Health Insurance options for an over 80 year old Aussie

[illinge]

G'day........judging by other topics on this forum getting health insurance for an over 80 year old in Thailand is near impossible.........is my assumption correct?

I still live in Australia and have health insurance there. If I move permanently to Thailand can I keep my Aussie insurance for the big ops......I know it means flying back to Aus for treatment. What are my options for the emergency stuff like car accident or heart attack? I could consider self insureing but there is always the problem that my savings wont cover an emergency op in Thailand (?).

[Issangeorge]

In Ontario Canada where I come from, you have to spend at least 5 months a year in the province to be covered by the health insurance plan, I would expect Australia has something similar.

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[Pralaad]

I am afraid no insurance company will give you new cover and if someone will dare, they will charge you an astronomical amounts.

I would suggest speaking to your current insurance and asking them to extend your cover internationally.

If you continue making the payments in Oz, your insurance is valid but valid ONLY in OZ.

Other alternative is to take out travel insurance, but not sure how they would handle your age and pre-existing conditions.

[robertthebruce]

Well done for reaching 80 and well done wanting to up sticks and move....

As for your question near enough impossible,

[CM4Me]

illinge, G'day Mate Like others have said it would be almost impossible for anyone (over the age of 65) to obtain hospital / medical insurance here in Thailand.

You mentioned that you have insurance back home, is that private or medicare?

If its private you will need to talk to your provider (to see if you would be covered here in Thailand, but I think most likely you would have to return home to be covered).

If it's medicare you will only be covered in Aust, with the proviso that you retain your Aust Residency (ie if you take up residency in Thailand then you will loose your Aust Residency - residency is not the same as nationality).

[CM4Me]

There is one other option and that is to self insure. Others (more knowledgeable in this subject) have stated, on a number of occasions, to self insure one would need access to around 2mill Thai Baht (or around $70,000 Aust ).

[cooked]

Travel insurance is just that, for a limited period and meant for bone fide travellers. You generally have to pay the bills yourself up front and then claim your money back from the insurers.

Self insurance will be the only valid option, I don't think that you will even be able to get a medevac insurance. An airline may be reluctant to let you on the plane if you look likely to have an in-flight crisis (Business Class is supposed to be a bit more lenient). I have a very cheap Thai insurance that will cover me to some extent during an emergency, savings for the rest and, hopefully, a ticket home. One administrative problem to be overcome is that I would have to visit my embassy to announce that I was no longer resident in Thailand, so it's not just a matter of taking a taxi to the airport and leaving the same day, and let's hope that it isn't a Friday afternoon.

The alternative of course, is to decide to stay here. If you have someone to look after you then you can end your life at home or in a local hospital. The local hospital would accept me but without money I would be just laying there eating rice soup, no medicines or treatment, and without family it would be most unpleasant.

Good luck mate,

[rak sa_ngop]

There is one other option and that is to self insure. Others (more knowledgeable in this subject) have stated, on a number of occasions, to self insure one would need access to around 2mill Thai Baht (or around $70,000 Aust ).

My UK international health insurance goes up in price in 4 year stages. Once you reach about 70 they do not even quote the premium in their literature. They cannot dump you as far as know (EU regulations) but they can increase the premium by as much as they want. Basically by the age of 80 the premium can be so high that you might be better off just putting the money aside yourself and building up your own reserve fund.

Not sure if this is what CM4Me is referring to as self insurance.

[illinge]

Thanks all for your responses. Its like that say "growing old is not for sissies" and the sad part is we all get there failing a disaster......

Looks like I'll bite the bullet and save my own funds for that emergency which I hope never occurs......

[h90]

In some countries are some loopholes with state insurances. Like being self employed, by not making any profit the costs are minimal and the state insurance is very cheap.

A German guy had something like that once and told he can get all money here in Thailand and usually more than the hospital charges.

Maybe something like that don't exist for Australia but worth to check.

[giddyup]

In some countries are some loopholes with state insurances. Like being self employed, by not making any profit the costs are minimal and the state insurance is very cheap.

A German guy had something like that once and told he can get all money here in Thailand and usually more than the hospital charges.

Maybe something like that don't exist for Australia but worth to check.

Self-employed at 80?

[h90]

In some countries are some loopholes with state insurances. Like being self employed, by not making any profit the costs are minimal and the state insurance is very cheap.

A German guy had something like that once and told he can get all money here in Thailand and usually more than the hospital charges.

Maybe something like that don't exist for Australia but worth to check.

Self-employed at 80?

I think there is no law against it. I actually knew people older who still worked but here it is just a registration for the insurance. (if that loophole exists)

[Pralaad]

Thanks all for your responses. Its like that say "growing old is not for sissies" and the sad part is we all get there failing a disaster......

Looks like I'll bite the bullet and save my own funds for that emergency which I hope never occurs......

Have you spoken to your home insurance?

Have you looked into travel Insurance? you can get up to 1 year cover

Another option, which has not been mentioned is if you have gold or platinum credit card, if you do not have one, can apply for one.

Commbank and Westpac have the following, for holder of Gold or Platinum card, when purchasing your return flight tickets, you get FREE travel insurance. Gold is 3 months and Platinum 6 months.

I understand it may not be ideal, but its FREE and is an option

My card with Westpac, travel insurance by Zurich.

Successfully lodged claim and my surgery was paid for in full, plus all the follow up visits and physio.

[CM4Me]

illinge, I moved here 10 years ago, & I'm also about 10 years younger than you. But on arrival 'life began again' for me.

You, being 80 & thinking of relocating to Thailand, all I can say is 'go for it'.

When it comes to the stage when you may need assistance / looking after then there are a number of alternatives here in Thailand, with a higher standard of service & at a lower cost, than you can obtain in Aust

[illinge]

Thanks Pralaad, the credit card avenue is a good one for travel insurance. I am with Westpac so I'll chat to them. If your card is with Westpac then how come your travel insurance is with Zurich and not with Westpac or does Westpac use Zurich as their travel insurance agent?

CM2ME thanks for the encouragement. I see you live in Chiang Mai which has been recommended by many people above the other popular cities in Thailand.

I wont be moving to Thailand alone so I will have some support for the times when things start getting a little difficult. But for now I swim 1km every day in a lap pool so touch wood..........

[Pralaad]

Thanks Pralaad, the credit card avenue is a good one for travel insurance. I am with Westpac so I'll chat to them. If your card is with Westpac then how come your travel insurance is with Zurich and not with Westpac or does Westpac use Zurich as their travel insurance agent?

CM2ME thanks for the encouragement. I see you live in Chiang Mai which has been recommended by many people above the other popular cities in Thailand.

I wont be moving to Thailand alone so I will have some support for the times when things start getting a little difficult. But for now I swim 1km every day in a lap pool so touch wood..........

From my understanding the insurance is underwritten by Zurich, i think you will find all the insurance policies sold by the banks are not actually underwritten by the bank itself, but by one of the insurance giants.