Insurance In Thailand

[patsfangr]

Browsing through subjects of interest in TV, I came across a reference to an article about insurance in Thailand. There, I found the following:

"House and contents insurance.SAFETY INSURANCE PUBLIC COMPANY

LIMITEDTel: (02 ) 254 8490Contact BRIAN BUTTERFIELD 3. For health insurance:The

figures mentioned for Edward above, are fromBUPA BLUECROSS Tel (02) 235

5832They have varying levels of cover at costs which are dependent on

age. "

Have any of you done business with either or both of these services, and, if so, what comments would you have about them? If not, what are your personal experiences with insurance, particularly health and life insurance? I will most certainly want both in some form when I move.

George

[Humphrey Bear]

BUPA Blue cross are established right outside Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital on Sukhumvit.

Health insurance, if limited to Thailand treatment, is reasonably priced.

Remember that you have to pay for everything, consultations, treatment and post-operative care. And it ain't cheap if you're on a limited budget. Not like most of Europe where health-care is basically free and, in the case of France, very good.

My wife's mother had to have treatment for high cholestrol, which cost (so far this year) 60,000 baht or over a thousand Euros. It wouldn't cost that much in UK with private treatment.

[patsfangr]

BUPA Blue cross are established right outside Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital on Sukhumvit.

Health insurance, if limited to Thailand treatment, is reasonably priced.

Remember that you have to pay for everything, consultations, treatment and post-operative care. And it ain't cheap if you're on a limited budget. Not like most of Europe where health-care is basically free and, in the case of France, very good.

My wife's mother had to have treatment for high cholestrol, which cost (so far this year) 60,000 baht or over a thousand Euros. It wouldn't cost that much in UK with private treatment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm a bit confused by your response, Humphrey. Are the expenses you reported for your mother in-law with, or without insurance? If, for example, I were to sign up with BUPA, what would be covered? What are the typical deductibles, and covered services and medications?

I have high blood pressure, for which I take daily medication. If I retain U.S. insurance coverage, is there any difficulty getting medications shipped into LOS?

[lopburi3]

I don't know what facility your MIL is using but 60k for cholesterol treatment seems rather strange as proper drugs for this treatment are available and made in Thailand at very low cost.

[Thaiquila]

I could see the treatment costing 60,000 baht in Thailand under these circumstances:

going to a farang oriented hospital

frequent doctor visits and blood studies for liver function

buying name brand imported meds like Lipitor direct from the hospital pharmacy

Even then it is a stretch.

If you want to use Lipitor for example, you can shop around and get a much better price, especially if you buy volume, and you don't need a prescription.

It is my impression that most people do not go for the medication cover option in Thailand because it usually is not a good investment.

As far as keeping US insurance, there are some definite personal issues:

if already on medicare, of course, medicare is useless outside the US

if preexisting conditions AND you expect it is a good chance you will return to the US before medicare age, AND you can afford the premium, well, if you drop the coverage, you may never be able to get it back, insurance companies don't like to sell to older folks with medical problems

shipping in meds from the US using US insurance sounds tricky to me, on lots of levels and does not sound ideal.

Edited June 30, 2005 by Thaiquila

[lopburi3]

International shipment of drugs is not a good idea. Although they may come through ok if they are not local FDA approved you could be in real trouble; and customs could be charged in any case.

Many drugs are so cheap that is may cost less than your co-pay to just buy them here. If your US insurance covers you here and you receive at a reduced rate it is an option.

I see no need for life insurance in any case.

[barryofthailand]

Hi George,

I have Bupa insurance for myself, my wife and my son. This is my second year with Bupa. The coverage i picked this year is the Emerald coverage which is one step below thier maximum coverage. I also chose to have outpatient coverage which is known as OPD in Thailand, The Emerald coverage covers 3,000 baht per day for hospital room and nursing care, and pays for everything else on a major medical schedule. The outpatient care that i chose covers 1,000 baht per day.

The actual cost of hospital room and nursing care runs 3800 baht per day for a private room at Bangkok Pattaya hospital, which leaves me a co payment of 800 baht poer day or $20.oo U.S. I suggest Bupa, but do not suggest taking the OPD insurance as outpatient care is relatively inexpensive. I just had a Syst removed from my neck. The surgery was done on an outpatient basis. The surgery ran 6000 baht of which i paid 5,000 baht. I had to have the wound cleaned and disinfected every day foe a week and the insurace covered that at 250 baht per day.

Last year i saw a lung specialist at the tune of about 25,000 baht for about 20 visits as i was a smoker, so this year i continued the OPD coverage, but since i have quit smoking and no longer have any problems with my lungs. Anyway the emerald coverage cost is about 36000 baht per year for your age group. Unfortunately they will not cover pre existing conditions. This year i paid $1400.00 for my entire family.

[patsfangr]

Hi George,

I have Bupa insurance for myself, my wife and my son.  This is my second year with Bupa. The coverage i picked this year is the Emerald coverage which is one step below thier maximum coverage. I also chose to have outpatient coverage which is known as OPD in Thailand, The Emerald coverage covers 3,000 baht per day for hospital room and nursing care, and pays for everything else on a major medical schedule. The outpatient care that i chose covers 1,000 baht per day.

The actual cost of hospital room and nursing care runs 3800 baht per day for a private room at Bangkok Pattaya hospital, which leaves me a co payment of 800 baht poer day or $20.oo U.S.  I suggest Bupa, but do not suggest taking the OPD insurance as outpatient care is relatively inexpensive. I just had a Syst removed from my neck. The surgery was done on an outpatient basis. The surgery ran 6000 baht of which i paid 5,000 baht. I had to have the wound cleaned and disinfected every day foe a week and the insurace covered that at 250 baht per day.

Last year i saw a lung specialist at the tune of about  25,000 baht for about 20 visits as i was a smoker, so this year i continued the OPD coverage, but since i have quit smoking and no longer have any problems with my lungs. Anyway the emerald coverage cost is about 36000 baht per year for your age group. Unfortunately they will not cover pre existing conditions. This year i paid $1400.00 for my entire family.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, Barry. Do you, or anybody, have any information you can share on prescription medications? Specifically, I take a daily medication for high blood pressure, Benzopril. Are such fairly common prescription drugs readily available, and for what price? Do the insurance programs, such as BUPA, cover them either partially or completely?

George

[Thaiquila]

Most common meds are widely available.

The cost varies drug to drug.

The brand names of the meds are often very different between countries, even though the have the same active ingredient.

Many pharmacists can help you figure out the brand name available in Thailand for the meds you need.

For example, a cholestorol med I take would cost USD 100 per month in the US retail versus USD 23 in Thailand.

A blood pressure med I take would cost USD 50 in the US and USD 12 in Thailand per month.

A thryoid med I take would cost USD 30 in the US and USD 2 in Thailand per month.

So there lots of variables including whether you go generic and whether you go with made in Thailand varities.

Personally, I prefer imports from Japan and Europe.

[patsfangr]

Most common meds are widely available.

The cost varies drug to drug.

The brand names of the meds are often very different between countries, even though the have the same active ingredient.

Many pharmacists can help you figure out the brand name available in Thailand for the meds you need.

For example, a cholestorol med I take would cost USD 100 per month in the US retail versus USD 23 in Thailand.

A blood pressure med I take would cost USD 50 in the US and USD 12 in Thailand per month.

A thryoid med I take would cost USD 30 in the US and USD 2 in Thailand per month.

So there lots of variables including whether you go generic and whether you go with made in Thailand varities.

Personally, I prefer imports from Japan and Europe.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you, Thaiquila. That information is very helpful and reassuring!

George

[peter416]

Would suggest going to a good broker - AA Insurance brokerage about the best we've found try 038 250089 or 038 303072

[Nam Kao]

>>>>I don't know what facility your MIL is using but 60k for cholesterol treatment seems rather strange as proper drugs for this treatment are available and made in Thailand at very low cost.

Lop, another falang gets the buffalo story i guess

Be careful of BUPA they will do anything they can to get out of paying claims

and use the pre-existing terms as a lethal weapon to most claims.

Example, you have a heart attack, well this was a pre-existing condition

because yada yada....

Also note that they only pay 1/2 on motorcycle accidents, this is probably

the way you'll go down here

And w/ BUPA - YOU have to pay the hospital/DR first, Then they (might)

reimburse you.