BUPA Thailand medical insurance - not 'suitable' for Myanmar

[simon43]

Whilst living in Thailand, I took out a medical insurance policy with BUPA Thailand about 2 years ago which claimed to provide cover for all countries in south-east Asia.  It is the 5 million baht Platinum policy, which covers for inpatient treatment and also includes evacuation cover. I pay about 5,400 THB per month.

 

I made one claim about 6 months ago whilst living in Thailand, for a hospital stay due to Dengue fever.  This was handled without problem - the hospital took one look at my BUPA card and dealt direct with BUPA, no payments required from me.

 

But now I have left Thailand (permanently).  I am living/working in Myanmar, and hope to stay in Myanmar for many years.

 

Since the hospital system in Myanmar is rather 'basic', I contacted BUPA Thailand to not only inform them of my new country of residence, but also to ask if they could recommend any hospitals in Myanmar, as well as advise the evacuation procedure back to Thailand, should the Myanmar hospital be unable to provide treatment.

 

While BUPA confirmed that my medical policy covers me for living in Myanmar, they told me that they had no information about hospitals in Myanmar.  They confirmed that I had evacuation cover, but had no idea what procedure to follow, should the Myanmar doctors decide that I need to be evacuated to a hospital in Thailand.

 

All this greatly concerns me.  There is little point paying through the nose for medical insurance if the insurance company knows nothing about what hospitals (if any), are covered by the BUPA scheme.  It is definitely a major concern that BUPA had no idea how the evacuation procedure works.

 

All this means that I want to change my insurance cover without delay to a company which really does provide medical cover and evacuation in Myanmar, rather than making what I feel are 'false claims' that their policy includes cover in Myanmar.

 

I know from working previously in Myanmar in 2012/2013, that hospitals can be rather basic in Myanmar.  But as the influx of foreign tourists continues to grow, surely there is a medical insurance company that has got their act together and provides cover and evacuation in Myanmar.

 

Any suggestions of insurance companies/policies is much appreciated.

[stevenl]

This may be related to you relocating to Myanmar, and not using the policy as I presume it is intended, for people living in Thailand.

[simon43]

This may be related to you relocating to Myanmar, and not using the policy as I presume it is intended, for people living in Thailand.

 

When I took out the policy, I asked, and it was clearly stated to me that the policy covered me with equal benefits, regardless of where I was living in  Asia.  This was important for me, because I envisaged living in multiple countries and wanted a medical insurance policy that would 'work', regardless of which country I was living in.

[lopburi3]

Suspect it would provide cover as they said - you pay upfront and then file bills to insurance for payment.  Most insurance companies do not have direct payment outside there immediate country/countries but accept bills from any hospital in another country (possibility with limits to what is normal in issuing country).  I have American Blue Cross which does have direct payment with a few hospitals in most countries but you are free to use any hospital if you pay upfront.

[dabhand]

The Bupa Global website (https://www.bupaglobal.com/en/facilities/finder) has just one hospital in Myanmar on their list:

 

Asia Royal Hospital, No. 14 Baho Street, Sanchuang Township, Yangon.

 

Possibly not covered by your Bupa Thailand policy but, if not, and likely to be the best of a possibly bad bunch if BUPA Global do recognise it's existence, may be worth contacting to find out which insurers they have dealings with and take it from there.

 

Presumably Bupa Global policies are more expensive than the Thailand issued policies, having more extensive coverage.

 

 

[stevenl]

This may be related to you relocating to Myanmar, and not using the policy as I presume it is intended, for people living in Thailand.

 

When I took out the policy, I asked, and it was clearly stated to me that the policy covered me with equal benefits, regardless of where I was living in  Asia.  This was important for me, because I envisaged living in multiple countries and wanted a medical insurance policy that would 'work', regardless of which country I was living in.

But what does it say in your policy about 1. living away from Thailand; and 2. coverage in Myanmar?

No matter what they said, what It says in the policy is what really matters.

Edit: TV app screws up the quote again.

[simon43]

No matter what they said, what It says in the policy is what really matters.

 

Indeed, so I checked this.  I have comprehensive medical cover, including emergency evacuation worldwide, except only for accidents in the USA (not illness). I do not have to be resident in Thailand.

 

My main moan is that whilst the policy covers me worldwide, BUPA Thailand seem unable to provide details of any evacuation procedure that might be required, should I incur a major accident or sudden illness in Myanmar. That concerns me.

 

I could buy an additional evacuation policy from Worldnomads, but it would be nice to have a comprehensive medical cover policy where the evacuation procedure is clearly stated in the policy and understood by BUPA Thailand customer services.

[JLCrab]

http://www.ami-insurance.com/health-insurance/

[simon43]

@ JLCrab

 

Yes, I know about that policy. A daily benefit of 15,000 MMK (about $12 USD), seems a tad low, don't you think? :)

[JLCrab]

I don't know but  it is a Myanmar policy -- where does BUPA Thailand send their policy renewal docs if you don;t have an address in Thailand?

[simon43]

where does BUPA Thailand send their policy renewal docs if you don;t have an address in Thailand?

 

I never said that I don't have an address in Thailand. BUPA sends documents to the address on record in Thailand, which are my family members. If I get a more permanent address in Myanmar, then I'll change my address details.  For now, BUPA Thailand is fully aware that I no longer live in Thailand, and that is not a problem for them.

 

I note from Googling that some competing providers of comprehensive medical cover do provide full details 'upfront' of their evacuation procedure when living/working in remote areas.  I only wish BUPA Thailand would do the same.

[JLCrab]

So you are living in a place that, should any major medical event occur, you would wish to be evacuated. Sure does make life simple, nyet?

[stevenl]

They most likely have a local company taking care of that.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[simon43]

So you are living in a place that, should any major medical event occur, you would wish to be evacuated. Sure does make life simple, nyet?

 

Hardly a unique situation to work in a country with sub-standard medical facilities.  Laos and Cambodia are similar in that any serious illness or accident would require evacuation to Bangkok.  (BTW, the evacuation decision would not be my decision, but that of the doctors).

 

Since I still retain ties to Thailand, (family, bank accounts, 5-year visa etc), the best option might to be to continue my BUPA Thailand policy and buy a low-cost, standalone evacuation policy from eg worldnomads.  BUPA Thailand have confirmed that they would pay for any hospital inpatient treatment that takes place outside Thailand, but I'd have to pay first and claim back from them.

[JLCrab]

On 11/3/2016 at 10:25 AM, simon43 said:

 

 

 

Hardly a unique situation to work in a country with sub-standard medical facilities.  Laos and Cambodia are similar in that any serious illness or accident would require evacuation to Bangkok.  (BTW, the evacuation decision would not be my decision, but that of the doctors).

<snip>

Well in reading the Andy Hall topic in the News Forum it doesn't seem that you'd be too eager to return to Bangkok especially incapacitated flat out on a stretcher.

[simon43]

Well in reading the Andy Hall topic in the News Forum it doesn't seem that you'd be too eager to return to Bangkok especially incapacitated flat out on a stretcher.

 

LoL possibly true, but I have no idea if the sh*t in question got his friendly immigration officer to add me (again) to the 'no-exit' list.  Then again, that would be the least of my concerns if I was sick enough to justify evacuation to BKK.

 

Back on-topic, I just got a quote from MSH which covers all Asian countries equally, and comprehensive evacuation cover is also included.  The premium is marginally cheaper than my BUPA Thailand insurance.  So I'll probably switch to MSH.

[JLCrab]

Well I hope for all the best for you Simon but one makes choices in this life and some I guess choose " ...   to work in a country with sub-standard medical facilities."  I promised persons in USA that, when I moved to Thailand, I would do nothing deliberately that might cause them to board a plane to Bangkok to bail me out figuratively or literally so that narrowed my personal choices.

[TerryLH]

"BUPA Thailand have confirmed that they would pay for any hospital inpatient treatment that takes place outside Thailand, but I'd have to pay first and claim back from them. "

 

Did you ask them if they would do the same if you had to be evacuated for treatment?