Health Insurance Vs. Self Insurance: Your Thoughts?

[jbrain]

Thank you for that well-reasoned and well documented analysis. I guess self-insurance is not an option for me because I have never been honest with myself.

My friend has paid from 12K to 17K P.A. for the 22 years hes been living here. Not one Claim, now hes had to cancel it at the age of 66 just when he may need it due to lack of funds. As Exeter says ,they are their for their benefit, not yours despite the We Care Rot. All that Money down the Tube, hes not a Happy Bunnie.

Can't hardly blame it on the insurance company that your friend ran out of funds at this age.

Or do you claim that the company raised the premium to an extraordinary level starting 66 years old?

[Ace of Pop]

Thank you for that well-reasoned and well documented analysis. I guess self-insurance is not an option for me because I have never been honest with myself.

My friend has paid from 12K to 17K P.A. for the 22 years hes been living here. Not one Claim, now hes had to cancel it at the age of 66 just when he may need it due to lack of funds. As Exeter says ,they are their for their benefit, not yours despite the We Care Rot. All that Money down the Tube, hes not a Happy Bunnie.

Money down the tube? So he has not been insured all those years? Or wait, he wanted to get a serious illness so he could recoup some of his premiums, that must be it.

Rot.. That is not the point, you dont cut yourself to use a band aid.He could have enjoyed that money on Luvley Leo Beer.

[Ace of Pop]

Thank you for that well-reasoned and well documented analysis. I guess self-insurance is not an option for me because I have never been honest with myself.

My friend has paid from 12K to 17K P.A. for the 22 years hes been living here. Not one Claim, now hes had to cancel it at the age of 66 just when he may need it due to lack of funds. As Exeter says ,they are their for their benefit, not yours despite the We Care Rot. All that Money down the Tube, hes not a Happy Bunnie.

Can't hardly blame it on the insurance company that your friend ran out of funds at this age.

Or do you claim that the company raised the premium to an extraordinary level starting 66 years old?

Nah he got scammed by the Thai Wife, should have insured against that. I would not give a Penny to any scheme here.Especialy BUPA.

[stevenl]

Thank you for that well-reasoned and well documented analysis. I guess self-insurance is not an option for me because I have never been honest with myself.

My friend has paid from 12K to 17K P.A. for the 22 years hes been living here. Not one Claim, now hes had to cancel it at the age of 66 just when he may need it due to lack of funds. As Exeter says ,they are their for their benefit, not yours despite the We Care Rot. All that Money down the Tube, hes not a Happy Bunnie.

Money down the tube? So he has not been insured all those years? Or wait, he wanted to get a serious illness so he could recoup some of his premiums, that must be it.

Rot.. That is not the point, you dont cut yourself to use a band aid.He could have enjoyed that money on Luvley Leo Beer.

But if the expiry date on the band aid runs out you have to throw it away.

[JLCrab]

My Penny or satang's worth:

You've never been burned

But ev'rybody's somebody's foll (Ye-ah)

Edited April 26, 2013 by JLCrab

[Naam]

Thank you for that well-reasoned and well documented analysis. I guess self-insurance is not an option for me because I have never been honest with myself.

My friend has paid from 12K to 17K P.A. for the 22 years hes been living here. Not one Claim, now hes had to cancel it at the age of 66 just when he may need it due to lack of funds. As Exeter says ,they are their for their benefit, not yours despite the We Care Rot. All that Money down the Tube, hes not a Happy Bunnie.

would he now be happier if he had fallen sick once a year and filing 22 claims?

[Ace of Pop]

Well Nam, he is a Scot so possibly Yes. .Hes dumb imo,hes a fit guy,and goes to the U.K for 2 Months every year, where its free. JL Crab said it all, some need it some dont..

[jbrain]

Well Nam, he is a Scot so possibly Yes. .Hes dumb imo,hes a fit guy,and goes to the U.K for 2 Months every year, where its free. JL Crab said it all, some need it some dont..

The problem is that you never know upfront if you gonna need it or not. Your friend hadn't need it but, if hadn't had the insurance there would have probably been a case of Murphy's law.

By the way in the UK healthcare is free but, according to the stories I read lately, do you think 2 months is sufficient to see a doctor in the UK ?

Edited April 26, 2013 by jbrain

[THAIPHUKET]

For whatever reason some of us will remain insured in their home country only and consequently be uninsured in Thailand Because big accident /emergency can always happen, has anyone looked into the question of ambulance flights back home and their insurability?

Rescue flights are available, but I know only for travelers, not for permanent retirees. May worth exploring

[stevenl]

For whatever reason some of us will remain insured in their home country only and consequently be uninsured in Thailand Because big accident /emergency can always happen, has anyone looked into the question of ambulance flights back home and their insurability?

Rescue flights are available, but I know only for travelers, not for permanent retirees. May worth exploring

Permanent retirees can insure themselves for rescue flights.

[citizen33]

By the way in the UK healthcare is free but, according to the stories I read lately, do you think 2 months is sufficient to see a doctor in the UK ?

It is true that these are worrying times with the economic recession putting real pressure on NHS finances. There has been real progress on waiting times, but this is likely to slip now and yes, two months may be tight. Just out of interest this is the current position as I understand it.

England

Referral to treatment (RTT) target of 18 weeks. In the NHS Operating Framework 2012-13, the operational standards are 90 per cent for admitted and 95 per cent for non-admitted completed waits as set out in the NHS Constitution. In order to sustain the delivery of these standards, trusts will need to ensure that 92 per cent of patients on an incomplete pathway should have been waiting no more than 18 weeks. Patients must be seen by a specialist within a maximum of two weeks from GP referral for urgent referrals where cancer is suspected.

Wales

Referral to treatment (RTT) target of 26 weeks. 90% of patients referred by primary care will receive their treatment within 26 weeks or less. All patients whose care is too complex to be undertaken within 26 weeks or those who choose to wait longer receive their definitive treatment within maximum of 36 weeks. Patients suspected of having cancer will be seen by a specialist within 2 weeks of referral by a GP.

Scotland

2012-13 Health Improvement (HEAT) standard require 90% of elective patients to start treatment within 18 weeks of referral, and no patient should wait more than 12 weeks to see a specialist in an outpatient clinic. Health boards working towards meeting legally binding guarantee of maximum 12 weeks treatment time (TTG) introduced by Patient Rights (Scotland) Act. 95 per cent of all patients diagnosed with cancer to begin treatment within 31 days of decision to treat, and 95 per cent of those referred urgently with a suspicion of cancer to begin treatment within 62 days of receipt of referral.

Northern Ireland

The 2012/13 Ministerial waiting times target, for outpatient waiting times in Northern Ireland, states that from April 2012, at least 50% of patients should wait no longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, and no patient should wait longer than 21 weeks. This will increase to 60% by March 2013 and no patient waiting longer than 18 weeks. Cancer patients should start treatment within 62 days of referral.

Of course, if you one of the minority of patients for whom the standards are missed things don't look so good.

Edited April 27, 2013 by citizen33

[THAIPHUKET]

Gosh Citizen33, am I lucky to be under German health insurance! It´s worth every cent!

[Naam]

Gosh Citizen33, am I lucky to be under German health insurance! It´s worth every cent!

come on! we have lost the war. how can our health insurance be worth something?

[THAIPHUKET]

For those who can get treated back home, say get an operation, one needs to think further= what next? Where to stay for rehab, still got a place to go to? Cost?

Important= Is there a point if you want and physically could come back to Thailand, say after a treatment for a stroke ,where at the airport an immigration officer could say= Sorry, you don´t look healthy enough, admission denied?

Possible? What then?

Edited April 28, 2013 by THAIPHUKET