Car Ncb, Plus Government Health Cover

[RickBlaine]

Sorry for this lengthy post, but I hope some of my questions will be relevant to others;

Has anyone successfully transferred their no-claims-discount from their home country to a Thai car/motorbike insurance? Which company recognised your NCB? I have over 30 years accident free history from the UK. That would get me a hefty discount normally.

I think I am getting the hang of the first/second/third class vehicle insurance cover, but health insurance, oh dear:-

If I take out PA insurance and health/medical insurance, which does what? For example, I slip on a broken pavement (happened to a friend), and I break a leg – forget compensation – T.I.T.

I ‘think’ my PA insurance would pay for the visit to A&E, but at what point does the PA end and the ‘general’ health insurance take over? Do the companies sit there arguing while I am in traction/physio? Or have I completely misunderstood how this works?

Actually I may not need the medical cover - as my wife is a government official (teacher), she is already covered for hospitalisation (I believe), but not for routine visits to private clinics for check ups. As her husband I am also covered under the same scheme (I have just been told);

Has anyone else had experience of this scheme? Is there a good website where I can check what exactly we are covered for under that scheme? I would still like to fill the gaps, if any.

I have tried asking ‘the boss’ but it just degenerates into frustration – about the only subject where we cannot understand each others concerns and worries, or lack thereof. Must be a Thai thing.

Thanks.

Edited March 16, 2010 by RickBlaine

[Kered]

Try Viriyah, theirt main office is on the Lampang- Chiang Mai highwayjust before the Airport turnoff coming from the south. They will likely accept a letter from a previous insurer confirming your no claim bonus. They will not give you the full bonus but I have found them to be very reasonable and their service is excellent.

[ThaivisaInsurance]

I will also apologize in advance for a rather lengthy answer !

Q Has anyone successfully transferred their no-claims-discount from their home country to a Thai car/motorbike insurance? Which company recognised your NCB? I have over 30 years accident free history from the UK. That would get me a hefty discount normally.

A Most Insurance Companies will recognize a foreign NCB but you will need 'proof' from your 'old' Insurance company not more than 6 months old. Thai Visa Insurance Brokers have helped many customers this way to save premiums.

Remark I think I am getting the hang of the first/second/third class vehicle insurance cover,

A Very simple – 1^st = Comprehensive / 2^nd = Third Party, Fire & Theft and 3^rd = Third Party only. Note, all included Bail Bond.

Q If I take out PA insurance and health/medical insurance, which does what? For example, I slip on a broken pavement (happened to a friend), and I break a leg – forget compensation – T.I.T.

A Quote simply P.A. will pay out on accidents only. Therefore your example will be paid for

Q I 'think' my PA insurance would pay for the visit to A&E, but at what point does the PA end and the 'general' health insurance take over? Do the companies sit there arguing while I am in traction/physio? Or have I completely misunderstood how this works?

A The P.A. will pay for the A&E in this case. Medical Insurance does not 'take over'. Medical Insurance will pay for not just accidents (as in P.A.) but also in all other health related matters. P.A. is no substitute for Medical Insurance i.e. Medical Insurance is what everyone should carry.

Remark Actually I may not need the medical cover - as my wife is a government official (teacher), she is already covered for hospitalisation (I believe), but not for routine visits to private clinics for check ups. As her husband I am also covered under the same scheme (I have just been told);

Has anyone else had experience of this scheme? Is there a good website where I can check what exactly we are covered for under that scheme? I would still like to fill the gaps, if any.

A One can fall back on the Government 'system' but this is very hit and miss. Bottom line, due to their lack of funds, Government hospitals cannot offer the same services as the 'Private' hospitals - plus one is taking away from the Thais who cannot afford medical insurance.

For all your Insurance related needs please use the Thai Visa Insurance Broker service by going Here

[TerryLH]

"One can fall back on the Government 'system' but this is very hit and miss. Bottom line, due to their lack of funds, Government hospitals cannot offer the same services as the 'Private' hospitals - plus one is taking away from the Thais who cannot afford medical insurance."

I think the OP is asking about the Thai Civil Servants insurance, not the 30 baht or social security insurance plans.

[citizen33]

A One can fall back on the Government 'system' but this is very hit and miss. Bottom line, due to their lack of funds, Government hospitals cannot offer the same services as the 'Private' hospitals - plus one is taking away from the Thais who cannot afford medical insurance.

A couple of points about this generalisation:

1. If the coverage is via the Civil Servant Medical Benefits Scheme, treatment will be in a public hospital, though civil servants in practice tend to get good treatment in such hospitals with a quite comprehensive benefits package. If it is via the Social Security Scheme, the wife may have selected a private hospital from the local options available, which would provide the treatment.

2. The generalisation that private hospitals have better facilities that public hospitals is questionable and certainly doesn't hold up in the more distant provinces. Where are the MRI and CAT scanners in Isaan region? You may be surprised to find that almost all are in public, university or military hospitals. If you want to take your life in your hands, pick a smaller private hospital in a city like Kalasin. Health professionals have many stories to tell which put the stories about public hospitals in the shade.

3. Of course the leading Bangkok private hospitals are very good but some of the University hospitals are also very acceptable.

4. I didn't notice the OP's age but as he get older, and especially with pre-existing conditions, the public scheme may become his only option, even if in the meantime he does opt to buy private insurance cover as well. Incidentally my definition of hit or miss is wondering if a private insurer is going to find a pre-existing condition you didn't know about or some other basis for denying a claim. This does not apply to public schemes that operate genuine risk pooling.

Dr.Jadej Thammatach-aree, Director, Bureau of Policy and Planning, National Health Security Office has just completed an interesting study of the (differing) benefit packages available under the three public schemes (CSMBS, SSS and UC Scheme) and the CSMBS comes out pretty well.

[RickBlaine]

Thanks for the replies;

Yes, we have a Virayah office nearby, I drew a blank when I asked about NCB but I will try again - their English/my Thai is limited.

"Medical Insurance will pay for not just accidents (as in P.A.) but also in all other health related matters. P.A. is no substitute for Medical Insurance i.e. Medical Insurance is what everyone should carry." - my itialics.

So perhaps my question should have been - if I have good medical insurance, why have PA?

"Government hospitals cannot offer the same services as the 'Private' hospitals - plus one is taking away from the Thais who cannot afford medical insurance."

Umm.... think I agree with Citizen33 on this one. Here in Sakon Nakon we have (I am told) a very good military hospital and other facilities, not sure what the private hospitals, if any, are like. Also, I thought the scheme for government officials was budgeted and financed in addition to the basic (30 baht?) scheme, and does not detract from it, although of course it must all come from the same pot. My wife, like many, had to study for and finance extra exams to get 'government official' status. One of the 'job perks' is this enhanced insurance scheme, which is extended to, and hence budgeted for, her spouse whether Thai or non-Thai. Should a wealthy (ha!) non-Thai avail themselves of a freely offered facility, or leave it only to the growing Thai middle classes (government officials)? I haven't decided either way, but I will ponder on that one.