Do you know that in a Thai hospital, if you are injured the will stabilize you, but not provide the surgery or treatment need until money or put down suitable recognizable insurance is produced? If your self insured, get hurt or badly sick, and incapacitated to the point of not being able to call for help; what then?

As a parent of a teen, I too self insured with a special fund set aside for medical emergencies when I moved to Thailand, but soon decided it was responsible to provide a solution if a family member is either unable to communicate or unfortunately becomes incapacitated.

Why do I even look at the insurance forum ?

Always gets me going. Medical cost here are less than my deductable cost in the states.

3 months ago my heart stopped, 1669 called, Ambulance ride to hospital. restarting my heart, X rays, ER work, Heart test, IV's all drugs. ICU for a few nights., regular room for 1 more night. Heart tests, and all doctor bills total price was 4700 Baht. My sister back in the states said the cost would be $80,000 - $150,000

My fathers ICU for a month on life support at RAM hospital was not 1m Baht either

This is why I am thinking seriously about self insurance. However the above example forgets that you may be in for a long period of decline, involving regular outpatients visits (which most people opt out of when choosing an insurance) for years, therapy, expensive drugs.

I doubt any isurer would renew the policy when it expired konwing they would have to continue paying out for years.