Medical Insurance for my Thai wife in USA - when she goes back?

[MauiSteveBKK]

My Thai wife has been with me here on Maui, Hawaii for 9 months and is now legal

with Work Permit, Social Security card, Green Card, Travel docs, etc.

Question: She is having knee problems. She wants to go back to Bangkok to see, possibly, a Thai Knee Specialist.

What kind of medical insurance would you recommend? What would be the best for her?

I would love to have some advice.

She will be seeing a local island specialist, but she says she might want to go back to BKK for medical care. She speaks "decent" English, but may want to see a Thai Specialist.

She is 49 years old .... owns condo in BKK .... good health. Just having knee issues. Clicking. Pain. Etc.

She tried to explain "insurance" in Thailand to me, and I don't have a clue as to what she is talking about.

I thank you for your time and information.

Best wishes,

Steve

[johnatong]

Maybe she is talking about the "free" 30 Bht scheme which Thai people can access via Government hospitals.

Does the lady currently have health insurance ?

If not it may be difficult to obtain cover for a pre-existing condition.

[Sheryl]

You can't get any private Thai insurance for her that will not exclude the pre-existing condition.

As a Thai citizen she is entitled to free health care under the so-called "30 baht" or "gold card" scheme but has to obtain it at the government hospital which covers the location where she is listed in a tabian ban (or higher level facility that they refer her to) and cannot choose her doctor.

It is possible to change where she is listed in a tabian ban if the location of her condo, for example falls under a better hospital...but involves a bit of paperwork and usually a trip to the old location.

See what the Hawaii specialist says first as if it is just a consultation/second opinion that she wants, may be worth just paying out of pocket for as even at top end private hospital it will not exceed about $60-$70 and at a government hospital, way less.

But if there is a need for treatment such as arthroscopy, would be worth going through the bureauocratic hoops to get it done for free at a government hospital.

[MauiSteveBKK]

Thank you!

Yes, I've been there many times when she went for annual check-ups and had the flu, etc.

Long wait at the hospital. She has the 30 THB thing.

Her condo is (best description) very close to the Ari BTS Skytrain station.

I was just hoping for something better. Like an actual "medical plan".

AGREE! Perhaps, just better to pay cash in BKK.

[Langsuan Man]

Or try to find a Thai speaking doctor in Hawaii if language is the problem

You could also try and find an insurance policy that would cover her overseas since under the Affordable Care Act, pre existing conditions are no longer a bar for issuing US health insurance plans. I have Blue Cross but it is under the Federal Employees Program (FEP) and they cover me here in Thailand, don't know about non employer sponsored BC plans

That being said, if she should end up having to have a knee replacement in Thailand, paying out of pocket might not be cost effective

[MauiSteveBKK]

Thank you.

Yes, The ACA (Obamacare) is currently closed. The market opens November 1st.

We will both go under the ACA in December.

Buying an "open market" medical plan is anywhere from $420 to $600+ depending on the deductible.

Neither of us is with an employer that has a medical plan.

Also ... she does not qualify for low-income. Federal law states she must have lived in the USA

for 5 years.

Thank you ... I will continue to look around in Thailand.

Best wishes.

steve

[Issangeorge]

Years ago my wife needed an operation, this was up country, she saw the surgeon at his private clinic, and paid him a gratuity of ฿3,000 and he arranged to have the operation in the local hospital under the ฿30 medical plan at a time convenient to her. Maybe your wife could check out who the best knee surgeon is at her designated hospital, and see if he has a private clinic or after hours office or maybe even works at a private hospital. See him or her there and make a deal.

Edited April 24, 2016 by Issangeorge

[chubby]

It may not be "open enrollment" but, they make exception for life changes, but if income is not joint with yours, then yes, she'd be on Medicaid, < $17,500/ year, and if your saying she can't get medicaid for 5 years then you'd be stuck,

but, If you can she is your wife, then maybe they'd use use your income and presumably you might get in with HMSA or Kaiser

look up the exceptions allowed outside of "open enrollment"

Thank you.
Yes, The ACA (Obamacare) is currently closed. The market opens November 1st.
We will both go under the ACA in December.

Buying an "open market" medical plan is anywhere from $420 to $600+ depending on the deductible.

Neither of us is with an employer that has a medical plan.

Also ... she does not qualify for low-income. Federal law states she must have lived in the USA
for 5 years.

Thank you ... I will continue to look around in Thailand.

Best wishes.
steve