BUPA in Thailand.

[PostmanPat]

I have been a fully paid up member of BUPA now since I was 59, now approaching 65, living in Thailand all that time. Yesterday, a British Insurance agent, trying to interest me in an alternative healthcare insurance package told me that BUPA would in effect, kick me out of BUPA when I get to age 70.

I cannot find anything in the BUPA smallprint to this effect, and before I approach BUPA Thailand on this rather worrying allegation, can anyone out there throw any light on this suggestion? If there are people reading this who are past 70 and still in BUPA it would be a relief to know!

Any info gratefully received. By the way, in the six years in BUPA Thailand I havent made a single claim and consider myself to be very healthy, certainly not a bad risk or anything like that.

Thanks, everyone!!

[metisdead]

I think this belongs in the Insurance Forum, moving topic there for better answers.

[Tywais]

3 or 4 years ago they (BUPA Thailand) honored an 84 year old couple as the oldest members so would say 70 is not a limit. The print actually says 'for life' as long as you maintain payments and get in before 60. Sounds like the agent is blowing smoke up your skirt.

[stevenl]

See the previous answer.

In addition, the premiums will rise.

[thailandsam]

I have just renewed my BUPA for another year and I am 68, I have been told they will only cover me until I am 71.

[Baerboxer]

I have just renewed my BUPA for another year and I am 68, I have been told they will only cover me until I am 71.

A silly question. Did you renew in Thailand or outside of Thailand. Just wondering if the Thai "partners" operate to their own rules rather than BUPA's.

[Tywais]

I have just renewed my BUPA for another year and I am 68, I have been told they will only cover me until I am 71.

A silly question. Did you renew in Thailand or outside of Thailand. Just wondering if the Thai "partners" operate to their own rules rather than BUPA's.

From the BUPA Thailand website:

Guarantee lifetime renewal You can renew your policy with us for lifelong if you apply your health insurance before 60 years old. It guarantees you that you will always be protected by Bupa even if you are at your old ages.

[aussiebebe]

I have BUPA health insurance and if anyone told me there were age limitations I'd politely say 'Excuse me, I'll just call BUPA to check that...'. the general inquiries number is right on the back of the card, it's pretty easy to check. If an insurance agent saw you pull out your phone and your BUPA card they would probably stop trying to BS you.

[TheSwede99]

When I signed my insurance (2011) I was told to do it before 61 years of age in order to be able to renew it throughout my lifetime. Was I deceived or has the age limit changed? Will I not be able to renew after 70?

[RBOP]

We switched from BUPA to Allianz. One of our consultants is 80yrs young and gets covered. But his fees are really high.

[barryofthailand]

I've been with Bupa for ten yrs. now and I am 68 yrs. old. The premiums only go up every 5 yrs. and like the other posts tat talk about age guarantees if you took out your policy before the age of 60 then you are guaranteed renewal for a lifetime. I have only had one claim in ten yrs. and my premiums remain the same with a 15% discount which is the discretion of the branch manager.

Barry

[Robbie Dye]

BUPA told me they continue to cover unless your claims get very high, so usual story, if healthy they cover but Premiums of course go up, if u get a nasty prolonged lurgy they will cover the existing year but then I suspect pull the plug. This is why so many return home to their various government provided health services.

[shaurene]

I have just renewed my BUPA for another year and I am 68, I have been told they will only cover me until I am 71.

I had my insurance in New Zealand for over 40yrs but they get rid of you I old age by increasing your payments and also cutting down your illness covers and lower their cover amount you can claim. I had to pull out. That's what they bank on.

[tragickingdom]

It really depends on which BUPA package you have. BUPA and AIA and with it all the American like programs are rip-offs anyhow. I have no idea what your Nationality is, but in countries where healthcare insurance is mandatory you are far better off (cheaper and better/saver coverage) to go to a local insurance company with coverage for countries not being the US. But if you can't find it in the fine print you must be okay. Otherwise simply phone the head office and if you do not want to identify yourself make a general inquiry.

[lahgon29]

I've been with Bupa for ten yrs. now and I am 68 yrs. old. The premiums only go up every 5 yrs. and like the other posts tat talk about age guarantees if you took out your policy before the age of 60 then you are guaranteed renewal for a lifetime. I have only had one claim in ten yrs. and my premiums remain the same with a 15% discount which is the discretion of the branch manager.

Barry

Could you let me know which city you are in and how to get a Branch Manager? I joined last December -58yo- and I was told that after 65yo my premiums would rise by 10% a year after 65yo, plus normal fee rises. I joined online through Bangkok. I worked out that if I [hopefully] make 80, I would be paying a fortune. From what you say what I was told was wrong. I haven't made a claim, and am still holding on to my BUPA Australia at present. If your claim is correct, I could drop my Aus BUPA.

[wpcoe]

Coincidentally, I just posted this in the Health, Body & Medicine forum last night:

On a BUPA Platinum Plan fact sheet I picked up in the Pattaya BUPA office this week:

"Renewal is guaranteed up to and including the age of 70 years. However, if you join before the age of 61 and are continuously insured, renewal is guaranteed for life."

Granted, it doesn't say at what cost they offer the insurance, as the chart of annual subscription costs tops out at a 61-65 age bracket. Also, it might be different for different plans.

[Suradit69]

We switched from BUPA to Allianz. One of our consultants is 80yrs young and gets covered. But his fees are really high.

That's the thing. There are no printed, published rates at those ages, so they'll charge you what they believe works to their advantage and/or makes you leave.

If you're in good health (i.e. don't make many claims), no problem, but rest assured that if you have problems that look to get expensive, you'll pay for it. It's very much like a casino. Some individuals may win substantial amounts from time to time, but never forget in the end the house/BUPA will be the winner.

Nothing wrong with that. BUPA is a business, not a charity, but if you have visions of months of high cost care for serious illnesses, year after year, while you pay minimal rates, think again. Government health care programs may pick up the tab for the catastrophic outliers, but no private insurer is going to have those deep pockets.

I kept BUPA for about 5 years and never made a claim, so each year got a small rebate to lure me back again. Fortunately at 65 my former employer is paying me 80% of anything medical, dental, eyeglasses, prescription meds for life and I dropped BUPA. BUPA pocketed my premiums with no pay-outs, which is fine, but I know the older I got and the more I needed from them, the more strained our relationship would have been.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Suradit69

[Sydebolle]

See the yearly premiums sky-rocketing.

For worst case scenarios I am hearing good things from:

SwissInsurance
449/61 M. 12 Thepprasit Rd. (4th Fl.)
Nongprue, Banglamung
TH-20260 Chonburi (Thailand)
e-Mail: //removed//
Tel./Fax +66 (0)38-301 167
Office hours MO - FR 0930 - 1700

Visitors please contact us previously by telephone

[phitsanulokjohn]

Sounds about right for an insurance company.

[nervona1732]

Please tell me what BUPA is, I'm new at this. Just retired here and have my own health insurance for now but would like to know what I'm up against. I am 62 now. Thanks