BUPA Thailand

[TotallyOz]

A friend just got out of the hospital in Thailand and he had BUPA. He has paid for years. But, they covered less than 50 percent of his expenses. He ended up paying over 150,000 out of pocket. This makes me wonder if it is actually even worth it. Aren't there better alternatives?

[2lz2p]

Not really enough information. BUPA has several types of policies with various limits. Also, did they consider part of the treatment to be a "prior condition" or an "exclusion."

 

A friend of mine has BUPA and, so far, they have covered several surgeries, including part of his super sight surgery (related to cataracts, but not the new lenses).

 

Also, my bf had BUPA and was in hospital - much of it related to an excluded item - initially they said they would pay none, but I persisted through their representative and hospital staff for a surgery that was I felt not part of the exclusion -- eventually prevailed and they covered the surgery - but not the other treatment that was necessary.

[firecat69]

A friend just got out of the hospital in Thailand and he had BUPA. He has paid for years. But, they covered less than 50 percent of his expenses. He ended up paying over 150,000 out of pocket. This makes me wonder if it is actually even worth it. Aren't there better alternatives?

 

 

Why should they be better then any insurance company. Their Goal is never to pay unless forced to. They find things in the small print or bury you asking for things they never mentioned before and in the end you have to fight for everything.

 

The only time you don't fight with an insurance company is when you pay the premiums. Helps to have a good independent agent , but still is no guarantee that you will be covered.

 

Yes I buy it like everyone does and hope I never need it because I am sure I will get doubly sick trying to make them pay!!!!

[Bob]

Why should they be better then any insurance company. Their Goal is never to pay unless forced to. They find things in the small print or bury you asking for things they never mentioned before and in the end you have to fight for everything.

 

Has that happened to people before? Sure. But it's not the norm by any means.

 

Until one knows the details (see 2lz's comments above), nobody can make a judgment about this case.

 

GT - can you ask the guy what type of coverage he had? You're the one somewhat implying he was shafted in some manner but I'm not sure how one can guess that without knowing the details. I've seen all kinds of BUPA policies....some that will only pay so much a day and some that will only pay some set total for a single illness. So it's somewhat difficult to guess if the guy got screwed or if he simply bought crappy coverage.

[Guest travelerjim]

GT,

 

I am out of Thailand in USA for holidays at this time,

but I return on Dec 31.

 

If your friend would like me to review the claim, BUPA's actions

and his coverage, just pm me.

 

Happy to assist him.

 

tj

[Guest travelerjim]

GT,

 

May I add that all BUPA policies I have seen always have a 50% reduction of benefits when the insured was involved in an accident on a motorbike.

 

Motorbike accidents and deaths are Thailand's #1 killer and cause of emergency care. BUPA states up front in their policies that there will be a 50% reduction in medical care benefits paid when it involves a motorbike rider/passenger or driver.

 

I believe many Thais have AIA accident insurance coverage vs BUPA due to the costs of the policy. AIA is largest in Thailand for accident coverages.

 

You might ask your friend if he has a bank account which has accident coverage included as a benefit in Thailand. Many Thai banks offer that with their bank CD type deposits at low or no cost.

 

FYI...The IMG policy I offer covers all accidents at 100% - NO reduction in benefits.

 

Hope your friend is recovering soon.

 

tj

[2lz2p]

TJ wrote:

 

May I add that all BUPA policies I have seen always have a 50% reduction of benefits when the insured was involved in an accident on a motorbike.

 

When I obtained a BUPA policy for my bf, that is the way I read the benefits section -- seems that is not a correct interpretation -- the 50% applies to the death benefits of the policy. My bf had a couple of accidents after we got the policy, BUPA paid 100% of the costs for his treatment at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya -- which, fortunately, was not much as both times he was treated for scrapes and bruises.

[Guest travelerjim]

When I obtained a BUPA policy for my bf, that is the way I read the benefits section -- seems that is not a correct interpretation -- the 50% applies to the death benefits of the policy. My bf had a couple of accidents after we got the policy, BUPA paid 100% of the costs for his treatment at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya -- which, fortunately, was not much as both times he was treated for scrapes and bruises.

 

The BUPA policies I have read clearly state that there IS a 50% reduction in medical care accident related benefits when there is a motorbike involving the insured as a rider - passenger/driver of the mb.

 

tj

[Guest]

I basically believe the medical insurance industry should be nonprofit, not profit-making. There is no way a health reform plan will work when it is implemented by an industry that seeks to return money to shareholders instead of using that money to provide health care.

Diane Feinstein

 

You also have to wonder why Warren Buffett invests so heavily in the insurance markets. The profit is always great.

 

[Bob]

GT, you started this thread with at least the implication that your friend was left flat-footed by BUPA....and it would be helpful if you'd provide some details as requested.

 

I'm not that concerned about your friend (although I wish him well) but I know that I'll need some form of coverage here in a couple of years and you've raised, perhaps unnecessarily, the suggestion that BUPA won't live up to its insurance contracts. So, just for my own knowledge (and others too), it'd be helpful if you added a little information so we could determine for ourselves whether your pal simply had lousy coverage or if BUPA truly shafted him.

[Guest]

Sorry Bob. Just back to life myself. I'll ask him when I see him again about his coverage. He was not the only one on the conversation on BUPA. I had 3 others in the same conversation who said the exact same thing. I didn't ask many questions as they all stated that they were unhappy with their coverage.

[Bob]

Thanks, GT. Once I hit the big/ugly/ohmygod age of 65, I'll have to buy coverage here (if it's available) and am slowly trying to educate myself on what's available, trustworthy companies, etc. As you know, Medicare won't pay diddley for out-of-country service.

 

[Don't worry, TJ, I'll likely talk with you too when the need arises.]

[Guest]

I have noticed that the insurance companies in the USA have all removed limits on their policies and most have removed preexisting conditions. I am not sure what the new laws are really going to accomplish but just those things are great improvements. It seems to me that the Blue Cross / Blue Shield plans in the USA are good for coverage everywhere. Unless one is only going to be in Thailand, I would think that BUPA would be a poor choice. However, I am sure they offer coverage anywhere as well for a price.

 

It would be nice to have a one stop shop for all insurance needs that is easy to understand and easy to get your payments when you pay out of pocket.

[daddydawg]

I am curious. What experiences, if any, have you or your friends had with IMG Global?

 

Their claims processing? Responses? Dicking around? Refusals to pay? etc.

 

I know insurance companies are in the business to collect premiums, pay commissions, and NOT pay claims. Some are better at this than others.

[Guest travelerjim]

I have noticed that the insurance companies in the USA have all removed limits on their policies and most have removed preexisting conditions. I am not sure what the new laws are really going to accomplish but just those things are great improvements. It seems to me that the Blue Cross / Blue Shield plans in the USA are good for coverage everywhere. Unless one is only going to be in Thailand, I would think that BUPA would be a poor choice. However, I am sure they offer coverage anywhere as well for a price.

 

It would be nice to have a one stop shop for all insurance needs that is easy to understand and easy to get your payments when you pay out of pocket.

 

GT,

 

The Obamacare provisions regarding removing the pre-existing

conditions issuance for most policies will not take effect until 2014,

which is when most of the new law becomes law.

 

Children's policies issued now must accept pre-ex's.

 

Children of insured adults may now stay on their parent's policies until age 26, regardless of attending school or not.

 

Some individually issued health policies may not cover care outside USA unless in emergency situations. Be sure to read the exclusions.

 

Some USA issued policies require the insured to be inside the USA more than 6 months a year to be eligible for the policy.

 

The individually issued worldwide coverage policies can be expensive, depending on company and coverages. A guaranteed annually renewable policy is most expensive and are age based for premiums.

 

I am curious. What experiences, if any, have you or your friends had with IMG Global?

 

 

Their claims processing? Responses? Dicking around? Refusals to pay? etc.

 

I know insurance companies are in the business to collect premiums, pay commissions, and NOT pay claims. Some are better at this than others.

 

FYI, dd, I have had only one IMG Global policy holder which was not pleased with claims issues with IMG. Most claims issues are related to

the issue of covered medical care, the proper submission and access to medical records and medical care procedures treated, and the issue of pre-existing conditions.

 

After I was made aware of the problem, with my request for an IMG review, I was able to have the policy canceled and full 100% of premium paid refunded. That was at end of 10 months of a 12 month policy year. The claim in question was for far less than the annual policy premium. Yet, IMG refunded the full annual premium.

 

Overall, I have been very pleased with IMG. It offers several international health policies, of which the IMG Global is one of them.

Upon receipt of claim with claim, documented medical report and receipts, they usually will have a claim paid within 10-15 days.

 

tj