stung by a box jellyfish on Koh Phangan.  Totally unexpected event, most people die of heart failure within 10 minutes of the sting.  I also 100% felt and thought that I was going to die (as I flailed around on the floor of a beach restaurant as locals frantically poured vinegar on me and commented in Thai that I would be dead in a few minutes).

 

Amazingly I recovered.....

 

These 2 recent events have changed my view on planning for the future, 'cos you never know what plans the Grim Reaper has!

I have seen a pic of you a few years ago ,you are very fit ,I believed you also run or did everyday too .

 

It can happen to anyone 

12 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

My ex-girlfriend was my backup. I told her to 'put me on the next plane in case I get seriously ill'. Now I'll have to be strong enough to do this by myself...

Good luck with that,dragging yourself up to the counter at the airport after a stroke or heart attack.

It just does not work that way.

The problem with medical emergency is that you will have no control over what is going on with you any longer.

Better re think your plans.

Airlines do not like to transport very ill people,something to do with liability and such.

I met a old Australian farang in Pattaya years ago who had kept his Australian health insurance,I remember at that time he was paying something like $140 a month for hospital only insurance but obviously he would have to go back to Australia for treatment 

 

I'm not even sure it's valid actually if he isn't living there but who knows maybe he kept a address over there 

 

But better he banked his.  ,$140 and went on the public health system .

 

I'm sure in the UK they have private health insurance too if you don't want to use the public hospitals ,I guess you could do that 

12 minutes ago, jvs said:

Good luck with that,dragging yourself up to the counter at the airport after a stroke or heart attack.

It just does not work that way.

The problem with medical emergency is that you will have no control over what is going on with you any longer.

Better re think your plans.

Airlines do not like to transport very ill people,something to do with liability and such.

Yes good point, especially if you have a heart attack, imagine the cost if you don't have insurance.

 

Even if U have  insurance it would be expensive with gap fees etc

,I guess something like that definitely back to Australia or the UK for the public free system ( even though in Australia you still have to pay the specialist)

 

,not sure about America though I don't think they have a free public health system???

11 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I have seen a pic of you a few years ago ,you are very fit ,I believed you also run or did everyday too .

 

It can happen to anyone 

Happily I am still very fit and run every day ????.  As yet, I have no outward cancer symptoms, but the MRI scan strongly suggests prostate cancer and I'm waiting on the biopsy results. At least prostate cancer is usually slow-growing.

We will all die. Don't worry too much. 

1 minute ago, simon43 said:

Happily I am still very fit and run every day ????.  As yet, I have no outward cancer symptoms, but the MRI scan strongly suggests prostate cancer and I'm waiting on the biopsy results. At least prostate cancer is usually slow-growing.

Yes , you probably have 15 years left 

52 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

I've really smashed these odds and yes. In pursuit of living longer I have mostly given up alcohol, having only a very occasional few beers or red wines, stopped red meat, reduced carb intake, cut out sugared products, intermittent fasting at least 50% of days and joined a gym for HiiT in my late 60's. I have no disabilities at present and no chronic illnesses.

 

The problem for health insurance for me is a history of hypertension which would allow health insurance to rule out any cardio vascular coverage. That leaves accidents and I don't ride a scooter for that reason, I prefer to walk everywhere.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

Exactly, who wants to live 80s once you become very unwell, mobility not good. 70s it's doable to be fit and healthy

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Exactly, who wants to live 80s once you become very unwell, mobility not good. 70s it's doable to be fit and healthy

 

 

Who DOESN'T want to live into their 80's if they can have a quality of life that  is acceptable the THEM?

9 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Who DOESN'T want to live into their 80's if they can have a quality of life that  is acceptable the THEM?

yep if acceptable to them fine hang on to 100

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

yep if acceptable to them fine hang on to 100

I'm pushing 70 and see no reason yet to want to join the Pattaya flying club. Touch wood.

 

Then again, I live on a mediterranean diet with low carbs and no added sugar. ????

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

I'm pushing 70 and see no reason yet to want to join the Pattaya flying club. Touch wood.

Yes it's personal choice, no ones suggesting it's mandatory to top yourself at 80. Last few years can be a real miserable death

Had one already. About half a million.

If I ever get cancer, I would not even consider doing chemo or radiation. No thanks. 

 

I am self insured. If something serious happens, I will try to get it treated out of pocket here. If I can't, time to move on. I have very little fear of death. 

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

Short answer, yes. Until I no longer have quality of life.

I am 79, and far from disabled. Ask my girlfriend.

GeorgeGeorgia , what's with all the posts about health ,I would rather

not think about it , are you a hypochondriac , eating and sleeping well,

no worries, I have diabetes and Hypertension ,(but it always seems higher

at the hospital)   I am 77 so could pop off at anytime but I am not thinking

about it everyday.

 

regards worgeordie          howay the lads  2 . 0  glad to be alive today....

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I met a old Australian farang in Pattaya years ago who had kept his Australian health insurance,I remember at that time he was paying something like $140 a month for hospital only insurance but obviously he would have to go back to Australia for treatment 

 

I'm not even sure it's valid actually if he isn't living there but who knows maybe he kept a address over there 

 

But better he banked his.  ,$140 and went on the public health system .

 

I'm sure in the UK they have private health insurance too if you don't want to use the public hospitals ,I guess you could do that 

The public health system in Australia is a train wreck. My daughter-in-law has been waiting 6 months for an initial consultation for a bung knee with a specialist, she may be waiting another year for the actual surgery.

I have top level private health cover in Australia. I had a PET scan within two weeks of landing, free of charge. In Thailand, the cheapest quote I could find was USD 15,000.

Your opinions are way off the mark.

No health ins, but healthy oops fund, for just such occasion.

 

Really depends on what, prognosis, cost of, and if can do to my standard.  Returning to USA to use Medicare, and top notch surgeon, wouldn't be a problem for myself.   Niece is big wig surgeon, and has rights at 3 different hospitals in Philly, PA ... so would be easy. No Q & best care.

 

The plane ride and being away from the Wonder Dog would be the hardest part.   Get health check ups (full) every year or so, and hopefully would catch the usual survivable suspect.

 

IF NOT ... oh well, as past my expiration date (67.7 yrs), and really don't want to hang around if not 75% whole and smiling....everyday.

 

Realize I'm on borrowed time already, and certainly wouldn't waste too much of the wife & kid's inheritance, just to hang out for another year or 2 feeling like krap.