But this is the real answer from Gemini AI most of which has been mentioned before this Health forum or the Insurance forum.

12 hours ago, msbkk said:

Premiums do definitely increase with age. We all know that except you.

Well, it's not my job on AN to give you education. However, it's fact you're wrong.

15 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Ask Gemini about wrlife, how they can offer premiums with no preexisting conditions excluded and premiums not rising with age

WrLife international health insurance allows individuals with pre-existing conditions to apply, but coverage for these conditions may be subject to exclusions, waiting periods, or additional premium loadings. Without a medical check, a 12-month waiting period applies to specific conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases), while a health check reduces this to 6 months.

Key Details Regarding Pre-Existing Conditions with WrLife:

Coverage Approach: Pre-existing conditions are reviewed upon application and may be covered, excluded, or subject to a moratorium period.

Waiting Periods: If no health check is provided, a 12-month waiting period applies to conditions including tumors, diabetes, prostate disease, hernia, and cardiovascular diseases.

Health Check Option: Providing a health check (not older than 30 days) reduces the waiting period for pre-existing conditions to 6 months.

Definition: Generally, these are conditions for which you have received treatment, medication, diagnosis, or advice within the last 2 to 5 years.

Renewability: Plans are guaranteed renewable regardless of your health status.

It is highly recommended to declare all known conditions during the application process to ensure proper coverage assessment.

Which insurer do a physical medical check up and interview?

22 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

All of your statements you are wrong.

Of course there are insurances which will NOT increase the premiums with rising age.

Also pre-existing conditions are included.

You are determined, aren't you? I already stated that I can't afford that kind of insurance, even if I did trust them. You keep mentioning these mythical insurance companies. Show us a few.

People heading for dialysis, for example, are looking at costing about ฿30 000.- a month for about 6 years, with a kidney transplant as the only solution after that. HOW would they expect me. at my age, 78, to pay for that through insurance premiums? As I said, not to be trusted.

1 hour ago, cooked said:

People heading for dialysis, for example, are looking at costing about ฿30 000.- a month for about 6 years, with a kidney transplant as the only solution after that.

AI Gemini:

If you are 78 years old and currently have no signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD), your chances of requiring dialysis in your lifetime are very low. Statistically, the likelihood of a person in their late 70s with "preserved" kidney function eventually needing dialysis is roughly 1% to 2% (their bold)

4 hours ago, JerryM said:

Kidney disease is a long term thing and really cannot be treated except with some medication up until dialysis is required. And most kidney disease is a by [product of diabetes.

And here's the kind of inside the office track that the insurers must use when running around trying to deny a claim:

Kidney disease will be undetected for many many years unless someone gets regular blood tests and it's spotted so i can see an insurer saying you've had this for 10 years, you only started a policy 5 years ago, we aren't paying for dialysis. This is one example

That's the down side of not getting regular check ups.

But I don't think that's a reasonable example that the first that you notice any kidney compromise you have to go straight to dialysis.

Unless that maybe is an 'I have a friend who' example.

19 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Ask Gemini about wrlife, how they can offer premiums with no preexisting conditions excluded and premiums not rising with age

Like all medical insurance, WRLife requires preexisting conditions to be declared.

6 hours ago, cooked said:

You are determined, aren't you? I already stated that I can't afford that kind of insurance, even if I did trust them. You keep mentioning these mythical insurance companies. Show us a few.

People heading for dialysis, for example, are looking at costing about ฿30 000.- a month for about 6 years, with a kidney transplant as the only solution after that. HOW would they expect me. at my age, 78, to pay for that through insurance premiums? As I said, not to be trusted.

It is YOUR life and you can do what you want with it. Either on the safe side with a proper insurance (in your age I pay around 10.000 Baht/month) or saving some Baht every month hoping that you wouldn't need it.

Good luck.

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Like all medical insurance, WRLife requires preexisting conditions to be declared.

I recall people posting that wasn't required, they were taking people warts and all, later may have changed it, and of course preexisting conditions are often hidden

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

That's the down side of not getting regular check ups.

But I don't think that's a reasonable example that the first that you notice any kidney compromise you have to go straight to dialysis.

Unless that maybe is an 'I have a friend who' example.

There's different stages, 1 can lead to 2 can lead to 3 etc, blood tests show it, so if someone doesn't have symptoms until stage 3 then they were previously at stages 1 and 2

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

There's different stages, 1 can lead to 2 can lead to 3 etc, blood tests show it, so if someone doesn't have symptoms until stage 3 then they were previously at stages 1 and 2

Well let's then hope those in your hypothetical situation can instead get an annual blood test if nothing else and have their dialysis claim paid.

Fingers crossed.

16 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Like all medical insurance, WRLife requires preexisting conditions to be declared.

And they can refuse insurance coverage depending on the declared pre-existing condition.

4 minutes ago, msbkk said:

And they can refuse insurance coverage depending on the declared pre-existing condition.

Absolutely.

Health insurance has highly gone up in all the countries that took in thousands of ukrainians. These people do get free healthcare in the host nations and often the bill can rocket due to many health issues. Good for them but it does create and inflation and puts the healthcare systems at tension. Not saying not to help, not at all. But it is mathematical, when you provide costly top level free healthcare to a group of people, obviously the locals will see their premiums increase.

19 hours ago, JerryM said:

That's the down side of not getting regular check ups.

But I don't think that's a reasonable example that the first that you notice any kidney compromise you have to go straight to dialysis.

Unless that maybe is an 'I have a friend who' example.

Who said "go straight into dialysis"?

37 minutes ago, cooked said:

Who said "go straight into dialysis"?

Above: you've had this for 10 years, you only started a policy 5 years ago, we aren't paying for dialysis.

And that hypothetical example is unrealistic as

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by a very high prevalence of comorbidities, with roughly 98% of patients having at least one, and an average of 3.8 concurrent conditions,

https://bjgp.org/content/71/704/e243#:~:text=CKD%20and%20total%20comorbidity,Table%202.

And Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), jointly accounting for approximately two-thirds of all cases. They are considered the two primary drivers of CKD globally. via Gemini

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

Above: you've had this for 10 years, you only started a policy 5 years ago, we aren't paying for dialysis.

And that hypothetical example is unrealistic as

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by a very high prevalence of comorbidities, with roughly 98% of patients having at least one, and an average of 3.8 concurrent conditions,

https://bjgp.org/content/71/704/e243#:~:text=CKD%20and%20total%20comorbidity,Table%202.

And Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), jointly accounting for approximately two-thirds of all cases. They are considered the two primary drivers of CKD globally. via Gemini

Why are you insisting on this? I was taking CKD as an example, there are others. My point was, that at age 75+, you will most likely have a "pre-existing condition" that will make an insurance pointless. High blood pressure is another example.

1 hour ago, cooked said:

Why are you insisting on this? I

I replied once to you. The rest was to a usual suspect who likes to come up with hypothetical situations where your claim will be DENIED.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

I replied once to you. The rest was to a usual suspect who likes to come up with hypothetical situations where your claim will be DENIED.

Fingers crossed 🤞 you'll be ok

23 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Fingers crossed 🤞 you'll be ok

Thanks. I am OK.

You asked that I ask Gemini about WrLife. I did. And you have said nothing.

There was a reference to Reinsurance which is the response to the hundred times asked on here "Well who is their underwriter HUH?

2 hours ago, JerryM said:

Thanks. I am OK.

You asked that I ask Gemini about WrLife. I did. And you have said nothing.

There was a reference to Reinsurance which is the response to the hundred times asked on here "Well who is their underwriter HUH?

I'll check with AI tomorrow, but they don't pass the sniff test with me. If a huge company used the same model I'd buy it

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I'll check with AI tomorrow, but they don't pass the sniff test with me. If a huge company used the same model I'd buy it

Yes -- you've already said you have the nose for stinky fish.

On 1/27/2026 at 10:49 AM, newbee2022 said:

WRLife and associated companies

It doesn't have a long track record in the industry and has mixed reviews online.

5 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

It doesn't have a long track record in the industry and has mixed reviews online.

Yeah, similar to Axa or Allianz and others when they started their business.

It will always be a bone of contention and a fiery debate here when it comes to health insurance.

Some are staunch advocates of health insurance, and others are equally inclined to self-insure as they age, and it becomes too expensive.

Some argue that the money saved in premiums goes towards the cost of any treatment.

I find that few people save the cash they save by not being insured, which is set aside in a health fund for future security.

We then have the ' fliers ' who think that if anything serious is in the offing or diagnosed, they can fly back to their home country for treatment, especially those from the UK!!

On 1/26/2026 at 1:06 AM, henryford1958 said:

Plus you stand the risk of being kicked out at 80

Why ???? Why you will be kicked out??? 😳

4 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Yeah, similar to Axa or Allianz and others when they started their business.

They are multinationals; WrLife is nowhere near their level of funding and support and is a locally funded insurer, AFAIK.

WRLife is an independent, customer-owned, and ethical international health insurance provider that caters to expatriates, offering plans that are often tailored for specific locations, including Thailand

. It operates as a participative company where members can become shareholders, aiming to offer a competitive, stable, and transparent insurance option

None. I gave it up 15 years ago, after consistent 15-20% annual increases, despite no claims. Been self insuring even since. Great decision. Had some health issues, and been using very good public hospitals and have saved up a fortune.

I despise the insurance mafia. No thanks.