Health Insurance for Falang

[akazuki]

I'm a US citizen, 69 years old, 70 in November, married to a Thai national.

I'm planning to retire to Thailand in 1 - 2 years.

Is it true that after I turn 70, I cannot buy health insurance in Thailand, but if I were to purchase it before I turn 70, I could continue to carry the insurance after I am 70?

If so, could I purchase insurance when I visit Thailand in November on a tourist visa?

Recommended companies?

[Spaniel]

I think the age is purchase a policy before you turn 60. Are you by any chance retired US military? If so you can get coverage by TriCare.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Spaniel

[thailiketoo]

A1A but you have to purchase before you are 70. It is life insurance with a health/hospital rider.

[Sheryl]

Most policies you would have ti purchase at a much younger age, well before 65 and usually before 60.

A very few will let you newly enroll up to age 69.

I haven't heard of anyone being able to get a new policy at age 70 and above.

Life insurance policies with health "riders" are usually not adequate coverage, be sure to read the fine print. Some cover only accidents and/or have a ridiculously low cap.

Type of visa makes no difference but your age is going to be a big problem.

[Sheryl]

P.S. You can try cigna http://www.cigna.com/international

Plus in your data for a quote it will show if you can get a policy at all or not and if so, what cost. It has deductible and co-pay options, features which most local plans here for some reason lack.

[thailiketoo]

http://www.aia.co.th/en/individuals/products-and-services/life-insurance/critical-illness/critical_illness.html

[umbanda]

A1A but you have to purchase before you are 70. It is life insurance with a health/hospital rider.

Right.

AIA....I got it 2 weeks before making 70 and is due in 10 years....Basic plan cost 2600thb/month no medical exam with 100000thb life insurance, and cash value. Ask..because I was told that needs to live in Thailand at least for 6 months...

Edited October 21, 2014 by umbanda

[Sheryl]

What sort of cover are you getting for only 2,600 baht a month? What;'s the maximum per illness? I suspect it is very low at that premium. I'm younger than you and paying far more.

[inbangkok]

Most policies you would have ti purchase at a much younger age, well before 65 and usually before 60.

A very few will let you newly enroll up to age 69.

I haven't heard of anyone being able to get a new policy at age 70 and above.

Life insurance policies with health "riders" are usually not adequate coverage, be sure to read the fine print. Some cover only accidents and/or have a ridiculously low cap.

Type of visa makes no difference but your age is going to be a big problem.

What is an older individual supposed to do? I have noticed most private insurance here does not cover people over a certain age. Do they just need enough money stored in the bank in case something happens?

[thailiketoo]

Most policies you would have ti purchase at a much younger age, well before 65 and usually before 60.

A very few will let you newly enroll up to age 69.

I haven't heard of anyone being able to get a new policy at age 70 and above.

Life insurance policies with health "riders" are usually not adequate coverage, be sure to read the fine print. Some cover only accidents and/or have a ridiculously low cap.

Type of visa makes no difference but your age is going to be a big problem.

What is an older individual supposed to do? I have noticed most private insurance here does not cover people over a certain age. Do they just need enough money stored in the bank in case something happens?

Click on the links above and start calling the insurance companies.

[inbangkok]

Most policies you would have ti purchase at a much younger age, well before 65 and usually before 60.

A very few will let you newly enroll up to age 69.

I haven't heard of anyone being able to get a new policy at age 70 and above.

Life insurance policies with health "riders" are usually not adequate coverage, be sure to read the fine print. Some cover only accidents and/or have a ridiculously low cap.

Type of visa makes no difference but your age is going to be a big problem.

What is an older individual supposed to do? I have noticed most private insurance here does not cover people over a certain age. Do they just need enough money stored in the bank in case something happens?

Click on the links above and start calling the insurance companies.

I am in my late 20s. It is a general question.

[thailiketoo]

What is an older individual supposed to do? I have noticed most private insurance here does not cover people over a certain age. Do they just need enough money stored in the bank in case something happens?

Click on the links above and start calling the insurance companies.

I am in my late 20s. It is a general question.

I gave you a general answer. Read the thread and click on the links and call the insurance companies in the links.

[inbangkok]

What is an older individual supposed to do? I have noticed most private insurance here does not cover people over a certain age. Do they just need enough money stored in the bank in case something happens?

Click on the links above and start calling the insurance companies.

I am in my late 20s. It is a general question.

I gave you a general answer. Read the thread and click on the links and call the insurance companies in the links.

I read the thread.... You are incredibly unhelpful and I don't understand why people like you even post responses like this..... Must not have much going on in your life. I am sure someone will be able to give a simple answer to my question without "click the links and call the insurance companies".......

[thailiketoo]

Click on the links above and start calling the insurance companies.

I am in my late 20s. It is a general question.

I gave you a general answer. Read the thread and click on the links and call the insurance companies in the links.

I read the thread.... You are incredibly unhelpful and I don't understand why people like you even post responses like this..... Must not have much going on in your life. I am sure someone will be able to give a simple answer to my question without "click the links and call the insurance companies".......

Grow up. Read the thread. Click the links. If you have an interest call the insurance companies listed in the links. That is the best advice you are going to get. I'm not a doctor, nor an insurance company rep. You are 20. I'm 70 our insurance needs are not even remotely the same.

[inbangkok]

Click on the links above and start calling the insurance companies.

I am in my late 20s. It is a general question.

I gave you a general answer. Read the thread and click on the links and call the insurance companies in the links.

I read the thread.... You are incredibly unhelpful and I don't understand why people like you even post responses like this..... Must not have much going on in your life. I am sure someone will be able to give a simple answer to my question without "click the links and call the insurance companies".......

Grow up. Read the thread. Click the links. If you have an interest call the insurance companies listed in the links. That is the best advice you are going to get. I'm not a doctor, nor an insurance company rep. You are 20. I'm 70 our insurance needs are not even remotely the same.

Lol... You are a serious jerk. You seem to think my question was posed directly to you, and it wasn't. You are the one that that needs to grow up and act your age. I really hope I don't end up being such a miserable person if I make it to 70 years old. I don't care about your personal insurance needs, or you as a person whatsoever. It was a genuine interest in what options elderly people in Thailand have..... However, not enough interest to phone insurance companies and inquire about it. No reason to be such a bitter individual in this life..... I feel sorry for.....

[Sheryl]

knock off the growing flamefest NOW.

[Aussieroaming]

http://www.siam-info.com/english/comparison-hi1.html

The link above is to a comparison table showing different insurance company's and amongst other information the maximum allowable age to register. Plus there is a link to all major insurance companies represented.

[Sheryl]

There are also internationally issued policies which enroll at later ages, though to how old, I don't know.

Re the table above, NZI and PIH premium rates are off the charts and level of cover is absurdly high. While health care costs in Thailand should not be underestimated, they don't under any scenario I can think of reach to >30 million baht a year.

[NancyL]

inbangkok --

I'm in Chiang Mai where I assist many older expats who come to Thailand to retire, so I've got a good idea of the answer to your question of "what's an elderly person (i.e. foreigner) suppose to do for health insurance in Thailand?'

Some, like my husband and me, come when they'e still fairly young, carefully research their health insurance options and sign on with a company that won't drop them as they age -- just as long as they keep paying the premiums. We deliberately got our life in order so we could move here just a few months before Hubby turned aged 60 for just this reason. Yes, the insurance premiums will climb (sky high) as he ages, but at least he'll have health insurance. (same for me, but I'm younger)

A fortunate few already have health insurance that covers them here. Maybe they're retired career U.S. military. Maybe they worked for a company, university or NGO where they continue to have lifetime global health insurance coverage. It happens. To a fortunate few. They come to Chiang Mai because there are a couple of hospitals acceptable to provide care for these insurance providers.

Some foreigners marry Thai ladies who have health insurance that covers their spouses. Or they think they do. Sometimes foreign husbands receive free health care at local Thai gov't hospitals, thinking it's because they're married to a Thai lady, only to discover it was granted by mistake. Usually the way they learn about the local hospital's mistake is when something serious happens -- something that the local hospital can't handle -- and they're referred to a regional gov't hospital that informs them they don't a have right to free health care. Oops -- should have checked that out in advance. But, seriously, some Thai ladies do have good jobs with insurance policies that will cover foreign husbands. But it's not something that's usual.

Many elderly foreigners figure they'll "self-insure". To be realistic, that means having ready access to several million baht, or more. But, many do not and they're just playing the odds. The odds aren't in their favor. Some think they can return to their home country for health care. Not very likely after say, a stroke or hip fracture. There is no free health care for foreigners. The gov't hospitals have an obligation to treat emergency cases regardless of ability to pay, but they'll treat symptoms -- not try to find causes for illnesses and they'll press hard to work out payment contracts.

All-in-all, this is a serious issue and one that should be given very careful consideration by anyone, like the OP, who is considering retiring here.

Edited October 24, 2014 by NancyL

[thailiketoo]

http://aiaproduct.com/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%87-ecir/

Enhanced critical illness rider. I don't know exactly what this A1A product is. I don't know if it is good till 70 or you can enroll till you are 70 and I don't know if it is a death benefit or cash benefit.

Maybe someone else knows.

I do know that different A1A agents will tell you different stories about what you can get and at what age. Some don't want to mess with old people some do. I got life insurance from one agent when another said it was impossible.

AIA Health Lifetime
AIA Health Lifetime covers 3 groups of critical illnesses being major causes of death of Thai people. The first category includes cancers and tumors, heart or coronary artery diseases, and cerebral vascular diseases. Lifetime coverage features 10 critical illnesses, including Non Invasive Cancers and Coronary Artery Angioplasty (Heart Balloon), providing premium payment period for only 20 years. At policy maturity, the insured receives maximum 100% sum assured. In case of decease not related to critical illnesses stated in the contract, the Insured receives cash value (CV).

Edited October 25, 2014 by thailiketoo

[mjnaus]

What sort of cover are you getting for only 2,600 baht a month? What;'s the maximum per illness? I suspect it is very low at that premium. I'm younger than you and paying far more.

Knowing it's AIA, they'll likely cover the toilet paper during your hospital stay and the rest is to be paid by yourself. If you want real insurance, stay clear of the AIA scam. Look at Bupa instead (and yes, proper health insurance premium will be higher).

[thailiketoo]

Knowing it's AIA, they'll likely cover the toilet paper during your hospital stay and the rest is to be paid by yourself. If you want real insurance, stay clear of the AIA scam. Look at Bupa instead (and yes, proper health insurance premium will be higher).

You wrote, "Knowing it's AIA." Do you have any first hand knowledge of that company re insuring older folks in Thailand?

Edited October 25, 2014 by thailiketoo

[Sheryl]

I cannot see the point of health insurance that covers only certain specified diseases.

[inbangkok]

inbangkok --

I'm in Chiang Mai where I assist many older expats who come to Thailand to retire, so I've got a good idea of the answer to your question of "what's an elderly person (i.e. foreigner) suppose to do for health insurance in Thailand?'

Some, like my husband and me, come when they'e still fairly young, carefully research their health insurance options and sign on with a company that won't drop them as they age -- just as long as they keep paying the premiums. We deliberately got our life in order so we could move here just a few months before Hubby turned aged 60 for just this reason. Yes, the insurance premiums will climb (sky high) as he ages, but at least he'll have health insurance. (same for me, but I'm younger)

A fortunate few already have health insurance that covers them here. Maybe they're retired career U.S. military. Maybe they worked for a company, university or NGO where they continue to have lifetime global health insurance coverage. It happens. To a fortunate few. They come to Chiang Mai because there are a couple of hospitals acceptable to provide care for these insurance providers.

Some foreigners marry Thai ladies who have health insurance that covers their spouses. Or they think they do. Sometimes foreign husbands receive free health care at local Thai gov't hospitals, thinking it's because they're married to a Thai lady, only to discover it was granted by mistake. Usually the way they learn about the local hospital's mistake is when something serious happens -- something that the local hospital can't handle -- and they're referred to a regional gov't hospital that informs them they don't a have right to free health care. Oops -- should have checked that out in advance. But, seriously, some Thai ladies do have good jobs with insurance policies that will cover foreign husbands. But it's not something that's usual.

Many elderly foreigners figure they'll "self-insure". To be realistic, that means having ready access to several million baht, or more. But, many do not and they're just playing the odds. The odds aren't in their favor. Some think they can return to their home country for health care. Not very likely after say, a stroke or hip fracture. There is no free health care for foreigners. The gov't hospitals have an obligation to treat emergency cases regardless of ability to pay, but they'll treat symptoms -- not try to find causes for illnesses and they'll press hard to work out payment contracts.

All-in-all, this is a serious issue and one that should be given very careful consideration by anyone, like the OP, who is considering retiring here.

Thanks so much! That is exactly what I was curious about......

See.... I knew someone would have an answer.....despite another member telling me he provided "the best answer you are going to get".... Lol

Thanks again. I know a few older guys here that are in this predicament..... So I was genuinely curious.

[Sheryl]

As it happens I am considering changing from a local to an international health poliucy so have been researching options with a broker.

Found the following:

Company age they will issue new policies until

Cigna Global 100

Globaility Health 99

A+ Asia 70

ALC 80

There are a few others I do not bother to mention because they will not cover claims for chronic diseases, which is ridiculous.

So there are options for older people. But, it will cost.

[cooked]

There isn't a universal answer to this question, every case is different. I have a very cheap Thai insurance which I signed up for before the age of 65, , am saving for self insurance, and have the possibility of going back home for free treatment (if I can fly, Not the UK). I have a good family that would look after me if I get into trouble... I might think it better to die here a bit quicker than in a sterile Farang hospital. As I say, every situation is different.