Buriram Expats
Buriram Province - General Category => Health, Body and Medicine => Topic started by: Sofa_King on August 28, 2016, 12:34:48 PM
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Medical Insurance ,do you need it and do you have it ?
(http://www.e-insurethailand.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/health_ins_img2.jpg)
I was on Facebook yesterday and a post came up from Stickboy and he was slagging this guy off for telling people you don’t need medical insurance in Thailand and with Stickboy saying " the guy left me wanting to slap his chops" for talking BS. LINK..... The Worst Advice From An Expat Living In Thailand… EVER!!! (https://www.stickboybangkok.com/videos/worst-advice-expat-living-thailand-ever/) I must admit I did find the guy a bit of a twat though :)
Now I've lived here for over 15 years and never had Medical Insurance and luckily for me I have never needed to use any Hospital Services here , apart from a few minor cuts and scraps, having a mole removed and going to the Dentist routinely. At the same time if I had been involved in a major accident my money set aside for a rainy day would be gone !. :o
If I had been paying Medical Insurance for the last 15 years I could have forked out anywhere between 500,000 and 1 Million baht depending on which company and what cover I had.
The funny thing is , when ever someone comes to Thailand on Holiday and has an accident but NO Medical Insurance and has an accident many Expats on forums rant and rave about what idiots they are for not having Medical Insurance but at the same time the same people don't have it either!!!. The same people will happily put there hand in their pocket when one of the locals needs a non life threatening operation that cost's around 60.000 baht. Now IMO if you can't raise 60k for small Opp yourself then you've made a major f**k up somewhere down the line !! :blink:
Out of all the people I know personally, I don't know anyone that has Medical Insurance or even House Insurance. I was offered House Insurance a few years ago for as little as a few 1000 baht but still declined the offer . I guess like many I feel invincible and serious illness or bad luck will never happen to me.
A friend of mine has cancer a while back and needed chemo, not cheap at 10k a time but still cheaper than if he had paid Medical Insurance for all the time he had lived in Thailand .Many people report how good and inexpensiveness the Public Thai Hospitals are ,so you would need a serious medical problem to clear our any savings you may have if you don't have Medical Insurance.
Many UK Ex-pats that are getting older and finding out they are having health problems are contemplating going back to the UK to be treated,though they may have to tell a few white lies to get the help they need.
So what do you do for heath cover...risk it like me and many others or pay for Medical Insurance ?
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We have unlimited cover (Worldwide excl. US of A) for my wife and myself from an Expat Insurance back in Europe.
Price for the two of us is around 120.000 THB per year.
Outpatient we have to pay ourselves and claim it back Online (usually very fast)
Inpatient, we (or the hospital) have to contact Euro Cross and they pick up the bill.
Edit: I am not going to risk it without Health Insurance, I had a heart attack when I was younger and without Health Insurance (if it's going to happen again) I would be very very afraid of the bill when you need surgery etc etc etc. But as they say: Up 2 U. ;)
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So are you seriously telling us that all the money that you would have spent on health insurance has been put into your bank account and never touched? I very much doubt it. Somebody is going to have to pay what is possibly going to be an enormous medical bill, if you die that may well be your family, if you have one, which I am sure they will be happy about. I have a minimal health insurance, which won't cover all my expenses for sure, ฿15 000 a year (http://www.thaihealth.co.th/product_simply_eng.php), plus repatriation insurance and a little cash in the bank. I'll bet that a lot of guys that have no health insurance insure their car first class and see no contradiction.
Another factor is that it is difficult to find a company over the age of 65 and almost impossible after the age of 70 that will accept you. This is the age when the first intimations of mortality begin to manifest themselves and also the age when companies are likely to resiliate your contract / start raising your premiums until you can no longer afford it. Everybody should have some kind of plan and relying on the kindness of strangers or your Thai family isn't really a plan.
If you have nobody to be responsible to apart from yourself then I guess that in that case it IS up to you. Maybe we can talk about it sometime when the doctor tells you you need a triple bypass, do you have a million Baht?
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On the point of travel insurance I would argue that coming to Thailand without such cover is negligence.
It would not be unreasonable for Thailand to refuse entry to anyone without cover. You need EUR 30,000 cover in place before you can apply for a Schengen visa.
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<snip>
It would not be unreasonable for Thailand to refuse entry to anyone without cover. You need EUR 30,000 cover in place before you can apply for a Schengen visa.
5555 Funny that you mention this. My wife almost got her Visa to Schengen refused because she didn't have a temporary (3 month insurance) but a Full (renewable year by year) insurance with a European Company and they weren't prepared for that. It took some explaining but finally they got it ;)
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So are you seriously telling us that all the money that you would have spent on health insurance has been put into your bank account and never touched? I very much doubt it. Somebody is going to have to pay what is possibly going to be an enormous medical bill, if you die that may well be your family, if you have one, which I am sure they will be happy about.
A course I haven't put all the money I would have spent on health insurance in the bank . And if I die because I can't afford the treatment I need then so be it . It Happens all the time in Thailand ...and in other countries too ! ::)
I have a minimal health insurance, which won't cover all my expenses for sure, ฿15 000 a year (http://www.thaihealth.co.th/product_simply_eng.php), plus repatriation insurance and a little cash in the bank. I'll bet that a lot of guys that have no health insurance insure their car first class and see no contradiction.
I guess some cover is better than nothing, it should ease the burden for your family if the worst happens . But us Brits are used to getting all our medical cover for free, god bless the NHS. Maybe I'll head for the UK, if and when the time come if my pot doesn't cover the costs greatbritainflag :biggrin:
Another factor is that it is difficult to find a company over the age of 65 and almost impossible after the age of 70 that will accept you. This is the age when the first intimations of mortality begin to manifest themselves and also the age when companies are likely to resiliate your contract / start raising your premiums until you can no longer afford it. Everybody should have some kind of plan and relying on the kindness of strangers or your Thai family isn't really a plan.
Yes I have heard of some companies that resiliate your contract /or start raising your premiums to unfordable prices ( bastard's ) chairhit
If you have nobody to be responsible to apart from yourself then I guess that in that case it IS up to you. Maybe we can talk about it sometime when the doctor tells you you need a triple bypass, do you have a million Baht?
triple bypass !!!...nearer 2 Million, maybe time to up your health insurance davureborn. You wouldn't want to be a burden nono
BTW ...... Have you noticed the only two people so far to reply to this thread are people that have some sort of Health Insurance . So come on ,don't be shy....those with no health insurance tell us know what their plan is when the time comes :biggrin:
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<snip>
But us Brits are used to getting all our medical cover for free, god bless the NHS. Maybe I'll head for the UK, if and when the time come if my pot doesn't cover the costs greatbritainflag :biggrin:
I am not a Brit, but I've heard that if Brits spend more time abroad (during the year) then in the UK, you would have to pay for the procedures yourself. Even if this is NOT True, it will be more and more difficult for a Brit living abroad to get coverage back in the UK when they return after years of absence !
So, I wouldn't rely on the NHS (if you are spending a lot of your time abroad). But again I could be completely wrong.
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<snip>
But us Brits are used to getting all our medical cover for free, god bless the NHS. Maybe I'll head for the UK, if and when the time come if my pot doesn't cover the costs greatbritainflag :biggrin:
I am not a Brit, but I've heard that if Brits spend more time abroad (during the year) then in the UK, you would have to pay for the procedures yourself. Even if this is NOT True, it will be more and more difficult for a Brit living abroad to get coverage back in the UK when they return after years of absence !
So, I wouldn't rely on the NHS (if you are spending a lot of your time abroad). But again I could be completely wrong.
I did say in my OP
Many UK Ex-pats that are getting older and finding out they are having health problems are contemplating going back to the UK to be treated,though they may have to tell a few white lies to get the help they need.
It does piss me off a little seeing that I worked ,paid tax and NI for most of my working life in the UK knowing If i was to go back I would be treated like a foreigner in my own country just because I've lived abroad for a while . steamingMad But I think you would get treated and if you can't blag your way around things they can hardly get blood from a stone !
I think its only a matter for time before Expats will be forced to pay some sort of health insurance here in Thailand !!
Uninsured foreigners burdens Thai public hospitals (http://scandasia.com/uninsured-foreigners-burdens-thai-public-hospitals/)
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BTW ...... Have you noticed the only two people so far to reply to this thread are people that have some sort of Health Insurance . So come on ,don't be shy....those with no health insurance tell us know what their plan is when the time comes :biggrin:
I'm not shy - I have no medical insurance - when the time comes my plan is twofold :-
a) Return to the UK and if asked to pay, go to a different hospital and present myself as a deaf and dumb Moldovan transgender refugee. I'll then get free medical care and probably a house, car and benefits.
b) I've heard about a new thing called I believe "Crowdfunding" - that should cover it.
moldovaflag
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BTW ...... Have you noticed the only two people so far to reply to this thread are people that have some sort of Health Insurance . So come on ,don't be shy....those with no health insurance tell us know what their plan is when the time comes :biggrin:
I'm not shy - I have no medical insurance - when the time comes my plan is twofold :-
a) Return to the UK and if asked to pay, go to a different hospital and present myself as a deaf and dumb Moldovan transgender refugee. I'll then get free medical care and probably a house, car and benefits.
b) I've heard about a new thing called I believe "Crowdfunding" - that should cover it.
moldovaflag
:D
And not forgetting Cyberbeg.Com (http://cyberbeg.com/) thumbup
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BTW ...... Have you noticed the only two people so far to reply to this thread are people that have some sort of Health Insurance . So come on ,don't be shy....those with no health insurance tell us know what their plan is when the time comes :biggrin:
I'm not shy - I have no medical insurance - when the time comes my plan is twofold :-
a) Return to the UK and if asked to pay, go to a different hospital and present myself as a deaf and dumb Moldovan transgender refugee. I'll then get free medical care and probably a house, car and benefits.
b) I've heard about a new thing called I believe "Crowdfunding" - that should cover it.
moldovaflag
Deaf and dumb Moldovan transgender.......................
I have a feeling you might just pull it off DJ.
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You have to bear in mind that an airline isn't going to transport a person threatening to pop his clogs during the flight. A friend told me that he is not certain that a doctor will certify him fit to fly from the UK as he is 65 and has had two heart attacks, so airlines do consider this. That's why a repatriation insurance is important.
For myself, I would have to get my ailing ass down to the Swiss embassy to announce my departure from Thailand to get free treatment at home, I gave up on renewing my UK passport long ago. I assume that UK citizens would have to do the same?
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You have to bear in mind that an airline isn't going to transport a person threatening to pop his clogs during the flight. A friend told me that he is not certain that a doctor will certify him fit to fly from the UK as he is 65 and has had two heart attacks, so airlines do consider this. That's why a repatriation insurance is important.
For myself, I would have to get my ailing ass down to the Swiss embassy to announce my departure from Thailand to get free treatment at home, I gave up on renewing my UK passport long ago. I assume that UK citizens would have to do the same?
No. In answer to your final question.
The physical ability to travel is a good point, but in most casesa British citizen can avail themselves of free treatment if they play their cards right.
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My view.
If you are depending on your GVT to take of you, you are going to loose.
You are trapped into the existing "promised" system.
Did you vote to burden your children to take care of you thru taxes? Guess what, they can vote you dead.
My advice is to keep your money.
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I have not posted on this forum for a year or 2 now, but insurance was my livliehood in the UK, and I have formed many opinions over the years as to what should be insured and what not..
Expats basically require health insurance, motor insurance and house insurance.
Just as buying/renting a property/business etc is invariably down to location/location and location, health insurance is down to planning.
When considering becoming an expat, health insurance in your proposed adoptive country should be uppermost in your plans. Obtaining cover when aged 40/50 with no health problems is considerably easier than leaving it to 60+, when like so many people you are taking blood pressure tablets. cholesterol reduction tablets etc etc. Most Insurers will exclude any health problem that could be attributable to the reason for taking these medicines, leaving you paying a large premium for little overall cover.
The insurance I took out (which was available to all Brits), but is no longer on offer, froze your age at what it was when you first commenced cover. My only increases over the years have been due to inflation. My cover is limited (due to the lack of funds all those years ago), but would certainly go a long way towards the cost of a triple heart bypass. I recently claimed and was paid in full around 300,000baht for 2 heart artery stents.
Insurance provides peace of mind. For simple health problems, one only has to consider where to go for treatment, and not have to worry about where the money will be found.
Last year I assisted a 65+ year old expat to obtain minimal health insurance cover, Recently he developoed a health issue and although not fully covered by his limited insurance cover, he was able to have a successful operation without having to worry too much where the money to pay was coming from.
Returning to ones home country may be an option (a lot of red tape involved I suspect), but many health issues which rear up, require immediate attention and would not permit the return back home
If you are 60/65+ now and are taking a daily assortment of pills, then I am afraid you have likely left it too late, but if you are a younger expat, healthy and fit, then now is the time to sort matters out . Health issues will invariably come to the fore in later years.
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Good to see you back posting PH thumbup
You last paragraph sums it it up for many of the Expats I know. Most are over 65 ,have pre existing conditions and take an assortment of pills daily.For these guys it would be almost impossible to obtain an affordable Health Insurance .
UK Expats ,unlike Expats from some other countries have mostly relied on the NHS for their Health cover needs and Health Insurance is alien to there way of thinking.
Over the years health has become quite important to me , I stopped smoking about 8 years ago ( something I thought I could never do ) , I don't drink ( maybe the odd beer at a restaurant or if down in Pattaya ;) ) , try to get out on my bicycle daily and eat a diet of fresh Veg,fruit,meat , fish and stay away from any processed/fried foods
Because I feel reasonable healthy . have no health issues and never needed to see the inside of a hospital/doctors I still find it hard to get my head around paying a fairly large sum of money for an annual premium for a health insurance I may never use.
Maybe in the back of my mind the reason I started this thread was try to get someone to convince me at the age of 56-7 its now time to start looking into getting covered .
At the same time I know many people that don't have Health Insurance that have used the Thai State Hospital and that have received treatment for for less than than an annual premium would be. When I read quote's like the one below I'm still tempted to put my faith in living a clean healthy lifestyle and trust the Thai State Hospitals and my rainy day savings fund if any medical problems do arise in the future .
In the 10 years that I have been living here FULL time, I never had to complain about the local hospital-service. You cannot compare it to European of American standards but then you pay one tenth or less, sometimes even less then 1% of the price in "our" home-country.
I've hospitalised for denque, had a few gout-attacks, had some mayor dental works done, all at the local hospital in Lahansai. The only inconvenience is you have to able to be patient ... and time is the only thing the expat has in abundance.
Most of the time the rude foreigner wants to jump the line, is rude to the staff and the medics ... so what do you want to get in return ????
Please if you are not happy with the service : GO HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!
So far I''m still undecided ???
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I see Croc took his own advice! :biggrin: :biggrin:
I am sure you have already decided Sofa King.
One of the main factors for you, and many of us, is what proportion of your budget are you willing to spend on health cover. An issue for Brits is that we will always benchmark against the free NHS in the UK - that is unrealistic, we are full time in Thailand and we have to make decisions based on what is available here.
I take one tablet a day for raised blood pressure, have done for over 20 years. That prescribed medications means that I am excluded, under Thai policies, from anything heart or stroke related. That makes cover from Thailand pointless - or at least very limited. I have been paying paying 8,000 Baht p.a. on a Thai Health policy, just to have some basic cover in place should I ever be hospitalised.
On a UK visit earlier this year I was able to take out single trip travel insurance covering 364 days travel around Asia. It carries medical and repatriation costs of GBP 5m. The medical condition was declared and that edged the premium up to GBP 268.
I will not renew the Thai health policy and will look for another travel policy when I am in the UK next Spring.
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I see Croc took his own advice! :biggrin: :biggrin:
I don't think you can blame Thai State Hospitals or the cost of Health Insurance for that one spot1
I take one tablet a day for raising my blood pressure, have done for over 20 years
How much are calais these days jumping8
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If you are 60/65+ now and are taking a daily assortment of pills, then I am afraid you have likely left it too late, but if you are a younger expat, healthy and fit, then now is the time to sort matters out . Health issues will invariably come to the fore in later years.
Excellent post Nick – welcome back party10 – I hope some the younger blokes here take your advice.
Approaching 73 myself and taking pills by the handful; I have as you say, left it too late.
Fortunately my wife works for the government and I get similar medical benefits to her (most things are free or 30 Baht, while expensive procedures or specialist care is 70% refunded)
Being a clean living optimist, I doubt I'll ever need any more than a few pills; I anticipate a quick fatal heart attack on the golf course after hitting a long straight drive or maybe a 40 foot putt.
Both are highly unlikely given my swing, so I'll probably be around for a while. redman
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For US citizens >= 65-years old and having worked in the US for most of their lives one of the 'unjust' things about Medicare is that overseas you are no longer eligible for Medicare. However, an expat can re-domicile and obtain almost immediate cover as returning from overseas is a life changing event which exempts you from waiting until the next open enrollment period or paying a penalty for not being covered during your years overseas.
https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/
This assumes you are well enough to travel back to the states and have somewhere to stay while receiving out patient care, but it is something to keep in mind should your health requires better quality care than you can afford here, or you simply choose to relocate back to the states.
Steve
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I see Croc took his own advice! :biggrin: :biggrin:
I don't think you can blame Thai State Hospitals or the cost of Health Insurance for that one spot1
I take one tablet a day for raising my blood pressure, have done for over 20 years
How much are calais these days jumping8
Ha Ha - misquoting again - that has got you in bother previously ! jumping1
CIALIS....... apparently.
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CIALIS....... apparently.
Calais is the french generic version of Cialis (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/flags/flag-of-france.gif)
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For those under 60, with no history of health problems, and consider that they are 100% healthy and will not require medical treatment at some future date, I suggest the following.
Arrange to have a basic check up (Around 2,000bt at the local private hospitals) which includes blood and urine tests, EKG and a chest x ray. Then if anything untoward is found, there is still time to take out a health policy which will not contain a host of exclusions. Better to be safe than sorry.
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I'll fess up. I'm 53 now, and moved over here 2 years ago at 51.
I arrived on September 20th 2014.
I had a list of must do's. Medical insurance was on the list. I had even sent off for quotes.
I got distracted with buying the truck, getting the house build underway and just getting settled.
On November 19th , 2 months after getting here I had a stroke. I ended up in Bangkok Hospital Korat (via Buriram Private hospital). CAT Scan, MRI, intensive Care for 3 Days, 3 days n a general care room, therapy sessions etc etc.......
I'm now on 2 monthly visits to see the Neuroligist and daily meds X 4.
Prior to moving here I hadn't been to a Doctors, let alone hospital for many years. I hadn't had a day off sick from work in the UK for 14 years.
I consider myself very lucky that I could pay for the necessary diagnosis and treatment and that I got off pretty lite in terms of permanent brain damage. I'm not the same as I was but I'm 90% there.
Reason for writing this is simple. I thought it wouldn't happen to me but it did. I put off getting on with the insurance cover even though I knew I should have it.
The bill at Bangkok hospital was significant and my ongoing medication and check ups cost me around 6,000thb a month.
I'm fortunate that I had the money for the hospital and can afford the monthly care.
However, I am now in the position at 53 years old wher I have cardio vascular issues and any medical insurance I am able to get will exclude stroke/heart/artery related cover or be beyond affordability.
And so, I pop pills, I've lost 20 KG, I swim and exercise daily, try to eat healthily and keep my bloody fingers crossed. But.....it's a worry and I wish I hadn't been so bloody stupid in getting my priority's all wrong.
A lesson learned to late in my case but my strongest advice would be to get it if you qualify and can afford it.
Co Co. That's interesting what you wrote about the UK travel insurance covering 365 days in Asia. I'd happily pay hundreds of £ if there were a way to get that whilst living here. I'm guessing you used a UK address??
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Freddy, sorry to hear of your health issues...... there but for the grace of Buddha.........
Regrettably, there is little that can be done as we get older and it is even worse if we have those dreaded 'pre-conditions'.
Nick's advice is sound and your experience is testament to it. Unfortunately even taking out insurance at a younger age is going to catch up with you eventually. The golden days of Nick still being regarded as 42 years old (with commensurate premiums) have long gone.
Had you been able to take Nick's advice and have a health check in Buriram it MAY have identified issues before the stroke - and as Nick says you are still insurable the at that point.
It seems that there are 3 options as we get older:-
1. Buy whatever insurance you can get that is affordable and put money aside for any shortfall.
2. Keep 1million Baht aside for such eventualities.
3. Do none of the above and trust to luck.
I know plenty of people who do not have the money to cover a serious health problem but they choose to continue to live life as they wish and are fully aware of the consequences.
Others like Sofa King are trying to improve their own odds by switching to a healthier way of life. It is a shame that it takes old(er) age to make us smarter and, as you said Freddy, if we had taken action sooner it would have yielded greater health benefits.
That said we are where we are and as Nick said recently - his arteries didn't become blocked over the last 6 months, it was a 70 year project. Personally, I have no intention of living to 90 but I think I would like to make 75 and maybe have a crack at 80 if I feel up to it. I will improve my chances of reaching those goals if I lose 30 kilos and maintain 30 minutes exercise every day. I have learned more in the last few years about what I am eating than in the previous 57!
Even if I apply that degree of discipline there are no guarantees and Freddy's story is a classic lesson for all of us.
Nick sent me this link today - another brick in the food/health education wall.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3762763/Is-Med-diet-better-statins-cutting-heart-risk-Experts-tell-doctors-prescribe-olive-oil-vegetables-nuts-turning-pills.html
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Good post Coco and you're spot on !
I would like to point out though that I'm No health freak and my weight goes up and down all the time , depending on whether I can be bothered to get my arse into gear and do some exercise . whistle
I saw Tommynew at the beginning of August after a friend of ours died suddenly for a heart attract .I got on his scales and was close to 100k :o.
I try and stay around the low 90's and can get down to 85k if I exercise hard . Even though my diet stays roughly the same its definitely exercise that is the key to keeping the weight down and your body fit . If you burn more calories that you eat you will lose weight ...its isn't rocket science ;)
I saw Tommynew again last week and was 97k,a loss of a kilo a week, which is normal for me when I start doing my daily bicycle rides .
I recommend anyone that it still reasonable active to get a bicycle or just do a little daily exercise of some sort and just think a little about what you are putting into your body.
I did another 20 kilometer bike ride today ,so if i can keep to the regime I should be down to my shagging weight by December for my yearly trip down to Pattaya love1
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Being a clean living optimist, I doubt I'll ever need any more than a few pills; I anticipate a quick fatal heart attack on the golf course after hitting a long straight drive or maybe a 40 foot putt.
Both are highly unlikely given my swing, so I'll probably be around for a while. redman
Great to see at the age of 73 you're still playing a-round DJ ... respect (http://www.footymadstreams.com/Smileys/default/notworthy.gif) (http://www.footymadstreams.com/Smileys/default/notworthy.gif) (http://www.footymadstreams.com/Smileys/default/notworthy.gif)
For those under 60, with no history of health problems, and consider that they are 100% healthy and will not require medical treatment at some future date, I suggest the following.
Arrange to have a basic check up (Around 2,000bt at the local private hospitals) which includes blood and urine tests, EKG and a chest x ray. Then if anything untoward is found, there is still time to take out a health policy which will not contain a host of exclusions. Better to be safe than sorry.
After reading this yesterday I had a nightmare last night tired1 . I had a dream I went to the local Hospital for a check up (as you have suggested ) and they gave a a long list of things I had.... Dodgy Ticker,Lung Cancer, Enlarged Prostrate ...etc etc the list was endless :( :blink: ........ I woke up in a bit of a sweat !!!! ...Good job it was only a dream :)
Another daily 20k bike ride this morning and I dropped into the local Village clinic to use their scales for my weekly weigh-in
(http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af31/boloa/download%201.jpg)
96k......looks like the exercise plan is working and on schedule :biggrin:
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Just thought I would have a google around and ask Insurance Companies for quote!
Best so far is 74286.20 :o
Have a go yourself at Now Compare.com .... https://www.nowcompare.com/thailand/en/health-insurance?
I'm sure there must be something cheaper ???
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Just thought I would have a google around and ask Insurance Companies for quote!
Best so far is 74286.20 :o
Have a go yourself at Now Compare.com .... https://www.nowcompare.com/thailand/en/health-insurance?
I'm sure there must be something cheaper ???
It might be helpful to provide a basic summary of whats on offer for 74,286.20 bt
Plenty cheaper. You however get what you pay for.
Basic cover for your age starts at 8,700baht with Thai Health Insurance, http://www.thaihealth.co.th/product_simply_eng.php, with a choice if many plans rising to 46,700bt, which should you then survive until 76, would cost you a staggering 174,000baht annually (at todays prices).
My personal opinion is that anything is better than nothing. If you live to 80, and never have a health problem, then you are very lucky. Regard any premiums paid as a payment for your good fortune.
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My life assurance is 16000 a year. Good cover and a 200000 payment upon death. I pay premiums for 15 years. After that I am still covered but pay no premiums.
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Cheers Nick ........ davureborn hae already posted up that link and some of the quotes do seem reasonable as long as you was to use a Government Hospital rather than one of the more expensive private hospitals. I guy I know has just spent 3/4 days ( not 100% sure) in hospital with dengue fever,total bill including medications was 4500. I wonder what the cost would have been a private hospital ::)
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Like CoCo, I've been on blood pressure meds (1 pill/day) since my 30s. When I moved here at 55 and got some quotes, they said they wouldn't cover any heart related ailments, but didn't offer a lower premium for the reduced coverage.
I decided to open a separate savings account here to use as an easily accessible large emergency fund, it should cover most things short of a month in intensive care. The bulk of our assets are still in the US, but transfers take less than a week if more is needed. So self insured is how it stands for us now.
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If when I get really sick I will head back to Aus where the medical is free and of the worlds highest standard. I paid for this paying taxes during my working life for 47 years.
Regards
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If when I get really sick I will head back to Aus where the medical is free and of the worlds highest standard. I paid for this paying taxes during my working life for 47 years.
Regards
This is part of my plan also. However I have a repatriation insurance. I don't think that visibly very ill passengers will be allowed onto long haul flights, do you? This is another insurance that has to be started before the age of 65, though there may be exceptions I suppose.
Flying Business Class might get you some leverage?
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I didn't know you could get a separate insurance specifically for medical repatriation. Do you have any further info.
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I can't remember the details but it was Simply Healthy, http://www.thaihealth.co.th/product_simply_eng.php that offered an option, and I only remember it because I was over 65 so was refused. I can get you the guy to telephone you if you want, English = 0. Maybe it was an insurance for repatriating (Thai translation problem possibly) people back to their homes in Thailand, I'm not sure about that. There's always https://www.allianzworldwidecare.com/en/international-individual-health-insurance/?gclid=CjwKEAjwkJfABRDnhbPlx6WI4ncSJADMQqxdwTIwFzUlWptrUdmB99kGv2-eQxnsKNcsgyvhFbBzlBoCsYXw_wcB
I now have a repat insurance available to Swiss nationals only costing about ฿2000 a year.
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Thanks Dave. I'll check it out on the Internet. Seems like a good option to have n the absence of health cover. It had never occurred to me to look at this option in isolation.
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Since very close friends of mine (Prakhonchai Nick and Co Co) are interesting participants in this particular thread that I have been quietly following, well I felt that I must just add my penny's worth. I am 68 years old now and have resided in Thailand since 2000. I am one of those types that believes in peace of mind and therefore have always participated in various insurance packages, including a Thai health insurance package. My health insurance was obtained back in 2000, when I first arrived here, using basic mathematics I was therefore 52 years young (and fit at the time). I obtained my Thai health insurance from a broker in Pattaya, where at the time I resided. The initial full insurance package was approx 30k per annum at that time, I saved 15% on the annual premium by excluding "Outpatient" costs - BIG MISTAKE as I will clarify shortly.
Now you have the basic statistics of my situation, let us scroll on a few years. between 52 and 60 my premiums increased slightly each year, growing from the original 30k thru to maybe 45k. Later in that period I developed high blood pressure (shock and horror to someone who personally thought he was the dogs bollocks in fitness) and had a couple of claims, including angioplasty and stent at 400k at Bangkok Pattaya, paid for in full with no hiccups.
After 60 and with the previous claims my premiums went up to around the 60k a year mark, but I continued to pay as I was still in pocket from pay in and pay out experience over the years. Earlier this year (67 years young) I took seriously ill and the result was a quadruple heart bypass at the Bangkok - Korat hospital, the total bill coming to 1.675 million - again fully paid for. My next premium June last increased to 83k per annum, which I paid. Again, if you do the mathematics, I remain well in pocket.
The coronary failure this year was repaired, but the surgery was too late to save my renal function, the heart condition seriously affected my kidneys to the point were they are now only 10% functional. I therefore had to start hemodialysis 3 times a week and this will be for the rest of my life. Fortunately my insurance covers renal dialysis up to 1m baht per annum and therefore, using the fantastic local renal unit at the Ruam Paet hospital in Muang Surin, at 3k per session, well I am well covered and my dialysis treatment is refunded every month by my insurance company.
Prior to my retirement in 2012 I had an excellent employer and a super salary, but even with those attributes my medical bills in retirement would have put a severe dent in my expected annual costings. Fortunately i am well on the road to full recovery and the peace of mind thru my insurance cover is a major aid in that recovery. So if you want to hear advice from a guy who just 15 years ago thought he was that "Dogs Bollocks" in fitness, well think again my friends, no-one can guess what is around the corner and serious heart related illnesses don't normally give any warning, they hit you head on like a runaway train, you won't be able to get off and jump on a flight to UK or the likes - believe me.
International Hospital costs are very variant in Thailand, depending on where you visit. My insurance company does not now permit me to use Bangkok Pattaya hospital any more for example, but I can use other Bangkok hospitals in the Company chain, like the Bangkok Korat. I didn't understand at the time and became quite vexed, but when requiring what they call an AVF (Artery - Vein Fistula) in preparation for receiving hemodialysis, the cost quote was 150k at Bangkok Pattaya versus 50k at Bangkok Korat, so I do appreciate and accept the insurance company restrictions now in that sense.
Going back to saving the 15% for no out-patient claims, it sounded an economic move at the time. But down the road, all the pill popping medication referred to regularly in this thread and what I now need to take, is part of "Out-patient requirements" and therefore not covered, a very costly error in my instance and one that cannot be reversed now. So if you are taking out medical insurance for the 1st time, well take heed of that particular tip.
In conclusion, it doesn't matter how fit and active you think you are, no-one knows what is around the corner and you may be lucky, but lady luck will run out one day. When it does, well you had better be prepared and so if you are young and fit enough to do so, well get out there immediately and get covered if you are going to be a permanent overseas resident.
I hope this helps any ambivalent thoughts that you may hold.
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Thanks RayBan. Unfortunately, I cannot take advantage of any medical insurance as I am 71 years old. If God willing, I will get back to Australia and be treated there.
Regards
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My premium with Thai Health also went up from around ฿10 000.- to ฿15 000.- as I passed the age of 65, which accounts for the 50% rise you also experienced then. I look at it this way: insurance companies are there to make money, that is their main aim. Unprofitable patients will be taxed more and more each year until they stop paying the premiums. I certainly couldn't afford ฿83 000.- a year and would have been out of the game long before that.
I look on my minimal insurance as 1: encouraging a hospital to take me in in an emergency, and 2: getting me through any crisis that may occur, financially, until I get to the point where I can decide whether I want to die in Thailand surrounded by a loving family, possibly with inadequate medical aid, or return to Switzerland where I would get first class treatment for 'free' but separated from family. My insurance agent (I find that it is important to know your agent personally) told me that my insurance would get me through, for instance, one bout of cancer treatment but after that things would become difficult.
Some form of repatriation insurance is an essential part of my plan as well as a few Baht in the bank to facilitate getting back to Switzerland. I have read a few times that the Thai government is considering making some form of health insurance obligatory for tourists and long stayers alike; this would indeed lighten the burden for some of us. My wife has to show proof of insurance when she travels to switzerland, I don't see why it should be any different the other way round.
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An excellent report from RayBan, who has had a horrendous year. I saw him in hospital just a few days after his quadruple heart by pass operation, as I was about to undergo an angioplasty with stents. My wife, naturally not fully understanding my problem, assumed I would require similar surgery and end up with scars like RayBan's.
As has been made clear, you get what you pay for. RayBan was in the fortunate position that he took out insurance immediately he came to Thailand, and was able to pay for one of the better covers. He was not only a young "hansum man" in those days, but had no health problems. I too took out insurance in the UK when I first came here 30 years ago. Unfortunately not particularly high cover, but somewhere in the middle. One of the benefits of my insurance is that I never age. I pay the premium relative to the age I was when I first started the insurance. It does however increase with inflation. Unfortunately this insurance has been closed to new applicants for many years.
The cheap Thai Health insurance...http://www.thaihealth.co.th/product_simply_eng.php provides a range of different levels of cover, but note how they increase as you age. One problem recently experienced with this company, was that a friend needed expensive surgery over just a few days. His surgical expenses were more than the policy limit, yet he ended up with a large surplus of accommodation cover,. The better insurance policies (naturally more expensive) often cover everything up to a certain limit (1,2,5 million baht or more) But these are generally only available to those who have no health problems, and are not into pill-popping.
As RayBan said it is often not possible to return to your home country. You may be literally too sick, and an airline would be unlikely to take you. However, with even limited insurance cover, it might be possible to stabilise whatever condition you had , allowing you to return back home for more extensive treatment.
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@Rayban: Can I ask who your current medical insurance provider is?
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@Rayban: Can I ask who your current medical insurance provider is?
Originally it was known as LMG Pacific, but now rebranded as Pacific Cross. The broker is Macallan Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd. based on Pattaya South Road and managed by a Scotsman by the name of Jack levy, who has been in business since I arrived in Thailand back in 2000. Prakhonchai Nick may also be able to guide you if you are looking for cover. Hope this helps.
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Thanks for the info Rayban
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Someone said there was a medical insurance company in Buriram that speaks English and will visit your home if needed to discuss the coverage.
Could anyone reading this post please give me the contact details of this Insurance Company.
Regards
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I saw this today. I'm going to find out more but sounds reasonable to me but you are only allowed to use Government Hospitals.
2000 baht a month for 500,000 worth of cover !!!!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vhexzou1m0p0vkp/Proposal%20of%20new%20Thai%20health%20insurance.pdf?dl=0
http://www.insurance-in-thailand.com/affordable-health-insurance-for-anyone-in-thailand/
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It would be worth asking whether at ones own expense a private room could be used. The thought of being in a cramped ward, or worse in staircase/lift area or corridors as was the case I saw at Buriram hospital a few weeks ago, is enough to put anyone off.
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Buriram hospital have just started to open their new wings. My wife went to visit someone there this week. A basic public ward has 4 beds and is air conditioned. When all of the patients have been moved to the new wings the plan is to the redevelop the old wings.
The service and medical care at Buriram Hospital is very good, as I believe has been reported on another thread on here, so when the over crowding is solved it will become a great hospital and a great facility for the people of Buriram.
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It would be worth asking whether at ones own expense a private room could be used. The thought of being in a cramped ward, or worse in staircase/lift area or corridors as was the case I saw at Buriram hospital a few weeks ago, is enough to put anyone off.
Good to see you posting this on SF Nick
And taking the credit for my great info :laugh:
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If this scheme takes off, I would advise anyone partaking to be careful. Whilst an annual fee of around 25,000baht is being contemplated, it could well be that after Year 1, the claims experience requires either a substantial increase, or even abandoning the scheme altogether.
This scheme is fine for anyone having no insurance, but for anyone having health insurance currently, I would suggest keep what you have and consider topping up with this scheme. DO NOT CANCEL existing health insurance. ;)
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It would be worth asking whether at ones own expense a private room could be used. The thought of being in a cramped ward, or worse in staircase/lift area or corridors as was the case I saw at Buriram hospital a few weeks ago, is enough to put anyone off.
I guess if you are having a heart attack and haven't got the 400k+ for the OP , being in a cramped ward is the least of your problems ::)
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Here is another I've been looking into https://www.aetna.co.th/en/individuals.aspx
I believe they are a subsidiary of BUPA and have an Office in Pattaya though of course emails and phone calls can be used for anyone not in the Locale .
With the few health health scares I've had recently , although everything has turned out fine I've started to realize I'm not the Super fit Adonis I was 20 years ago (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/gym/treadmill-fall-smiley-emoticon.gif)
As I'm a non-drinking -non smoking cool1 58 year old my premium will be obviously lower than anyone older but their cover for something similar to Bangkok Insurance Brokers cover the quote was around 26k with their Emerald Package .( includes the summer discount until 30/4/2018 )
Might be worth getting a quote from Aentna as well if your thinking of getting cover ;)
Feel free to share this as well Nick :biggrin:
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It would be worth asking whether at ones own expense a private room could be used. The thought of being in a cramped ward, or worse in staircase/lift area or corridors as was the case I saw at Buriram hospital a few weeks ago, is enough to put anyone off.
Good to see you posting this on SF Nick
And taking the credit for my great info :laugh:
Had I provided,or acknowledged the source, it would probably have been deleted.
Tit for tat on the next post.
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It would be worth asking whether at ones own expense a private room could be used. The thought of being in a cramped ward, or worse in staircase/lift area or corridors as was the case I saw at Buriram hospital a few weeks ago, is enough to put anyone off.
Good to see you posting this on SF Nick
And taking the credit for my great info :laugh:
Had I provided,or acknowledged the source, it would probably have been deleted.
Tit for tat on the next post.
If that is the case then it's just shows how some people will cut off their nose to spite their face ;)
You could have posted I saw this info on BE ::) ..... http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,8946.msg67002/topicseen.html#new
Anyway , the more people we can help the better :biggrin:
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Noted on another forum that there are three Thai companies offering health insurance for OA-x long stay visa holders.
https://longstay.tgia.org/
Of note one stops coverage at 80, one offers lifefime renewal past 70 at the lowest required cover, and the third has a 250K rate for centanarians. Exclusions are pretty vague and probably would kick in for most of us in our 60s if we have any chronic controlled conditions e.g. blood pressure and/or cholesterol.
steve
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It would be worth asking whether at ones own expense a private room could be used. The thought of being in a cramped ward, or worse in staircase/lift area or corridors as was the case I saw at Buriram hospital a few weeks ago, is enough to put anyone off.
Good to see you posting this on SF Nick
And taking the credit for my great info :laugh:
Had I provided,or acknowledged the source, it would probably have been deleted.
Tit for tat on the next post.
If that is the case then it's just shows how some people will cut off their nose to spite their face ;)
You could have posted I saw this info on BE ::) ..... http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,8946.msg67002/topicseen.html#new
Anyway , the more people we can help the better :biggrin:
Apologies Smithy. However I did NOT see it on BE. I receved an email from a friend with the web link, liked what I read and decided to brodcast it on SF. Only later did I become aware of your post on BE
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Apologies Smithy. However I did NOT see it on BE. I receved an email from a friend with the web link, liked what I read and decided to brodcast it on SF. Only later did I become aware of your post on BE
Yes I sent the info to Ray and asked him what he thought ...though funny how you replied to my post on here Yesterday at 06:04:13 AM and then posted on SF the info at Yesterday at 06:22 . So you can see why I thought you have copied my post .
As I've said before " the more people we can help the better" thumbup
But posting on BE it better as everyone can see the info and be helped ,unlike other places where it's limited to just a dozen+ select members that like to hide behind the veil of secrecy :laugh:
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Here is another I've been looking into https://www.aetna.co.th/en/individuals.aspx
A quote for Monthly Payments
Premium for 58 year old after discounts
Ruby 1,995.95THB per Monthly
Emerald 2,618.2THB per Monthly
Diamond 3,248.05THB per Monthly
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Noted on another forum that there are three Thai companies offering health insurance for OA-x long stay visa holders.
https://longstay.tgia.org/
Of note one stops coverage at 80, one offers lifefime renewal past 70 at the lowest required cover, and the third has a 250K rate for centanarians. Exclusions are pretty vague and probably would kick in for most of us in our 60s if we have any chronic controlled conditions e.g. blood pressure and/or cholesterol.
steve
I've checked out those above and they are nearly double that of the few quotes I've had already :o . I've got a few more to try before I decide which one to go with . I'm not looking for a top of the range cover, just a smallish policy ( 400-500k ) so if I get a big Hospital bill it wont obliterate my nest egg that's there for a rainy day !!
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I believe that they are the only providers allowed under the new "10-year" visa, so they have a captive audience.
Are you looking into your future premiums and how long renewals are available?
Also their costs will be somewhat more as it appears that they will write new policies for applicants past 65 unlike almost all other insurers (although what exclusions would be enforced I don't know). You are best served obtaining cover now as some insurers start restricting new policies to those under 60.
steve
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https://www.thaivivat.co.th/longstayvisaplan/
http://www.navakij.co.th/nkiweb-web/page/88
https://www.viriyah.co.th/en/longstay-form.php#.WsM_mbWsbIV
It gives you a rough idea of the cost from the 3 Mudcat posted on his link ,as I've said some are more than double that of quotes I have had!!.
Good job I'm not going for a 10 year Visa :blink:
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Some members here and elsewhere have received details of the proposed insurance scheme
http://www.insurance-in-thailand.com/affordable-health-insurance-for-anyone-in-thailand/
Having had a quick read through what is on offer, It appears that what was initially proposed has been somewhat watered down.
My initial thoughts/comments are as follows.
1) Cover is either 400,000baht or 800,000baht ANNUAL limit. This includes accommodation, doctors fees operation costs and all other expenses incurred whilst in hospital, with a specific maximum for each. With the lower level of cover, whilst there is 240,000baht allocated to room/board, there are much lower limits available for surgery and tests/medicines etc. The higher 800,000baht level provides an extra 400,000baht for things that matter (ie surgery and drugs /tests etc)
2) A serious medical problem with perhaps 5/7 days hospitalisation would almost certainly take all of the available money allocated for surgery, tests drugs etc, on the lower scheme, but in all likliehood not cost more than around 10,000baht for room/board. Remember we are only dealing with a government hospital. That would leave you with probably some 200,000baht available for room/board, but no cover for anything else!
3) Recent experience of government hospitals, with foreigners as well as Thais, has found beds in corridors and even outside lifts and staircases as wards were overflowing. The chances of a private room in many hospitals is small.
4) All pre-existing conditions are excluded. Not sure whether high blood pressure and high cholesterol being treated with medicines would be a reason to turn down claims for heart problems amongst others. I rather suspect that would be the case. If so one is left with very little cover. OK for a broken arm or leg or appendicitis but not a great deal more.
Being over 70, I am ineligible, but would, if younger, prefer to shop around for better cover at ANY hospital, private or government, and hopefully cover that extends well after the age of 70. For the younger obnes, better cover is available, but the crux is that you have no pre-existing medical conditions.