Medical Insurance

In my opinion, BUPA sucks. They won't even cover me if I fall off my bike (๏ฟฝdangerous sport๏ฟฝ). 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 ๏ฟฝare you breathing?๏ฟฝ 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.

Now that sure sounds like a viable policy

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Any ideas how the application process for the 30 baht health care thing works?

The guy I know who has the card also has a work permit, I don't think he was really supposed to be allowed one but for some reason he was given it. Maybe it comes with a work permit but I very much doubt it!

Sorry I can't give you the name of the guy who has it because he may not want anyone to know.

Lee

Banpaeng,

The information given by yourself and others is appreciated. As you have said, the health insurance is needed in case of a major surgery/hospitalization so I will call and check Thai Guard and a few others mentioned in this forum more closely when the time comes. The everyday meds and doctor visits are reasonably priced in Thailand and will not require a comprehensive medical plan, it doesn't seem. My "pre-existing conditions" include high BP, a coronary arterial stent emplacement 7 years ago (no problems since then), Type II diabetes and high cholesterol. All are being controlled with daily meds and regular office visits. I'm sure there are others there with far more serious health concerns than mine.

My wife and I have weighed the costs of living in the states and Thailand and we are sure we could live much more comfortably in Issan than trying to exist here on our retirement package. The wife has her US citizenship interview scheduled for Nov. 3rd (finally!) so we are now hoping we can be in Thailand on a permanent basis by next Songkran.

I wish your wife luck. I am sure she will have no problem. I am not sure of my departure date but I am hopeing it is soon.

How about a bit of an update on this subject. Several of you wanted to do more indepth research. What is the outcome of your legwork? Are you willing to share your knowlegde?

Mobaan wrote:How about a bit of an update on this subject. Several of you wanted to do more indepth research. What is the outcome of your legwork? Are you willing to share your knowlegde?

Here's your update:

I have had BUPA for 4 years now and 8 operations under my belt with them. They have paid 100% of everything and I never had to lay out 1baht.

My coverage is 2mil baht Platinum
Coverage: IPD-As charged
OPD-As charged
OPD Annual Max - 25,000 baht
EM- 15,000 per vist

In the 8 operations that I have had here in Thailand, they have cost from 35,000 baht to 225,000 baht and I didn't have to open my wallet once.

When I first bought the policy the rate for a year was 35,000 baht and last year my rate was 63,000 baht. It will not only go up yearly but, also go up with how many claims you have made. All I can say is that I am still ahead of the game when it comes to the funds they have paid out and the funds that I have had to pay them.

So, to make a long story short, I am happy with Bupa.