Healthcare Insurance

[Patong2021]

On 1/8/2025 at 5:39 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

That seems to be the case...  Ever had a headache ?...   anything head 'related' is excluded !!

 

I've had a lot of sports injuries over the years...  Pacific Cross are excluding anything that might ever go wrong.. 

I understand that its business - nevertheless, I'm moving from 'company insurance' which covers 100% of everything (IPD OPD) no questions asked, to paying myself and facing a load of exclusions from past injuries !

Not exactly. Read the definition of a pre-existing condition. If the condition meets the satbility definition 6-12 months, no issues, no changes in medication, no visits to physician to  address related issues, then it is difficult to deny unrelated injuries. If you already have a damaged body part, it will not be insured, since it can be expected to sustain further injury. If you have an unrelated injury such as  poking your eye, dog bite, being run over, falling down the stairs because you slipped, those injuries' claims  cannot be denied.

[bradiston]

I'm insured with, wait for it, WRLife, the pet hate insurers of many on this forum. I have, and have had for about 10 years,  Afib which I declared, and which is treated with 3 meds. They set a 2 year moratorium which has now expired, so in theory, same as any company, I'm covered for it and any associated problems. I've just been hospitalised for 9 days with cellulitis in BPH. Total cost 250,000 THB. They paid. And for 3, maybe 4, follow up appointments after discharge. I had 3 days in hospital last year with the same condition, also covered. I pay 10,734 THB pm. I just turned 75. My claims triggered a 500 THB pm rise in premiums. But, as ever, YMMV. I'm not making a recommendation. Just reporting back my experience to date.

 

Just noticed they advertise on this forum, down below. They have a much improved customer service centre if in Thailand, on

 

+66 2 821 6776

[brewsterbudgen]

35 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I'm insured with, wait for it, WRLife, the pet hate insurers of many on this forum. I have, and have had for about 10 years,  Afib which I declared, and which is treated with 3 meds. They set a 2 year moratorium which has now expired, so in theory, same as any company, I'm covered for it and any associated problems. I've just been hospitalised for 9 days with cellulitis in BPH. Total cost 250,000 THB. They paid. And for 3, maybe 4, follow up appointments after discharge. I had 3 days in hospital last year with the same condition, also covered. I pay 10,734 THB pm. I just turned 75. My claims triggered a 500 THB pm rise in premiums. But, as ever, YMMV. I'm not making a recommendation. Just reporting back my experience to date.

 

Just noticed they advertise on this forum, down below. They have a much improved customer service centre if in Thailand, on

 

+66 2 821 6776

I've also been with WRLife, for around 3 years, my wife and child too, but (fortunately) haven't had to make a claim! 

 

Interesting if they're advertising on this Forum as it's usually Cigna.

[richard_smith237]

56 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

On 1/8/2025 at 1:39 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

That seems to be the case...  Ever had a headache ?...   anything head 'related' is excluded !!

 

I've had a lot of sports injuries over the years...  Pacific Cross are excluding anything that might ever go wrong.. 

I understand that its business - nevertheless, I'm moving from 'company insurance' which covers 100% of everything (IPD OPD) no questions asked, to paying myself and facing a load of exclusions from past injuries !

Expand  

Not exactly. Read the definition of a pre-existing condition. If the condition meets the satbility definition 6-12 months, no issues, no changes in medication, no visits to physician to  address related issues, then it is difficult to deny unrelated injuries. If you already have a damaged body part, it will not be insured, since it can be expected to sustain further injury. If you have an unrelated injury such as  poking your eye, dog bite, being run over, falling down the stairs because you slipped, those injuries' claims  cannot be denied.

 

I've received enough information from the insurance companies to prove my comments: Pacific Cross excluding everything and anything they can. 

 

Another poster has also suggested - If Pacific Cross find one mistake on the application form - they can use that to avoid further unrelated claims (thats not first hand information from me, just what I've been told on this forum).

 

I've contacted a handful of insurers over the past few weeks and had numerous replies.

I'm still awaiting a response for international Cover. 

 

Pacific Cross have excluded everything related to any injury I have ever had.

- Meniscus tear - Arthroscopic repair (both knees - sporting injuries)

- Ruptured Ligaments & Tendon - Surgical repair (one ankle - Sports injury)

They have excluded both ankles when it was 'just the one' which was damaged !!!!

 

Other Insurance companies: Such as NOW and AXA recognise that these injuries are non-symptomatic and I have fully recovered (as per medical certification) and as such have not counted any Ankle or Knee issues as pre-existing conditions.

 

This is enough information for me to completely avoid Pacific Cross.

 

AXA Thailand seem the most reasonable at the moment - both on Premium and Level of Cover

Add in OPD and its an extra 20,000 baht per year (which I don't think I'll need) - so 43,000 baht all in which I find quite reasonable. 

 

I'm awaiting a response for quotes from an oversea broker regarding 'overseas cover' which as I understand it from Sheryl's input has stronger regulation.

 

I've had a previous poor experience with April (who Sheryl recommends) when they rejected a 130,000 baht claim based on very spurious reasoning a number of years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

[rwill]

Pacific Cross was advertising a new, more expensive, policy that would provide coverage for pre existing conditions.  I don't know if they still offer it.  However I had taken a look at it and pre existing condition had a 2 year waiting period PLUS they were only covered up to 300,000 baht.

[bradiston]

3 minutes ago, rwill said:

Pacific Cross was advertising a new, more expensive, policy that would provide coverage for pre existing conditions.  I don't know if they still offer it.  However I had taken a look at it and pre existing condition had a 2 year waiting period PLUS they were only covered up to 300,000 baht.

Wrlife cover me for $400,000.

[newbee2022]

On 1/7/2025 at 10:57 AM, Sheryl said:

AA Brokers nowadays will only offer Thai issued policies. Few Thai insurers will enroll at age 70+ and none will cover pre-existing conditions.

 

There are international expat policies that will enroll at age>70 but these also will not cover pre-existing conditions.

 

@jnp73 2 questions:

(1) what exactly are your pre-existing conditions?

(2) Do you live year round in Thailand? As if not, a travel policy might be better, some of them will cover "acute exacerbations" of pre-existing conditions.

That's not quite right. WRLIFE will take you even older than 70 and will cover pre-existing conditions.

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, bradiston said:

I'm insured with, wait for it, WRLife, the pet hate insurers of many on this forum. I have, and have had for about 10 years,  Afib which I declared, and which is treated with 3 meds. They set a 2 year moratorium which has now expired, so in theory, same as any company, I'm covered for it and any associated problems. I've just been hospitalised for 9 days with cellulitis in BPH. Total cost 250,000 THB. They paid. And for 3, maybe 4, follow up appointments after discharge. I had 3 days in hospital last year with the same condition, also covered. I pay 10,734 THB pm. I just turned 75. My claims triggered a 500 THB pm rise in premiums. But, as ever, YMMV. I'm not making a recommendation. Just reporting back my experience to date.

 

Just noticed they advertise on this forum, down below. They have a much improved customer service centre if in Thailand, on

 

+66 2 821 6776

Thank you for giving us your experience. As I told here, I spoke the the CEO of WRlife personally. He explained his business and made me to sign. Complaints by former customers were related to wrong procedures in case of claims or by hiding preconditions.

 

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

That seems a bit high, do you have any deductible?

 

At 71, with an excellent international policy, my premium was 4,800. That is with a $500 deductible, and inpatient only (but including day surgeries and outpatient cancer care/dialysis).

At 77, with an excellent international policy, my premium is 295 Euro/month.  Without any deductibles. No exclusions. All covered. Cancer, transplants aso 

 

[newbee2022]

On 1/7/2025 at 12:05 PM, jnp73 said:

@SherylI have COPD and heart failure. I live in Thailand all year round. 

So WRlife will be an option. They'll take you even with your preconditions However, there will be a moratorium of 2 years if I remember right. After this period you got full cover.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

So WRlife will be an option. They'll take you even with your preconditions However, there will be a moratorium of 2 years if I remember right. After this period you got full cover.

There are, however, considerable concerns about the viability of their business model.

 

There have been many prior threads on this matter, suggest you read these

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1268153-wrlife-medical-insurance-experiences/page/6/

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1312262-wrlife-still-ok/

 

The Dr. Boon Vanasin mentioned has since left the country and is under investigation for financial issues, google that. I have no idea what if any consequence that will have for WRLife.