What Insurance Options Are Available For My Wife & 4 Month Baby?

[LDNBKK86]

Hi All,

I would like some advise on what insurance options are available for my Wife (Thai) & 4 month old son (Thai / UK)

We currently live in Bangkok and I would like a policy for my family. I have insurance with Bupa to cover me while in Thailand but this is up for renewal shortly.

Insurance for expats is costly, at least in my experience. I would presume insurance for thai nationals would be cheaper but mostly cover the same areas.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks

[JoePai]

Maybe your best option is to talk to a broker who can offer you several different plans to compare. For a well know, reliable broker go HERE - they also speak English !

[kamalabob2]

I've paid for in patient health insurance while living in Thailand for two years with "Thai Health Insurance" and for the past 4 or 5 years with BUPA Thailand. There is NOT a difference in price for Thai citizens or non citizens. But both "Thai Health Insurance" (which is a company associated with "Thai Life Insurance") and BUPA THAILAND offer many plans and of course the age of the insured play a major role in your possible premiums. As the previous reply suggests you can check with a licensed insurance broker who can offer you several plans with several reputable companies to consider. I've had fantastic service from Eric Dohlon who is a dual citizen, bilingual and has an office in Phuket near Tesco. I live "Up Country", but using those modern tools such as the internet and a telephone one can communicate very well. I feel confident working with a native English speaker, who grew up in Thailand and understands how things "really work" in Thailand. I do not know anything about BUPA INTERNATIONAL coverage or premiums.

I've posted how BUPA Thailand premiums do not necessarily go up each and every year, how they really do offer a discount if 3 or more people are on one policy (even with different plans) and they really do pay the 10% rebate if you have a no claims year. Most importantly they did pay promptly with no run around on the few occasions we had the need for health insurance. BUPA and Thai Health Insurance have both paid hospitals more in medical payments than the premiums I have paid in six years, and we have never had any major operations.

"Out patient" health coverage "might not pencil out" in Thailand and should be approached with caution in my limited one year experience. I did not heed Eric's sensible advise on that part of my first year policy with Thai Health Insurance and Eric was correct on how it "did not pencil out".

[aussiebebe]

Hi, I just wanted to give advice to the OP about insurance for Thai wife and son. As long as your wife is working or has worked in the last two years, Social Security is the staple option. I'm in the position of working here, so I have SS, as does my wife, and I have health insurance from my work from the company 'Thai Insurance' through which I purchased separate policies for my wife and son. I think this covers most of the bases and I've used both Social Security and the Thai insurance so I know the differences between how you are treated and dealt with.

With Social Security you have to go to a designated hospital and all inpatient and outpatient care is free, it covers all forms of sickness and accidents. If your wife has SS already and has stopped work for good (resigned) she can and should continue to make the monthly payments herself at the local office. The difference is that obviously private insurance gives swifter care with less waiting and a higher standard of room if admitted. SS care will involve a lengthier wait (OPD) and shared room if admitted or longer wait for operation (IPD) whereas any operation will be scheduled instantly under a private health care scheme.

[LDNBKK86]

Hi All, Thank you for your advise. I have contacted AA Insurance and received a speedy reply with all the answers to my questions. I think i will move forward and take out insurance via them. One thing i did like was that i can pay monthly, this wasn't an option with Bupa (for me anyway).

Aussiebebe - thank you for your info regarding SS, we are not in a position to receive this as my wife has not worked during the last 2 years. I, myself work of an overseas company and health insurance is not really an option.

Thanks again

[simonphuket]

.... I've had fantastic service from Eric Dohlon who is a dual citizen, bilingual and has an office in Phuket near Tesco. ......

Late reply, I just see this post . Do you have any contact info of Mr. Eric Dohlon? I live in Phuket and my wife and (Thai) are also looking for a good insurance. Thanks!