Thread: An alternative to Health Insurance?

http://www.medibank.com.au/Travel-Insurance/Plan-D.aspx#ti_brochure

Whilst looking for alternative ins I came across this. Could it work for Aussies here in LOS.
Given that I've got a 1 yr non imm "O" and have to get out every 90 days etc. It might be a way to go.

Tons of cover for about $500 a year.

I'd be interested to hear what you think?

Your insurance only applies from when you leave your home in Australia to go directly to the place you depart from your travels, and ends when you return to your home

Are you legally resident in Australia? If not the insurance company will find that out and refuse to pay up.

My recommendation for health cover NZI Healthcare Insurance, International Healthcare Insurance provider in Thailand

This shows just how much they'll pay out NZI Healthcare Insurance - RECENT CLAIMS

Originally Posted by Smeg

Are you legally resident in Australia?

Yup, legally resident, but travel a lot. LOS and UK.

Thanks for the above info. I'll have a look.

Good luck.

This suggested that you might spend most of your time in Thailand

Originally Posted by jj

Given that I've got a 1 yr non imm "O" and have to get out every 90 days etc.

I'm no expert on residency, but wouldn't you need to spend 6 months of each year in Australia to be classed as ordinarily resident there?

Originally Posted by Smeg

6 months of each year in Australia to be classed as ordinarily resident there?

Hmm. Fair point. I'll need to check that out. Thing is though, if "ones business" needs you to be overseas, you need to be overseas. Maybe.....

Having said that, yes I would spend most of my time here, doing important err busnessy stuff ...

An alternative to Health Insurance?

yep, dying.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

yep, dying.

What a little cracker... Brilliant......

Welcome to BUPA Thailand

BUPA has been good to me. I have been in the hospital twice and the wife once and just had to show the card and pay about 3000 baht when being released.

They covered 25000 to 60000 one each stay.

^Yes, I looked at BUPA but it seems pricey. I'm looking for cover for me alone, inpatient only plus maybe ambulance. I reckon 1,000,000 should suffice.
What do you pay for your annual cover?

^ spot on. been with BUPA for 5 years, every time to the hospital never had to pay anything, just gave themthe card and it was taken care of.

i don't pay, sorry. the company does. so as to how much i don't know

Lucky you.
Some of us aren't as well off.

Originally Posted by chitown

Welcome to BUPA Thailand

BUPA has been good to me. I have been in the hospital twice and the wife once and just had to show the card and pay about 3000 baht when being released.

I concur! Been with BUPA for 16 years now,even kept them when offered other coverage from work: reason, if you remain with them continuously from at least just before your 60th birthday you can maintain coverage for life. Many other insurance companies deny you coverage when you turn 70 (others when you are in your 60's), probably when you may need it most through the simple process of aging. Had a bad fall a few years ago at home, sustaining back injuries; was 2 days flatout on the ground with my dogs licking my face, thoughtful but messy - son and wife returned from visiting her family a bit early . Picked up at home by RAM 1 ambulance attendants and stayed in a private suite while being looked after. I paid not a satang. Very professional, BUPA and the hospital staff at RAM. BUPA sends you a 10% yearly refund if you had had no claims. I use their Emerald plan (In-patient only) as it is midway, cost-wise, of their options. I do not use the outpatient part of their plan as it is quite expensive. I seldom have been to a hospital as an outpatient, but when I have, I discovered it to be really inexpensive,so pay out of pocket is what I recommend. For the person inquiring above about costs, click on ' Personal Care ' in the righthand box of the BUPA website linked above, to compare with other insurance plans. You can get coverage for outside Thailand, except in the USA where coverage is restricted.

I've got Emerald BUPA for my 2 kids and the Mrs
60K per year.
It has almost payed for everything.

I've had a BUPA plan for a few years, no claims yet tho. Pay only 12k per year. Have heard that many customers are not happy with BUPA, changing to for example LAWTONASIA's insurance plans. Are they good? I've heard that BUPA will do anything to retroactively cancel the plan, or find a way to not cover you once you need treatment, any truth to this?

Originally Posted by jandajoy

^Yes, I looked at BUPA but it seems pricey. I'm looking for cover for me alone, inpatient only plus maybe ambulance. I reckon 1,000,000 should suffice.
What do you pay for your annual cover?

About 40,000 baht for the two of us.

Ambulance? I would not get in one of those meat wagons here in Thailand. When I could not drive, I got a taxi. Told him I needed to go to Bumrungrad and he flew there about 150 km an hour. Way better than one of those death boxes I see driving around with the blue light and no one yielding for them.

Very fair point