Think Twice Before Using Bupa…

[rvs]

I want to let people know how BUPA didtreat us. My family and me live in Thailand and were going on holiday to Norwayand bought a worldwide travel health insurance with BUPA Thailand as we havedone before.

The times we have used them before wedid not need to claim anything so we thought we were going to be safe usingthem again.

What happened this time when we were onholiday was that my wife got a strong toothache andsevere pain after one week on our holiday. And we had to go to the to thedentist, the dentists said that this was not a hole in the tooth or that therewas a question about replacing a filling that was already there. But the toothhad cracked and the pain of it reached the nerves. The dentist said that theteeth of my wife were handled in a very good way and that this was an accidentand a non-pre existing complaint!

But when we came back to Thailand andhad to go back to the office to make the claim we spoke to the person that soldus the insurance, this person appeared very unprofessional. She said that inthis case she was 100% certain that it would not be covered and was rude andimpolite when I asked to receive a copy of our paperwork from Norway.

Is this person a sales representative ora case representative?

After one month we got a letter sayingthat BUPA don’t cover restoration of teeth, orthodontic and dental scaling ofteeth or dentures. And they dismissed the case.

As the dentist said that this was not ahole in the tooth or that there was a question about replacing a filling thatwas already there. But the tooth had cracked and the pain of it reached thenerves. A non-pre existing complaint.

I then wrote a mail to them and ask themreview our case again to see if all the procedures where followed correctly.And not being influence from a very unprofessional sales representativeguaranteeing us that it would not be covered.

Again they used over two weeks to getback to us and dismissed the case by saying, “we are able to cover for a dentaltreatment only for extraction and x-ray resulted from accident.”

So by getting a non-pre existingcomplaint and as the dentist said “that this was an accident. “ BUPA say thatit is not.

Also before we went to Norway I had toask the Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok for some general questions. And when Itold them I was using BUPA World Wide Travel Health Insurance,there reply and told me that this insurance wasn’t the best one in case weneeded to claim.

So if you read this story and you are goingto get insurance Think twice before using BUPA…

[transam]

Good post.

[kkerry]

If you had stayed at home would your wife still have had a cracked tooth? Otherwise what was the accident in your travels that caused the tooth to crack?

[transam]

If you had stayed at home would your wife still have had a cracked tooth? Otherwise what was the accident in your travels that caused the tooth to crack?

Don't get personal eh.

[StreetCowboy]

The BUPA cover I had specifically did not cover dental treatment, as I recall, except accident damage.

I was lucky (?) that I cracked off all my front teeth finding my feet in a new posting, and BUPA covered the whole whack, with not even a "sorry we can't read Chinese; get the receipts translated".

For every whinger that complains, there's a chancer that complains too. For every satisfied customer that applauds, there's ten that mumble quietly "aye"

SC

[Tonto21]

I’m on BUPA, I have 6 months left of a 12 month policy,lucky it’s a company one, funny thing is the company I worked for bought thispolicy in Feb, I’ve been forced to take leave, (fighting in Libya) policy stillin force……..Still on leave………Its free, BUPA’s OK.

I find it funny that the only time I, (we) ever read thesmall print of our policies is in the hospital waiting room.

[DanielToddGilbert]

[JimmyTheMook]

I dumped Bupa and would not recommend them.

[StreetCowboy]

I dumped Bupa and would not recommend them.

I was delighted with the service that I received from BUPA, but that was paid for through my employer. As I mentioned, I was satisfied with their service on my broken teeth, Also the natal care for both of my children. I suppose the only complaint I might have is that the passed us on to better government hospitals when that was appropriate, but that seems a fairly minor complaint

SC

[smokie36]

Disappointing to see so few posters replying. Highlights the large number with no insurance at all. To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

[StreetCowboy]

Disappointing to see so few posters replying. Highlights the large number with no insurance at all. To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

A thousand pounds, in the case of my teeth. The insurance was paid by the company so I do not know what cost to ascribe.

I am not currently budgeting adequately for medical risk; I hope I can rely on my employer, but that may not be the case now,,,

SC

[robblok]

Disappointing to see so few posters replying. Highlights the large number with no insurance at all. To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

You only know how good an insurance is once you have to collect from them. On paper it usually looks all nice. I like hearing stories like this will help me if i want to switch.

[endure]

The OP is talking about travel insurance not health insurance.

The policy booklet says Health Insurance exclusions are: "Any dental treatment except emergency treatment resulting from an accident. The Company will not reimburse the cost of dental reconstructive treatmeant, orthdontics, crowns, dentures, polishing, fillings."

[101734]

To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

That's what I think. I just renewed the platinum cover cost me 30k for the year, I drive a motorbike daily and as you know its nuts on the roads here i would rather have 2 million baht cover for that then nothing at all whilst laying in some soi bleeding to death.

Also for an extra 4k I got my missus covered, she said that was a nice thing to do, i said buying insurance for yourself was like buying a new car with 1 air bag, how selfish can you get.

[thaicbr]

To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

That's what I think. I just renewed the platinum cover cost me 30k for the year, I drive a motorbike daily and as you know its nuts on the roads here i would rather have 2 million baht cover for that then nothing at all whilst laying in some soi bleeding to death.

Also for an extra 4k I got my missus covered, she said that was a nice thing to do, i said buying insurance for yourself was like buying a new car with 1 air bag, how selfish can you get.

Maybe you need to double check your cover for riding a motorcycle. My BUPA only pays for 50% in the case of a motorcycle accident. To be fair though it is a cheap company policy.

[smokie36]

To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

That's what I think. I just renewed the platinum cover cost me 30k for the year, I drive a motorbike daily and as you know its nuts on the roads here i would rather have 2 million baht cover for that then nothing at all whilst laying in some soi bleeding to death.

Also for an extra 4k I got my missus covered, she said that was a nice thing to do, i said buying insurance for yourself was like buying a new car with 1 air bag, how selfish can you get.

I have a bank account which affords me 50k Baht cover. Samui's private hospital is known for checking the wallet before the pulse so piece of mind to know at least I won't be left there to bleed away....how many of us carry insurance details wherever we go?

[MZurf]

To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

That's what I think. I just renewed the platinum cover cost me 30k for the year, I drive a motorbike daily and as you know its nuts on the roads here i would rather have 2 million baht cover for that then nothing at all whilst laying in some soi bleeding to death.

Also for an extra 4k I got my missus covered, she said that was a nice thing to do, i said buying insurance for yourself was like buying a new car with 1 air bag, how selfish can you get.

I have a bank account which affords me 50k Baht cover. Samui's private hospital is known for checking the wallet before the pulse so piece of mind to know at least I won't be left there to bleed away....how many of us carry insurance details wherever we go?

I think that a great number of us do. I certainly do, and with a coverage way above 50000 Baht. That'll hardly get you through the front door of the private hospitals.

[smokie36]

I think that a great number of us do. I certainly do, and with a coverage way above 50000 Baht. That'll hardly get you through the front door of the private hospitals.

Getting through the front door was the point of my post. Of course any treatment will be way in excess of that and proper cover either through BUPA or others is essential in my view.

Not easy to explain your coverage if you are unconscious though is it?

[manarak]

I got a worldwide legal insurance and would just hand the case over to the lawyer at zero cost to me...

[endure]

I got a worldwide legal insurance and would just hand the case over to the lawyer at zero cost to me...

There is no case. The OP said that his wife began suffering from toothache. He didn't say she had problems with her teeth as the result of an accident.

[manarak]

I got a worldwide legal insurance and would just hand the case over to the lawyer at zero cost to me...

There is no case. The OP said that his wife began suffering from toothache. He didn't say she had problems with her teeth as the result of an accident.

then the lawyer would tell me exactly that.

OTOH, I am the kind of guy who actually reads the insurance contracts, so I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have disturbed him.

[ricklev]

To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

That's what I think. I just renewed the platinum cover cost me 30k for the year, I drive a motorbike daily and as you know its nuts on the roads here i would rather have 2 million baht cover for that then nothing at all whilst laying in some soi bleeding to death.

Also for an extra 4k I got my missus covered, she said that was a nice thing to do, i said buying insurance for yourself was like buying a new car with 1 air bag, how selfish can you get.

Maybe you need to double check your cover for riding a motorcycle. My BUPA only pays for 50% in the case of a motorcycle accident. To be fair though it is a cheap company policy.

I am pretty sure all policies cover motorcycle accident injury treatment the same as other accidents. The 50 percent payment is for loss of limbs, eyes etc from a motorcycle accident not for medical treatment.

[PattayaParent]

The OP is talking about travel insurance not health insurance.

The policy booklet says Health Insurance exclusions are: "Any dental treatment except emergency treatment resulting from an accident. The Company will not reimburse the cost of dental reconstructive treatmeant, orthdontics, crowns, dentures, polishing, fillings."

Exactly what mine says.

And I bet excatly what the OPs policy says so I don't see where he has a complaint.

[Livinginexile]

Disappointing to see so few posters replying. Highlights the large number with no insurance at all. To keep this in perspective BUPA is better than nothing by a long way....

Why does few replies equate to "large number with no insurance at all"?

This is a thread about BUPA. Not every expat uses this insurance company.

I myself am with LMG.

Please think before you post Smokie.

[wasabi]

I do not mean to belittle your experience but I was satisfied with BUPA and they came through when I needed them. It's very important to read the fine print with insurance and properly disclose any problems you have or you'll come up short when you think you're protected.

[qualtrough]

I am not in the habit of defending insurance companies, but my family have filed hospitalization claims with BUPA atleast five or six times over the years and in every instance the company paid up without any hassle and zero paperwork on our part. I also had no problem getting 100% reimbursement on their travel insurance when I visited an emergency clinic in the USA for stuffed up ears. The fee for the visit was 100 US and the prescription something like $150, and they paid that without batting an eye. Seems pretty clear that in this case the poster wants coverage for something that is specifically excluded from the policy.

[Shotime]

"Is this person a sales representative ora case representative?"

She was the first line of defense.

However, it seems that you didn't have a claim. It's good that dental work is cheep in Thailand.

[StreetCowboy]

"Is this person a sales representative ora case representative?"

She was the first line of defense.

However, it seems that you didn't have a claim. It's good that dental work is cheep in Thailand.

Birds don't have teeth

SC

[Jebhead]

I am not in the habit of defending insurance companies, but my family have filed hospitalization claims with BUPA atleast five or six times over the years and in every instance the company paid up without any hassle and zero paperwork on our part. I also had no problem getting 100% reimbursement on their travel insurance when I visited an emergency clinic in the USA for stuffed up ears. The fee for the visit was 100 US and the prescription something like $150, and they paid that without batting an eye. Seems pretty clear that in this case the poster wants coverage for something that is specifically excluded from the policy.

Likewise, i'm covered by BUPA by company and never had a problem with a them, had 2 claims. Had root canal work done and they also paid 80% of that, guess it's all about what level of coverage you have.

JH

[Heng]

There's no doubt that they pay out in most legit cases, or else they wouldn't be in business (on such a scale at that). It does seem that they do attempt to weasel their way out of paying a little more than other companies though. It's all relative.

And yes, they did the same to us way back when claiming 'pre-existing condition' for a relative's hernia surgery (implying that he applied for BUPA coverage and decided to try to tolerate hernia pain in his groin for 8 months so he could get '30% off' surgery.... the surgery was something like 60,000 and the BUPA coverage purchased was about 22,000 Baht). When confronted about why our AIA (we all have a few redundant policies) was willing to pay out, the local agent just grinned and said 'well you're lucky to have backup insurance, different companies have different criteria.'

Also recommend Met Life and State Farm for US and overseas Thais in the US. Both paid out relatively quickly (50-60 days) for deaths in the family on US policies even though the deaths occurred in Thailand (which has a history of locals doing cross border insurance fraud).