How much do you pay for health insurance?

[richard_smith237]

26 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I pay Bt.750 a month.

Good for you - no sarcasm.

I'm sure that many retirees would be willing/eager to pay double that price to join the Thai Universal Coverage or Social Security schemes, if they were available.

 

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

[scubascuba3]

9 hours 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.

Eventually people will travel abroad to get certain ops done, will be cheaper than Thailand, India is a good cheap alternative, but no one wants to go there...yet

[brewsterbudgen]

9 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Would be very interested to hear what company that’s with.

WRLife

[brewsterbudgen]

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

No unreasonable - what type of cover & with whom ?...  

 

IPD only ???

 

 

---------

 

It seems those claiming very low premiums are also very low on info.

Yes, inpatient only.  Serenity Package with WRLife.

 

https://www.wrlife.org/

[JBChiangRai]

10 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Would be very interested to hear what company that’s with.

 

Always check out insurers on trustpilot 

 

WrLife Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.wrlife.net

[Yellowtail]

I think with any cost-effective medical insurance, one need to understand the coverage, know the approved providers, and be prepared to pay for everything up front and submit for reimbursement.

[brewsterbudgen]

15 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

Always check out insurers on trustpilot 

 

WrLife Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.wrlife.net

 

I'm well aware they have their detractors on this Forum - check out the threads!  However, I've been with them for 3 years now and have no complaints.  To be honest, I take internet reviews, both positive and negative, with a pinch of salt.  My broker has many clients who use them and, thus far, nothing to make him recommend I switch.

[JBChiangRai]

3 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

I'm well aware they have their detractors on this Forum - check out the threads!  However, I've been with them for 3 years now and have no complaints.  To be honest, I take internet reviews, both positive and negative, with a pinch of salt.  My broker has many clients who use them and, thus far, nothing to make him recommend I switch.

 

Is it possible he gets bigger commissions from them?

 

There seem to be some very unhappy customers on trustpilot, according to WrLife's CEO, they are all liars.

[brewsterbudgen]

12 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

Is it possible he gets bigger commissions from them?

 

There seem to be some very unhappy customers on trustpilot, according to WrLife's CEO, they are all liars.

Sure, it's possible.  As I said, I don't take internet reviews very seriously.  The OP just wanted to know how much people are paying. He can do his own due diligence.  

[Yellowtail]

12 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

Is it possible he gets bigger commissions from them?

 

There seem to be some very unhappy customers on trustpilot, according to WrLife's CEO, they are all liars.

A better question might be to ask how many claims he has submitted and how many have been rejected. 

 

[JBChiangRai]

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

A better question might be to ask how many claims he has submitted and how many have been rejected. 

 

 

There are a few on Trustpilot who had their claims rejected. Unfortunately, it's not possible to contact them.

[Celsius]

My health insurance is my Canadian credit card with $50,000 limit.

 

When I use it I will make sure not to pay it back.

 

Simples.

[Yellowtail]

8 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

There are a few on Trustpilot who had their claims rejected. Unfortunately, it's not possible to contact them.

To be clear, I know nothing of this company, but I would bet that virtually everyone given negative reviews of an insurance company have had a claim rejected. Further, I can't imagine going out of my way to review an insurance company I was happy with. 

 

Best case scenario with medical insurance, is that you pay premiums for fifty years and never need it. 

 

 

[Yellowtail]

Here is a review:

[Yellowtail]

Note that the review above was for Cigna, an insurance company I had for about fifteen years that was an absolute delight to work with. 

 

It covered my whole family, and I filed hundreds of claims over the years. A few had to be resubmitted for clarification, but I was ultimately, every claim was reimbursed. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm well aware they have their detractors on this Forum - check out the threads!  However, I've been with them for 3 years now and have no complaints.  To be honest, I take internet reviews, both positive and negative, with a pinch of salt.  My broker has many clients who use them and, thus far, nothing to make him recommend I switch.

 

Have you made any large claims as yet ?

 

I had a claim rejected with April (Thailand) in the past.. They'd pre-authorised, I had an operation, they then refused and I was forced to pay.

Its not quite as black & white, but I thought their rejection was wrong - they went back through records and found a 'comment' noting the absense of a previous condition, within a 5 year moratorium and because that had been mentioned in medical notes, that fell within that 5 year cut off... its cost me 130,000 baht.

 

I immediately moved my family away from this insurer. That said, others speak highly of April. 

 

 

------

 

The issue I now have is 'pre-existing conditions'... particularly, Knees & ankles... anything happens with these and I'm sure a 'new insurance policy' will claim there is a 'pre-existing condition' - though I'm not sure how that works, is a broken leg considered a pre-existing condition if one breaks another leg later on ?  IMO, not...but I'm not sure if thats the same with a meniscus or previously snapped ligament or tendons...

 

 

 

 

[KannikaP]

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

WRLife

Have you made a claim yet?

[jaideedave]

19 hours ago, Mason45 said:

I stopped paying health insurance several years ago. Now as I'm 80 yo I gave my wife special instructions. The main thing is should I be diagnosed with a life threatening disease tell the doctor to hit me with pain killers and let me die in peace. Why pay exorbitant fees to get treated and die several months later. I still walk 90 minutes daily at a brisk pace and I'm careful what I eat, to me that is my health insurance.

Mason,FYI,I,ve given my Dr a signed copy on a 'DNR" paper aka "Living Will" which instructs the Dr not to keep me in ICU until I expire or the money runs out.My family and Dr both understand this. I'm 74 and have survived a quad bypass and colon C. Thats enough for this old dog.

I also exercise daily and only drink a couple beers weekly after a lifetime of being a boozer. 

[Carsten07]

Pacific Cross, in Patient only, 40.000 deductible, 3 Mio insured, 41.000 per year. 62 years old. Valid only in Thailand.

Never claimed anything as they give nice discounts, 10%, 15%, 20% if no claim.

 

A sickness does not have a fixed price, eg a stroke with 2 weeks ICU will cost 3 Mio if you are insured up to 3 Mio.

Should you have a "better" insurance, say 20 Mio the same thing will cost 18 Mio.

If you have only 500.000 a government hospital will do it for that.

[brewsterbudgen]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Have you made any large claims as yet ?

 

I had a claim rejected with April (Thailand) in the past.. They'd pre-authorised, I had an operation, they then refused and I was forced to pay.

Its not quite as black & white, but I thought their rejection was wrong - they went back through records and found a 'comment' noting the absense of a previous condition, within a 5 year moratorium and because that had been mentioned in medical notes, that fell within that 5 year cut off... its cost me 130,000 baht.

 

I immediately moved my family away from this insurer. That said, others speak highly of April. 

 

 

------

 

The issue I now have is 'pre-existing conditions'... particularly, Knees & ankles... anything happens with these and I'm sure a 'new insurance policy' will claim there is a 'pre-existing condition' - though I'm not sure how that works, is a broken leg considered a pre-existing condition if one breaks another leg later on ?  IMO, not...but I'm not sure if thats the same with a meniscus or previously snapped ligament or tendons...

 

 

 

 

 

No, no claims small or large.  I doubt there is any Health Insurance company that has a 100% record of meeting every claim.  Your situation with April sounds horrible and I sympathise.  

 

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Have you made a claim yet?

 

No, I haven't made any claims.

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

No, no claims small or large.  I doubt there is any Health Insurance company that has a 100% record of meeting every claim.  Your situation with April sounds horrible and I sympathise.  

 

 

I currently have Cigna international from work... 

 

They have paid every claim I have made over the past couple of years, small or large.

Largest was for a 500,000 baht operation after a serious sports injury earlier on in the year. 

They were a bit silly about not paying a follow up appointment for 2000 baht, they wanted a Doctors letter stating the 'benefit of the surgery' I'd had (as if being able to walk again in a couple months was not already enough !).

(It was kind of like asking the doctor to state the benefit of a plaster cast after a broken leg !!! and not paying for a follow up appointment until he did !! - it was clearly a paper pusher ticking a box rather than them seeking medical information).

 

But - the excellence of the cover I have, and them paying every claim, dental, and all outpatient treatments is not a realistic comparison for Thailand as the equivalent cover here is well in excess of 300,000 baht and certainly not something I'd be buying myself. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Yellowtail]

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I currently have Cigna international from work... 

 

They have paid every claim I have made over the past couple of years, small or large.

Largest was for a 500,000 baht operation after a serious sports injury earlier on in the year. 

They were a bit silly about not paying a follow up appointment for 2000 baht, they wanted a Doctors letter stating the 'benefit of the surgery' I'd had (as if being able to walk again in a couple months was not already enough !).

(It was kind of like asking the doctor to state the benefit of a plaster cast after a broken leg !!! and not paying for a follow up appointment until he did !! - it was clearly a paper pusher ticking a box rather than them seeking medical information).

 

But - the excellence of the cover I have, and them paying every claim, dental, and all outpatient treatments is not a realistic comparison for Thailand as the equivalent cover here is well in excess of 300,000 baht and certainly not something I'd be buying myself. 

 

I found with Cigna and later BCBS, do not try to pre-approve or any of that. Go to Bumrungrad or BKK, pay cash, and make sure you get the itemized bill and medical certificate.

 

Scan, submit and wait. If it gets rejected, resubmit. 

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

 

I found with Cigna and later BCBS, do not try to pre-approve or any of that. Go to Bumrungrad or BKK, pay cash, and make sure you get the itemized bill and medical certificate.

 

Scan, submit and wait. If it gets rejected, resubmit. 

 

Yup...  thats exactly what I do...  Pay with Credit Card... (as I get good points)... and then submit. 

It also means I can get 'instant treatment' i.e. get myself into surgery immediately (i.e. the next day or within a couple of days) rather than waiting around for the authorisation process which may take a few days.

 

That said - the Policy does have a clause that 'payment could be rejected for treatment that is not pre-authorised' - but I think thats 'policy writers' just to protecting the company - when an Operation is necessary for a snapped ligament or ripped meniscus etc, its necessary, there is no debate.

 

[Yellowtail]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Yup...  thats exactly what I do...  Pay with Credit Card... (as I get good points)... and then submit. 

It also means I can get 'instant treatment' i.e. get myself into surgery immediately (i.e. the next day or within a couple of days) rather than waiting around for the authorisation process which may take a few days.

 

That said - the Policy does have a clause that 'payment could be rejected for treatment that is not pre-authorised' - but I think thats 'policy writers' just to protecting the company - when an Operation is necessary for a snapped ligament or ripped menisc, us etc, its necessary, there is no debate.

 

There are things that are not covered, but I submit them anyway. 

 

I would pay with my credit card, get the points, and because the CC rate was better than Cigna's rate, I would net money on every transaction. They would direct deposit to my US account, usually took about a week. 

[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.

[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?