On 6/30/2025 at 7:09 AM, gk10012001 said:

Somebody suggested WRLIFE .  I went to their website and the price quote and coverage seemed reasonable for Thailand.  Does anybody have any usage comments on it, how it worked in Thailand (I am an American and am looking to suspend my Medicare for one year as I travel abroad).  How did the claim process work?  What if any illness or injury did you claim?  Was this insurance generally accepted in Thailand at decent hospitals?  I expect to be mostly in Chon Buri Pattaya or Bangkok.

 

Thanks

You can choose whatever hospital you want.

The claim process is easy if you follow their procedure.

The rates are fixed and will not rise from year to year, which makes it very attractive.

No agent will grab their share from your rate.👍

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Yeah, good there is AI. So easy to switch off the brain.

Who is actually controlling and regulating AI ???

Btw. I'm not a WRLIFE agent, but a company which deals directly with clients, without dozens of offices and agents, keeping only 1 office in Bangkok, is not generally a bad company.

They don’t have an office in Bangkok.  If they did, they would have to be regulated here, so they will avoid that like the plague.

 

They use an independent third party here, Assist International Services (AIS) who act as an agent with some services.

If I remember correctly, AIS is owned by a guy who was struck-off and forbidden to be a company director for a few years because he was a naughty boy.

28 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

They don’t have an office in Bangkok.  If they did, they would have to be regulated here, so they will avoid that like the plague.

 

They use an independent third party here, Assist International Services (AIS) who act as an agent with some services.

If I remember correctly, AIS is owned by a guy who was struck-off and forbidden to be a company director for a few years because he was a naughty boy.

Yellow press?🤩

From https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/insurance

 

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE COMPANY DIRECT BILLING CONTRACT

 

On 6/30/2025 at 7:09 AM, gk10012001 said:

Somebody suggested WRLIFE .  I went to their website and the price quote and coverage seemed reasonable for Thailand.  Does anybody have any usage comments on it, how it worked in Thailand (I am an American and am looking to suspend my Medicare for one year as I travel abroad).  How did the claim process work?  What if any illness or injury did you claim?  Was this insurance generally accepted in Thailand at decent hospitals?  I expect to be mostly in Chon Buri Pattaya or Bangkok.

 

Thanks

 

I recommend you check them out on Trustpilot, start with the 1* reviews. A few months ago they had an appalling reputation with a score of 2.x then all of a sudden there were a flood of 5* reviews from all over the world, they're still coming in.

On 6/30/2025 at 7:09 AM, gk10012001 said:

Somebody suggested WRLIFE .  I went to their website and the price quote and coverage seemed reasonable for Thailand.  Does anybody have any usage comments on it, how it worked in Thailand (I am an American and am looking to suspend my Medicare for one year as I travel abroad).  How did the claim process work?  What if any illness or injury did you claim?  Was this insurance generally accepted in Thailand at decent hospitals?  I expect to be mostly in Chon Buri Pattaya or Bangkok.

 

Thanks

 

You might also like to check out this link

 

https://www.insuranceinasia.com/wrlife-fake-health-insurer-review/

On 6/27/2025 at 7:05 PM, newbee2022 said:

What a nonsense. Also no proof, no evidence.

Just Hogwash 

Not hogwash, I know someone who had a policy, had to have medical treatment for a stent, was told they would not pay out and when he challenge them, was told get your lawyers to contact. They never paid out. This is a brief discription, with the computer laws in Thailand cannot go into details.

1 hour ago, stupidfarang said:

Not hogwash, I know someone who had a policy, had to have medical treatment for a stent, was told they would not pay out and when he challenge them, was told get your lawyers to contact. They never paid out. This is a brief discription, with the computer laws in Thailand cannot go into details.

We don't know the details of this case which makes it impossible for generalisation 

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

We don't know the details of this case which makes it impossible for generalisation 

If you read the one star reviews on trustpilot, you will see a pattern.

 

There are dozens of people who had their claims refused.

 

@stupidfarang’s friend is one of many.

17 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

If you read the one star reviews on trustpilot, you will see a pattern.

 

There are dozens of people who had their claims refused.

 

@stupidfarang’s friend is one of many.

Similar "stars" you'll find of other insurances as well. Only the disappointed will give a review in the described way. If you don't follow the claim regime, you might be rejected in first place.

As noted above, WrL via AIS is on the Bumrungrad accepted direct payment list.

Maybe the boo-birds know something Bum doesn't.

AIS handle lots of insurance companies.

 

The fact Bumrungrad will accept co-pay from AIS is completely irrelevant, it has nothing to do with WrLife and it doesn’t mean WrLife will pay anything.
 

Did you read the article from insuranceinasia?

 

Did you read the 1* reviews on trustpilot?

 

Did you see the management’s own 5* fake posts pretending to be clients?

 

What more could you possibly need?

30 complainers have not shown up for the class action.

Bumrungrad's insurance department is relevant.

You aren't.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

14 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

If you read the one star reviews on trustpilot, you will see a pattern.

 

There are dozens of people who had their claims refused.

 

@stupidfarang’s friend is one of many.

People always complain if their claim is rejected - WRLife are no different.  Any insurer will reject a claim if it can - WRLife are no different.  The vast majority of claims are settled (according to my broker!) - WRLife are no different.

On 6/28/2025 at 8:45 AM, newbee2022 said:

Up to you. WRLIFE doesn't have agents. Therefore rates are lower. I'm quite happy with them. Easy to contact by phone or mail. 

You're happy with the price.

Have you used them yet for anything significant ?

2 minutes ago, SLOWHAND225 said:

You're happy with the price.

Have you used them yet for anything significant ?

With 76 I paid 295 Euro.

And I used them once. Direct payment to the hospital.

As I have noted on here, I had a claim paid for hernia surgery within about one year after starting WrLife coverage. I provided a report from a Bangkok urologist that the hernia was not there at the time of insurance start and also provided a KUB sonogram following the start of coverage showing no hernia.

 

The claim was approved but, if I had not had the detailed medical reports, it could easily be said that the hernia COULD have existed as a pre-existing condition.

 

From reading TrustPilot and google reviews, it would seem that there would such claims made for hernia or similar within one year or so of coverage that, without such medical documents, would likely be denied by any insurer.

On 6/28/2025 at 8:45 AM, newbee2022 said:

Up to you. WRLIFE doesn't have agents. Therefore rates are lower. I'm quite happy with them. Easy to contact by phone or mail. 

 

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

People always complain if their claim is rejected - WRLife are no different.  Any insurer will reject a claim if it can - WRLife are no different.  The vast majority of claims are settled (according to my broker!) - WRLife are no different.

It’s not true to say WrLife doesn’t have agents.  
 

The vast majority of their policies are sold through agents (called Insurance Brokers) who apparently get a much higher commission than the blue chip insurers pay.

 

Of course a broker is going to say they pay their claims, he can hardly tell you if they don’t.

7 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

It’s not true to say WrLife doesn’t have agents.  
 

The vast majority of their policies are sold through agents (called Insurance Brokers) who apparently get a much higher commission than the blue chip insurers pay.

 

Of course a broker is going to say they pay their claims, he can hardly tell you if they don’t.

Hogwash, blubbering nonsense

5 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

It’s not true to say WrLife doesn’t have agents.  
 

The vast majority of their policies are sold through agents (called Insurance Brokers) who apparently get a much higher commission than the blue chip insurers pay.

 

Of course a broker is going to say they pay their claims, he can hardly tell you if they don’t.

Possibly.  I've used the same broker for years and have switched insurers a few times on his advice.  He sells policies from many different insurers.  If he thought WRLife, or any company, was no good he wouldn't advice his clients to go with them.  

On 6/27/2025 at 7:55 PM, Sheryl said:

Note that for OA visa, only specific companies are accepted.

 

Can anybody direct me to a list of these companies please?

8 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

Can anybody direct me to a list of these companies please?

 

The website longstay.tgia.org is the official portal run by the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) that provides key information and resources about health insurance required for Thailand’s long-stay visas—particularly the Non‑Immigrant O‑A (1‑year), O‑X (10‑year), and Special Tourist Visa (STV).

 

Answer:

https://longstay.tgia.org/document/companies_contact_list.pdf

 

Almost everything that needed saying has already been said in this thread. As we’re fortunate enough to grow older, our medical histories naturally expand. …Coverage shrinks, premiums rise, and discounts vanish. Strange kind of reward for getting older.

 

On 7/4/2025 at 6:28 PM, JBChiangRai said:

If you read the one star reviews on trustpilot, you will see a pattern.

In looking at Trustpilot yesterday, I note that several replies to 1* reviews say to wit:

We cannot find that you are a WrLife customer.

 

From AI on TrustPilot this:

Weaknesses and Criticisms:

 

Paying businesses have greater control over their profiles, can require reviewers to prove a "contractual relationship" (proof of purchase) to leave a review, and have more power to report and manage reviews.

 

Non-paying businesses are more susceptible to unverified or potentially misleading reviews, as anyone can leave a review regardless of proof of purchase.
_____________________

So, it seems that there enough negative reviews by persons posing as customers that some companies are willing to pay a fee to have them submit a proof-of-purchase.

7 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

In looking at Trustpilot yesterday, I note that several replies to 1* reviews say to wit:

We cannot find that you are a WrLife customer.

 

From AI on TrustPilot this:

Weaknesses and Criticisms:

 

Paying businesses have greater control over their profiles, can require reviewers to prove a "contractual relationship" (proof of purchase) to leave a review, and have more power to report and manage reviews.

 

Non-paying businesses are more susceptible to unverified or potentially misleading reviews, as anyone can leave a review regardless of proof of purchase.
_____________________

So, it seems that there enough negative reviews by persons posing as customers that some companies are willing to pay a fee to have them submit a proof-of-purchase.

Trustpilot paying clients can challenge any review to prove they are a customer and if they don’t prove to trustpilot they are indeed customers, their review is removed.

 

Is it possible they really are customers and WrLife are lying? A bit like the company’s officers and agents lying that they are customers?
 

I was challenged Covid time when I left a 1* review for luxury escapes who would only issue a credit note for my bookings and not a refund.

Trustpilot is a source but not the only source. As in:

 

Did you read the 1* reviews on trustpilot?

 

Yes. Thank you.

 

As for those persons on this website who have submitted a claim to WrLife, I have yet to read of claim denied.

2 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Trustpilot is a source but not the only source. As in:

 

Did you read the 1* reviews on trustpilot?

 

Yes. Thank you.

 

As for those persons on this website who have submitted a claim to WrLife, I have yet to read of claim denied.

Then you missed (for example) the post of Charlie Badenhop.

I didn't miss it when you wrote about it 2 years ago:

On 10/22/2024 at 9:18 AM, JBChiangRai said:

-- My friend Charlie Badenhop posted about them on AN, he had a claim issue, he also wrote about his experience on Trustpilot.

-- yes and he received a reply.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1312262-wrlife-still-ok/page/2/

Try these guys...you don't even need to put your real name or contact info to see results

 

Cigna Global no worries about whether or not they will pay when crunch time comes.

You can get their Silver one million USD plan for roughly $500usd a month

 

Not sure if lower total is possible but 500k USD would be nice if possible

 

https://www.cignaglobal.com/quote/pages/quote/CountrySelector.html

On 6/24/2025 at 6:34 AM, gk10012001 said:

I am likely to dis-enroll from Medicare, go to Thailand and get Thai based health insurance.  Then when I return to the USA I can enroll in Medicare again during a supplemental period and at that time my Medicare premiums will be low.

 

PS: You know you can just drop Part B, C, D etc you never dis-enroll part A is free & for life akaik

Generally, you qualify for premium-free Part A if you or your spouse have worked for at least 10 years (40 quarters) and paid Medicare taxes.