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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    The rising cost of health insurance in and out of Thailand

    There has been several mass exodus of expats over the years. For instance, when the tobacco industry expats left. Gloom and doom. Things would never be the same. All the foreigners who left were replaced by the next bunch. So what.


    That said, Chiang Mai isn’t the charming little town it once was but my Thai friends are as charming as they ever were.

    I reckon I’m in for another ten years until the cost of health insurance starts getting stupidly high. Then it’s up for reconsideration. Or perhaps the rules will be changed by then.

  2. #2
    I'm in Jail

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    Kitt flexibility is key, many who seem to be the ones bitching and moaning are those who didn't have many options in the first place. I always subscribe to a place is what you make of it...mogadishu and a few other notable exceptions aside.

  3. #3
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    I reckon I’m in for another ten years until the cost of health insurance starts getting stupidly high. Then it’s up for reconsideration. Or perhaps the rules will be changed by then
    Are you on an O or OA visa? If O, insurance not required. Of course this could change.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Are you on an O or OA visa? If O, insurance not required. Of course this could change.
    On nothing at the moment. Non-O is what I’ve had in the past.

    Since I’ve let my Japan residency go, I don’t have their health insurance any more. Will need to be buying some for myself in Thailand anyways.

  5. #5
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Ah, got it. You just want health insurance. Carry on.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Ah, got it. You just want health insurance. Carry on.
    If it were not a well thought out legal loophole for me to qualify for Obamacare, I might have to live in Thailand to afford health insurance. Medicare is still a few years away.

    Those Thai health insurance premiums are looking downright cheap compared to what one pays in the USA. Even Medicare doesn’t pay everything and the add on parts to Medicare drive the monthly premiums pretty high!

  7. #7
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Looks like this American addiction and complete obsession with Health Insurance!! Health Insurance!! will be in Britain's future.

    A (first World) government that refuses to to offer its (tax paying) citizens health coverage simply shouldn't be in power.


    Anyway, that's probably for another thread, never mind.

  8. #8
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Folks I know tell me they have good experience with Bupa. Give them a look MK.

  9. #9
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    Those Thai health insurance premiums are looking downright cheap compared to what one pays in the USA. Even Medicare doesn’t pay everything and the add on parts to Medicare drive the monthly premiums pretty high!
    Still get the broker solicitations so requested a quote, two weeks ago: married couple in Pennsylvania with a USD $40k/annum income, 63yo male, 58yo female without any pre-existing conditions. USD $25k in premiums with a $5k deduction. ?????

    Do the math USD $40k in income less the $25k in premiums leaves USD $15k to live on for the year - Cannot be done. But, that is the fallacy of US healthcare.

    Basically, for the situation quoted on above - in the event of a sickness you would wind up depleting all savings then selling anything of value to qualify for medicaid. holding your life hostage, quite simple, Pay or Die!

  10. #10
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    ^ 3 things to look at there.


    The comical size of the premium.

    The obsession with needing to purchase it.

    Just what did these people do to have a mean age of 60/61 and only have an income of $3,333 per month.


    Nobody even thinks about such things (health insurance) where I come from. Never mind it being their obsession.

  11. #11
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    quite simple Lulu

    1) size of premiums is set by the insurance companies - after all - competition is a good thing, eh?

    2) Purchasing was a formal legal requirement under the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act - Until The Donald struck it down with a single stroke of His Pen.

    3) retired early - 'tis nice to be cashed up. The income is what I draw from my tax deferred retirement accounts. Supplemented by my tax exempt retirement accounts - which do not count in the formula.

    Now, ain't ya glad ya ain't 'Merican?


  12. #12
    Thailand Expat
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    yeah, Obamacare completely fucked up the universal healthcare

    that said, we Europeans have been paying 60% (20% employee, 40% employer) of our monthly income into the social scheme, so that 25K annual premium is at par with Socialist Europe healthcare scheme

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Jesus Christ,

    You Septics are really being fuked over with your Heath Care.

    So much for the great American dream. ????

    A big fook that to that. Jesus fookin Christ.

  14. #14
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    So much for the great American dream.
    It's called the American Dream, because you gotta be asleep to fookin' believe it.




    - quote attributed to George Carlin, before I'm redded into hell for stealing his line.

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    ^It’s a huge problem. Greedy mofos run the industry.

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    So it seems to me that the average Seppo can not afford health care and if faced with a major life threatening health issue would be forced into Bankruptcy servicing the bill.

    Either that or Die ?????

    That is so fooked innit.

  17. #17
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    The problem is the politico's are in bed with the insurers who are in bed with the providers.

    Until the cycle is broken (and it'll never be) the wheel will continue to turn.

    Typical employee gets their health insurance through the employer who gets it at quantity discounted rates due to having many employees.

    The insurance companies get discounted rates from the providers due to having "in-network" contracts.

    The individual in Fucked. Low wage earners get subsidized by the government - but, for subsidies you have to be earning squat. Of course, if you spend a ton on insurance premiums you should activate a pre-tax dollar health savings account - but, use it or lose it type of account.

    Truly a most complex game with the deck stacked against you.

  18. #18
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    ^ How's their military budget, compared to government healthcare subsidies for their citizens living there?

  19. #19
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Now that's a very difficult question to answer. And, whatever the answer actually is we will never know.

    The main economic point of the affordable care act was that the burden of paying for the prior pre-existing condition "uninsurables" who were paid for as charity care by the government would be shifted to; 1) the individuals via the "Individual Mandate", and, 2) the "Cadillac Tax" on lucrative insurance policies.

    Well, congress killed the Cadillac tax (pressure from the union lobbyists), and Trump killed the individual mandate with an executive order (congress wouldn't due to pressure from the insurance companies).

    So, the majority of the affordable care act exists. The cost of the ACA is being paid for by the insurance companies - who are not benefiting from the individual mandate nor the Cadillac tax.

    Now, insurance companies MUST remain profitable. If they don't make a profit they go bust which leaves their policy holders holding the bag. Bankrupt insurance companies won't pay the bills of their policy holders.

    So, to remain profitable - the insurance companies can and will continue to "Raise Their Rates". Yup - screwed again.

  20. #20
    In Uranus
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    That is so fooked innit.
    But your orange moron promised a great health care system for all. Total bullshit just like his wall you moron.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    According to employment breakdowns the "Health Sector" is booming.

    United States ADP Employment Change

    "Health care employment continued on an upward trend in October (+15,000). Health care has added 402,000 jobs over the last 12 months."

    https://tradingeconomics.com/article...2019123322.htm

    Plus another bang in November.

    "The service-providing sector added 85 thousand jobs, driven mostly by education & health (39 thousand), professional & business (28 thousand),"

    https://tradingeconomics.com/united-...loyment-change
    A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.

  22. #22
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    How's their military budget, compared to government healthcare subsidies for their citizens living there?
    Quote Originally Posted by bowie View Post
    Now that's a very difficult question to answer. And, whatever the answer actually is we will never know.
    Surely it shouldn't be that difficult.

    What's the governmental military budget.

    And what is their healthcare budget.


    Surely both are public and listed in open domains.



    Would look meself but I couldn't be bothered.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat
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    they have also Medicaid and Medicare which are government subsidies for the elderly, quite expensive for the government to run

    initiated by that great communist, Reagan, in 1984

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    Jesus Christ,

    You Septics are really being fuked over with your Heath Care.

    So much for the great American dream. ????

    A big fook that to that. Jesus fookin Christ.
    It just shows that crony capitalism as a virtue is almost as bad as the USSR was. But at least the USSR knew it was in decline and had to reform.

    Alternatively, the Seppo's say they have the best economy in the world, their president says its the best economy ever. And people like you believe it. Even as life expectancy falls for 2 years in a row while birth rates hit an all time low.


  25. #25
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    ^

    One suspects the UK figure is now above France and Germany now. What with all the skint, elderly, ex Thai and Hong Kong expats scurrying home.

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