How much do you pay for health insurance?

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

If you want cost effective insurance, you have to have no preexisting conditions and a high deductible. 

 

I loved the insurance I had up until five years ago, but it is just too expensive since I retired, 

 

I have SS medical in Thailand Medicare in the US. I pay for everything out of pocket now. That said, you have to have the funds to do it. If your waiting for your check each month, it's not for you. 

 

This I agree with...   Getting medical care is now expensive. 

 

It would be great if 'long termers' here could get on the Thai system in much the same way our Thai family can in our home countries such as the UK, where upon obtaining residency and paying a NHS surcharge they are 'in the system' and cover is free from there on in.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, rudi49jr said:

PS: I don’t have any medical/health issues, not yet anyway. So maybe go without insurance and use government hospital when something does happen?

 

Have you had a comprehensive medical check up? Pushing 70, there's probably one or two things that are already likely, simply due to old age.

 

I think it is better to be forewarned BEFORE signing up for medical insurance and get one of those comprehensive 'executive' medical examinations. Private hospitals will be more expensive but some public ones have cottoned on to the idea of health checks and 'wellness' for the locals and can do the same... just takes longer and will probably be less 'comfortable' than a private hospital.

 

There are still a few insurers who don't require a pre-screening medical examination while you are still under 70 years old. However, they will ask for FULL disclosure when you apply and, if you didn't tell them about the glaucoma, enlarged prostate or stage 1 hypertension, they can and will weight the premium if they find out after-the-fact.

[Yellowtail]

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

 

So...  just last month... had knee issues.. 

 

Needed an MRI...   had to pay for it as soon as I finished.

Need an operation, had to pay for it as soon as I finished.

 

Both paid for by credit card, about 300k baht in total...   then claimed of insurance.

 

So...  Your 'clever' plan might work in the event of death where you can avoid payment of a credit card, but what happens if they keep you alive, or if ongoing treatment is needed... Say a knee replacement, or something worse ???

 

You can't off-put paying your credit card inevitably ?

 

 

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. 

 

 

[ModdaPunk]

Apparently there's a company named safety wings that offers competitive prices....

Don't really know if this is true but for those interested in purchasing an insurance, it might be something you'd like to look into.

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, 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. 

 

OK... so thats your 'self insurance' and you can afford it... 

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

This I agree with...   Getting medical care is now expensive. 

 

It would be great if 'long termers' here could get on the Thai system in much the same way our Thai family can in our home countries such as the UK, where upon obtaining residency and paying a NHS surcharge they are 'in the system' and cover is free from there on in.

I love insurance, and the companies I have done business with have all done great by me. That said, they are in the business of collecting premiums, not paying out claims. 

 

I doubt very much it is in Thailand's best interest to add a bunch of old men to there system. 

 

Sure, rich countries like the US, you have no money/assets, it's "free". This is not a rich country. 

[KhunLA]

37 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Always get a laugh from the ¨self insureres¨.  Funny how they never say what they have stashed in their account for such emergencies.  100,000 b is not self insured.  2 or 3 million is a good start.

If I only had ฿100k savings in the bank, I certainly wouldn't be retiring in a foreign country.  ฿1M should be enough for most people, at govt hospital.   That would probably pay for emergency by-pass surgery if needed.  Anything else, once stabilized, you could fly back to home country, and be a blight on society there 

 

I prefer a larger savings account, since having wife & kid, though kid has employer paid Thai health insurance.  Wife had surgery last year, couple night in hospital, and only cost was for private room, and some incidentals.  Rest covered by Thai universal insurance, at no cost.

 

Sadly, I think you are correct, and most here are living month to month.  Oh well ... 😎

Edited 1 hour ago by KhunLA

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, rudi49jr said:

PS: I don’t have any medical/health issues, not yet anyway. So maybe go without insurance and use government hospital when something does happen?

 

Have you had a comprehensive medical check up? Pushing 70, there's probably one or two things that are already likely, simply due to old age.

 

I think it is better to be forewarned BEFORE signing up for medical insurance and get one of those comprehensive 'executive' medical examinations. Private hospitals will be more expensive but some public ones have cottoned on to the idea of health checks and 'wellness' for the locals and can do the same... just takes longer and will probably be less 'comfortable' than a private hospital.

 

There are still a few insurers who don't require a pre-screening medical examination while you are still under 70 years old. However, they will ask for FULL disclosure when you apply and, if you didn't tell them about the glaucoma, enlarged prostate or stage 1 hypertension, they can and will weight the premium if they find out after-the-fact.

[Cardano]

2 hours ago, saakura said:

And the hospitals will have Starbucks, Au Bon Pain and other branded shops, beauty salon, restaurants, valet parking, giant TV screens in various locations, flower shops, etc. Many hospitals also have wellness center (aka massage service, cosmetic surgery etc.).

Sorry, your point is what? This is about insurance premiums not hospital facilities

[KannikaP]

39 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I pay Bt.750 a month.

To whom, and for what please?

[Yellowtail]

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

 

OK... so thats your 'self insurance' and you can afford it... 

To self-insure, you have to be able to cover anything. If one is situated such that you can't make a premium, self-insure is not for them. 

 

I looked at the last ten years of my medical expenses were, looked at what continuing my insurance would cost, and it did not make much sense. And I have Thai and US SS to fall back on, but It's hard to imagine somthing costing so much it would be worthwhile to fly back. 

 

Did you have the knee replaced? 

[KannikaP]

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I looked at the last ten years of my medical expenses were, looked at what continuing my insurance would cost, and it did not make much sense.

So did you 'insure' or 'self insure' ?

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Have you had a comprehensive medical check up? Pushing 70, there's probably one or two things that are already likely, simply due to old age.

 

I think it is better to be forewarned BEFORE signing up for medical insurance and get one of those comprehensive 'executive' medical examinations. Private hospitals will be more expensive but some public ones have cottoned on to the idea of health checks and 'wellness' for the locals and can do the same... just takes longer and will probably be less 'comfortable' than a private hospital.

 

There are still a few insurers who don't require a pre-screening medical examination while you are still under 70 years old. However, they will ask for FULL disclosure when you apply and, if you didn't tell them about the glaucoma, enlarged prostate or stage 1 hypertension, they can and will weight the premium if they find out after-the-fact.

Good advice, as part of my 'health maintenance', I get a full check up, every year or so, to stay on top of things, as always best to catch anything early.   Much cheaper than monthly premiums, and the way to go, if no family history or pre existing.

 

Healthy 'whole food' diet, keeps the body immune system prepped, along with a wee bit of exercise, keep things moving.   If just our for a stroll everyday, and don't need to be intense.

 

Good health isn't rocket science.  At 50-55 yrs old, your body can't keep up with all your vices, so I cut them all out.  Interestingly, I don't miss any of them.   Almost no alcohol.  Have a bunch of ganga here, but doubt if I smoke 1 doobie a month.  Gave most of it away, and would give most of the rest away, if I knew someone I could trust that smoked it.  THC content will probably be nil in about a year.

Edited 1 hour ago by KhunLA

[Yellowtail]

Just now, KannikaP said:

So did you 'insure' or 'self insure' ?

I had insurance while I was working, and when I retired about five years ago, I decided to self-insure, 

Cigna for about fifteen years and Blue Cross Blue Shield for about ten, I think. 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Airalee said:

Government hospitals, if you go the cheap route….long time waiting to see a doctor….seem to be ok.   Having a Thai girlfriend to help navigate the system would be essential if you can’t speak a decent amount of Thai.  
 

 

It depends on whether one has a mild complaint, or an emergency. It's better to go to a clinic for the mild ones. They are usually run by elderly doctors, or those supplementing their incomes from hospitals. Open from 5-6 pm onwards. Very little waiting.

 

I was taken by my GF to the emergency department of the Chiang Rai government hospital. High fever, uncontrollable shaking and pulse rate 140 bpm. Diagnosis pneumonia after an ECG and chest X'ray.

 

I was in a hospital bed with an antibiotic IV in my arm not more than 2 hours after admission. My son tells me the same process in Australia would be 4-6 hours. 4 bedside visits by doctors, very professional.

 

You are right, although I speak quite decent Thai I could not have navigated the system without my GF.

 

 

[Lacessit]

55 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I can put over three million on a credit card. And I told my wife if I die on the table, don't pay it. 

 

 

So your wife gets hounded by debt collectors until she pays up.

 

Brilliant thinking.

[rudi49jr]

2 hours ago, Airalee said:

Government hospitals, if you go the cheap route….long time waiting to see a doctor….seem to be ok.   Having a Thai girlfriend to help navigate the system would be essential if you can’t speak a decent amount of Thai.  
 

Chulalongkorn has a “special” clinic that I have used and I thought it would save me money over the private hospital that I go to (Vichaiyut)…but it was actually more expensive and also less convenient.

 

The doctors that I have seen at Vichaiyut and Chula also work at the “top” hospitals such as Bumrungrad and charge higher prices.  They have no problem with me seeing them at the less expensive clinics and don’t view me as any kind of “cheapskate”

 

I’m only 56 now but would be hesitant to live on an Island in case I needed to be quickly transported to a hospital on the mainland in an emergency situation.  Perhaps someone who lives on an island can comment on this because maybe my fears are unfounded.

I’m not overly concerned (famous last words) about having to be medivacced from Koh Chang in case of an emergency. But I can understand someone with health problems would think otherwise. Like I said, I am fortunate not to have any serious health problems (yet). 

[rudi49jr]

49 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Have you had a comprehensive medical check up? Pushing 70, there's probably one or two things that are already likely, simply due to old age.

I was suffering from extreme fatigue last year, and have had everything checked out: heart, lungs, intestinal tract, blood, the whole nine yards. They couldn’t find anything, so in the end the conclusion was that I have long covid. There is no way to definitely diagnose long covid, though, so it’s kind of a last resort diagnosis.

I’m doing a lot better now, mainly thanks to a low/mid intensity training program especially for long covid patients. I’m not nearly back to normal, before the fatigue started, but a lot better than I was one year ago. It’s all relative….

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

I was suffering from extreme fatigue last year, and have had everything checked out: heart, lungs, intestinal tract, blood, the whole nine yards. They couldn’t find anything, so in the end the conclusion was that I have long covid. There is no way to definitely diagnose long covid, though, so it’s kind of a last resort diagnosis.

I’m doing a lot better now, mainly thanks to a low/mid intensity training program especially for long covid patients. I’m not nearly back to normal, before the fatigue started, but a lot better than I was one year ago. It’s all relative….

 

How extensively did they check your lungs out ???...     just an x-ray or did they go as far as to check with a CT-Scan and contrast medium ?? (the reason I ask... while unexplained fatigue can be many things, I've know it to be caused by a 'mild' pulmonary embolism, where there are not 'real' symptoms - but the extremities of the lungs are blocked....

 

I'm not sure I buy into the whole 'Long Covid' diagnosis.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

To whom, and for what please?

SS.

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm 64 and pay £2,200 a year for myself, wife and 9-year-old son.  Cover $400,000.