Why more retirees in Thailand are switching to long-term health insurance

[watchcat]

On 6/5/2025 at 10:09 AM, Anthony mellows said:

Too right.I got a good first year offer, then after 3 years they put the annual charge up 25%.Never had a claim either.

 

I always self-insure, annual charge never up.

[jerrymahoney]

REDUX 30 JUN 2023

[Yellowtail]

5 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

REDUX 30 JUN 2023

The last two companies I worked for self-insured, and it seems to be trending in that direction. 

 

Choosing to self-insure is a bad choice for people that can't afford the premiums.

 

But if one is old with preexisting conditions and have Medicare or some-such in your home country, and you're well-funded, I think it can make sense. Having Thai SS medical is a big plus as well. 

 

It is hard to imagine any emergency medical care in Thailand that would cost more than one could put on a high limit credit card, and one can probably can probably fly same or next day most anywhere for under $10K. 

 

 

[jerrymahoney]

When I worked in food/grocery advertising many years back, there was a given:

The 2 groups of people that use food store coupons tend to be the very poor and the very rich.

People that could donate a wing to the hospital still have health insurance because they would kick themselves silly if they ever had to pay a claim that exceed by far any premiums paid in.

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, jerrymahoney said:

When I worked in food/grocery advertising many years back, there was a given:

The 2 groups of people that use food store coupons tend to be the very poor and the very rich.

People that could donate a wing to the hospital still have health insurance because they would kick themselves silly if they ever had to pay a claim that exceed by far any premiums paid in.

The very rich don't do their own grocery shopping, at least not at stores that take food stamps. I have never used food stamps. I have taken them for dope and sent someone else to the store to spend them. 

 

People that can donate a wing to the hospital have a private physician on the payroll and they still have health insurance because they have companies and or foundations that have group plans

 

The "rich" (not rich enough to donate a wing) are all moving to concierge medicine whereby they pay an annual or monthly fee that gives them personal care from their primary care physician, as well as same-day appointments, 24/7 physician availability and after-hours appointments. These are typically people that are already on group plans. 

 

 

 

 

[jerrymahoney]

Back to Thailand, buying insurance on here gets a reaction similar to 'Oh I just use an agent' versus someone who goes to immigration -- and I was told by one of the forum regulars that, even though I buy insurance I should self-insure anyway, so I am covered WHEN your claim is denied.

As far as my 20 years insurance coverage in Thailand, claims vs. premiums is just about break-even.

A benefit to me is that I can handle annual premiums for insurance, but coming up with a big lump sum claim would be doable but noy easy.

[Yellowtail]

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

Back to Thailand, buying insurance on here gets a reaction similar to 'Oh I just use an agent' versus someone who goes to immigration -- and I was told by one of the forum regulars that, even though I buy insurance I should self-insure anyway, so I am covered WHEN your claim is denied.

I think that is good advice, but of the hundreds of claims I submitted, only a few were denied, and when I squeaked, they reversed the denial. 

 

I paid for everything, and just submitted the bills for approval. They reimbursed in US$ to my US account, and I actually netted money, because the exchange rate on my credit card was always 1-2% better than their reimbursement rate. 

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

As far as my 20 years insurance coverage in Thailand, claims vs. premiums is just about break-even.

A benefit to me is that I can handle annual premiums for insurance, but coming up with a big lump sum claim would be doable but noy easy.

You pays your money, and you takes your chances. 

[ujayujay]

On 6/7/2025 at 2:47 PM, ThreeCardMonte said:

So much for the theory that leftist are educated and intelligent.

 

Proven here on a hourly basis.

Exactly you speak of educated

[pomchop]

On 6/6/2025 at 3:39 PM, Denim said:

 

Good alternative is to have a credit card with a decent limit . This will bail you out in in emergency then you can pay it back over an extended period.

At 20++% interest rate?  Good luck with that.

[ujayujay]

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

At 20++% interest rate?  Good luck with that.

No...wrong! Maximum CC interest rate in Thailand is 16%

[CallumWK]

On 6/8/2025 at 1:02 PM, Yellowtail said:

of the hundreds of claims I submitted, only a few were denied, and when I squeaked, they reversed the denial. 

 

Hundreds of claims?

That is a multiple of hundred, so t least 200 then.

In some posts you claim you had insurance for 10 years, in others you claim 20 years, so even at 20 years that would mean 1 claim every month for 20 years.

 

Stop trolling the forum

[newbee2022]

On 6/5/2025 at 12:13 PM, DTL2014 said:

fed up with the cheap first year premiums and then steep rises ....save your premiums and pay for medial expenses as and when needed.

No, my rates are not rising.

What you post is nonsense

[Cameroni]

If you're in your 50s the correct option is to buy insurance with Genki, which costs about 105 USD per month and has incredibly good coverage, including dental with small deductibles.

 

Unfortunately when you hit 69 this insurance will no longer be available, so you need to have built up a fund to self-insure. Which is certainly preferable to paying insane money for insurance after 69.

[alex8912]

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Hundreds of claims?

That is a multiple of hundred, so t least 200 then.

In some posts you claim you had insurance for 10 years, in others you claim 20 years, so even at 20 years that would mean 1 claim every month for 20 years.

 

Stop trolling the forum

He also thinks no matter what illness or accident you have you can just easily travel to Danang or wherever for 10k baht or less the next day!! I guess he has a list of special illnesses that only he will get. 

[Yellowtail]

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Hundreds of claims?

That is a multiple of hundred, so t least 200 then.

In some posts you claim you had insurance for 10 years, in others you claim 20 years, so even at 20 years that would mean 1 claim every month for 20 years.

 

Stop trolling the forum

I have been in Thailand about 25 years, and had insurance until six months after I retired five er six years ago. I had HeathNet for about five years, Cingna for about ten years and Blue Cross Blue Shiels for about five years.

 

I have a wife and a son, and we were all covered. So, three people, 20 years, 200 claims, that's what, 3-4 claims a year per person. Annual checkups each year, flu shots each year it adds up. 

 

I had rotator cuff surgery. The was two or three visits/claims before, then the surgery, one visits/claims, then at least six follow-up visits/claims, PT three to five times a week for a month, that's 12-20 visits/claims. 

 

So that's 25-30 claims for one surgery in one year. 

 

You leftists all assume that because you lie incessantly and think nothing of it that everyone does. 

 

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

He also thinks no matter what illness or accident you have you can just easily travel to Danang or wherever for 10k baht or less the next day!! I guess he has a list of special illnesses that only he will get. 

Are you talking about me? 

[gk10012001]

On 6/5/2025 at 11:58 AM, Bohemianfish said:

Then for Americans, there's consideration of how much Medicare supplemental insurance to get. It can get costly with all the different options and then whether you will ever use it. But some of the supplemental is well worth it for long-term care. Conundrum. 

Yes.  I am on medicare now.  The problem with living overseas is medicare in general does not work over there except some supplements may process some emergency treatments.  If one discontinues medicare,, medicare charges 10% more for premiums each year you don't keep medicare.  So if you later restart medicare, say you return to the USA you would now pay a substantially higher premium.  

[gk10012001]

58 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

If you're in your 50s the correct option is to buy insurance with Genki, which costs about 105 USD per month and has incredibly good coverage, including dental with small deductibles.

 

Unfortunately when you hit 69 this insurance will no longer be available, so you need to have built up a fund to self-insure. Which is certainly preferable to paying insane money for insurance after 69.

I am 68 now and about to spend a lot of time in Thailand.  Being an American I am also on Medicare.  Sadly Medicare doesn't work overseas except in some cases for some emergency treatments.  So it is quite a conundrum.  Very difficult to get any Thai health insurance at my age.  And if I could get Thai health insurance, if I then stop paying my USA Medicare, if I should ever start Medicare again, Medicare would charge me 10% more for each year I was not on Medicare.  

[Yellowtail]

10 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

I am 68 now and about to spend a lot of time in Thailand.  Being an American I am also on Medicare.  Sadly Medicare doesn't work overseas except in some cases for some emergency treatments.  So it is quite a conundrum.  Very difficult to get any Thai health insurance at my age.  And if I could get Thai health insurance, if I then stop paying my USA Medicare, if I should ever start Medicare again, Medicare would charge me 10% more for each year I was not on Medicare.  

You need to keep part B going. 

 

I think you can buy travel insurance for three months at a time. 

 

If you are effective living on Social Security and with not much savings, and cannot get decent medical insurance, you should just visit. 

 

 

[greeneking]

On 6/7/2025 at 4:30 PM, WDSmart said:

Or, you could just go to a government hospital and receive treatments for free or a very, very low cost. 

I think you can not get it for free.

Thai people can not. It is definitely cheaper, but even for Thai people the treatment on offer may not give them what they need. And then they must ask how much for what they need? It will not be 30 baht.

[Cameroni]

1 hour ago, gk10012001 said:

I am 68 now and about to spend a lot of time in Thailand.  Being an American I am also on Medicare.  Sadly Medicare doesn't work overseas except in some cases for some emergency treatments.  So it is quite a conundrum.  Very difficult to get any Thai health insurance at my age.  And if I could get Thai health insurance, if I then stop paying my USA Medicare, if I should ever start Medicare again, Medicare would charge me 10% more for each year I was not on Medicare.  

 

You could check out Genki and Safety Wing, who also have resident plans for people of a higher age, as opposed to the digital nomad package I mentioned. It would be more expensive than the latter but perhpas cheaper than the Thai insurance.

 

Of course it depends on your personal situation, if you have any chronic or serious medical conditions or whether you don't.

[Bday Prang]

On 6/7/2025 at 1:47 PM, Yellowtail said:

So, you would fall into the category of I described as never having had insurance, yes? 

 

If one has a preexisting condition, they are not buying insurance, they are buying healthcare. If you can wait until after you have an accident to buy insurance, everyone would wait. 

 

Anyone can go to a government hospital here, with or without a pink ID. 

 

I no longer have medical insurance either, it just got too expensive, but I don't blame the insurance company. Even at $800 a month, you have a knee replaced, the insurance company is out a couple of years of premiums. 

 

 

 

government hospitals are not free for foreigners 

 

"Even at $800 a month, you have a knee replaced, the insurance company is out a couple of years of premiums."

 

You appear to have no Idea how insurance works  

 

 

[Yellowtail]

8 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

 

government hospitals are not free for foreigners 

I said: "Anyone can go to a government hospital here, with or without a pink ID." I did not say it was free. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

"Even at $800 a month, you have a knee replaced, the insurance company is out a couple of years of premiums."

 

You appear to have no Idea how insurance works  

You seem to have no idea how arithmetic works. 

[richard_smith237]

On 6/7/2025 at 9:10 AM, iaminwa said:

Yep, this is the Thai way of screwing Farangs, and the reason people are moving to Vietnam instead.

It is not just Health Insurance they screw the Farang over with - just look at the 30 - 40% increase in international school fees each year.

 

You are permitted to make a point which can be valid, without overloading it with ridiculous rubbish which completely devalues your point...

 

- Health Insurance premiums do increase beyond standard interest rates.

- There are bumps in premium after the first year making renewal prohibative mind just doubled.

- International Schools are attended by Thai's (most of them are a majority Thai)

- International Schools fees do increase with inflation (and nowhere near 30-40% increase - 1st hand knowledge)

- There is no deliberate plan in place to 'screw the farang' that makes you look like a crack-pot.

 

[Bday Prang]

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I said: "Anyone can go to a government hospital here, with or without a pink ID." I did not say it was free. 

 

 

You seem to have no idea how arithmetic works. 

insurance companies do not expect ones premiums to cover ones claim. that would render it pointless. The 1000's of people who never claim more than cover the costs, if that was not the case they would all be bankrupt

[Yellowtail]

Just now, Bday Prang said:

insurance companies do not expect ones premiums to cover ones claim. that would render it pointless. The 1000's of people who never claim more than cover the costs, if that was not the case they would all be bankrupt

What I said was:  "Even at $800 a month, you have a knee replaced, the insurance company is out a couple of years of premiums.". 

 

I did not say that the insurance company was going to go tits-up, I said they would lose money on that particular policy. I was only pointing out why premiums are high for old men.

 

Again, insurance companies are in the business of collecting premiums, not paying claims.  

[gk10012001]

7 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

You could check out Genki and Safety Wing, who also have resident plans for people of a higher age, as opposed to the digital nomad package I mentioned. It would be more expensive than the latter but perhpas cheaper than the Thai insurance.

 

Of course it depends on your personal situation, if you have any chronic or serious medical conditions or whether you don't.

I did check out Safety Wing.  Vastly over rated and not for me in my opinion

[pomchop]

15 hours ago, ujayujay said:

No...wrong! Maximum CC interest rate in Thailand is 16%

but  if it is us or euro etc credit card i would guess rates are controlled by issuing country?  frankly i don't know many people who have thai credit cards and even if u did would you have a high credit limit?  i do not know.

[WDSmart]

16 hours ago, greeneking said:

On 6/7/2025 at 4:30 PM, WDSmart said:

Or, you could just go to a government hospital and receive treatments for free or a very, very low cost. 

I think you can not get it for free.

Thai people can not. It is definitely cheaper, but even for Thai people the treatment on offer may not give them what they need. And then they must ask how much for what they need? It will not be 30 baht.

Yes, you're correct. It is not free even for Thais. However, for non-Thais, such as me, who have a Type O visa, it is definitely less than a private hospital. It depends on the procedure, of course, but I've even found the medications to be much less expensive.

As a general figure for everything, I'd estimate 50% to 90% less than a private hospital.

[KhunHeineken]

On 6/7/2025 at 9:30 AM, WDSmart said:

Or, you could just go to a government hospital and receive treatments for free or a very, very low cost. 

You get what you pay for.  My health is worth more to me than a Thai government hospital.