Medical insurance for retired ex pat over 70 in Thailand.

[georgegeorgia]

Assuming you can get it, medical insurance for anyone over 70 in Thailand is ruinously expensive. I prefer to pay for private health insurance

( $160/month ) in Australia. My medical insurance in Thailand consists of a Thai bank account ( not the 800K required for a retirement visa ) with a balance of 500K baht. That, and driving very defensively.

If you are retired, travel insurance is a waste of money. So $200 worth of luggage gets lost, or you have to wait another day because a flight is cancelled - what's the big deal?

I think the $160 a month you pay is a waste of money actually...you pay this to a Australian health company HCF or whatever ...that must include extra cover for that price too..extras such as dental etc..do you really need that if your retired in Thailand?

It means you have to go back to Australia to access those services.

$160 a month is around 5000 baht a month.

I guess you are thinking if you get a major illness its better to go back to Australia but remember you still have to pay specialists gap fees...around $300,thats regardless if your on a aged pension.

So you are wasting money.

You are better off dropping your cover and if you get a major illness then you can go back to Australia and use the Govt health system free.

Edited February 9, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[AAInsuranceBrokers]

Bupa Thailand Sunshine Plan is an option (...up to and inclusive of the age of 70 years...):

http://bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/detail.aspx?iid=5#.VNX02PmG_Tp

BUPA Thailand will only insure if you apply before age 65. Age 59 - 64 will insure to age 69.

Not according to Bupa's web-page for the special "Sunshine Plan":

»Members must be over the age of 18 years and may apply up to and inclusive of the age of 70 years only.«

(sic.)

The Sunshine plan will take applicants up to 70 but do note the max term is 6 months and the max benefit 1m Baht.

[AAInsuranceBrokers]

Travel insurance ! Wants wrong with you turkeys, you forget where you are, the country is under marshal law,read your policies everyone there is not an insurance company that will cover you, Online they have been bombarding me to buy expat insurance why, they have the same clause.so before offering advice, i would go and check the fine print on your policies.

Not true, several insurance companies will insure you, the only proviso is you do not get involved in any demonstrations i.e. the normal holiday maker will be covered.

[bazza40]

I am wondering how many participants in this forum bruise themselves jumping to conclusions. There's also plenty of misinformation.

I have six-monthly checks in Australia for bladder cancer, chronic leucocytic leukemia, and squamous cell carcinomas. With my Australian private medical insurance, these cost nothing. I don't feel like trusting myself to the Thai medical profession in view of its reputation comparative to Australia. The 500,000 baht reserve is in case I get hit by a bus etc. and require emergency hospitalisation.

If I dropped out of the private health system in Australia, I would then be in the public system - and I couldn't go back. As an example, the average wait time for a hip replacement in Australia with private health cover is about a month. In the public system, waiting times are greater than 18 months. And you don't get to choose your surgeon. So no thank you.

I suppose my only other health risk is having a stroke after reading a particularly stupid and ill-informed comment on this forum.

[stevenl]

Travel insurance ! Wants wrong with you turkeys, you forget where you are, the country is under marshal law,read your policies everyone there is not an insurance company that will cover you, Online they have been bombarding me to buy expat insurance why, they have the same clause.so before offering advice, i would go and check the fine print on your policies.

Most policies will read 'cover is not applicable if related top martial law' or similar. So don't run under a tank, but for most other things most travel insurance policies are valid.

But do check the policy beforehand to make sure.

[khunPer]

Bupa Thailand Sunshine Plan is an option (...up to and inclusive of the age of 70 years...):

http://bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/detail.aspx?iid=5#.VNX02PmG_Tp

BUPA Thailand will only insure if you apply before age 65. Age 59 - 64 will insure to age 69.

Not according to Bupa's web-page for the special "Sunshine Plan":

»Members must be over the age of 18 years and may apply up to and inclusive of the age of 70 years only.«

(sic.)

The Sunshine plan will take applicants up to 70 but do note the max term is 6 months and the max benefit 1m Baht.

That's what OP asked for:

»Looking for in country insurance for 70 year old retiree staying in country for 6 months.«

[georgegeorgia]

Travel insurance ! Wants wrong with you turkeys, you forget where you are, the country is under marshal law,read your policies everyone there is not an insurance company that will cover you, Online they have been bombarding me to buy expat insurance why, they have the same clause.so before offering advice, i would go and check the fine print on your policies.

Most policies will read 'cover is not applicable if related top martial law' or similar. So don't run under a tank, but for most other things most travel insurance policies are valid.

But do check the policy beforehand to make sure.

Edited February 9, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[georgegeorgia]

I am wondering how many participants in this forum bruise themselves jumping to conclusions. There's also plenty of misinformation.

I have six-monthly checks in Australia for bladder cancer, chronic leucocytic leukemia, and squamous cell carcinomas. With my Australian private medical insurance, these cost nothing. I don't feel like trusting myself to the Thai medical profession in view of its reputation comparative to Australia. The 500,000 baht reserve is in case I get hit by a bus etc. and require emergency hospitalisation.

If I dropped out of the private health system in Australia, I would then be in the public system - and I couldn't go back. As an example, the average wait time for a hip replacement in Australia with private health cover is about a month. In the public system, waiting times are greater than 18 months. And you don't get to choose your surgeon. So no thank you.

I suppose my only other health risk is having a stroke after reading a particularly stupid and ill-informed comment on this forum.

Your the one throwing $168 a month away...im the one getting free hospital care.

But its your money.

Edited February 9, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[bazza40]

True - it's my money, and my choice.

Perhaps the free hospital care will not look so attractive when the waiting list for "non-urgent" surgery is more than 18 months, and constant pain is the companion for the wait period. Several of my friends have been in that situation.

[Jonmarleesco]

At 70, you are likely to be out of luck. And for 6 months, why not travel cover?

[louse1953]

Travel insurance is 90 day maximum and not all company give that 60 days is the norm.

You can get another 90 days you know.

[louse1953]

Travel insurance is 90 day maximum and not all company give that 60 days is the norm.

[louse1953]

Travel insurance is 90 day maximum and not all company give that 60 days is the norm.

[jocko]

Travel insurance is 90 day maximum and not all company give that 60 days is the norm.

You can get another 90 days you know.

Please tell I'm from the UK and over 70 I am with Saga ins at £400 annual policy with 2non serious pre conditions ?????

[jcnbkk]

Bupa Thailand Sunshine Plan is an option (...up to and inclusive of the age of 70 years...):

http://bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/detail.aspx?iid=5#.VNX02PmG_Tp

BUPA Thailand will only insure if you apply before age 65. Age 59 - 64 will insure to age 69.

After 69 what?

[khunPer]

Bupa Thailand Sunshine Plan is an option (...up to and inclusive of the age of 70 years...):

http://bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/detail.aspx?iid=5#.VNX02PmG_Tp

BUPA Thailand will only insure if you apply before age 65. Age 59 - 64 will insure to age 69.

After 69 what?

Bupa states that they won't kick you out - but the premium may rise...

[maewang99]

I need to renew my BUPA but this year add my wife who is now working from home only. She says many Thai folks are not happy with BUPA and this is the first time I have heard complaints. She thinks we should pick something other than BUPA because of this.

My theory all along was that we need an insurance card to get admitted to a private hospital of our choice.

That's what the insurance is for.

They can check we have coverage; they know the rules of coverage and have experience in getting payments from particular insurers. That is much better than having only diddlee squat for them to on, especially if it is a hospital I have never had any history with.

And in Thailand.... unlike at home.... there are distinctly two kinds of hospitals and you only ever want to go to a private hospital of some rank if it is anything at all serious.

Once admitted, I am not so much worried about how complete the coverage is. So those complaints don't phase me. Having lots of dough in Thai bank or securities accounts does not provide a private hospital a green light to admit you..... not at all. Am I not right? It's pretty simple to figure out I would think.

So private health insurance cover... is a good idea. Which insurer?

So far all of my health expenses, including two surgeries in Chiangmai, were elective and I have never even tried to ever make a claim with BUPA. I've been with them for almost 10 years.

The info I have found on the web is not really helpful so far.

Also, I keep seeing postings about AXA. This must be an expat thing. AXA has very few customers, it is ranked 9th place by the OIC statistics. BUPA is way way out in front. 35% market share. The next biggest is Cigna at 9% and Bangkok Insurance @ 9% as well.

I'm going to guess that since I have only seen or heard of only a very few complaints about BUPA, that they are the way to go and to stick with them unless my wife, who is a Chiangmai native and fairly well connected... surprises me with a solid new choice, with several substantive reasons behind it ..... before I hit 60, which is another reason for BUPA (the older age coverage) and only BUPA as far as I know even now.

Edited February 10, 2015 by maewang99

[lopburi3]

1. You do not need an insurance card to be admitted to private hospitals - money talks - they will likely want deposit or first night estimate in cash or credit card payment however - but if you have card/relationship with facility that may not be required. I have been asked for deposit on minor (25-50k expense) and not on 300k so varies. My insurance is US and not direct settlement at most facilities.

2. AXA is actually huge and everywhere in the world - it is a French, multinational, investment banking firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, insurance, and other financial services. They act also as local agent for my US Blue Cross/Blue Shield so are involved in much more than just there own name brands.

[granuaile]

1. You do not need an insurance card to be admitted to private hospitals - money talks - they will likely want deposit or first night estimate in cash or credit card payment however - but if you have card/relationship with facility that may not be required. I have been asked for deposit on minor (25-50k expense) and not on 300k so varies. My insurance is US and not direct settlement at most facilities.

2. AXA is actually huge and everywhere in the world - it is a French, multinational, investment banking firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, insurance, and other financial services. They act also as local agent for my US Blue Cross/Blue Shield so are involved in much more than just there own name brands.

I receive health insurance through my state's plan for state employees (which also applies to individuals retired on state retirement plans). In the past they had no access to providers here, but they just changed network providers to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield which provided me with a website that uses their URL (bluecardworldwide) that has both their logo and AXA's logo. A search shows 3 providers in BKK under physicians, and several hospitals in Bangkok, some of which are marked as preferred providers (and several of which are not so noted). Has anyone had any experience with the two categories? What are the differences? Do the direct providers do direct billing? I have a printout of my card (the actual card is still at my house back in the USA, will providers accept that?

I found this thread when I was considering posting a question about experiences here with BCBS. I was happy with the change in networks because I knew BCBS had access internationally and my previous plan did not - everything on the former plan would have been out-of-network, fortunately in the 5+ years I've been here I've been healthy as a horse and other than trips to the pharmacy or cleaning scrapes from falling no health-related issues. Also, has anyone had any experiences with using flexible spending accounts here, either with a debit card or requests for reimbursement?