Expat & Expat-Thai: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Abroad
A subject which is sometimes overlooked. If you're moving say, from one EU country to another, then there is usually a reciprocal health insurance agreement. However, for other countries this is something very important to ensure you have adequate cover. Taking out sufficient medical insurance is vital. Sometimes if you are lucky enough, private health insurance in your new country can actually be cheaper than buying it before you leave. However, please don't rush this one as there are things like "existing pre-conditions" in the small print. If you don't fully ensure you are covered, you could be unlucky to be seriously ill and end up with a hefty bill, if not refused treatment. A subject to seek professional advice about. Thailand in Particular: Once again Thailand comes out with very high marks. The "Land of Smiles" has excellent and extremely affordable health care and most doctors and staff speak English - most Thai doctors are trained in Europe or the US. It should be noted that some Expats have chosen to forgo purchasing health insurance mainly due to the extremely low cost of medical care. This is a personal choice, but one that should not be taken lightly. One company I can recommend is BUPA Thailand This is the same UK company BUPA and has been offering health insurance in Thailand for over 25 years. Their rates are not expensive here due to the reasonable health care costs compared to Europe or the US. Here are a few samples from real life medical cost experiences… My last bout with the local Thai hospital was for a 2 day/night stay. A single/private room was Bt1,500 (US$40) per day. I went in for a stomach problem and all medicines, tests, etc., including the room came to a total of Bt6,314 (US$170). I was put on a 36 hour IV drip to hydrate my body. From the time I entered the hospital I was in my own private room and being attended to by the good doctor - in 45 minutes! Oh yeah, the room included a sofa/bed for a guest, a couple of chairs, a micro wave, refrigerator, TV, Air Con, phone and Internet. I've been told several people check into a hospital for a night or two just to 'get away' and have a good place to relax! Regarding dental costs: A 59 year old female went to a local Thai dentist for a check-up and deep-cleaning. No appointment. New, modern up-to-date equipment…In and out - under an hour - with clean teeth…total cost US$14. (Incidentally, the cleaning procedure was done together by both the dentist and his dental assistant) "I had half a bonded tooth break off. I visited a dental clinic. No waiting as I am a farang (foreigner) and will be charged more than the Thai customers (hey it’s their country). Well 20 minutes later I was out of there with the tooth repaired and looking better than before and the cost was 700 baht or about US$17" "My teeth are sensitive and I knew it was time for a cleaning. Back home a good cleaning would run me from $50 to $150. I knew that it would be less here and did not know how much less. Well the cost was 300 baht or approximately US$7.50" By the way, while we’re talking about medical related things…it’s a very good idea to gather and take with you any medical records (x-rays included) you might have available especially if there is something current that you’re being treated for.
Another medical tidbit that is often overlooked is a list of any prescription drugs that you’re taking. However, the list (and preferably printed on the bottle) should be in "generically identified" terms with the specific dosage(s). This is important as you will be in a foreign country and even though they’ll most likely have the drug you need you can bet it won’t be under any familiar brand (or any brand for that matter) that you might be familiar with. The Thai health care industry has proven in recent years that it has the ability to compete with already established medical markets by providing quality service, high standards of treatment, and experienced staff and resources. Coupled with the much-lower costs associated with health care in Thailand, the country has seen its health care industry grow and thrive in an increasingly overcrowded industry. The key issue is that even though the costs of treatment in Thailand are currently much lower than in many other countries, those costs are still relatively high for the average individual to bear on their own. It is also important to remember that due to the worldwide phenomenon of medical inflation, global treatment costs may see an even more dramatic rise in the years to come. The only way to protect yourself while overseas, and to ensure that you receive the quality health care and treatment that you deserve, is
with a quality medical insurance plan. |
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