Medical Insurance

Post by **BangkokButcher** » August 18, 2005, 2:48 pm

[quote]I prefer to have piece of mind so at least I'm prepared for the

Post by **banpaeng** » August 18, 2005, 6:09 pm

Paul and Lee you two guys said what I was trying to say and never got to to the point. I fall into Lee's court as I will have insurance but do have ultra respect for Pauls side and actually understand it. I did an insurance review aboujt 5 years ago and could not believe what I had let myself gotten into over the years and I got out of a lot of the crap. The stuff is like a bad cold it just starts with a small snifffel and before you knw it you will be chocking on the stuff if you are not watching. I wasn't chocking but I had to darn much.

I now do a check of all household expenses once a year. you would be surprised how crap creeps in. You should review each bill as you will find stuff included in a bill that you don't use especially phone and electric and internet. They love hidden charges!!!!!!

Wow got off track. This is insurance.

Post by **businessman** » August 21, 2005, 2:31 pm

Had insurance here up to the point where i made a claim and they refused to pay.That was with Bupa.

I went into the Ek Udon after a fall and was in for three days receiving treatment.They refused to pay due to the fact that they say i fell due to my arthritic condition and thus it was caused by a pre existing problem which are not covered.I slipped.Initially peeved off but not in the mood to fight for years in a Thai court.

Post by **banpaeng** » August 21, 2005, 7:37 pm

Kinda my point when they found I was being treated for high BP. They immediately ruled out anything with the circulatory system. By the way BP is now 125/78 pretty good to me.

If still interested in insurance you might want to look at Travel Guard. You can purchase after you have left home if I am correct and if purchased more than 3 months it covers pre-existing to a limit if I understnd corectly. Please read and heed there info as I am not a lawyer to translate this mess.

Post by **fdimike** » August 22, 2005, 7:05 pm

Bangkokbutcher if you or anyone else is interested in health/life insurance through AIA please let me know. My brother-in-law is a Manager for AIA. His office is actually located north of us in the Nong Khai area but he is in Udon Thani all the time for business and family matters.

Post by **BangkokButcher** » August 22, 2005, 7:38 pm

It was more of an enquiry at this stage as I'm not in the country for any permanent length of time yet.

It's very handy to know about your brother in law though, thanks.

Post by **businessman** » August 24, 2005, 11:22 am

I see Royal and Sun Alliance has started to offer a no claims bonus on its policies.They were a UK company but i am not sure if the foreign units have been sold.

Costs up to 80 million Baht,,worldwide protection,evacuation,outpatient costs and life insurance of 1 million Baht.

Sounds good but of course the premiums may be enormous.Will check and post answer.

Post by **businessman** » August 24, 2005, 1:27 pm

It looks like Royal is now part of an australian company:

IAG acquires additional general insurance asset in Thailand

Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG) today announced that it had agreed to acquire an interest in a second Thai general insurer, Royal & SunAlliance (Thailand) Limited. The asset generates approximately A$35 million in annual gross written premium.

Found the web site:
http://www.royalsun.co.th/Quote/global/ ... ction.aspx

Post by **businessman** » August 25, 2005, 10:21 am

Sean,the premiums are indeed large because it is a global policy.Not suitable for someone like me who is full time in Thailand,more for a traveller of commuter between the UK and Thailand.

Post by **BangkokButcher** » August 25, 2005, 2:32 pm

Ah well worth a try I guess, cheers

Post by **ctm** » August 25, 2005, 3:03 pm

In my opinion, BUPA sucks. They won't even cover me if I fall off my bike (à¹à¸Ÿà¸dangerous sportà¹à¸Ÿà¸). Motorcycle accidents are covered at 50%. Lots of pre-existing conditions fine print. Honestly, whats the point?

I have AIA accident insurance at B4500 per year. Seems like a small price to pay not to worry about being wiped out financially by a serious accident. Comes with I believe B100,000 per incident/B1000000 life insurance/B1000 week disability.

The wife has a regular AIA policy at about B10000 per year. Not sure if worth it yet, but you guys know Thais, a little case if the sniffles and they want to run of to the doctor. LOL AIA required an HIV test and I believe one of the à¹à¸Ÿà¸are you breathing?à¹à¸Ÿà¸ physicals.

AIA is a bit strange. It is actually a combined life, medical, and loss of income policy. Wife gets B500 per day for hospital stays. They only cover hospitals stays, no out patient treatment. Of course, the staff at Aek Udon is more than willing to help come up with a reason to spend the night. Our agent is a friend of the family and gives us tips on how to file claims.

Post by **BangkokButcher** » August 25, 2005, 3:11 pm

Now that sure sounds like a viable policy

Post by **banpaeng** » August 25, 2005, 8:42 pm

I agree with the Butcher but have a question CTM. I to agree with you on BUPA and pre existing conditions so how did you do your pre existing with AIA?

Post by **businessman** » August 26, 2005, 12:07 pm

BUPA in the UK was great but as soon as i got here it all went pear shaped.

AIA has an excellent reputation in Thailand and may well be the number one health insurance provider although i believe you have to pay slightly higher premiums.(10,000 as opposed to say 8000)Well worth it if they cough up easily on claims.

After the hassle with BUPA i find myself reluctant to get involved with another health insurance provider.

Post by **briang** » August 26, 2005, 8:34 pm

There is an interesting article on Ajarn.com about medical insurance.

http://www.ajarn.com/Banter/health%20in ... ptions.htm

Post by **banpaeng** » August 26, 2005, 9:04 pm

very good article. He preaches on PRE-EXISTING AND PLEASE BE CAREFUL with this.

Post by **businessman** » August 29, 2005, 11:20 am

Does anyone here have any experience with Thai Health?Never heard of it before.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » August 29, 2005, 1:21 pm

oh yea, before actually paying for any insurance from anyone, anywhere, not just udon, alway call home office and check their credentuals. lots of fraud going on everywhere, not just udon. such as below:

"UDON THANI:A man accused of selling low-cost life insurance packages and then refusing to pay the relatives of people who died has been arrested in swindling charges.

Bunmeechai Ngarmdee, 45, allegedly persuaded many people to apply for membership of a community goods distribution centre and buy low-cost life insurance packages from it. Applicants paid 1,400-1,600 baht a year and were told their families would receive 50,000-100,000 baht. No health checks were required.

The suspect served as head of the centre's branch office in Udon Thani.

Police said the centre was headquartered in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district. It had branch offices in several northeastern provinces. Investigators found it had no permit to provide life insurance.

Mr Bunmeechai denied the charges. He said the centre was legally operated.

The delay in payments was caused by a misunderstanding"

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Aug2005_news11.php

Post by **polehawk** » August 29, 2005, 8:29 pm

Thai Health? My earlier post w/website:

polehawk wrote:Another site (Thai Health Insurance) that gives you online quotes:

http://www.thaihealth.co.th/index_e.php

http://www.thaihealth.co.th/ecalculation.php

I haven't heard pro/con reports about this company, however.

The links and info about Travel Guard from banpaeng do look promising and I will see how it compares to some of my other quotes and coverages.

I could be wrong but Travel Guard seems to be set up more as a tourist/traveler temporary health insurance plan. Each page keeps reiterating that it does not cover pre-existing conditions except in emergency situations. Maybe this would fit the bill for some but worrisome to me since I do have some "pre-existing conditions" that would probably preclude me from qualifying for health plans that I've looked at so far in Thailand.

Still, the dream of retiring in Issan continues.

Post by **banpaeng** » August 30, 2005, 12:18 am

Polehawk, You will have to keep digging to get past the travel tourist info and find the worldwide health international medical insurance. you are right about the pre existing conditions on being emergency coditions only an d basically being limited to 50k. The way I am looking at it is by listening to the guys and gals on the forum here is that in general medical problems can be handled as it is not to costly in Thailand. I have also found it that way as about 5 years ago I had to go to the emergency room and after and EKG xrays Doctors visit, meds and being told I had a bad case of dehydration, the total bill was 48 dollars.

As stated eailer I want the insurance to prevent the loosing of my retirement funds. I also figure the 50 k will take care of an emergency on pre existing in Thailand. The only pre existing I have (according to BUPA) is high BP which they ruled out all circulatory issues. I also did a bit of looking and the cost of bypass in BKK is about 8k. Even with complications still have a way to go.

Talked to Travel Guard and High BP does not make heart a pre existing.

Any way to make a long story short, it looks like you are about where I got to. You mihgt call them. When I did they were quite knowledgeable on the phone.

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