Expat Senior Health Insurance In Thailand
Expat seniors who are moving to Thailand and should look for health insurance plans that provide coverage for their pre-existing conditions, clinical preventive care, and retiree services. Seniors will find that healthcare treatment is top-tier in Thailand and perfect for their elderly years.
Discover the world's top
health insurers.
Compare quotes with
a click of the button.
Are you an expat retiring in Thailand and need health insurance? In this blog post by Pacific Prime, we will be going over expat senior health insurance in Thailand to ensure expats living in Thailand get the right coverage area they need in their elderly years.
Expat Health Insurance in Thailand for Seniors
Thailand expats who need a senior health insurance plan should look for a Thailand plan that insures their current health complications and covers preventive health treatments. Seniors can secure a plan with an insurance company like Pacific Cross by partnering with the brokerage Pacific Prime.
If you’re a retiree, you may want to see if you can double up for a senior retiree plan.
In this article, we will go in depth into a few factors you should consider before agreeing to any health insurance plan in Thailand. The factors are:
- Will the plan cover the pre-existing conditions you have?
- Will the plan cover the preventive treatments wise for the elderly to get?
- What are the plan’s deductibles and premiums?
- Should you consider a retirement plan if you are a senior who is no longer employed?
Select A Thailand Plan That Covers Your Pre-Existing Conditions
Senior expats moving to Thailand should try to secure a health insurance plan that provides coverage for their unique pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any serious injury or illness that you currently have before your coverage policy takes effect.
Most insurers generally avoid covering pre-existing conditions due to the potential future expenses. At Pacific Prime, we specialize in finding plans that do cover your current health conditions, depending upon your unique situations.
Keep in mind, all scenarios are different – there are times where pre-existing health conditions disqualify a person from being eligible for a plan.
As an insurance brokerage, our main focus is to serve our customers by negotiating with different insurers until we can create a policy that aligns with their requirements and budget.
Opting for a broker over an insurance agent has its advantages. Unlike agents tied to one insurer, we represent you and assist in exploring various options until you find a satisfactory plan that meets your needs.
Here are a few of the ways to get health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions:
- Get full coverage for your pre-existing conditions that already exist at the beginning of your policy (this is the hardest to come by)
- Get coverage for your pre-existing conditions after a wait time (this moratorium period is usually 2 years)
- Opt to pay a higher premium so that your pre-existing conditions are covered on your policy
- Get coverage for pre-existing conditions through a group medical plan
There are over 27 million adults in the USA aged 65 or older who have arthritis. There are 6.2 million adults who have Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important that you take into consideration your specific health conditions so you secure a plan that can cover your healthcare costs.
Select A Thailand Plan That Covers Clinical Preventive Care
The CDC says that less than half of adults age 65 and up are up-to-date on all of their preventive services. In order to protect your health, you need to be receiving all of your preventive treatments, and that means you must select a health insurance plan that covers clinical preventive care.
Clinical preventive services are intended to prevent major or severe health issues down the road, whether that be avoiding chronic diseases, reducing complications of conditions you do receive, or decreasing the amount of functional limitations in your body.
Preventive services are provided either:
- Before disease occurs
- Before disease is clinically apparent
- After a disease has been diagnosed but before it has caused maximum impact on your health
Here is a list of some of the preventive screenings all senior adults should be receiving, and which you will want to make sure you are covered to receive in Thailand:
- Vaccinations
- Breast cancer screening
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Diabetes screening
- Osteoporosis screening
- Lipid disorder screening
- Smoking cessation counseling
Select A Thailand Plan With Affordable Premiums And Deductibles
Every health insurance plan has a premium fee, which is the amount you pay every month for your plan, and a deductible, which is the amount you cover out of pocket for your healthcare services before the insurer begins covering your care. Plans in Thailand for senior expats are the same.
For that reason, elderly expats should carefully consider which premiums and deductibles they can afford before signing any contract.
Expats should keep in mind that even once they’ve paid their deductible in full, they may still be responsible for a small copay at each doctor visit.
Below, we’ve used our free health insurance quote generator to create a prototype of how much you might pay for your senior health insurance policy in Thailand.
Thailand Senior Health Insurance Policy Example: Costs And Coverage
In our Thailand senior health insurance policy example, the credentials we plugged into the search engine was for a 66 year old American female living in Thailand. The policy provides worldwide coverage with the exclusion of the USA.
Example 1
One potential policy with Pacific Cross provided the following coverage:
- Inpatient
- Dental
- Emergency Evacuation
- Emergency Repatriation
The annual limit was for USD $37,000 per condition. In this scenario, the senior expat’s annual deductible would be USD $100,000 with a premium of $93/month.
Example 2
A second potential policy with Pacific Cross provided the following coverage:
- Inpatient
- Emergency Evacuation
- Emergency Repatriation
The annual limit was for USD $24,180 per condition. In this scenario, the senior expat’s annual deductible would be USD $300,000 with a premium of $54/month.
As you can see, every situation is completely unique based on each senior’s needs and what they can afford. We highly recommend putting in your own information into our quote generator so you can customize the information to your unique situation and budget.
Consider A Thailand Plan For Retirees
Senior expats in Thailand should consider a health insurance plan that supports them in their retirement. Expat retirees can find insurance policies that offer comprehensive insurance and international coverage for Thailand and abroad. Pacific Prime partners with top insurers of retirement plans.
For that reason, Pacific Prime is more than able to use our long-lasting relationships with insurers in Thailand to help seniors get quality health coverage in Thailand and beyond. We are also able to support and advise you long after your policy is chosen.
We can help you file a claim, process a renewal, or assess your plan to decide if your benefits need to change. We pride ourselves in serving our customers from beginning to end, and that begins long before you purchase anything!
If you send us a message, we’re happy to give free, non-committal advice on your insurance.
Before you pick a retirement health insurance plan, you should consider:
- The plan’s age limit
- How your pre-existing conditions will be treated
- If and how chronic conditions are covered
- How claims are made
- How the policy is renewed
- Where in Thailand you can be treated (whether in public or private hospitals)
- How easy your policy can be changed
- How the insurer is known for treating seniors
If you’d like a free quote for a retirement plan, you can use our free quote generator today! It’s a simple, convenient resource we love sharing with you so you can get an idea of how much your health needs may cost in your premiums.
You may also find value in our article Medical Insurance in Thailand for Retirees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of health insurance in Thailand?
The cost of health insurance in Thailand on average is USD $7,861. The average price for exclusively inpatient coverage ranges from USD $1,532 to $3,071. Premiums vary depending on your age, health situation, gender, plan category, and if the plan covers dependents or not.
If you live in Thailand and are married to a Thai citizen, do you qualify for health insurance?
Expats who live in Thailand and are married to a Thai citizen can qualify for public health insurance if they pay into the Social Security Scheme. They also qualify for private health insurance, which can grant them access to the best private hospitals in Thailand.
How much does it cost to see a doctor in Thailand?
Physician consultations in public hospitals in Thailand can range from 200-500 THB (approximately USD $5.50-13.76). Meanwhile, physician consultations in private hospitals can range from 700-3000 THB (approximately USD $19.26-82.55).
Does Thailand have good healthcare for foreigners?
Public healthcare is excellent. However, private healthcare is considered superior thanks to shorter waiting times and a wider selection of specialists, which is good news for non-Thai-speaking expats looking for multilingual doctors when seeking healthcare.
Conclusion
As an expat retiree living in Thailand, you’re going to want a comprehensive Thailand health insurance plan that covers possible pre-existing conditions you may have as well as any preventative healthcare needed.
Now that you’ve learned about factors to consider when choosing your senior health insurance plan in Thailand as an expat, you’re ready to get a free quote to see how much your potential plan might cost.
Pacific Prime has over 20 years of experience in helping match expats to a health insurance plan that suits their budget range and unique healthcare needs.
If you need insurance in Thailand, our team of specialists are more than happy to help you out. Should you have any further questions, get in touch with us today!
Further Reading: If you found value in this article, we suggest you read the following ones as well.
- Health Insurance for Thailand Expats
- Thailand Health Insurance for Long-Term Visitors
- Thailand Health Insurance Plan Page
- Legal Considerations When Quitting Your Job Abroad - September 5, 2024
- Health Insurance Benefits for Employees – Why It’s Important - September 4, 2024
- Moving Abroad with Disabilities: What Expats Should Know - August 27, 2024
Comments
1 Comment
Are there any specific financial planning considerations for expat seniors retiring in Thailand? What are some recommended activities or places in Thailand that are particularly enjoyable for expat seniors?
Leave a Comment