tonyd

1. When purchasing health insurance for a Thai who was born and raised in Thailand, there is a good possibility that he or she may require a lower Daily Room and Board benefit than you require. For example, if you require 4,000 baht a day Room and Board, your Thai partner may only require 2,000 baht Room and Board. Hospitals that cater more to Thai patients are usually cheaper because Thais are much easier for them to care for, for obvious reasons. While hospitals catering to Westerners tend to be more expensive, because Westerners tend to be more demanding, require English speaking medical care providers, have to have special food prepared for them, and expect more of the kinds of amenities found in Western hospitals. Chulalongkorn Hospital, one of the top government hospitals in Thailand, mentions on their website that Western style hospital care can be provided as an option for a higher cost.
When buying insurance for a Thai Significant Other, don’t just assume they need the same amount of coverage you do. Talk it over together, and then have your T.S.O. check with the hospital she or he would prefer to use. It could save you some money.

aging one

This is just not true. Sorry Tony as you were a friend in the old days. Private hospitals do not have two prices one for farungs and one for Thais.

My wife has been in the insurance business for over 20 years, and she is screaming angry over this post. That one up there that has been stuck.

Added after 34 seconds:

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

tonyd

Okay, Old Buddy, your wife is right. I didn't mean to insinuate that Thai hospitals followed a policy of 2 tier pricing. But obviously I did. And, I know better. I have the room rates for most of the hospitals in Thailand, and they are on our website also. These rates are the same for expats and Thais alike.

The main point I was trying to make was that there are two levels of hospital support needs, Thai and Western. The Western being the more demanding and costly. There are very good hospitals that cater to both levels of needs. The ones that cater to Western needs are more costly than the ones that don't. Two tier pricing may not exist, but multi-tier pricing does. And which tier you have to pay is determined by which hospital you choose to use. Thais have many more less costly options to choose from than Westerners who seek more westernized hospital care do. Of course, the Thai options are available to us also, if we choose to use them. The hospital I plan to use, if I ever need to, is quite good and only costs 1,900 baht a day. It takes in Western patients, but hospital care is more geared towards Thais. A more Western focused hospital would cost about 3,000 to 4,000 baht a day, or more.

I still stand firmly behind the statement you quoted:
"When buying insurance for a Thai Significant Other, don’t just assume they need the same amount of coverage you do. Talk it over together, and then have your T.S.O. check with the hospital she or he would prefer to use. It could save you some money."

What I am trying to suggest here is that you both don't need to plan your insurance coverage around the same hospital. Your T.S.O may actually prefer to use another hospital that is closer, cheaper and requires less insurance coverage.

Fabian

Do you want to tell me, that while I have frist class health insurance for myself, my wife could do qwith 2nd or 3rd class?
You know some of us care about our S.O.

Bangkok Phil

I think it's all down to personal choice at the end of the day. Why not just ask your partner what level of cover he / she requires and take it from there. As my father would say - 'they've got a mouth'

__________________
The wheels on my house go round and round. Round and round. Round and round.

tonyd

Thanks, Fabian, I knew that was coming. I'm only suggesting a practical option to be considered in trying to budget for health insurance. Yes, I love my S.O. also. That is why I suggested talking it over together and letting her decide for herself. "2 or 3rd class" private hospitals in Thailand generally provide very good care. That's why I've chosen to go with a "2nd class" hospital myself. If you have the money and already have adequate life insurance coverage on yourself to protect your S.O. against the loss of your income should you die, then, of course, go for the higher priced health care package.

aging one

Thanks Tony and my box used to be right next to your 16 years ago at AUA, you were at my wedding at the old Imperial as well.

__________________
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.

tonyd

I'm thinking! I'm thinking! In any case, a very Happy New Year to you and your wife.

Asper

Actually, Tony, I got your point the first time. There was nothing in your post that suggested 2-tier pricing.

__________________

Vespergal

Hi Tony.

I've just joined Ajarn.com Forum to ask you this question: I have a basic health and hospital cover policy with another insurer in BKK. This policy covers my medical expenses in the event of my having an accident eg: choking on my Som Tum or crashing my vesper on the way to work. Will a Thai Health Insurance basic health and hospital cover policy also cover medical expenses arising from accidents?

Thanks Tony. I'm looking forward to your reply.

Fabian

Tony, if it comes to serious problems I wouldn't trust a 2nd class hospital nor would my wife but that's just our opinion.

tonyd

Yes, absolutely. BUT, in your case, they might exclude, "Accidents caused by eating Som Tum while riding a yellow vesper."
Added after 9 minutes:

That's great! I welcome your opinion. Can I sell you some health insurance?

Bangkok Phil

Vespagal, I removed your post because I couldn't make head or tail of it. I did try to put things in quotes but I couldn't work out what you were saying to who. Could you have another go? There's a preview button that allows you to....er....preview your post before you actually click 'submit'

Vespergal

Yes Phil babes I'll do it again. I was drying my nails and trying to pick up wi-fi spots .

Added after 1 minutes:

[quote="tonyd"][quote="Vespergal"]Hi Tony.Yes, absolutely. BUT, in your case, they might exclude, "Accidents caused by eating Som Tum while riding a yellow vesper."
Added after 9 minutes:

Tony I believe you’re a chattin’ and a comin’ me here .

Added after 5 minutes:

quote="tonyd"][quote="Vespergal"]

THI pays for 30 OPD visits per year, but that limitation is only for illnesses, not for accidents. But, then, if you have 30 accidents per year, you have another problem. TD


OK on the other Thai Health Insurance thread Tony said that.
Can you elaborate on this statement? You ain’t toyin’ with me Vesper are you Tony?

Ohh...I'm unsure how to operate this multiple quote gig-a-gig. Could you please let me know how to?

Added after 11 minutes:

I previewed, I previewed.