Irishman warns about proper health insurance after his ordeal in Thailand

[masuk]

Important fact!!

9 out of 10 insurance companies, will not cover you if your driving a scooter/motorbike.

True enough, but the BBK bank has a policy for its customers, and covers motor bike accidents. cost is about 5000baht per year.

[USNret]

Moral of the story ? Be sure to read the small print in the insurance papers.

I wish a speedy recovery to this unfortunate gentleman.

Expiration date is not small print. It's pretty much the basic premise of the contract.

[edwardflory]

• I took out travel insurance with covermore, and when i did need to claim i realized it didnt cover anything you really need to read the fine print, never use covermore

There aren't many that will cover things you might actually need.

Especially if you are over 70 and any treatment needed is likely to be a pre existing condition and therefore not covered!

How many 70 year olds are riding motorbikes in Thailand ?

ME!!!!

[micmichd]

Expiration means you need a new contract. Unfortunately, premiums for private health insurances rise with your age, up to a percentage where all your pensions might get spent for this.

Edited October 7, 2015 by Rimmer
Racist

[soalbundy]

Sorry to hear this..

But why on earth would you travel anywhere on this earth without proper travel insurance, and to those silly comments about truck insurance, why would you rely on someone else having cover, stupid.......................................

British Embassy must be full of politicians....

Not politicians, they just couldn't care less, a hopeless bunch. 'We are providing consular service during this difficult time.......''

[jamiejoel]

Hi,

Just a few quick points.

International school teachers are not covered by the Thai medical insurance system. Work permit or not.... Basically the schools in Thai have their own insurance system, but they decided to not include International schools in this. Leaving many teachers without insurance. Most offer BUPA, which actually is ok for out-patient but little else.

When riding a motorbike it is worth looking at insurance. Most are good enough up to a million baht. I wouldn't drive in Bangkok without motorbike insurance for myself. As noted many drivers here don't have insurance and you will need to sue them to get money, which can take years. I use AA insurance in Pattaya and they are always helpful.

[NorK]

Well, I guess that everyone has a different experience when it comes to travel insurance. I have used Covermore (Aust) since 1993. In 1995 I had the misfortune to be in the Kobe earthquake. Covermore paid everything...everything. It is true that one must read the fine print - for example there is a clause in the fine print stating that they will not insure for injuries to the back or neck if there is a history of back or neck problems i.e. a pre-existing condition.

I am over 70 and their plan costs about $1,800 (46,000 baht) for 12 months travel. Quite reasonable, I think. The one thing for sure is you must have it. I am in no way connected with Covermore other than as a satisfied customer.

[louse1953]

His mum Collette said, “It was such a shock for us and we were desperate to get him home. We tried everything including the British Embassy but all they could do was provide a translator.

Waste of space the British Embassy .. Shame on them .

As usual this story is printed to provoke comment,so i'll bite.Stop blame sifting,the blame is all Darren's.How much did he think he had to pay for a 10 month premium,1000 baht?For a bloke with a degree,which he must have to teach,right,he ain't too smart.Just another tourist having found the promised land,deciding to hang around.Good to see gf hung around and hospital saved his leg.The other problem is the uninsured truck,how do they get away with this,no rego at all i suppose.This must happen to Thais a lot more than farangs,why are they so apathetic,poverty is no excuse to not have your vehicle registered and insured.As far as the Embassy is concerned,not something we don't already know.Money making arm of the govt and postings for party hacks.

[aslimversgwm]

Important fact!!

9 out of 10 insurance companies, will not cover you if your driving a scooter/motorbike.

Correct and the BKK bank's accident insurance available for any age, including over 70's is pretty comprehensive ACCEPT it specifically excludes accidents whilst on a motorbike, but covers you if you get knocked down by one!

[jamiejoel]

Met a beautiful blond French woman at the airport all battered and bruised and on crutches about a year ago. Met a beautiful English woman at the airport all battered and bruised and on crutches about nine months ago. Met a beautiful Taiwanese woman at the airport all battered and bruised and on crutches about 7 months ago. They all were injured because ? Yes, they were on motor bikes in Phucket, Pattaya or Koh Samui.

My friend father died a few years ago taking a motorcycle in Pattaya. He was retired.

Was in Koh Samui for business. One of the people, an American, we were working with got killed coming to work on his motorbike .

It seems that your chances for survival increase dramatically if you do not ride a motor cycle in Thailand.

Your chances are better is you drive in a considerate manner. I always say to people drive like you think the guy next to you is a total moron. ( Yes I am looking in the mirror..) Expect them to do things you think are not possible and then you will be on your guard. Trouble in Thailand is that most farang come and drive with only a car license and think driving is easy..

[optad]

Hi,

Just a few quick points.

International school teachers are not covered by the Thai medical insurance system. Work permit or not.... Basically the schools in Thai have their own insurance system, but they decided to not include International schools in this. Leaving many teachers without insurance. Most offer BUPA, which actually is ok for out-patient but little else.

When riding a motorbike it is worth looking at insurance. Most are good enough up to a million baht. I wouldn't drive in Bangkok without motorbike insurance for myself. As noted many drivers here don't have insurance and you will need to sue them to get money, which can take years. I use AA insurance in Pattaya and they are always helpful.

That is true. And it is worth noting also that government schools had a while back a program where schools could include their foreign teachers health for nominal coverage as part of the salary package. Claims up to about 10-12000 baht from govt hospitals. Nothing i know but it was a month to month thing and easily terminated by the school particularly as they role semesters over.

The real problem for teachers like this fellow is the false sense of security that token policy provides. He has opted for better care without any effective cover, expired or not, if it was that program.

[louse1953]

Its not fair to suggest that insurance will not cover you if you are riding a scooter.

Of course travel insurance will not, but this guy was a teacher and not a tourist.

Most decent accident policies (he could have bought one for 4000 baht) would have covered most, if not all, of his hospital costs.

Its important to have some accident cover, that way the whole bill is scrutinised by the insurance company even if you have to pay part of the bill, the total will be lower as they cannot get away with stupid irrelevant charges as they always do with uninsured patients.

4000 baht,for 10 months!!!!!

[Dustdevil]

I guess if he'd been teaching longer, he would have been in the Social Security system? I assume it takes some time after getting a work permit, tax no., etc. before that happens. I'll also assume that if he'd been in the system, all his medical needs would have been taken care of at a government hospital, allowing him time to heal properly and return home under more normal circumstances

(Let me make it clear that I'm not being facetious and implying he was working illegally.) I feel for the guy. What an awful thing to go through. I hope the healing (both physically and financially) goes well. I was curious about Social Security taking care of him until healed if he'd had it.

My U.S. Plan F medigap pays 80% of overseas medical care. As medigap, it's part of a Medicare package and thus available to people 65 and over.

[kiwikeith]

And the truck insurance ?

Exactly, if he had of been Thai the truck company would hve had to pay medical and other costs, instead I bet the greatest police force in the world, failed to breathalise or infestigate this and recieved a reward for instantly solving the case!!

[skippy]

Embassy's have the legal obligation to look after their own citizens as passports are only leased and not privately owned.

[micmichd]

Hi,

Just a few quick points.

International school teachers are not covered by the Thai medical insurance system. Work permit or not.... Basically the schools in Thai have their own insurance system, but they decided to not include International schools in this. Leaving many teachers without insurance. Most offer BUPA, which actually is ok for out-patient but little else.

When riding a motorbike it is worth looking at insurance. Most are good enough up to a million baht. I wouldn't drive in Bangkok without motorbike insurance for myself. As noted many drivers here don't have insurance and you will need to sue them to get money, which can take years. I use AA insurance in Pattaya and they are always helpful.

Try to sue an insurance, you might wait for your money in the monkey house 'til you're dead. And the costs are put on Thailand.

[louse1953]

In Australia this bloke would have no problems and a big compo cheque on the way. Third party medical insurance is a compulsory component of your annual registration fee . Simple as that.

Stay away from Asian roads.

Another bloke who things Australia is a far flung province of Thailand.It is compulsory here too mate,and people drive unregistered and uninsured in Oz also you know,but get caught pretty quick with a camera up your arse everywhere you go.Another fine they don't pay,and into the car again and again.Jails are full,so no where to put them.Before cameras 20% of Ozzies drove with no rego or insurance.

[camerata]

I guess if he'd been teaching longer, he would have been in the Social Security system? I assume it takes some time after getting a work permit, tax no., etc. before that happens. I'll also assume that if he'd been in the system, all his medical needs would have been taken care of at a government hospital, allowing him time to heal properly and return home under more normal circumstances

There are two types of social security (actually there's a third for civil servants), the Prakan Sangkhom for company employees and the 30-baht Bat Thong scheme for Thai citizens. I'm not sure if this guy would be covered as a teacher. It depends on the status of his school. If he - and the school - was eligible, he would have been in the system as soon as he got his work permit. In any case, Prakan Sangkhom does have annual limits on treatment and you are tied to one hospital in your home area, which may be government or private. Quality of treatment depends a lot on the hospital. Some of the small private hospitals aren't much better than a large clinic, with specialists coming just once a week for a couple of hours in the evening.

[micmichd]

Of course, everyone here knows to buy a THAI medical Insurance before age 60, because if you try to start a new policy at 60+, they won't insure you.

Correct?

International private health insurances might insure you, I started one at the age of 66. Edited October 7, 2015 by micmichd

[louse1953]

British embassy not helping in this case is discrimination against ur own countrymen . The European governments spend about 36.000 euro's a year per refugee but are not able to help there own people .

Any idea how many people would then make use of the money from the government. Countless because why buy insurance as your government will pick up the bill.

The refugee's are not a good thing at all but two wrongs don't make a right.

Honestly Rob , I have no idea how many people would try to take advantage and not get a travel insurance if travelling abroad .

I think not to many people get into serious medical trouble like this bloke did .

Little bit of namchai on the embassy's side would be the right thing IMHO .

Bloody hell mate,your naive.Most of em are uninsured,bulletproof and won't happen to me syndrome,aka youth.

[Berto]

I am going to be very careful for the rest of my time here in Thailand, and never ever come back in this crazy country.

However I understand the poor judgment under the influence of alcohol.

[louse1953]

British embassy not helping in this case is discrimination against ur own countrymen . The European governments spend about 36.000 euro's a year per refugee but are not able to help there own people .

Any idea how many people would then make use of the money from the government. Countless because why buy insurance as your government will pick up the bill.

The refugee's are not a good thing at all but two wrongs don't make a right.

Honestly Rob , I have no idea how many people would try to take advantage and not get a travel insurance if travelling abroad .

I think not to many people get into serious medical trouble like this bloke did .

Little bit of namchai on the embassy's side would be the right thing IMHO .

Honestly I think you underestimate this hugely. You read so many sob stories here and if it is known that the Embassy helps with medical cost you can be sure many of the people here that are having a hard time with funds will lapse their insurance and think that if something happens the embassy takes up the bill. Kinda like how the refugees come to the west because we are too generous.

Never underestimate how many people love to abuse the system also white Englishmen, they are as rotten as white Dutchmen and immigrants. We all take advantage of the system if we can. I am well insured but if I get older like reach the ages of the average Thaivisa poster my premiums will be higher too. If i had less money and the Dutch embassy would bail out Dutchmen I would certainly think about not taking insurance.. because the embassy would always help.

A lot of embassies where scammed in the old days,sold passport,no money junkies destitute in India.Embassies finally play hardball and the genuine traveller is penalised.

[micmichd]

Embassy's have the legal obligation to look after their own citizens as passports are only leased and not privately owned.

"Legal obligation"? Lol, which law?

I was born in the British zone of (post-war) Germany.

I've got a European passport, it is the property of the Federal Republic of Germany. I (as a person) am not property of any of these doubtful organizations.

I'm member of a Thai family now, I have no other.

So, which law should apply on me?

Edited October 7, 2015 by micmichd

[loppylugs1]

Of course, everyone here knows to buy a THAI medical Insurance before age 60, because if you try to start a new policy at 60+, they won't insure you.

Correct?

International private health insurances might insure you, I started one at the age of 66.

Of course no limitations or a maximum at what you can claim,and no end term stated

[Soutpeel]

Embassy's have the legal obligation to look after their own citizens as passports are only leased and not privately owned.

Only problem with your cunning plan Baldrick

Its not the British embassy that issues the British passport...its HMPO that does....so if in Thailand you need to visit your nearest HMPO in person to receive the legally obligated help

[crazykopite]

The Thai insurance that we pay each year along with the tax disc is a complete joke I am with a company SRI the cover is not brilliant but is better than nothing and costs me just over 2,000 baht a year to cover myself and any pillion driver on my Honda Phantom 200 cc . I chose to have the pillion driver covered rather than the cover of repairs to the bike for some reason they only giver two options

1, cover for bike damage and rider

2, cover for rider and passenger

I chose option 2 on the basis that they determine how much the bike was worth and each year it falls by a large mount in my case they covered the bike for 24,000 even though it only has 10,000 Kim's on it where's my pillion is covered for a good sized medical/hospital cover. I can never understand why bike owners do not insure themselves properly on top of that most banks sell accident insurance which is not expensive .

[bluelabel]

A warning to us all to be extra careful when on the roads in LOS.

I try to avoid riding my Fino as much as possible to be honest and feel much safer driving my car over here.

Yesterday i had to go to the immigration office in Cheang Watthana, BKK and the taxi dropped me at the wrong building and as time was tight i took a motor bike taxi 2 kilometres to building B and experienced something i never want to do again.

The guy was a complete idiot and instead of slowing down for the speed bumps he would try to take the part near the kerb with was flat.

On doing so he hit the kerb, the road was damp and the back end with me on it was all over the place.

Needless to say short sleeved shirt and no helmet and for me could have spelt a spell in hospital if we had come off.

From now on it will be an absolute last resort i shall ever sit on the back of one of them again..

[raphoedon]

I've visited the Kingdom many times and always resisted the temptation to hire a motorcycle. My brother went to Samui 6 years ago on holiday and never retuned alive. He had hired a motorcycle and was involved in a head on collision with a Thai national and was killed instantly, we hope, the Thai guy died three days later.

The motorcycle shop had no insurance and expected us to pay for the bike, the Thai family expected us to pay the hospital and funeral bills for their son. The travel insurance company paid for nothing as motorcycle accidents were excluded.

£3700 later we brought my brother home.

[Soutpeel]

Embassy's have the legal obligation to look after their own citizens as passports are only leased and not privately owned.

Lol.

I've got a European passport, it is the property of the Federal Republic of Germany. I (as a person) am not property of any of these doubtful organizations.

Fact is the world over embassies have no legal obligation to look after its cock head citizens who can't or dont look after themselves

[Inn Between]

I guess if he'd been teaching longer, he would have been in the Social Security system? I assume it takes some time after getting a work permit, tax no., etc. before that happens. I'll also assume that if he'd been in the system, all his medical needs would have been taken care of at a government hospital, allowing him time to heal properly and return home under more normal circumstances

There are two types of social security (actually there's a third for civil servants), the Prakan Sangkhom for company employees and the 30-baht Bat Thong scheme for Thai citizens. I'm not sure if this guy would be covered as a teacher. It depends on the status of his school. If he - and the school - was eligible, he would have been in the system as soon as he got his work permit. In any case, Prakan Sangkhom does have annual limits on treatment and you are tied to one hospital in your home area, which may be government or private. Quality of treatment depends a lot on the hospital. Some of the small private hospitals aren't much better than a large clinic, with specialists coming just once a week for a couple of hours in the evening.

Thanks for the info.

It was so long ago that I got a work permit and started paying into the Soc. Sec. system through my employer that I couldn't remember if there was a probation period or delay of any sort.

As you say, I'm only registered with one (government) hospital. I've used it and am generally happy with it, apart from the long time it usually takes to be seen by a doctor. Fortunately, I haven't had to see a specialist but understand what you're saying about their limited availability. I (like to) think this guy would have been treated adequately though if he'd been covered by Prakan Sangkhom.