With no travel insurance, Canadian family struggles to bring injured father home from Thailand

[khunPer]

3 minutes ago, CGW said:

Thailand, which has been my home for the past thirty years, sure you would need a separate policy if you wanted to go back to your home country? Be a strange option to include in health insurance, I doubt many would want to go back to their home country.

Actually all the policies I have had have a medi-vac clause that will transport you to the nearest place with good medical facilities first - after you will be repatriated to your home, as an example if I was in China initial medi-vac would be to Hong Kong for treatment dependant on severity of "illness"

Thanks for your reply.

That sounds like an international health insurance, rather than a domestic, for example Thai health insurance.

 

In some countries, like my original Scandinavian home country, there is a free government health plan instead of private insurance. When signing out from permanent residency one is not covered anymore. So if I travel "home" I need an insurance. If I wish to be repatriated to my original home-country I'm not covered before I "sign in" as resident, i.e. have a permanent home and am a full tax-payer. I therefore need a travel insurance to visit my former home country, and will be repatriated to Thailand.

[bwpage3]

12 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Sad news, hope he recovers, but I cannot understand people that skimp out on health insurance and or travel insurance. From my calculations, it costs between 2-3 beers a day for someone that age, and yes I understand some can't get it because of their age and pre-existing conditions, but @ 66, come on, at least self insure, and at that age, if you haven't got money, you should stay in your home country as opposed to being a burden to others, harsh words, yes, but Thailand owes us nothing and we shouldn't be a burden on Thailand. No doubt I will cop some slack here for my open opinion, but it is what it is, the truth, he is now a financial burden to his family on both sides of the fence.

 

I would hate for something to happen to me which would make me a financial burden on my family, either side of the fence, so I take out medical insurance and travel insurance when I travel, sure it costs, but the burden is on me.

 

Just because a person has insurance is no guarantee that the insurance company will payout.

 

 

[bwpage3]

11 hours ago, dotpoom said:

One can get "accident insurance" at the local bank for less than 2000 Bt..

Which Bank is in the insurance business?

[bwpage3]

10 hours ago, Brickbat said:

Sad news and hope he survives this .

but....This is the main reason why the Thai Govt is cracking down on retirees. Unpaid hospital bills. 
thai hospitals are not heartless and will treat Without checking , esp farangs, who they consider “ rich “

No this isn't the main reason.

 

If you read the news, the only expats not paying their bills from first world countries were the French. Other major offenders were Russian and other third world nations.

 

 

[bwpage3]

9 hours ago, madmitch said:

In response to a few of the comments on here:

 

Regular health or travel insurance would cover an injury following a fall from a ladder. Climbing a ladder would not under normal circumstances be considered a hazardous activity.

 

Travel insurance would probably cost the equivalent of a beer or two a day. It is not expensive. Annual policies for regular travellers are an even better deal. I assume the guy was on a tourist visa and not a non-imm as it states he was a "regular visitor"

 

Accident insurance is cheap but coverage is extremely limited. It may well have paid the medical costs in this instance but that's not his problem; repatriation is the issue and accident insurance would not cover repatriation.

Working from a ladder IS considered hazardous.

[fordguy61mi]

11 hours ago, pookiki said:

I certainly hope this man recovers and is able to lead a productive life afterwards. However, I am somewhat tired of the stories on this forum that make health insurance the 'panacea' for all of the problems we can encounter by illness or accident. In the case of a very serious illness or injury, insurance will only delay the inevitable - that an individual will deplete his/her life savings and live in poverty thereafter.  At least Canada treats its citizens better than most in having a good medical insurance for all of its people.  For those of us who have supported our own country's medical schemes through taxes, the obvious answer is to extend this coverage to us outside the country as well.

I’ve read a lot online about Canadian health insurance and I’ll pass. Any kind of socialized medicine is going to be lacking in wait times and quality of care. I’ll stick with my employer provided excellent private health insurance, thank you!

[torturedsole]

1 minute ago, fordguy61mi said:

I’ll stick with my employer provided excellent private health insurance, thank you!

Perfect if your employer provides coverage while you reside and work in LOS but not entirely relevant to this particular incident.

[bwpage3]

9 hours ago, digger70 said:

You are Sadly mistaking. I have an Accident insurance BKB. 73 yrs young  THB 3800 covers up to THB40000 if you break a bone & if no broken bones it will cover up to THB 20000 . If one want' a higher cover than it cost a lot more. Used it ones for a cut on arm 4 stitches needed Cost Total THB 19000, 8 months ago.  ????

40,000 thb is nothing considering the cost of a major accident would be much, much higher.

 

[bwpage3]

9 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

If you read the fine print of each and every policy, you will have no paranoia, insurance is insurance, but you have to read the policy in full including the fine print, highlighting what isn't covered.

 

It's not a lucky dip, where you just buy an insurance policy and then hope for the best, insurers won't pay for certain things, you have to find them and then highlight them, being fully aware of what is not covered, then make the informed decision, e.g. of $hit it doesn't cover you if you are a pillion passenger, or it does, but will not cover you if the rider is not appropriately licensed, or it simply doesn't cover riding motorbikes, or scooters over 125cc.

 

Most people blame the insurer because they didn't read the fine print or the policy, KNOW what your buying, then if the insurer knocks you back and you feel its unjust and is within the policy, then you have legal recourse, but would have to be an insurance company that is small and dodgy, suffice to say, stick with the bigger ones.

Sorry, but even the fine print won't cover you.

 

Do you understand why insurance companies have 1000's of lawyers working for them?

 

It is was as cut and dry as fine print, you wouldn't need lawyers.

 

However the need for massive amounts of lawyers is to twist the contract and fine print in the insurance companies favor so they do NOT have to pay out.

 

Insurance companies are in business to make MONEY.

 

Not to be ethical by adhering to fine print and paying out every single claim.

 

The insurance company is in business to make a profit, pay their shareholders, and not to look out for you!

 

 

[IraqRon]

gee, he looks as if on his last legs, of course he wants to go home, did he say this or did his relatives say this?  Seems home should be wife his Thai wife, or else why did he come here???   What is the prognosis here?  

[Deerculler]

22 minutes ago, fordguy61mi said:

I’ve read a lot online about Canadian health insurance and I’ll pass. Any kind of socialized medicine is going to be lacking in wait times and quality of care. I’ll stick with my employer provided excellent private health insurance, thank you

Aren't you lucky. Not everyone has that choice.

[torturedsole]

10 minutes ago, IraqRon said:

Seems home should be wife his Thai wife, or else why did he come here???

Because the medical bills are rising at an alarming rate and he can't afford to settle them.  

[Chelseafan]

2 hours ago, CGW said:

Just get a health insurance with repatriation, I have had it for the last forty years, never had a "travel insurance".

The US insurance schemes are different to those in Europe, especially UK. We do not generally have health insurance as we are covered on the NHS (in-country). When we travel on holiday, once or twice a year we would then get additional travel insurance which generally covers up to 6 months (some policies less).

 

To give you an example, I have high blood pressure which I declare on my travel insurance, the cost for a 3 week vacation is around £30 ($35). This would include 3rd party insurance, i.e I caused an accident, hospital bills and repatriation. Thankfully I've never had to use it.

 

[Morty T]

13 hours ago, jlwilliamsjr18 said:

Perhaps you can educate us.

"One can get "accident insurance" at the local bank for less than 2000 Bt."

Krungthai AXA Platinum 1800 baht. You can apply right on the phone. Being he's Canadian he could of bought travel insurance BEFORE he got here.

[madmitch]

2 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Working from a ladder IS considered hazardous.

By you or by an insurance company? If the latter do you have any proof, such as policy wording definitions or knowledge of declined claims?

 

 

[torturedsole]

1 minute ago, madmitch said:

By you or by an insurance company? If the latter do you have any proof, such as policy wording definitions or knowledge of declined claims?

100% of policies will include wording of 'reckless activities' or suchlike.  Forget about what you consider reckless as immaterial.  

[maddox41]

I've  been living  here for 10 yrs and woundnt walk out the door without health insurance especially riding a motorcycle. 

What I do is go home once a Yr to visit family etc. I get  1 yrs travel insurance including extreme sports and motorbike with a add on clause of  6 months if I choose to stay away longer. 

And for 600 aud a Yr  it's peace of  mind I'm 52 and I can't believe how many of my farang friends don't have it crazy... 

 

 

[HomeinThailand]

17 hours ago, friendphil said:

I BELIEVE that you're way off on the 2-3 beers per day cost of insurance.  And at that age, when I lived in Thailand, it simply was not available, at least through Thai providers, and the farang provider options that were available were simply out of reach of most farangs living in Thailand. 

He's about right.  I did a quick search.  This was the least expensive for a 69 year old: £184.16 31 days per trip Premier.  This is the medical coverage £10 million. Taking 3 thirty (30) day trips in a year, the daily cost is £2.05.

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, friendphil said:

I BELIEVE that you're way off on the 2-3 beers per day cost of insurance.  And at that age, when I lived in Thailand, it simply was not available, at least through Thai providers, and the farang provider options that were available were simply out of reach of most farangs living in Thailand. 

Simple choice then isn't it?

Either stay without cover and accept the consequences, or go home if your home country has socialised hospital care.

If one chooses the first option, don't expect other people to pay.

No one else owes us anything, unless we loaned them money, is the hard truth in life.

Seems so many unwilling to take responsibility for their own actions now.

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, maddox41 said:

I've  been living  here for 10 yrs and woundnt walk out the door without health insurance especially riding a motorcycle. 

What I do is go home once a Yr to visit family etc. I get  1 yrs travel insurance including extreme sports and motorbike with a add on clause of  6 months if I choose to stay away longer. 

And for 600 aud a Yr  it's peace of  mind I'm 52 and I can't believe how many of my farang friends don't have it crazy... 

 

 

That's cheap. My NZ travel insurance for a year was over NZ$1,000, but I would not have stayed in LOS without cover.

[4MyEgo]

11 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Sorry, but even the fine print won't cover you.

 

Do you understand why insurance companies have 1000's of lawyers working for them?

 

It is was as cut and dry as fine print, you wouldn't need lawyers.

 

However the need for massive amounts of lawyers is to twist the contract and fine print in the insurance companies favor so they do NOT have to pay out.

 

Insurance companies are in business to make MONEY.

 

Not to be ethical by adhering to fine print and paying out every single claim.

 

The insurance company is in business to make a profit, pay their shareholders, and not to look out for you!

 

 

Delusions of grandeur.

 

I have never had an insurance claim knocked on the head for any matter,  with any insurance policy, like I said, read the policy, note the fine prints, and adhere to what is within the policy and you won't have a problem with a reputable insurance company, alternatively pay the price of being uninsured when and if an event/s occurs, "up to you" as the Thai's say.

[Nemises]

22 hours ago, bluejets said:

Exactly.........

I never travel without it.

Trip back there cost me AUD$220.00 for both myself and my wife combined. 

I consider that to be an excellent investment.

It seems to be getting cheaper in fact as I can remember paying much more previously with the same insurance company for the same cover.

Oh...and I am just short of 69.

 

 

 

“Trip back there cost me AUD$220.00 for both myself and my wife combined.”

 

Name of provider, please?

[digger70]

12 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

40,000 thb is nothing considering the cost of a major accident would be much, much higher.

 

I know that, I was only Referring to  an accident Insurance for THB 2000  The one from BKB is  nearly double that . 

[pookiki]

Most accident policies define 'accident' as follows - "An immediate unexpected event caused by outside factors causing injury to the insured."

 

If this unfortunate person fell off the ladder because of his own negligence, it may not be considered an 'accident' but the injuries sustained would still be normally covered under a health insurance policy -- although many will exclude conditions related to a decrease in bone density as one ages.

 

To all of the posters on TVF who are still working and have their great employer provided insurance, I congratulate you and hope that you remain in good health.

 

For those of us over 70, and for one reason or another may have lost our health insurance before or after we retired, we know all too well the problems and expense in securing health insurance coverage so we can continue our retirement stay in Thailand.

 

Whether or not we remain in Thailand or return to our home country, the problems we face in a global aging society and long-term care are pretty bleak. The only ones who 'really' care are those of us in the same age group.

 

While people can rail and wail about 'responsible' behavior, the costs of long-term care are beyond the reach of most of us unless we live in a country where the government provides extensive service.  We are old, we don't work, we are regarded as a liability in society although we paid all of our taxes during our life.  Our age will outlive any compassionate treatment by the younger persons in society - unless, of course, we happen to be your mother or father.

 

To all of you that are young and smug, or have the financial wherewithal for what you think are all your insurance needs, there are circumstances that could strike any one of us at any time and will leave you without the cognitive or physical ability to control your life thereafter - even the ability to end your one life if it is the best alternative.

 

As my mother used to tell me upon seeing a person who had fallen on tough times, had physical or mental disabilities, or was in extreme suffering as a result of an unanticipated illness or injury -- "There go I except for the grace of God."

[madmitch]

39 minutes ago, torturedsole said:

100% of policies will include wording of 'reckless activities' or suchlike.  Forget about what you consider reckless as immaterial.  

The exclusion is really aimed at hazardous sports and adveturous activities, though definitions are not, in general, totally specific and are therefore open to interpretation. I would consider driving a car or getting on a bus in Thailand just as hazardous an activity as climbing a ladder.

[wazzupnow]

after 60 getting an insurance is very expensive

and it is all hot air they sell

i had BUPA before said to be the best

just hot air ass all of them

the minute i needed them to pay an amount of 5000 bht 

they went over my contract and pointed to the small print

wich resulted in them reversing my insurance

not paying for anything and me without health insurance

now i have a accident insurance (because the most likely cause of injury here in the kingdom would be getting hit by a drunk thai)

for medical car that is to expensive

i need to go back to my home country

[ThaiWai]

On 12/4/2019 at 8:06 AM, Presnock said:

For those talking about insurance in Thailand....I am 73 so I am well aware of cost of a thai insurance co for HEALTH insurance, thus I maintain my US insurer for my health insurance needs if I to need it and have been informed that in 2020 for their clients overseas, there is no deductible!  but as mentioned by several, ACCIDENT insurance (which I also have here in Thailand with a Thai agency - Muang Thai Insurance co. and at 73 it costs me 3400 baht per year.  This covers ANY ACCIDENT, not for health insurance.  But, it is not that much more expensive to add a 100,000 or more to the basic coverage which I think mine is either 300 or 400 thousand at my age, younger people can get the accident insurance for even less!  The hospitals for coverage (that accept it) are the top hospitals in Chiang Mai - we usually use Bangkok Hospital because of location.  The coverage for any accident my family has had (bitten by cat so rabies series after cleaning etc at hospital), broken finger, broken toe, back sprain with muscle spasms and all treatment was paid for by the insurance with absolutely no problem or delay.  All should at least have this insurance!

Can't seem to find that availability at their website. Is that a current offering?

[ThaiWai]

On 12/4/2019 at 9:58 AM, 448glb said:

I just came back to Thailand first week of November I bought Travel Insurance for $50. So that is 1500 baht. I had a kidney stone attack and was 100% covered for over $6000. So now you’re educated ????

How is a kidney stone attack and accident?  Or did someone hit you with one?

[ThaiWai]

On 12/4/2019 at 8:43 AM, KKr said:

thank you for sharing a positive experience ????

I researched his claim and cant seem to find that insurance available 

[elgenon]

On 12/4/2019 at 7:57 AM, sean420 said:

I get 6 months insurance their Square Mouth insurance company and its $200 American.Its travel insurance but it works.i sometimes get 2 months at a time and it's $60 for 2 months.

this guy needed to fork out 2000 baht for 2 months

Have you ever needed to use it? Was it proved good?