Expat Health Insurance

[siamsam]

I'm trusting my fellow posters will enlighten me. If/when my thai wife and I make the move to Los from the uk. How would I arrange health insurance? Wifey says we just arrange a monthly payment to the hospital wherever we reside. But I'm thinking of how, if need be, I'd cover costs of repatriation/air lift etc etc back to the uk - The worst case senario. I see ads in my local directory, bupa international etc etc. But I get a feeling that this will cost a small fortune. I'm 29 and wifey's young too so, for now at least, age-related illnesses are something I'd not worry about just yet. But I'd like good quality cover for sudden illness/accident etc Thanx in advance for your replies visa members. reguards siamsam.

[waldwolf]

I'm not familar with specific medical evacuation insurance available in the UK, however in the US, there are several excellent programs available. Cost varies depending on length of travel overseas and number of individuals covered (eg: a family of 4). Certainly similar policies are available in the UK and elsewhere.

Links :

MedJet Assistance

Travel Guard

The most important feature of any "Repatriation Insurance" is you select when/where your repat'd to. Some policies only cover you for repatriation to the hospital/country of their choice, not your choice, therefore READ THE SMALL PRINT.

cheers

(PS - Do a search, as I recall this subject was discussed quite extensively a while back.)

[lopburi3]

But I'm thinking of how, if need be, I'd cover costs of repatriation/air lift etc etc back to the uk

If you are planning on living in Thailand do not believe that should be a concern. Thailand has the facilities to treat any illness and indeed is the place of choice for treatment for nationals of many countries.

There are several local/international insurance policies available here but have not checked them myself. BUPA, SUN, AIA and probably others.

[taxexile]

royal sun alliance (thailand) have a policy directed at expats that will provide cover in thailand,(and cover out of thailand when travelling for up to 90 days)

contact

royalsun.co.th or

[email protected]

and ask about their

"global healthcare ultra care policy specifically for expats in thailand"

it seems a good policy with full inpatient cover , good outpatient cover , cover abroad , and repatriaton.

there are brokers in the uk that will fix you up with healthcare abroad but when i contacted them they were all too expensive and i had not heard of some of the companies.

i checked out all the options when i came to thailand and chose the sun alliance policy over the rest.

i have heard bad reports about bupa and aia , (only heard... so i cant say how accurate those comments were)

[morning glory]

I'm currently looking into health plans for the company where I work and have had quotes from 2 companies so far: BUPA and Ayudaya. BUPA by far offers the best coverage and may be what you're looking for.

Prior to getting a small group quote for my company, I also checked into an individual policy for myself, and for my age group (low 50's ), it was about 17,000 baht per YEAR for the third highest level of coverage (emerald) for major medical AND outpatient. So an individual policy in YOUR age group should be much lower--especially if you only want major medical. BUPA has had loads of experience dealing with expats, so they're able to explain things quite well.

Anyway, I don't know all the particulars for your case, but here is the website.

http://www.bupathailand.com/

They are very responsive if you email them---good luck!!

[fisherd3]

www.direct-travel.co.uk do a policy with GBP10million medical and repatriation cover for GBP520 for 2 pax for 365 days cover. This is like 365 day holday insurance. Up to age 65.

If you're stay was actually less than 365 days the cost would be proportionately less.

Edited January 23, 2005 by fisherd3