pdogg Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Do you buy travel insurance? I never did figuring rightly or wrongly that my American health care plan would cover me overseas. Anyone have any good experiences or bad experiences with travel insurance companies? Our friends at Asia Hotel and Travel are now affiliated with an UK travel insurance company. Not really sure of all the ins and outs of the deal but if you are an UK resident and thinking of buying travel insurance then check it out. http://www.asiahotelandtravel.com/index.php?/topic/44-argos-travel-insurance/?p=205 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Buying travel medical insurance is a must. Most people's home country medical insurance only cover you while you're in country. If you are working ex-pat, the medical insurance your company provides may cover you on overseas trips - be sure to check. If you don't have travel medical you're taking a gamble. If you fall seriously ill it could cost you a lot if you need to go to a hospital. For example in 2012 I had to spend 4 days in hospital in Bangkok because of a severe asthma attack. Total cost was 3000 USD, including all my medications. My travel medical insurance covered all of it. There are many companies that offer travel medical - if you make more than one trip a year out of country, look for companies that offer a flat rate per year, as it should be less than purchasing for the individual trips. Also be sure to buy from a reputable company. The worse thing would be trying to save money on insurance and then finding out they won't pay when you're in the hospital, or will only pay you when you get back home and submit receipts. Use due diligence and be willing to spend a bit more to get reliable. good coverage at a reasonable price. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciobha Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I wouldn't go to the end of the street without travel insurance these days!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seven Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Buying travel medical insurance is a must. Most people's home country medical insurance only cover you while you're in country. No, it isn't. My home insurance covers me abroad. If i pay my ticket with Visa cc theres also an insurance with them. As if thats not enough, i also have the Kasikorn insurance, an option attached to my bank account/atm at Kasikorn. At least once every trip I've used my home insurance , and they guarantee to cover the bill right away upon request from the hospital or clinic. Triple insured, so no need to buy an extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Note, I said most - not all - US, Canadians, UK, Australians, etc. don't get covered out of their home country. You happen to live in a country that has excellent national medical insurance coverage. If you don't get out of country coverage from your national insurance plan, travel medical is a must. Also are you sure your Visa card provides travel medical, versus travel insurance? Those are two different things. Travel insurance covers delayed flights, lost luggage, etc, but not health care costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seven Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 If you don't get out of country coverage from your national insurance plan, travel medical is a must. Also are you sure your Visa card provides travel medical, versus travel insurance? Those are two different things. Travel insurance covers delayed flights, lost luggage, etc, but not health care costs. Of course. Easily checked by calling them before your trip. I would have thought canadians had similiar coverage as us. I´m not sure about the Visa insurance, no. I will check on monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Of course. Easily checked by calling them before your trip. I would have thought canadians had similiar coverage as us. I´m not sure about the Visa insurance, no. I will check on monday. where do you live (country) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacman Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 From the Bangkok Post:Government wants foreign visitors to be insured Pradit mulls including health cover in visa fees Published: 28 Jun 2013 at 00.48 Online news: Tourism Various state agencies have agreed in principle with the Public Health Ministry’s proposal to require foreign tourists to buy travel and health insurance before arriving in Thailand. The ministry on Wednesday made the proposal at a meeting with representatives from the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Royal Thai Police and various other government ministries.Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, who chaired the meeting, said the ministry proposed the cost of health insurance coverage might be included in visa fees.Every tour agency would have to tell their foreign customers about the insurance requirements before they travel to Thailand, Dr Pradit said. He said the method of payment for the insurance would be decided at the next meeting.He said non-visa tourists might have to pay for their health insurance coverage at immigration checkpoints or the fees could be added to the cost of airline tickets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 The above Thai government proposal makes a lot of sense to me. You either prove you have insurance coverage before entering the kingdom or you are obliged to pay for it through some mechanism like included in the price of your Visa. This would serve everyone and streamline the process. However I wonder if it would reduce the level of the overall quality of medical care presently enjoyed by farangs in Thailand. Personally I purchase annual coverage for approximately $120.00. This covers me and my daughter to travel as many times annually as we care to up to a period of 90 days per trip. There is no cap on the number of trips per year as long as they do not exceed 90 days each. This coverage has served me well over the years and I have used it in Thailand successfully. The only problem is once you reach the age of 62 the duration of days away from your home country at any one time is reduced to 45 from 90. I am pulling all of this info from memory so it may or may not be completely accurate. However I know it is close and the best deal around. IMO, annual travel insurance is the way to go if you travel outside of your home country more than twice a year for extended periods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyzzy Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I have never had travel insurance on any trip. Finally thinking about it next trip as sooner or later I'm going to be drunk and get hit by a motorcycle (or worse). My next trip is more than 90 days so limiting my options a bit. Looks like it will cost around $370. Quite an expense I'm not use to paying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciobha Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 But think of the possible expense if something does happen and you don't have insurance brother xyzzy. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of you certificate on you at all times when in LOS. I think it was brother BB told me the story of a very rich farang getting knocked down in Pattaya, didn't have any proof of insurance so the medics refused to treat him and he ended up dead. Sobering thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Good advice ciobha, the private hospitals will not treat you if 1) you do not have insurance or 2) you do not have the cash (they will take credit cards). Going to a government hospital is a crapshoot as the best doctors work in the private hospitals now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garrydirty Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 was in hospital once in Patts, without insurance had to use my credit card just to get upstairs before they would do any tests cost was 15000baht for doctor 10,000baht for nurse they said, paid it this was one night!! told them if they had thought i was going to have to go under the knife that i would have to fly home!! fecking nightmare never felt so alone and scared good news was it was something i had ate which gave me an infection in my intestines, thought it was my appenditics at first cleared it up with antibiotics thx God and was out next day, came back following day for check up another 3000baht...Total 28,000 baht lesson learnt i think....Regards Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Yup, that's all it takes is one little stroke of bad luck and your financial future could be in shambles. IMO anyone who travels outside their own country without hospital/medical insurance needs to have their heads examined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azza33 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Digusting the fees they seem to charge at hospitals in Thailand when you are a foreigner. I had a tiny problem coming off a flight from Bangkok to Kualur Lumpur. Lost my hearing in my right ear (deaf) and some serious pain to boot. Took myself to the hospital and was given painkillers by the nurse. Next day saw the ENT specialist and had camera inside my ear etc. Long story short, got stuck in KL for a few days. Paid cash all bills by the credit card and very reasonable. Nothing like the numbers the Thai hospitals seem to charge. Credit card insurance paid for all medical expenses, hotels, new flight home, even food and taxis. Good lesson learnt - always have travel insurance. Second lesson learnt - never let a girl stick her tongue in your ear. For the record, took three month to regain my hearing and i'm left with permanent tinnitus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hefe Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 If you have health insurance at home it may cover you to one extent or another, same with credit cards, it can be a bit confusing but it's worth sorting out for that one time you get hit on the motocab or have a heart attack or catch malaria, etc., huge hassle then trying to sort things out, especially for those of us on the far side past 30. I've had several friends/aquaintances that have had bad luck or died abroad so it isn't out of the question. What I always get on a trip abroad is a policy that will pay for flying me to the medical center of my choice, not the insurance company's choice, that could include another country or home. Also I make sure that they will fly home my remains if I meet my maker on foreign soil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietguy Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Make sure you have insurance because it can ruin you if you don't. A guy I used to work with used to go to LOS every year for ggs. He would stay at a place in one of the Soi 13s which had accommodation above, I think it was called the Schoolhouse or Classroom or something like that, where the ggs dressed up in school uniform. One night while engaged in activities with a gg he fell out of bed and broke his hip. Spent some time in a Pattaya hospital, and then the insurance company paid for him to be flown back to UK, would have cost a fortune if he hadn't been insured. You need to be careful though, because if you have blood tests and alcohol is found, the insurance company will say any accident is your fault for being drunk and refuse to pay. It's usually an exclusion fault in the policy. That happened to the son of someone else I worked with. He fell off a hotel balcony and ended up in a coma. Insurance company wouldn't pay and it cost £80k to have him flown back to UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacman Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 You need to be careful though, because if you have blood tests and alcohol is found, the insurance company will say any accident is your fault for being drunk and refuse to pay. It's usually an exclusion fault in the policy. Exclusion clauses are not just confined to alcohol. Motorbikes, jetskis, anything that can hurt you will exclude you from cover. Check the fine print but there is no insurance available for anyone who wants to drink or take risks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietguy Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 anything that can hurt you will exclude you from cover. Check the fine print but there is no insurance available for anyone who wants to take risks.Would that include ladyboys? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Would that include ladyboys? Warning the Surgeon General has determined that barebacking can be dangerous to your health Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietguy Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Warning the Surgeon General has determined that barebacking can be dangerous to your healthSo can getting whacked on the head with a stiletto heel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 So can getting whacked on the head with a stiletto heel! First hand experience ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumblebee Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 But think of the possible expense if something does happen and you don't have insurance brother xyzzy. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of you certificate on you at all times when in LOS. I think it was brother BB told me the story of a very rich farang getting knocked down in Pattaya, didn't have any proof of insurance so the medics refused to treat him and he ended up dead. Sobering thoughts. Yea Eyemahk told me that tragic tale, and very sobering as you say. I always carry a copy of my insurance in a plastic transparent envelope in my pants pocket. I also highlight my name and the phone number of the company for the hospital to ring at home, in case i am in a coma. I spoke to some guys who said they kept their policy in the hotel safe, which seems a bit pointless if nobody can get their hands on it and you are stuck in a hospital bed. Just look at the traffic in the Buakhao thread to see how close it can get while we stroll along that street among others. I have been clipped on the arm several times by side mirrors along that soi. That's only a foot away from getting fully whacked by the same vehicle. Food for thought indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietguy Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 First hand experience ? Not yet, but have been told it's better avoided! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 At Asia Hotel and Travel, Americans can get a Travel Insurance Quote:Travel Insurance Quote For AmericansWhile UK residents can get use this link: Travel Insurance If You're From The UK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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