How much do you pay for health insurance?

[jas007]

I'm 73 and retired from the USA. I haver Medicare A and B, and I pay the Part B premium from my Social Security Check. Maybe around $175 a month. That insurance is only good in the US. 

 

I also have BCBS (Geo Blue) here in Thailand based on prior federal employment. My share cost me around $375 a month, with the government picking up the remainder of the monthly premium. I think their share is around $750 a month. These rates will all increase in January. My share will then be about $424 a month. 

 

So, in total, one way or the other, my health insurance will cost almost $1500 USD a month.  That's 50,000 baht plus. It's very good insurance, though.

 

The inpatient GeoBlue in-patient hospital benefits are UNLIMITED. And that policy works all over the world. 

 

Fortunately for the insurance companies, I never really use the policies. I had one in-patient hospital stay recently in Bangkok for eye surgery. 471.00 baht. Otherwise, that's about it, other than cataract surgery back in the USA about eight years ago. 

 

Mostly, I don't think about any of this.  And if I didn't have insurance, I would just self insure.  I'm in good health, so far, and I try to stay that way.  

[harryviking]

May I suggest to you all to start eat healthier, exercise, stop most alcohol and never smoke. That will for many mean no diseases and a long and healthy life! That is also the cheapest insurance you can get! And yes, I know, there are something called accidents. The chances are that you will be less exposed to those by following my first advise! Most accidents happens due to stupidity. No cure for that I'm afraid....😆

[msbkk]

3 minutes ago, harryviking said:

May I suggest to you all to start eat healthier, exercise, stop most alcohol and never smoke. That will for many mean no diseases and a long and healthy life! That is also the cheapest insurance you can get! And yes, I know, there are something called accidents. The chances are that you will be less exposed to those by following my first advise! Most accidents happens due to stupidity. No cure for that I'm afraid....😆

While a healthy lifestyle definitely helps it is in no way a guarantee for no deseases and a long and healthy life.

[henryford1958]

On 11/16/2024 at 4:26 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Looking at 250k+ baht a year in 70s for good insurance, not the cheap rubbish

 

I self insure, OK i know it's  a risk but i have been healthy all my life, don't smoke. I've done it for 15 years so saved what 2-3 million baht? That buys quite a bit of health care or i can pass anything left to my tgf rather than some insurance company.

BTW my tgf was in hospital recently, Pattaya City. She has a Gold Card there. Very good treatment including an MRI, zero cost for treatment. We opted for a private room, very nice with en-suite and a bed for me to stay in. Only cost 1200 baht a night for the room.

Edited 2 hours ago by henryford1958

[vukovar77]

Insurance is so expensive in Thailand if you are over 65 that I decided not to do that in LOS.For smaller health problems I go to state hospitals (I can speak thai and my wife is thai) and it is not expensive.For a bigger problems I will  go in my country in EU where I am fully covered .

[arick]

On 11/16/2024 at 4:33 PM, BritManToo said:

Nothing, I'm nearly 69.

I only have insurance require by government dictat.

What's that?

[arick]

I pay 21,000 per year for 450,000 per incident. I have never used it 

The District Hospital gives me all my blood urine FET each year free including meds. (100bht admin fee)

I know MRI scans are around 12,000 and a liver dissection is 120,000. At Konkaen University Hospital. 

I'm still youngish at 55. The same specialist doctors that are at the University and Government hospitals work at the private hospitals. I'm fortunate enough if I detected something nasty I have choices for Canada & UK to be treated there also.

Edited 1 hour ago by arick

[arick]

55 minutes ago, harryviking said:

May I suggest to you all to start eat healthier, exercise, stop most alcohol and never smoke. That will for many mean no diseases and a long and healthy life! That is also the cheapest insurance you can get! And yes, I know, there are something called accidents. The chances are that you will be less exposed to those by following my first advise! Most accidents happens due to stupidity. No cure for that I'm afraid....😆

Genetics and family history help a great deal also. All my grandparents lived into their '90s on both sides.

[Yagoda]

On 11/16/2024 at 6:40 PM, Yellowtail said:

I had both knees replaced at Bumrungrad while I still had insurance.

 

My US card has a US$100K limit, and I pay it off at the end of each month. 

 

 

Thats what I did with my stent. Laid in bed, double checked the bill for accuracy (it wasnt) and whipped out the card.

[Presnock]

9 hours ago, jas007 said:

I'm 73 and retired from the USA. I haver Medicare A and B, and I pay the Part B premium from my Social Security Check. Maybe around $175 a month. That insurance is only good in the US. 

 

I also have BCBS (Geo Blue) here in Thailand based on prior federal employment. My share cost me around $375 a month, with the government picking up the remainder of the monthly premium. I think their share is around $750 a month. These rates will all increase in January. My share will then be about $424 a month. 

 

So, in total, one way or the other, my health insurance will cost almost $1500 USD a month.  That's 50,000 baht plus. It's very good insurance, though.

 

The inpatient GeoBlue in-patient hospital benefits are UNLIMITED. And that policy works all over the world. 

 

Fortunately for the insurance companies, I never really use the policies. I had one in-patient hospital stay recently in Bangkok for eye surgery. 471.00 baht. Otherwise, that's about it, other than cataract surgery back in the USA about eight years ago. 

 

Mostly, I don't think about any of this.  And if I didn't have insurance, I would just self insure.  I'm in good health, so far, and I try to stay that way.  

I too am a US govt sponsored Health insurer - but, my premium is about 1000 a month as I have family coverage...in a couple of years daughter will pass the age/student so will change my coverage to one plus one which is a lot cheaper.  But, I read regularly that many call the benefits I receive "cadillac coverage" in that hospitals and doctors in the US charge way too much for the service.  Medicines researched and manufactured in the US are usually cheaper if one can purchase overseas (though they can't do it cheaply in the US...my wife's oncologist found this out.  Anyway, like jas007, the benefits are worth it even though as a family we spend very little, me - nothing ever in my life! but first wife died of breast cancer - so it did care for her.  I don't plan on making any changes though this coming year was a super increase in the premiums.  one third of COLA recieved, taken by the increase in insurance.  

[ross163103]

Male 65 years old--120,000 baht a year, my wife 61 years old--84,000 baht a year, depending on exchange rate approx $3500 USD/$2470USD respectively  

[rwill]

67 year old here insurance costs me around 120,000 baht/year.  It's all the exclusions that kill you here though.

[newbee2022]

On 11/16/2024 at 3:35 PM, rudi49jr said:

I was browsing the cost of expat health insurance in Thailand and was rather shocked how much it costs: if I want insurance for myself and my Thai girlfriend, prices seem to start at around $500-$600 a month. This is almost double of what I would pay for health insurance in my home country.

I would love to hear what kind of insurance other members of this forum have and how much they pay for that. I’m going to be 67 years old, by the way.

With 67 not more than 240 USD

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, rwill said:

67 year old here insurance costs me around 120,000 baht/year.  It's all the exclusions that kill you here though.

Your total health care insurance expenditure Vs your total claims would be interesting to see.

My own uninsured medical expenses were all under 5kbht (2 events), and my last accident was covered by government minimum m/c insurance (13k5bht)

 

I doubt I've spent 15kbht on medical care in my past 15 years in Thailand.

Edited 14 minutes ago by BritManToo

[Ralf001]

On 11/16/2024 at 10:31 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Indeed.. but look how reluctant he was to give up such basic information...   why is that ?

what basic info would you like Richard ?