Thai Health Ministry Considering Plan To Force Foreign Tourists To Buy Insurance

[Lingba]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous.

Ridiculous enough for many, many other countries to do the same. EU, Schengen, many others. It is so easy and cheap to get, everyone should have it anyway.

I agree other places do it and still don't agree with that tactic...there are still alot of respectable people that simply can't afford the exhorbinant rates....This whole thing that we have evolved into with being dependant on Insurance companies has gotten out of hand...I've always questioned why the cost of someones well being has to be so out of reach

[howzat]

if a Thai National visits overseas to a country where a visa is required one of the requirements before a visa is granted is that they must have full travel and medical insurance or no visa given so I guess that Thailand is moving in the same direction.

[toenail]

I would think MOST tourists that come here have some kind of insurance plan, if it is that much of a problem, then have the tourist show their insurance documents. (How do other countries handle this?- In the USA an illegal alien can get free medical care in an USA hospital before I ever could (as a tax paying citizen). All I know if the Thai government got involved with selling "tourist insurance" it would be so mishandled that the money would go in some offical's pocket. So predictable.

[Sheryl]

Can someone tell me how you get out of a Thai hospital without settling the bill? I have a friend that was treated in a local hospital and was escorted to the bank ATM to get the money before he was allowed to go.....

What I have many times seen is someone really critically ill and in the hospital for so long that the bill is already outrageous and then they (or their families, as not infrequently the person is still unresponsive) can't pay it and if the hospital just hangs on to them, the bill just gets all the higher so what to do....often in this scenario some plan to transfer the patient back to their home country is worked out as there is no end in sight to the catastrophic costs. If the hospital doesn't cooperate, all they get is even more unpaid costs and a critically ill or chronically comatose patient they can't get rid of. Which by that stage they are very eager to do.

Or, the person dies. The hospital can refuse to release the body but there isn't necessarily anyone who will care if they do, and what good is the dead body to them in that case?

So yes, despite hospitals' best efforts, they do sometimes end up not getting paid and it is often big $ that was involved.

[MyFriend You]

Well, usually if you pay your ticket with a credit card , there is always an insurance included no ? How can they impose to tourists any insurance ? non sense but I agree on the principle , Thailand doesn't have to pay for those who cannot afford to pay medical expenses here. I said it before , those coming on tourist visa can have a proof of insurance when applying for visa. Thais must give this insurance when they travel to Europe. I also need a special insurance when I travel in some countries.

I am surprised they don't start selling Health Insurance upon arrival - that would make better sense, a source of Income, covers the hospital bills

when someone has to go into emergency rooms. But that would take someone to actually THINK!!! I have Gopvt Insurance, but still buy Vacation Health insurance in countries that offer it, normally the premiums are not too bad, Couple Hundred $$ per year, little more for SOS w/evac...................I take care of myself because I know three people wiithout a right arm now because some backwater Thai Doctor amputated a arm that would have been re=attached in the First world.............I like my arms.

[h5kaf]

40 % of this hospital visits is made by expats living in the country. A higher fee on air fare and hotels does not effect the expats living in Thailand.

But if these fees are implemented does that mean as an expat living in the Kingdom we get free medical care?

Or will the next rule be: A proof of medical insurance when you apply for a visa?

I suspect that as regards the high hospital bills that go unpaid it is a lot more than 40%, it is a large majority that is due to long term expats....many of whom are no longer able to access the health systems of their home countries due to having lost residency etc. Which is obviously not an issue for tourists.

It may be hard for the Govt to get a full handle on since as we all know, being in a tourist visa doesn't necessarily mean one is not living here longterm or most of the time. That's even assuming they have data on the visa types of expats with unpaid bills, which they may not.

A mandatory insurance policy for one year visa extensions has been mooted for some time and I expect will happen sooner or later. It's not unfeasible since there is a detailed examination of documents involved anyhow. And who knows, maybe it would give a much needed impetus for a lower price, policy covering expats for care in govt hospitals only and regardless of age and pre-existing conditions. Which would be a win-win. Lots of expats unable to get insurance here, or unable to afford what is on the market which are comparatively costly plans aimed at ensuring access to private hospitals (not that these aren't worth getting if you can...but there is a potential market for something more basic and downscale).

A mandatory policy for tourists on the other hand does not seem feasible to implement. How on earth would immigration sort out who has what type of insurance covering what where? They'd end up just slapping a tax of some kind on everyone despite many people being already adequately covered. ,

Three points.

It may not be necessary to pass this idea into law. If local immigration officers decide that this is what they are going to insist upon, then some of us could find ourselves having to have health insurance in addition to other financial requirements when going for an extension permit to stay for 1 year. Some immigration offices still require the health certificate though this is no longer mandatory. Local officers seem to have a great deal of autonomy.

My second point concerns insurance for the aged. It is not always the case that as one gets older one gets more ill, but older people do tend to be more at risk of heart related illness and cancer. The premiums for people over 65 could be very high and the demand for services in local hospitals would inevitably increase (both in quantity and quality) if large numbers of foreigners were being seen and admitted. If the Thais saw a double standard in treatment terms there could be problems.

Finally I have a point about the way in which Thai insurance companies cost premiums. I had a Thai health insurance policy and had to go into hospital for 2 weeks with a second dose of Dengue Fever. In the private Bangkok Phuket hospital the bill was very large, but was paid by the insurance company. When my policy came up for renewal the premium had jumped by a huge amount. When I queried this I was told that they aimed to recover the amount they had paid out over about 3 years. I asked if after they had recovered this amount, and I had no further claims, would my premiums go back to the previous level? The answer NO. Conclusion the concept of "pooled risk" does not exist any payout is a temporary recoverable loan.

[Thereisnoif]

Just try to go to BNH,Bumrungrad or Samitivej and get treatment before flashing a credit card ...

[bdenner]

If I read the article correctly according to this nutcase some 8.3% (2.5/30) of visitors toThailand each year require hospital treatment and none of them pay.

8.3% need medical treatment??? we're in Thailand not Afganistan, Solalia or the like!

WHAT UTTER ROT!

Edited March 13, 2013 by bdenner

[Jingthing]

...

It may not be necessary to pass this idea into law. If local immigration officers decide that this is what they are going to insist upon, then some of us could find ourselves having to have health insurance in addition to other financial requirements when going for an extension permit to stay for 1 year. Some immigration offices still require the health certificate though this is no longer mandatory. Local officers seem to have a great deal of autonomy.

...

I consider the likelihood of offices enforcing an insurance requirement without an actual national rule to be VERY REMOTE. Your point about a FEW outlier offices requiring those health forms is true, but that is a small number of smaller offices.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Jingthing

[MyFriend You]

if a Thai National visits overseas to a country where a visa is required one of the requirements before a visa is granted is that they must have full travel and medical insurance or no visa given so I guess that Thailand is moving in the same direction.

When I send my employees to training in any other country, I have to show proof of medical Insurance, and normally it has tobe purchased before they depart............I sent a guy to Germany for training on a telephone system, Two weeks Health Insurance put us back $350, but they wouldn't give the Visa without it.....................so what goes around comes around, I think its a good law, but has to be realistically managed by the Thai Govt to be effective................Never happen.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous.

Ridiculous enough for many, many other countries to do the same. EU, Schengen, many others. It is so easy and cheap to get, everyone should have it anyway.

I agree other places do it and still don't agree with that tactic...there are still alot of respectable people that simply can't afford the exhorbinant rates....This whole thing that we have evolved into with being dependant on Insurance companies has gotten out of hand...I've always questioned why the cost of someones well being has to be so out of reach

What exorbitant rates? We're talking about travel insurance that provides coverage for the very short time you are visiting as a tourist. It is very, very cheap.

[venturalaw]

40 % of this hospital visits is made by expats living in the country. A higher fee on air fare and hotels does not effect the expats living in Thailand.

But if these fees are implemented does that mean as an expat living in the Kingdom we get free medical care?

Or will the next rule be: A proof of medical insurance when you apply for a visa?

"Or will the next rule be: A proof of medical insurance when you apply for a visa? "

My bet is that will be the next spurious requirement for visas and visa extensions by the powers that be.

[johnlandy]

Well, usually if you pay your ticket with a credit card , there is always an insurance included no ? How can they impose to tourists any insurance ? non sense but I agree on the principle , Thailand doesn't have to pay for those who cannot afford to pay medical expenses here. I said it before , those coming on tourist visa can have a proof of insurance when applying for visa. Thais must give this insurance when they travel to Europe. I also need a special insurance when I travel in some countries.

Can't speak for Europe but Thais do not have to take out inurance to visit the Antipodes (unless it has just become a requirement)

I myself have probably travelled around the world 10 times and only once have I ever taken out insurance.

[cycloneJ]

No idea how this figure compares with other nationalities - 48%!

Foreign Office’s annual British Behaviour Abroad report 1 April 2011-31 March 2012

New research by the Foreign Office revealed that of the 2,000 Brits surveyed nearly half (48%) do not realise that without travel insurance they would be liable to pay for their own medical bills if injured or taken ill abroad.

An emergency abroad can be extremely expensive - medical treatment can cost thousands of pounds and last year consular staff witnessed a number of distressing cases involving families having to raise vast sums of money to pay hospital and repatriation bills.

The research also revealed that nearly four out of five (78%) people admitted that they would not have the money to hand to pay £10,000 to cover hospital bills of an uninsured loved one abroad.

Source and full report

[RubbaJohnny]

Can anybody remember the last time they went to a so called "public" hospital and was reasonably charged?

Yes I have no complaints here,having gone alone and with other falangs all over Siam.

K Phet private Hospital superb service admittedly a decade ago 700baht a day

C Rai 50 baht

Other local places for check ups 30 baht consultation ,never more than 1000 baht for an overnight after bike accident in 2011

I have been gouged in USA paid for friends examination 10 minutes in Santa Barbara 400$,In Cuba or Qatr free.

France prescription medicines that were free in Hungary 12 Euros inSain were 112 in Basque clinic.

All in all pricewise Siam hard to beat,quality may be an ssue but having wrked in an Itaian medical school visited Qatar Uk Dutch and Australian Hospitals I think we have more to fear from the politicians and drunk drivers than the Drs and nurses here.

If you have the choice theJesuit Hospital in Pamplona is where Spanish royals choose to check out top notch and some very obliging nurses

Edited March 13, 2013 by RubbaJohnny

[Beetlejuice]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous...why can't the hospitals take responsibility for their own decisions on they choose to treat or not treat..plain and simple...I for one would refuse to be coerced into purchasing something I don't agree with...Sounds like to me the Insurance are actually the ones behind this strong arm tactic

Total rubbish.

So if you are involved in an serious accident or suffer a major heart attack and require urgent medical attention otherwise you would die, but do not have enough funds to meet the costs of your treatment, then the hospital consider you unworthy for treatment, would you agree with the decision of the hospital?

No! Not if these issues affected you are someone close to you personally.

You would be thinking; if only I would have taken out full accident or medical insurance policy coverage.

[Jim walker]

If you are rushed to a Thai hospital in an emergency
situation the first thing they need is your credit card details, then once they
have these you will then become a urgent priority very important patient and
get an excellent service and treatment, I found this to be very true last year
in Bangkok, when I was admitted to hospital for a urgent operation, it was a
first class service all the way.

[chiang mai]

Ban tourists over 50 or certify they are wealthy before they are allowed to get a ticket to Thailand.

Don't most tourists take out some sort of travel insurance covering illness and emergency treatment?

Why 50, why not 45 or 40? And let's not forget that children get sick more often than adults, let's include the under 15 year olds also! And then perhaps we can start screening at the airport, at the travellers expense of course, for anyone with substandard DNA or a propensity towards accidents!!

[ccarbaugh]

"As through this world I've wandered,
I've seen lots of funny men,
Some will rob you with a six-gun
And some with a fountain pen." Woodie Guthrie

[Lingba]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous...why can't the hospitals take responsibility for their own decisions on they choose to treat or not treat..plain and simple...I for one would refuse to be coerced into purchasing something I don't agree with...Sounds like to me the Insurance are actually the ones behind this strong arm tactic

Total rubbish.

So if you are involved in an serious accident or suffer a major heart attack and require urgent medical attention otherwise you would die, but do not have enough funds to meet the costs of your treatment, then the hospital consider you unworthy for treatment, would you agree with the decision of the hospital?

No! Not if these issues affected you are someone close to you personally.

You would be thinking; if only I would have taken out full accident or medical insurance policy coverage.

The Point I'm trying to make is I don't agree with FOIRCING people to have to do something like buy insurance...stop going off on tangents.....Maybe I'd rather take the chance and not buy it and if something dopes happen will pay out of pocket...MY choice and its always about ones choice...not extortion

[stoli]

Welcome to ObamaCare. Next they say your yard must have a lawn, so you must hire a gardner. Then you must look handsome. You must buy a new suit from a tailor on Beach Road. How did you ever live without being told what to do?

[NewlyMintedThai]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous...why can't the hospitals take responsibility for their own decisions on they choose to treat or not treat..plain and simple...I for one would refuse to be coerced into purchasing something I don't agree with...Sounds like to me the Insurance are actually the ones behind this strong arm tactic

Total rubbish.

So if you are involved in an serious accident or suffer a major heart attack and require urgent medical attention otherwise you would die, but do not have enough funds to meet the costs of your treatment, then the hospital consider you unworthy for treatment, would you agree with the decision of the hospital?

No! Not if these issues affected you are someone close to you personally.

You would be thinking; if only I would have taken out full accident or medical insurance policy coverage.

The Point I'm trying to make is I don't agree with FOIRCING people to have to do something like buy insurance...stop going off on tangents.....Maybe I'd rather take the chance and not buy it and if something dopes happen will pay out of pocket...MY choice and its always about ones choice...not extortion

Do you feel the same way about insurance for your car?

[ginjag]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous...why can't the hospitals take responsibility for their own decisions on they choose to treat or not treat..plain and simple...I for one would refuse to be coerced into purchasing something I don't agree with...Sounds like to me the Insurance are actually the ones behind this strong arm tactic

Total rubbish.

So if you are involved in an serious accident or suffer a major heart attack and require urgent medical attention otherwise you would die, but do not have enough funds to meet the costs of your treatment, then the hospital consider you unworthy for treatment, would you agree with the decision of the hospital?

No! Not if these issues affected you are someone close to you personally.

You would be thinking; if only I would have taken out full accident or medical insurance policy coverage.

The Point I'm trying to make is I don't agree with FOIRCING people to have to do something like buy insurance...stop going off on tangents.....Maybe I'd rather take the chance and not buy it and if something dopes happen will pay out of pocket...MY choice and its always about ones choice...not extortion

Try to get insurance if you are over 70, and a rhumatic prob or kidney stones, Please give info ???

Love totake one out, SO PLEASE make me buy one.

[bunnaag]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous...why can't the hospitals take responsibility for their own decisions on they choose to treat or not treat..plain and simple...I for one would refuse to be coerced into purchasing something I don't agree with...Sounds like to me the Insurance are actually the ones behind this strong arm tactic

Total rubbish.

So if you are involved in an serious accident or suffer a major heart attack and require urgent medical attention otherwise you would die, but do not have enough funds to meet the costs of your treatment, then the hospital consider you unworthy for treatment, would you agree with the decision of the hospital?

No! Not if these issues affected you are someone close to you personally.

You would be thinking; if only I would have taken out full accident or medical insurance policy coverage.

The Point I'm trying to make is I don't agree with FOIRCING people to have to do something like buy insurance...stop going off on tangents.....Maybe I'd rather take the chance and not buy it and if something dopes happen will pay out of pocket...MY choice and its always about ones choice...not extortion

Try to get insurance if you are over 70, and a rhumatic prob or kidney stones, Please give info ???

Love totake one out, SO PLEASE make me buy one.

I also would like to know who will insure for which amount people above 70

[impulse]

It's easy enough to do. When you arrive in the country you have to show a copy of your insurance policy along with your passport. If you don't have insurance you have to buy a standard policy nominated by the government (eg Somchai's Health and Jetski insurance Co.) or else you are refused entry.

Disagree, take the money where the cost is in Thailand, too many insurances with a longer list of exemptions than treatments accepted and people just don't read the small print. Pay at the door is in the best interests of Thailand and if implemented correctly would be a better option for the tourist. You pay you get treatment. Ex- pats pay on visa renewal.

You pay, you get treatment?

Everyone who needs expensive medical care would flock to Thailand and buy insurance at the border.

[stoli]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous.

Ridiculous enough for many, many other countries to do the same. EU, Schengen, many others. It is so easy and cheap to get, everyone should have it anyway.

Easy and Cheap. Words that you do not hear in America when discussing health insurance. I finally quit when it hit $3,000 a month for just myself, because I had previously had a stent put into a heart artery in Nevada. $3,000 a month is almost 100,000 baht a month! Last year a visit to a hospital in Nevada when I was short of breath and pain from a hernia in Nevada. 6 hours of tests was $12,000 US. Moved to Thailand. I can easily self insure here.

[Lingba]

Forcing people to buy insurance is ridiculous...why can't the hospitals take responsibility for their own decisions on they choose to treat or not treat..plain and simple...I for one would refuse to be coerced into purchasing something I don't agree with...Sounds like to me the Insurance are actually the ones behind this strong arm tactic

Total rubbish.

So if you are involved in an serious accident or suffer a major heart attack and require urgent medical attention otherwise you would die, but do not have enough funds to meet the costs of your treatment, then the hospital consider you unworthy for treatment, would you agree with the decision of the hospital?

No! Not if these issues affected you are someone close to you personally.

You would be thinking; if only I would have taken out full accident or medical insurance policy coverage.

The Point I'm trying to make is I don't agree with FOIRCING people to have to do something like buy insurance...stop going off on tangents.....Maybe I'd rather take the chance and not buy it and if something dopes happen will pay out of pocket...MY choice and its always about ones choice...not extortion

Do you feel the same way about insurance for your car?

I believe in the right to make my own choice about health/travelm insurance...we're not talking about car insurance...stick with the topic at hand

[jocko]

I hope they decide soon then i can decide if i am staying or going.

[LomSak27]

Stoli this is about forcing tourists to buy insurance it has nothing to do with the United States or Obama.

If you need to bellow about things turn on faux news, if you post here, don't make a fool of yourself.

[Thai at Heart]

People here on a tourist visa (with all the ramifications involved) are answering here as if everyone in Thailand was a tourist. Retirement visa people the same, etc, etc, we haven't had anyone yet answering as if everyone lived in Pattaya, thank goodness.

The problem has to be with older expats that have no insurance, or that have an insurance that has precondition exceptions making it almost worthless. I paid health insurance for 47 years, hardly ever using it, to find myself in Thailand at the age of 64 without insurance. I just squeezed in to get a health insurance, the precondition possibly means that I will die here in great pain. I made a decision.

The problem is that many expats just avoid thinking about the problem of health insurance, life and the universe and everything, until it is too late.

My wife to be had to get health insurance before she came to the Schengen community to visit me; I don't see why it shouldn't work the other way around. People turning up at public hospitals without money make it difficult for other people to get decent treatment.

I visited someone in a public hospital recently and it seemed to me like a mix of hospitals in the Uk and an oriental bazaar. It certainly wasn't a boring place.

They should allow foreigners on retirement visas into the social system for say 10k per year.

That is a lot more than most Thais pay, is affordable and a simple requirement. Job done.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Thai at Heart