Lifestyle on Hua Hin Today

Health Insurance

This brings two points to mind, first its grossly unfair to put the burden onto others. Secondly, just having some insurance may not be enough, the level of insurance has to be sufficient to cover such eventualities.

Another example which recently happened in Pattaya is that of a man knocked off his motorbike by a drunk driver. He did have insurance and was taken to one of the local hospitals where it was determined he needed emergency operation for a severe head injury. Although his policy covered him for surgery up to B 70,000 the hospital refused to operate as the cost would be much higher at B 100,000. The operation only took place after friends were able to collect the B 30,000 difference. Unfortunately, the man died from complications. The question that arises is did the delay in receiving treatment make a difference? Had he received the operation immediately, could he have been saved?

Such examples may sound frightening and indeed they are, but they are reality. Every reader will, I´m sure, know of someone who has suffered an illness, a stroke, a heart attack, had an accident or lost a loved one.
It may sound morbid, but in fact it is necessary to be practical and be prepared for such events.
Medical insurance is available as full international cover, suitable for those travelling frequently and local cover for those mainly based here in Thailand. The difference between the two types is the level of cover, which is higher for full international cover and the cost.
Local medical cover can be obtained quite cheaply, however, it is vital to choose a level of cover that will ensure protection in the event of a costly illness.

Why use an Insurance Broker?
There are quite a number of insurance companies with offices, so why use a broker?
The most obvious distinction is that the Broker is independent and acts on YOUR behalf. The insurance companies act on THEIR behalf.
Each Insurance company only markets their own products whether they are the best for you or not. Whereas a broker acts on YOUR behalf to help you choose the product which is best for YOU. They can research all the products available and recommend the one that matches YOUR specific needs and requirements.
In the event of a claim the insurance company´s word is final. However, if you have a good broker who has developed a close relationship with the company you are insured with, they can act on your behalf to deal with any disputes and ensure the claim is handled quickly and smoothly.
Is it cheaper to go directly?
Surely, it will be cheaper to go direct to the insurance company rather than use a broker?
Well, in actual fact, surprisingly enough the opposite is true.
Standard quotations will be identical. However, in some instances the broker may well be able to negotiate a lower premium which would not be the case if you chose to go direct.
Choosing a Broker - What makes a good broker?
One of the best methods of choosing a broker of course is to obtain recommendations.
There are a number of factors to consider:-
Do they have a telephone Hotline?
Can they be contacted via email?
Do they have a website where you can do some of your own research?
Do they know what insurance products are available?
How quickly can they provide quotations?
Do they have a wide range of insurance companies & products to choose from?
Do they have an efficient administration system?
And another...."It´s exciting to meet with a company that wants to do things different to everyone else"
So next time you think about popping in´ to the local insurance office.....stop.... and call your broker first.