23 hours ago, proton said:

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. 

A friend of mine was fired by BUPA when he turned 70, despite all their glossy brochures on cover for life. They did offer to renew his wife's policy though. 

On 4/3/2023 at 2:41 PM, BritManToo said:

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

I was OK a bit longer than that, but old age is really kicking me in the teeth now.

I have no reason to want to live longer in a nursing home.

 

 

On 4/3/2023 at 6:55 PM, KhunLA said:

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.

I'm glad that you feel like that. I can't believe how many old guys on here would spend everything they had, and leave their family with nothing just to hang on for a few more miserable years.

 

 

An inflammatory post has been removed

On 4/3/2023 at 10:07 AM, JackGats said:

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"?

How many people are injured intentionally? 

On 4/3/2023 at 1:30 PM, Lacessit said:

...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.

I think you have an extra zero on that US$15K

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I have no reason to want to live longer in a nursing home.

Would it not depend on the nurses? 

Just now, Yellowtail said:

I think you have an extra zero on that US$15K

Not according to the Thai private hospital websites I have visited.

On 4/3/2023 at 1:01 PM, scubascuba3 said:

no ones suggesting it's mandatory to top yourself at 80.

Can't stop laughing at this! 

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

Not according to the Thai private hospital websites I have visited.

I have a liver PET scan every year at Chula and it's less than US$500

I was diagnosed with cancer, emphysema and COPD 3 years ago, shocked at first but just got on with it, I've responded well to treatment, chemo, immuno and radiation, I'm doing ok.

On 4/3/2023 at 10:30 AM, georgegeorgia said:

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???

In the US it's "free" if you have no money. 

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I have a liver PET scan every year at Chula and it's less than US$500

Do you know what age the equipment is? Or how much it cost?   Prices for that type of equipment are $75,000 to $150,000 for a base model, $1.7 - 2.5 million for something with all the bells and whistles.

I should imagine cost recovery is the focus for the more expensive systems.

On 4/3/2023 at 9:41 AM, BritManToo said:

Healthy life expectancy is 62

Disability free life expectancy is 63

 

Do you really want to live longer?

My grandparent's generation appeared old in their fifties and were on their last legs in their sixties. Males died around 67, females mid-seventies. My parent's generation fared better, males reaching early seventies and females early eighties. I believe we should reckon on reaching at least 85?

On 4/3/2023 at 10:30 AM, georgegeorgia said:

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

Guess it depends on the HA, as mine cost ฿220k, with 2 stents placed (maybe 1 (2pcs), all in.   If people think that's expensive, they should stay in their home country for their crap universal healthy care.

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Do you know what age the equipment is? Or how much it cost?   Prices for that type of equipment are $75,000 to $150,000 for a base model, $1.7 - 2.5 million for something with all the bells and whistles.

I should imagine cost recovery is the focus for the more expensive systems.

The equipment looks pretty much state of the art. 

 

Actually, a couple years ago I also had a brain PET scan at Sikarin (a private hospital recommended by Sheryl) and I do not remember the price, but it was not significant, certainly less than US$1,000. The equipment did not look to be significantly newer, or of a higher quality than at Chula. Less plenty of parking, no waiting, and nicer amenities. At Chula I book the next one a year in advance, and if I miss the appointment, it can take months to reschedule. 

 

You can get a PET scan in the US for less than US$1,500

Houston, TX PET Scan Cost Average (newchoicehealth.com)

 

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Guess it depends on the HA, as mine cost ฿220k, with 2 stents placed (maybe 1 (2pcs), all in.   If people think that's expensive, they should stay in their home country for their crap universal healthy care.

Very good value! We all know there are foreigners here that couldn't find 220,000 baht. As Sheryl has advised on many occasions, if you have no healthcare plan, as a yardstick you need a minimum of 3,000,000 baht available in an instant access account to cover accidents/illness. 

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

Would it not depend on the nurses? 

I know a nurse that works in such places, and it's hard to get nurses to work in them as pay is too low and work too hard. No time for hanky panky with the customers.

 

Even if you were to have a good looking one she wouldn't be looking after you- that's what the assistants are there for.

On 4/3/2023 at 9:46 AM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

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

Early to mid stages of cancer would not prevent you from flying.

Stroke or cardiac or accident = yes.

I'm fortunate I was able to keep my B/C B/S health insurance from my old job. Good for Bangkok Hospital.

On 4/4/2023 at 2:47 PM, sidneybear said:

A friend of mine was fired by BUPA when he turned 70, despite all their glossy brochures on cover for life. They did offer to renew his wife's policy though. 

I had good Thai insurance, but after I stopped it for a year I couldn't have got back on as too old, though had I kept paying I could have stayed on longer. Went up from 60,000 to 70,000 in one year.

36 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Early to mid stages of cancer would not prevent you from flying.

Stroke or cardiac or accident = yes.

They probably have no way of knowing. I flew with prostate cancer many times before the op. Last time was just before I went into hospital.

I've been involved in helping three UK citizens who fell ill.

In 2018 I helped a guy who developed a kind of stomach cancer in his late 50's.  I vaguely knew his sister in the UK and she got in touch with me to help. He'd lived in north Pattaya 12 years with his (male) Thai partner.  No insurance and a well-known private Thai hospital had charged him millions of baht over about a year for treatments that didn't seem to work. He'd basically run out of money. Condo up for sale. I helped get him on a plane and flew back with him. He was weak but perfectly mobile.  Sister had organised a (rather grim) studio flat for him in UK.  Day after arrival we went to local hospital A&E with his medical notes. They were exemplary and he was straight into a cancer ward and some heavy duty treatment. Sadly too late - he passed away within a month.

Another British guy I knew in Bangkok had a heart attack and then some major heart surgery at a big private hospital. He made it, but took most of his money (about 5 mil I think!). It affected him psychologically and he kind of 'lost it' mentally. I used to see him wandering around aimlessly looking dirty and scruffy. I subsequently lost touch with him.

Finally, I knew an old guy who had a stroke. He had some sort of insurance but it seemingly only covered some basic meds. Not 'care' as such.  He couldn't walk properly, uncoordinated, slurred speech and was more or less confined to his condo. Horrible to witness. He was desperate to go back to the UK but it was clearly out of the question. He subsequently got some kind of lung infection and quickly passed away. 

 

My own experience with Thai healthcare (actually via my wife) has not been good. I've previously written how last year she had a gyno problem. We spent ฿50k+ on tests and consultation with supposedly a 'top' doctor at a 'top' hospital.  I was suspicious of his diagnosis and also the medication didn't seem appropriate (Dr Google).  Symptoms no better. We were heading back to UK so saw our GP there...   Long story, short...  within six weeks she'd had a couple of scans and a minor op.  All sorted on the NHS.  They even provided a Thai lady interpreter to stay with her during the op!

 

Thai private hospitals love to do tests and hand out stupid amounts of meds, which they charge dearly for. Also scans etc seem to be no cheaper in Thai private hospitals than in UK private hospitals.

I believe long absent British Citizens need to re establish habitual residency in the UK at a specific address to access most state benefits there. To access the NHS other than as an emergency you need first to register with a GP near where you are/will be living. Some documentary evidence is required. Google search " returning to live in the UK".

UK S1 certificate holders ( the EU system for specific classes of people including pre brexit British EU resident state pensioners whereby the cost of a citizen of one EU country accessing the healthcare and welfare system of another as a resident there is covered by their country of citizenship) can immediately use the NHS. That's no help in this scenario.

8 minutes ago, Kalasin Jo said:

I believe long absent British Citizens need to re establish habitual residency in the UK at a specific address to access most state benefits there. To access the NHS other than as an emergency you need first to register with a GP near where you are/will be living. Some documentary evidence is required. Google search " returning to live in the UK".

UK S1 certificate holders ( the EU system for specific classes of people including pre brexit British EU resident state pensioners whereby the cost of a citizen of one EU country accessing the healthcare and welfare system of another as a resident there is covered by their country of citizenship) can immediately use the NHS. That's no help in this scenario.

As far as I can tell, if you intend to "settle" in the UK then treatment is free immediately.

 

From NHS guidelines:

"Do they intend to remain in the UK for 6 months?

If a person intends to remain in the UK for a significant period, then it is likely they are here for a settled purpose.

Evidence the patient may have (this list is not exhaustive):

• contract of employment
• tenancy agreement
• evidence of mortgage repayments or of being in the process of purchasing a property
• evidence of utility/and or council tax bill payment
• evidence a child is enrolled in a school"

 

However it may be pot luck as to how much proof is required by individual NHS locations/overseas visitors officer/GP's WRT to "settle".

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-for-nhs-to-recover-costs-of-care-from-visitors-and-migrants/settled-purpose-tool

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I was OK a bit longer than that, but old age is really kicking me in the teeth now.

I have no reason to want to live longer in a nursing home.

 

 

So far almost all good. I'm 71 now.

But who knows what's round the corner? Or actually going on inside me.  2 of my longest friends died quite suddenly in August last year...on the same day. Appeared completely healthy until just a few weeks before. Cancer. One same age as me, the other a year or so older.???? Early last year another. a little younger, died in a car accident.

3 minutes ago, mokwit said:

As far as I can tell, if you intend to "settle" in the UK then treatment is free immediately.

 

From NHS guidelines:

"Do they intend to remain in the UK for 6 months?

If a person intends to remain in the UK for a significant period, then it is likely they are here for a settled purpose.

Evidence the patient may have (this list is not exhaustive):

• contract of employment
• tenancy agreement
• evidence of mortgage repayments or of being in the process of purchasing a property
• evidence of utility/and or council tax bill payment
• evidence a child is enrolled in a school"

 

However it may be pot luck as to how much proof is required by individual NHS locations/overseas visitors officer/GP's WRT to "settle".

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-for-nhs-to-recover-costs-of-care-from-visitors-and-migrants/settled-purpose-tool

Some documentary proof of that is clearly needed. You can't just rock up and say I'm back and want too to stay a while!

Just now, Kalasin Jo said:

Some documentary proof of that is clearly needed. You can't just rock up and say I'm back and want too to stay a while!

You are not wrong, but it seems @simon43 just rocked up, explained the situation and got treated. as I said, 'pot luck'.

My quality of life after radiation and chemo is worse than crap. Don't do it. Doctors will lie if it brings in the cash. never again.

On 4/3/2023 at 1:18 PM, Lacessit said:

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

Wow. Very impressive - - there you go again...