Expat Health Insurance

[PattayaParent]

What I tentatively stated before seems to be a load of tosh. I did read this somewhere, and that got me going. I didn't find many more references to this so I posted this comment to see if there was any feed back. My wife seemed to think that I could get the 30 Baht treatment, she has seen a Farnag at the local clinic being treated this way. However I suspect that although this may occasionally have been the case in the past, this is no longer so. I did see that someone got the 'gold card' through the post without asking for it. I'm sure that a Thai hospital won't let me die in front of their doors, but any long term free treatment doesn't seem to be on the cards.

I am still dithering between putting the equivalent of a health insurance premium in the bank every month and having no insurance apart from that, or going for an insurance that won't throw me out at 75.

The Farang your wife saw may have worked in Thailand previously and have continued payments of 435 Baht a month after finishing work to maintain his National Health entitlements.

[nocturn]

Bupa in BKK insures expats on tourist visas; however, Bupa in Phuket does not (at least when I checked).

I don't know about the others. Some required Non-immigrant visas.

RBIpremium did not ask me to show a visa and the insurance was transferable to any country i end up living in, not just thailand

www.rbipremium,com

[JoePai]

Bupa in BKK insures expats on tourist visas; however, Bupa in Phuket does not (at least when I checked).

I don't know about the others. Some required Non-immigrant visas.

RBIpremium did not ask me to show a visa and the insurance was transferable to any country i end up living in, not just thailand

www.rbipremium,com

Absolute waste of time - read the small print.

The maximum age to join the membership is 55 (so rules out most of TV members) but sto[s at 65 ! What use is that as it is 65 and over when you need it most. Another con.

[cooked]

just think about it. Who in their right minds would give illness insurance to people heading towards an age where they are, sooner or later, going to start costing money. I have found some insurances based in Europe / Switzerland that guarantee no increase in premiums with age, and no cut off at a certain age. Price? yes indeed, 6864 dollars US a year. Another one, around 5000 a year. At the age of 64 I have decided to take minimal insurance, meaning I will take up a repatriation insurance, in Switzerland I get treatment as a Swiss citizen. And if I can manage to save 6864 dollars a year (ha ha) I should be up front health care wise. All these insurances are a gamble, you never know what company policy will be like 10 or twenty years down the road, so I am gambling in another way. Outpatient and emergency treatment is ok in Thailand even out in Isaan as long as you have a credit card. There are probably many other people that have come to the same conclusion.

Edited March 21, 2012 by cooked

[nocturn]

Bupa in BKK insures expats on tourist visas; however, Bupa in Phuket does not (at least when I checked).

I don't know about the others. Some required Non-immigrant visas.

RBIpremium did not ask me to show a visa and the insurance was transferable to any country i end up living in, not just thailand

www.rbipremium,com

Absolute waste of time - read the small print.

The maximum age to join the membership is 55 (so rules out most of TV members) but sto[s at 65 ! What use is that as it is 65 and over when you need it most. Another con.

I have read the small print and am not inclined to agree with you.

I tend to view expats as living and working in Thailand for a number of years, also as people with families. Some may settle here, but many plan to return home after a few years in Asia or move on to other postings in the region.

In addition, I believe there is more to TV than geriatrics waiting on eternity. They may well be the most vocal and have more free time to post, but there are certainly a significant number of professionals here who may be interested even though you have reached your sell by date.

Now the plan may not be for you, but how do you justify calling it a con?

Edited March 21, 2012 by nocturn

[cooked]

For people planning to stay here long term, even if they are relatively young, the point is that they will be paying for many years and not using the insurance at all, only to find themselves thrown out at the age of 55 (BUPA) which is an age where it is not easy to find a company ready to take you on. A large part of insurance is sold on the basis of 'peace of mind'. For me this would not be the case if I didn't know whether I was going to paid or not, thrown out when I most need the insurance, be confronted with a huge hike in premiums at an age when I can least afford it.

yours truly, an old fart

[nocturn]

yes, that is all well and good, if that is your concern, truthfuly it had never occurred to me

but in response to the other poster, I repeat, if a plan clearly states signup for 18-55 and CLEARLY announces that it will not continue to insure you after 65, then where is the con?

JoePai implied you had to dig for the information in the small print, when in fact the age requirements are clearly posted in the first sentence of the membership page.

[Theboy]

Bupa in BKK insures expats on tourist visas; however, Bupa in Phuket does not (at least when I checked).

I don't know about the others. Some required Non-immigrant visas.

RBIpremium did not ask me to show a visa and the insurance was transferable to any country i end up living in, not just thailand

www.rbipremium,com

Absolute waste of time - read the small print.

The maximum age to join the membership is 55 (so rules out most of TV members) but sto[s at 65 ! What use is that as it is 65 and over when you need it most. Another con.

I have read the small print and am not inclined to agree with you.

I tend to view expats as living and working in Thailand for a number of years, also as people with families. Some may settle here, but many plan to return home after a few years in Asia or move on to other postings in the region.

In addition, I believe there is more to TV than geriatrics waiting on eternity. They may well be the most vocal and have more free time to post, but there are certainly a significant number of professionals here who may be interested even though you have reached your sell by date.

Now the plan may not be for you, but how do you justify calling it a con?

Sorry, have to agree with Joe, any company who throws you out at 65 is a con - all this company wants is to take your premiums when you are less likely to claim then when do you need insurance get rid of you.

I found AA Insurance Brokers offer similar priced plan from ACS(Allianz) - and you can join up to 65 then go on from there !

As for you saying "I tend to view expats as living and working in Thailand for a number of years, also as people with families. Some may settle here, but many plan to return home after a few years in Asia or move on to other postings in the region." then yes there are foreigners who are working here for a few years and get moved on by their companies but they are covered by their companies insurance medical policies.

[nocturn]

Sorry, have to agree with Joe, any company who throws you out at 65 is a con - all this company wants is to take your premiums when you are less likely to claim then when do you need insurance get rid of you.

I found AA Insurance Brokers offer similar priced plan from ACS(Allianz) - and you can join up to 65 then go on from there !

As for you saying "I tend to view expats as living and working in Thailand for a number of years, also as people with families. Some may settle here, but many plan to return home after a few years in Asia or move on to other postings in the region." then yes there are foreigners who are working here for a few years and get moved on by their companies but they are covered by their companies insurance medica l policies.

I honestly think this dialogue is a waste of time. It is very emotional for some folks, but i'll bite just this once:

Isn't that what EVERY insurance company wants? Isn't this also why after the age of 65, those companies that do offer coverage have premiums that seem to increase exponentially, high deductibles, previous condition clauses and strict ceilings and requirements on the amount of money they pay out and when they will pay it?

Not to mention significant increases to your premiums should you be unfortunate enough to need to make a significant claim.

Those deemed affordable also seem to offer limited international coverage, and repatriation is often an optional extra -- at an additional cost.

I realize that "there are plans that allow applicants up to 70-75" (direct from AA's website), but, note the language here -- they allow applicants . It does not say they accept them, nor does it specify at what cost if and when they do.

I am sure if you have 10,000 USD for a year you can find coverage, but Insurance is not charity, no matter how strong your sense of entitlement.

Anyways, I have no desire to enter into a circular discussion (I merely object to the word con).

[samsiam]

continue..

[joker7]

I've just received an email from BUPA which states that if you pay your premiums yearly then they will cover you for life. As long as you apply before age 61. Not sure if there is a 10 year period of cover req'd before they will allow this however I will find out for you.

Joker

[joker7]

See PDF.

2nd page about half way down. Coverage if for life if you are continually Insured and dont miss a premium.

Platinum_Benefit_Remarks.pdf

[samsiam]

Did you read how much stuff they will NOT pay for.....unbelievable

[cooked]

Quote:

"I realize that "there are plans that allow applicants up to 70-75" (direct from AA's website), but, note the language here -- they allow applicants . It does not say they accept them, nor does it specify at what cost if and when they do.

I am sure if you have 10,000 USD for a year you can find coverage, but Insurance is not charity, no matter how strong your sense of entitlement.

Anyways, I have no desire to enter into a circular discussion (I merely object to the word con)." Unquote, sorry.

I received recently the following email from AA Insurance:

"Hi ...

Please feel free to visit when you wish. When you say “what happens to me after the age of 80” I presume you mean the premiums ? Normally we only publish premiums to 80 but I will get them to (example?) 90 when you come in if you wish ?

All the best

Peter"

He has quoted me for up to the age of 80, so after a month of two research this looks, superficially, like the best deal for my personal situation. (27 575 Baht at ages of 75 - 80). All the same, premiums are 'adjusted' every year. No way of knowing where things will end up when I get non compos mentis.

[phomsanuk]

Global health insurance from William Russell UK is probably the top of the line. $$$$$ but good had them for years and I'm 75.

[nocturn]

I've heard Thai insurers can just stop your coverage at anytime for no reason....any truth in this ??

If so makes continual coverage when needed a worry.

any health insurer can stop your policy any time. ALL policies are annually renewable.

[nocturn]

Quote:

"I realize that "there are plans that allow applicants up to 70-75" (direct from AA's website), but, note the language here -- they allow applicants . It does not say they accept them, nor does it specify at what cost if and when they do.

I am sure if you have 10,000 USD for a year you can find coverage, but Insurance is not charity, no matter how strong your sense of entitlement.

Anyways, I have no desire to enter into a circular discussion (I merely object to the word con)." Unquote, sorry.

I received recently the following email from AA Insurance:

"Hi ...

Please feel free to visit when you wish. When you say “what happens to me after the age of 80” I presume you mean the premiums ? Normally we only publish premiums to 80 but I will get them to (example?) 90 when you come in if you wish ?

All the best

Peter"

He has quoted me for up to the age of 80, so after a month of two research this looks, superficially, like the best deal for my personal situation. (27 575 Baht at ages of 75 - 80). All the same, premiums are 'adjusted' every year. No way of knowing where things will end up when I get non compos mentis.

love to see the policy, what are you covered for 500,000 THB? Please do post details, because this is too good to be true

[Traxster]

Is it a fact that no company will insure you if you are over 70yrs of age

and also if you have pre-existing health problem ?

[WilliamCave]

What a lot of opinions here on insurance and different types of policies

I am looking for insurance , What i am looking for is to be covered if i end up in a hospital with a broken leg or other serious illness as an example. I only stay in Thailand for no more than 3 months at a time , because i work in Canada for an oil company and i travel for work. My family lives in Thailand and i travel there and live there when i am not working , i am 50 years old.

So to make it easy i want coverage were i don't have to pay the hospital it is paid direct from the insurance company any info would be gratful

[JoePai]

What a lot of opinions here on insurance and different types of policies

I am looking for insurance , What i am looking for is to be covered if i end up in a hospital with a broken leg or other serious illness as an example. I only stay in Thailand for no more than 3 months at a time , because i work in Canada for an oil company and i travel for work. My family lives in Thailand and i travel there and live there when i am not working , i am 50 years old.

So to make it easy i want coverage were i don't have to pay the hospital it is paid direct from the insurance company any info would be gratful

What about Travel Insurance as you are here on holidays ?

[kamalabob2]

Easy to find a native English speaking insurance broker who is licensed himself in Thailand. One who can also read, write, understand and speak Thai. BUPA is a top notch company in my actual experience in Thailand, for my wife, daughter and myself. IN patient insurance would also cover an accident like you described above and no need to incur costly coverage for out patient coverage. Most major private hospitals direct bill with BUPA, however if you were in a location where a Government Hospital or some "off the contract" small private hospital was a better choice for immediate service, the staff in billing at those hospitals (such as the Private Hospital in Surin Province) know exactly what paperwork you need for a fast (8 days) full reimbursement into your Thai Bank account. No need to wait for a check. BUPA 2 million baht or even 5 million baht in patient coverage at your age will be a pleasant price. Working with a licensed broker will not cost you a satang more, but you will be better served. I've been previously insured by "Thai Health Insurance" company and it was fine, but for our ages we received better policy coverage for the premium with BUPA. They do NOT raise the price every year. Three family members on the same policy (even if not the same level of coverage) gets you a 10% discount.

I keep copies of each year's premium and while not "free" like in Canada, it is money well spent. Look at the web sites of the actual Insurance brokers in Thailand and read about the brokers. Call them or send them an e-mail, you can see who is experienced and who has no problem personally speaking Thai to a hospital staff if you have a question with billing. But with BUPA you probably will not have to "make that call" as you won't flip out in the insurance billing department of Bumrungrad. Any broker can send you the complete insurance policy in English via e-mail before you send a payment via credit card or bank on line payment. You pay the policy direct to the insurance company, no chance of a rouge agent taking your premium baht. But the broker gets paid a commission by the insurance company, and should be on call to answer YOUR questions. It is the law in Thailand that insurance policies be available in both Thai and English.