Just out of interest, those of us who are residing in Thailand long term, what is the best way to cover ourselves cost effectively ?

Standard private medical insurance?, or are there other options if we have a certain type of visa?

Moved to the insurance forum.

those of us who are residing in Thailand long term

On what basis are you residing in Thailand long term? If you are employed there are/may be other options.

While there is supposedly an insurance available or planned for tourists, it's more intended as a stop-gap for emergencies, I believe.

If you are here on a retirement extension, you'll need to arrange your own insurance with someone like BUPA or from your home country if you are sure it will cover you in Thailand..

those of us who are residing in Thailand long term

On what basis are you residing in Thailand long term? If you are employed there are/may be other options.

While there is supposedly an insurance available or planned for tourists, it's more intended as a stop-gap for emergencies, I believe.

If you are here on a retirement extension, you'll need to arrange your own insurance with someone like BUPA or from your home country if you are sure it will cover you in Thailand..

Thanks for your reply. I am 36 and British, married to a Thai No insurance as such, but I want to stay here with my wife long term. How should I cover myself for medical/health if something nasty happens? (extension based on marriage is how I am here)

The type of Visa you may have does not matter when applying for health insurance - example should you wish to change to a retirement visa when you are a older.

The type of Visa you may have does not matter when applying for health insurance - example should you wish to change to a retirement visa when you are a older.

I thought being older would increase the risk of becoming sick making the health insurance more expensive.

The type of Visa you may have does not matter when applying for health insurance - example should you wish to change to a retirement visa when you are a older.

I thought being older would increase the risk of becoming sick making the health insurance more expensive.

Naturally as you get older the premium will increase, that goes without saying, but I was answering your question about elegibility with differnt types of Visa.

If you were able at some stage to take employment that would entitle you to join the Thai Social Security Scheme that is probably the most cost-effective long-term solution.

http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/background.html

You would then be able to keep up the modest monthly payments yourself and maintain coverage into old age, irrespective of previous claims or pre-existing conditions. Very few countries around the world rely on standard private health insurance to take care of people as they enter retirement. This is because old people are not an attractive proposition for companies offering individual, actuarially-based voluntary insurance. Old people need some form of collective risk pooling. Some Thai and international insurance companies do promise to offer continuing coverage past 70 if you join before a specified age (usually 65), but most do not guarantee what the premiums will be.

If you were able at some stage to take employment that would entitle you to join the Thai Social Security Scheme that is probably the most cost-effective long-term solution.

http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/background.html

You would then be able to keep up the modest monthly payments yourself and maintain coverage into old age, irrespective of previous claims or pre-existing conditions. Very few countries around the world rely on standard private health insurance to take care of people as they enter retirement. This is because old people are not an attractive proposition for companies offering individual, actuarially-based voluntary insurance. Old people need some form of collective risk pooling. Some Thai and international insurance companies do promise to offer continuing coverage past 70 if you join before a specified age (usually 65), but most do not guarantee what the premiums will be.

Is there an age limit for joining the Thai Social Security Scheme ?

Is there an age limit for joining the Thai Social Security Scheme ?

Yes, age 60. All the information is on the website at the link posted above.

Not all employment is covered by SS.

If you start working just to get in the SS system, verify first if you will be covered.

Once you pay into the system for 12 months, you can start paying yourself if you lose eligibility through employment.

I self insure, as I think the medical care here is quite reasonable. I will give you a good example. A good friend of mine had a serious motorcycle accident on Samui. What else is new? He needed 11 operations on his leg, over a period of three years. They thought he was going to lose his leg, but he is walking fine now. After the first procedure at Bangkok Hospital Samui, he needed a second procedure. They quoted him 1.4 million baht! He inquired in Bangkok, at a different private hospital, and was quoted 460,000 baht for the same procedure, including after care. He befriended a surgeon, who said he works at BHS, the hospital he inquired with in Bangkok, and also a public hospital in Bangkok. He said he could do the same procedure at the public hospital. They got an estimate, and it came back at 46,000 baht. He did that, and it was a success. Great care. Great surgery, etc. In the meantime, since he has a medical background, he called an orthopedic surgeon friend of his in the US, and asked him to give him a precise estimate of costs, if he had the same procedure done in the US, without insurance. All cash, with cash discounts. After a day the Dr. got back to him. Estimate was $962,000! So, health care here is quite reasonable. I am not complaining, nor will I! I come from a country with a completely broken medical system. The US. Not the best care by a long shot, but by far the most expensive.

You don't self-insure. You have a reserve as there is no possibility for you to receive medical coverage payments more than you put in. If you covered a large up front component of cost and then had catastrophic risk coverage for the excess that would be self-insurance.