Medical Insurance

[Sofa_King]

Good to see you back posting PH 

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

[CO-CO]

I see Croc took his own advice!   



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.

[Sofa_King]

I see Croc took his own advice!   

I don't think you can blame Thai State Hospitals or the cost of  Health Insurance  for that one   

I take one tablet a day for raising my blood pressure, have done for over 20 years

How much are calais  these days 

[dimple joe]

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  – 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. 

[mudcat]

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

[CO-CO]

I see Croc took his own advice!   

I don't think you can blame Thai State Hospitals or the cost of  Health Insurance  for that one   

I take one tablet a day for raising my blood pressure, have done for over 20 years

How much are calais  these days 

Ha Ha - misquoting again - that has got you in bother previously !   


CIALIS....... apparently.

[Sofa_King]

CIALIS....... apparently.

Calais is the french generic version of Cialis

[Prakhonchai Nick]

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.

[Freddy]

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??

[CO-CO]

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

[Sofa_King]

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 .
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  .
 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   

[Sofa_King]

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. 

Great to see at the age of 73 you're still playing a-round DJ ... respect  

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 . 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    ........   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



96k......looks like the exercise plan is working and on schedule 

[Sofa_King]

Just thought I would have a google around and ask Insurance Companies for quote!

Best so far is 74286.20 

Have a go yourself at Now Compare.com  ....  https://www.nowcompare.com/thailand/en/health-insurance?

I'm sure there must be something cheaper

[Prakhonchai Nick]

Just thought I would have a google around and ask Insurance Companies for quote!

Best so far is 74286.20 

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.

[Starman]

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.