Pacific Cross

[orientfan]

Hi everyone,

I have recently retired to Thailand, age 54, and have been recommended Pacific Cross for health insurance.
If anyone has any comments, opinions, or experiences of the company, they'd be much appreciated.

Thank you for any useful information!

[Sheryl]

I haven't heard of it. I do however recommend going through an insurance broker as there are many options and a broker can lay out for you comparative information on different policies. It doesn't add to your cost.

Whatever company you go with make sure it is general health insurance (not limited to accidents) with cover of 5 million baht or more per incident.

[orientfan]

Thank you very much. Any direct experiences from readers are of great interest!

[Sophon]

I have had Pacific Cross (used to be LMG Pacific Health Care but changed name this year) for the last three years. Fortunately I haven't had the need to make any claims, so can't be of much help to you.

Sophon

[xylophone]

Check it out on Google (do a lot of digging around)..............I did and decided to go with BUPA.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Yes, LMG Thailand became Pacific Cross during this past year. LMG has been here a long time in health insurance, and my broker indicates all the local staff and management stayed the same, just the company name/ownership changed.

Supposedly, most of the terms of the former LMG health policies also are staying the same under Pacific Cross.

I'd say, BUPA and LMG (now Pacific Cross) were among the local private insurers most favored/chosen by expats here.

I've never had any big claim with LMG in the years I was with them, but they usually paid the smaller claims without any dispute. Lots of policy options, including adding or dropping outpatient, various deductible discounts, and discounts for years with no claims filed.

For expats,I believe they have two main policy tiers, the lower and more affordable one being capped at 5M baht per incident and 20M baht lifetime, and that has an 8000b per night max hospital room benefit.

One of the good things about their policies are that they don't automatically cancel at some arbitrary age, which a lot of Thai insurers seem to do. Supposedly, you can continue coverage as long as you pay, but of course the premiums do go up as you get older and older.

Edited September 4, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[offset]

When they were LMG I hade a claim for my baby for 55000 baht (he swallowed a battery and I thought that they might not pay for the hospital stay) never heard any more about it so i guess they paid it ok and I am still with Pacific Cross

[chiang mai]

I haven't heard of it. I do however recommend going through an insurance broker as there are many options and a broker can lay out for you comparative information on different policies. It doesn't add to your cost.

Whatever company you go with make sure it is general health insurance (not limited to accidents) with cover of 5 million baht or more per incident.

Pacific Cross policies are being offered by TVF insurance broker sponsors.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

When they were LMG I hade a claim for my baby for 55000 baht (he swallowed a battery and I thought that they might not pay for the hospital stay) never heard any more about it so i guess they paid it ok and I am still with Pacific Cross

For most of the better known hospitals in BKK, and many others as well, Pacific Cross, formerly LMG, has direct pay arrangements. So normally, you only have to cover your deductible, if you have any. And then, whatever portion is covered by your insurance, the company pays directly to the hospital without you having to front all the money first and then get reimbursed later.

[chiang mai]

Check it out on Google (do a lot of digging around)..............I did and decided to go with BUPA.

I have done that digging as far as I am able and I don't see anything untoward, if you found something that might influence our opinions of this company/product it would be helpful if you would share, either in forum or via PM?

[xylophone]

Check it out on Google (do a lot of digging around)..............I did and decided to go with BUPA.

I have done that digging as far as I am able and I don't see anything untoward, if you found something that might influence our opinions of this company/product it would be helpful if you would share, either in forum or via PM?

Now this is purely a personal thing, so I don't want to cast aspersions on the company, however for ME, I didn't feel comfortable when I saw the following statements on the website: –

"From September 2014 the administration company behind LMG Pacific Healthcare has formed Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL, which offers a range of products that provide total healthcare protection for you and your family".

"From September 2014 the administrator of LMG Pacific Healthcare, Med-Sure Services Limited (part of the Pacific Cross Group) launched Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL as a stand-alone business".

As I said, purely a personal thing.

[chiang mai]

Check it out on Google (do a lot of digging around)..............I did and decided to go with BUPA.

I have done that digging as far as I am able and I don't see anything untoward, if you found something that might influence our opinions of this company/product it would be helpful if you would share, either in forum or via PM?

Now this is purely a personal thing, so I don't want to cast aspersions on the company, however for ME, I didn't feel comfortable when I saw the following statements on the website: –

"From September 2014 the administration company behind LMG Pacific Healthcare has formed Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL, which offers a range of products that provide total healthcare protection for you and your family".

"From September 2014 the administrator of LMG Pacific Healthcare, Med-Sure Services Limited (part of the Pacific Cross Group) launched Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL as a stand-alone business".

As I said, purely a personal thing.

I read that also and I also saw that PC had been recapitalized, the implication perhaps being that they became insolvent, dunno. What I think is important however is that none of their customers lost out, all were transferred to the new company.

[midasthailand]

I can certainly vouch for the integrity of their (Pacific Cross) Direct Sales manager, Greg Stoddart!

Yes, Greg is a personal friend and a fellow Australian but all of Greg's clients are very happy with his commitment to providing the best possible policy at the best rate, he makes an effort to provide personal services to all of his clients and is always available to handle any queries.

At the end of the day, there is not a great deal of difference between the health insurance providers here as far as services offered and rates go so I find that being able to deal person to person with someone who can get answers makes the difference.

Edited September 5, 2015 by midasthailand

[xylophone]

Check it out on Google (do a lot of digging around)..............I did and decided to go with BUPA.

I have done that digging as far as I am able and I don't see anything untoward, if you found something that might influence our opinions of this company/product it would be helpful if you would share, either in forum or via PM?

Now this is purely a personal thing, so I don't want to cast aspersions on the company, however for ME, I didn't feel comfortable when I saw the following statements on the website: –

"From September 2014 the administration company behind LMG Pacific Healthcare has formed Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL, which offers a range of products that provide total healthcare protection for you and your family".

"From September 2014 the administrator of LMG Pacific Healthcare, Med-Sure Services Limited (part of the Pacific Cross Group) launched Pacific Cross Health Insurance PCL as a stand-alone business".

As I said, purely a personal thing.

I read that also and I also saw that PC had been recapitalized, the implication perhaps being that they became insolvent, dunno. What I think is important however is that none of their customers lost out, all were transferred to the new company.

I agree with your first sentence and that's what unsettled me a little, and even if I couldn't find out the absolute bottom line about it and irrespective of customers not "losing out", it planted doubts in my mind.

[chiang mai]

A point to be aware of for others who are considering Pacific Cross:

If you are 65 or 65+, you are required to undergo a full blown medical beforehand, at your own expense, so that the underwriters have sufficient data on which to refine their quote for the cost of the policy, the rates shown in their sales material are only indicative. On that point, McCormick Hospital lab is usually very cost effective for blood tests, can anyone recommend a "friendly" doctor for the other part of the report?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

fyi re Pacific Cross as the inheritor of LMG Health's former Thai health insurance business, here are four different levels of policies they offer and the associated premium rate sheets for them, broken out by age group.

These rates are current for the 2015-16 year, for someone who'd be starting out with a new policy with them. I believe, they're offering somewhat better rates for prior LMG customers who are continuing their existing coverage with the new company.

Lower cover, lower cost - Premier and Premier Plus

1d. 2015 Pacific Cross Premier & Premier Plus.pdf

Higher cover, higher cost - Maxima and Maxima Plus

1b. 2015 Pacific Cross Maxima & Maxima Plus Cover & Rates.pdf