Is this REALLY true of BUPA Insurance?

[djingen]

Send a question to BUPA office after a rumor I heard... The question if, Eg. I drink one beer or maybe more, and eg. got hit by a car crossing the street, will BUPA pay my hospital bill? 

 

THIS IS THE ANSWER LOL...

 

Dear Djingenl, Yes sir, if you happen to have alcohol in your blood and have an accident, the insurance will not cover even though you are not the one who creates the accident. Best regards, Millada Wilson, Customer Service, Customer Service Division Bupa Health Insurance (Thailand) PLC., 98 Sathorn Square Office Tower, 14th-15th Floor, North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

 

What do you guys make out of this? ???

[manarak]

If this is true, then it is an abusive clause and should be fought in court.

 

And if true, it maybe wise to completely forego BUPA in your choice of insurance.

[ukrules]

2 minutes ago, manarak said:

If this is true, then it is an abusive clause and should be fought in court.

 

And if true, it maybe wise to completely forego BUPA in your choice of insurance.

 

Pretty much all insurance policies have an alcohol 'get out' clause from what I've heard.

[djingen]

Travel insurance I had from EU never asked or dismiss bec. of alcohol lol. For me this is new. Even not responsible for an accident. Imagine you climb a latter fixing a roof u had 2 beers before fall down, no insurance haha.  

[manarak]

12 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

Pretty much all insurance policies have an alcohol 'get out' clause from what I've heard.

 

it's not a good reason and should be fought.

 

look... "After I went to the bars I was drunk and quietly sleeping in my bedroom, when a truck broke through the wall and injured me."

 

now... what's this???

a rason to refuse coverage?

what about drunk passengers in a baht bus?

 

it gets more ridiculous every day, please, judges, put an end to that nonsense !

[Ronuk]

If you've got alcohol in you then you wont be covered. It's always been a clause. People don't read the small print.

[ClutchClark]

 

1 hour ago, djingen said:

Travel insurance I had from EU never asked or dismiss bec. of alcohol lol. For me this is new. Even not responsible for an accident. Imagine you climb a latter fixing a roof u had 2 beers before fall down, no insurance haha.  

 

I would never climb a ladder after the beer is flowing.

 

Beer saved til the tools are put away is a rule on my jobsites.

[djingen]

1 hour ago, ClutchClark said:

 

 

I would never climb a ladder after the beer is flowing.

 

Beer saved til the tools are put away is a rule on my jobsites.

U right... but u get my point, can also slip on a slippery floor in the bars toilet. 

[jackTheRipper]

Operating power tools and crossing a green light ain't even the same thing. It isn't even the same sport! 

So, you had a beer and got hit by a bike. No coverage? Can't believe that. 

[djingen]

5 minutes ago, jackTheRipper said:

Operating power tools and crossing a green light ain't even the same thing. It isn't even the same sport! 

So, you had a beer and got hit by a bike. No coverage? Can't believe that. 

Thats what BUPA says hehe. 

[bamukloy]

Is anyone really suprised? 

 

Insurance is one of the biggest scam industries on Earth..and this is coming from someone who used to work in it.

 

How many people do you think get away with paying premiums for a few years and then have winning a claim of millions of baht?

 

These guys sew up just about every possible scenario with an escape clause.

They will take your money for years, only the first paltry claim you will get railroaded for years, if not told the policy doesnt cover that event.

 

they spend a small portion of their time recruiting customers,

 

The rest is spent writing new clauses that negate paying out on every possible situation,

deyning claims and fighting court cases.

People claiming are just a nuisance.

Sometimes they even outsource unqualified staff for claims, but certainly the smallest of their labour resources is allotted to claims.

 

if your not to old, save your money and open a bank account, depositing in it what you would normally spend on premiums.

 

you will be a lot better of in the long run and have a lot less stress.

 

(Obvuously the same doesnt apply for house insurance or 3rd party damages)

[Anythingleft?]

Think I would check on that again it maybe a miss understanding on thier part of the original question, my belief is that it you are driving and over the limit then no you are not insured as you are breaking the Laws anyway but just for everyday occurences and having alcohol in your blood seems ridiculous

[bamukloy]

well i wouldnt be to sure.

 

Isurance companies love the word "impairment".

I guess if you have alcohol in your system you could be deemed impaired, therefor not at your best, and as such, a greater risk.

 

Just another way of shutting the door on more claims.

 

I surmise, in some countries such a move could probably make 25% of claims null and void.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Insurance companies exist to deny claims and enrich their shareholders...not to help you when you have an accident.

[CodyB]

In Australia, such a claim would require that the insurance company would need to determina whether or not the consumption of alcohol was proximate to the incident resulting in claim

 

It is actually quite difficult to do that.

 

With Thailand, I don't have a lot of faith in any sort of financial services product. I would definitely not insure my life through a Thai company. Too much graft at the top, any kind of legal challenge is prohibitive by cost and language. Also, being under 50, I get travel insurance for about $600USD a year, inclusive of a ton of other stuff like belongings etc.  I'd suggest anyone who A) goes home more than once a year  B ) is under 70 and C) doesn't require ongoing medical treatment rather just for unexpected things, seriously take a look at travel insurance as opposed to expat health insurance.  Seems expensive and limited. 

[SurinBeach]

Hi CodyB,

 

I might consider your travel Insurance option having just paid cash for a Hernia Op (190,000thb).

 

Mind you been here 12 years and only really my second time in hospital so saved a bunch on Insurance but considering options now....

Are you based Thailand or in your home country of Oz ?

 

Cheers SB

 

36 minutes ago, CodyB said:

 

 

In Australia, such a claim would require that the insurance company would need to determina whether or not the consumption of alcohol was proximate to the incident resulting in claim

 

It is actually quite difficult to do that.

 

With Thailand, I don't have a lot of faith in any sort of financial services product. I would definitely not insure my life through a Thai company. Too much graft at the top, any kind of legal challenge is prohibitive by cost and language. Also, being under 50, I get travel insurance for about $600USD a year, inclusive of a ton of other stuff like belongings etc.  I'd suggest anyone who A) goes home more than once a year  B ) is under 70 and C) doesn't require ongoing medical treatment rather just for unexpected things, seriously take a look at travel insurance as opposed to expat health insurance.  Seems expensive and limited. 

 

[impulse]

53 minutes ago, CodyB said:

In Australia, such a claim would require that the insurance company would need to determina whether or not the consumption of alcohol was proximate to the incident resulting in claim

 

It is actually quite difficult to do that.

 

With Thailand, I don't have a lot of faith in any sort of financial services product. I would definitely not insure my life through a Thai company. Too much graft at the top, any kind of legal challenge is prohibitive by cost and language. Also, being under 50, I get travel insurance for about $600USD a year, inclusive of a ton of other stuff like belongings etc.  I'd suggest anyone who A) goes home more than once a year  B ) is under 70 and C) doesn't require ongoing medical treatment rather just for unexpected things, seriously take a look at travel insurance as opposed to expat health insurance.  Seems expensive and limited. 

 

Go ahead and get travel insurance.  As soon as they find out you're resident in Thailand, your claim can be disqualified.  I'm pretty sure they'll keep your money, though.

 

You'll have to ask them how they define "resident".  But I'm pretty sure it includes people who go home once or twice a year.

 

The OP is an example of the benefit of reading the fine print on any policy  Google "travel insurance scams" for a few hundred more good reasons to read the fine print on a travel policy.

[SurinBeach]

Impulse : Yeh I'm sure they might/would but yes I do go home once/twice a year hence why I'm asking CodyB....

 

 

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

Go ahead and get travel insurance.  As soon as they find out you're resident in Thailand, your claim can be disqualified.  I'm pretty sure they'll keep your money, though.

 

You'll have to ask them how they define "resident".  But I'm pretty sure it includes people who go home once or twice a year.

 

The OP is an example of the benefit of reading the fine print on any policy  Google "travel insurance scams" for a few hundred more good reasons to read the fine print on a travel policy.

 

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, SurinBeach said:

Impulse : Yeh I'm sure they might/would but yes I do go home once/twice a year hence why I'm asking CodyB....

 

Your question to CodyB was quite reasonable.

 

But just do a simple sniff test.  How long do you think an insurance company would stay in business if they charged $600 for a years' coverage given the average annual health care expenses around the world?  Or if they let you sign up for a policy on Thursday, then paid for your 190,000 baht hernia operation the next Monday after you arrived in Thailand?  

 

It just doesn't pass the sniff test.  And a Google search will confirm it even before you read the pages and pages of fine print.   Feels good to buy the policy and think you're protected, though.  But it can be financially devastating to anyone counting on coverage.

[SurinBeach]

Impulse, not sure about you but I'm a Brit and our NHS wont cover us any more if we live out UK (and EU maybe in the future).

What with Insurance Companies trying to avoid paying wherever possible (eg I had a beer) , options are not looking to good for us old fellas ! 

 

(Actually my father a Brit, emigrated to Spain from US as as the age of 75 as his Med Insurance was either too costly or they wouldnt cover him cos of his slightly dodgy ticker)

 

Cheers,

SB.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kwasaki]

10 hours ago, djingen said:

U right... but u get my point, can also slip on a slippery floor in the bars toilet. 

 

I guess you could sue the Thai bar management. 

 

My health ins says about alcohol but it's whether your over a limit amount surely l would think the same would apply to bupa.

A backhander to the doctor should fix it. 

Edited September 20, 2016 by Kwasaki

[impulse]

5 hours ago, SurinBeach said:

Impulse, not sure about you but I'm a Brit and our NHS wont cover us any more if we live out UK (and EU maybe in the future).

What with Insurance Companies trying to avoid paying wherever possible (eg I had a beer) , options are not looking to good for us old fellas ! 

 

(Actually my father a Brit, emigrated to Spain from US as as the age of 75 as his Med Insurance was either too costly or they wouldnt cover him cos of his slightly dodgy ticker)

 

I'm American.  We're hosed from birth no matter where we settle.  Health care in Thailand is so much cheaper than the USA, I suspect my whole bill here would be less than my deductible and copay back home- even with insurance.

 

Thankfully, I have insurance through my employer.  Which, as it happens, covers me anywhere in the world but in the USA.  Yes, it's that bad there.

[Saastrajaa]

Typical BUPA (typical Thai "blaming the victim" attitude, really).  BUPA also does not cover you for any treatment for an STD...because, you know, that means you're a bad person, just as drinking does...

[stevenl]

On 9/20/2016 at 3:48 AM, djingen said:

Thats what BUPA says hehe. 

Check the policy. You will find this exclusion is only applicable to accident insurance, not health insurance.

[madmax2]

22 hours ago, SurinBeach said:

Hi CodyB,

 

I might consider your travel Insurance option having just paid cash for a Hernia Op (190,000thb).

 

Mind you been here 12 years and only really my second time in hospital so saved a bunch on Insurance but considering options now....

Are you based Thailand or in your home country of Oz ?

 

Cheers SB

 

 

Did that with a Australian travel insurance company.in their policy  it said you were covered for hypertension  and after being insured with them for 8 years they refused to pay my hospital bill because i take tritace for high blood pressure (hypertension)

The Australian travel agent i and other members of my family use have changed their travel insurance supplier because of this

Could have returned to Australia and got consumer affairs onto them but it was not worth the time and hassle for 41K baht 

[manarak]

On 21.9.2016 at 9:19 AM, Saastrajaa said:

Typical BUPA (typical Thai "blaming the victim" attitude, really).  BUPA also does not cover you for any treatment for an STD...because, you know, that means you're a bad person, just as drinking does...

 

are you kidding, what crap insurance is that?