Do we need health insurance?

[lucifer]

Hi we have a holiday home in HH which we hope to retire to possibly next year. We are trying to get everything straight in our heads before taking the plunge and have read your forum over the past few weeks and gleaned a lot of info. However can someone help us with the requirements for health issues. Would we need to get health insurance or is it just a case of paying for whatever you need when you need it? Any info would be appreciated. Many thanks

[DawnHRD]

It's largely up to the individual, but you might be interested to read these threads.

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/is ... t5389.html


http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/th ... t6326.html

[gooze]

Paying as you go is foolhardy and could cost you your retirement in an extreme case. I dont know about "one night in Bangkok" but one night in San Paulo cost me in excess of 20,000 THB and thgey didnt exactly do a lot.

BUPA is a lot cheaper than the UK, there are others as well.

Suggest you use them.

[bunthom]

sometimes you are too ill to get on a plane and return home. And if you get in deep trouble, it may cost more in medical bills than your holiday home.

Given that it is a pretty cheap item here, of course you need it

[barrys]

I find it gives great peace of mind.
The costs for me, the wife and a 4-year old child work out at THB 30 k a year.

[redzonerocker]

definately get some kind of cover especially if you are there long term. i do even for short stays & that applies to anywhere i travel abroad.
like barrys says, its peace of mind.

[H2ODunc]

Id have to say its a must. Having had 3 stays in hospital over the last few months you would be foolish not to. AlthoughI would not say its expensive. If you need surgery or a longstay its best to be covered. Insurance here is reasonable, as BBG said around the 30,000 baht a year range. Coming here to retire also means you are not exactly no spring chicken.
Gooze your stay in hospital for 1 night seems rather expensive. I had an operation in Bumrungrad in BKK seeing a specialist and all drugs, teatment etc and it was cheaper than your stay in HH. Another of the reasons I left. In HH now you get charged top whack for everything. Too many tourist farang with money to spend. Some people love the place though so each to their own

[richard]

All and sundry

San Paulo is a ripoff joint and staffed by 3rd rate staff. Also have a policy of charging farangs more than Thais

Use the International polyclinic

Professional and reasonably priced

Limited opening and closing hours but the parent hospital in Phetchaburi is worth the taxi fare and you know you will treated well by professionals, once again at a reasonable price. They also operate a clinic down Soi 51 in the evenings

Saved my life once whereas SP would have given me a packet of aspirins and charged me an arm and a leg

[john falconer]

there are ex-pat schemes which give partial cover for about 17000 baht a year,its a group policy and breaks the back of the hospital fees.

[Condoking]

They also operate a clinic down Soi 51 in the evenings

Any connection with a purveyor of preserved meats who's in the same area.

Seriously though, I agree with all the previous posts, wouldn't be without it particularly as I am travelling all the time and to some pretty dubious areas. Emergency evacuation is an option but not sure I would have it if I was based full time in LOS.

[PeteC]

If you're in your 20's or 30's and no history of any bad stuff, self insurance is another thought. Health insurance companies make their money on premiums from this age group, and lose money on the 50+ group.

Let's say you're 30 and start to invest 20,000 Baht per year and religiously use it only for any health bills. If you do this up to age 50 and remain relatively healthy, you have 400,000 plus interest, probably well over 500,000 Baht. You still don't touch it.

Then at age 50 you sign into an insurance program and you're premiums at that age may be 35,000-40,000 baht per year.

You then have a choice. Pay your premiums with your saved 500,000 baht for the next 12-14 years. Or, as you should be in a much higher income bracket by then or simply wealthy, pay from your other income and just smile at the 500,000 baht in the bank.

I know, this is dancing with the devil but it works if you're lucky health wise. I have been but I didn't do what I say above. Hind sight is great, ain't it. Pete

[MajorBloodnok]

Hi,

is Tony Dabbs still active, and how can I contact him? Same phone number?

Thanks!

"Mike the Fritz"

[Big Boy]

MB, you've dug up a really old thread here. I would suggest that your best bet nowadays is to contact Matt at AA Insurance. Tel 032 532783. e-mail: huahinaa@hotmail.com . I've used his services personally, and have already saved myself a very hefty (four figure - £sterling, or a six figure THB) hospital bill.

When Bangkok Hospital were playing silly buggers over payment of the bill, Matt was at the end of the phone to smooth things through. I can't recommend his services highly enough.

edit - original figure sum was £s - THB was a six figure sum

[heartofmidlothian]

A friend of mine was treated in the Hua Hin Hospital's new wing. He stayed for a few days and was actually sad to leave! The room, service and food was excellent. When he got the bill, he couldn't believe how cheap it was!

[Big Boy]

A friend of mine was treated in the Hua Hin Hospital's new wing. He stayed for a few days and was actually sad to leave! The room, service and food was excellent. When he got the bill, he couldn't believe how cheap it was!

So are you advocating no need for insurance? Not a good move IMHO.