News Forum - Young Welshman seriously injured in motorbike accident in Koh Samui, Thailand

[Vigo]

11 hours ago, socal said:

You are very quick to deny them. 

We have "free" healthcare in Canada. But in the province of BC, we have an insurance scheme also to fill the holes. I was involved in an incident and had to take an ambulance ride. The "free" healthcare didnt cover it and neither did the insurance scam. I had a $600 bill in my mailbox a week later.

Healthcare is a provincial responsibility. The exception are first nations and refugees who are a federal responsibility. Each province has its own healthcare plan, although the coverage  provided is  very close to the same in each province.  The BC health insurance is provided through the provincial  Medical Services Plan (MSP). This plan covers patient’s for; doctors’ services, medically necessary eye examinations, dental services performed in a hospital and diagnostic services including X-rays.

Although ambulance services are not included in the list of medical services covered (they are not a medical expense), the province subsidizes their cost. As per the BC MSP payment schedule; When you call 9-1-1 (or someone calls for you) to ask for an ambulance to take you to a hospital: If you are taken to a hospital (by ground or air ambulance), you will receive a bill for $80 from the BC Ambulance Service. If you decline the ambulance service, you will receive a bill for $50.  If you receive Income Assistance or MSP Premium Assistance, you will not be charged.(If a work injury, the proncial workers comp program covers the costs.) There is no charge for medically necessary transfers between hospitals. When you leave the hospital you are responsible for transport except if you require medical care, you will need to travel by ground or air ambulance (as appropriate) and will be charged $80 (fee waived if on Income Assistance or MSP Premium Assistance).If you do not require medical care but are not well enough to travel on private or commercial transport (e.g., bus, plane), then the hospital may recommend that you use a contracted local patient transfer service (SN Transport, etc.). You will be charged $50 (fee waived if on Income Assistance or MSP Premium Assistance).If you are well enough to travel by private or commercial transport (e.g., bus, plane), you are responsible for organizing and paying for your journey home

That's a fraction of the actual cost.

Now how about providing the actual details. Was this a non urgent medical care issue that was better served  by one of the lower cost  transportation options, or  something regarding your not being considered a resident of BC?

 

[Vigo]

1 hour ago, Henry said:

The issue with the insurance was that he had taken it out with his bank and it was an annual policy but it only covered him for trips to a single country for up to 31 days.

 It looks like he had been elsewhere first and so needed to return to the UK before making the trip to Thailand.

 The UK news article is a little vague, it could be that he had been overseas for longer than the 31 days permitted for individual trips.

 Either way it does look as though there was some small print which he didn’t read. He just assumed he had annual cover.

I suspect he might have been using insurance associated with a premium bank account. They often include travel insurance which makes their annual subscription fee more palatable.

Yes, it's the 31 issue. He may not have paid attention to that detail although it is quite clear. Perhaps he gambled he did n't need an extended period and opted to save some money.

[socal]

13 hours ago, HITMAN said:

1) Was he wearing a helmet?

2) What kind of insurance did ih

Insurance company will always look for a way out not to pay, if not wearing a helmet for example case closed even if it wasn't his fault.

Don't jinx yourself now. The system is very imperfect. And even ppl who fill out all the forms and do it all by the book get snared if they aren't lucky. 

[Grumpish]

8 hours ago, Henry said:

The issue with the insurance was that he had taken it out with his bank and it was an annual policy but it only covered him for trips to a single country for up to 31 days.

 It looks like he had been elsewhere first and so needed to return to the UK before making the trip to Thailand.

 The UK news article is a little vague, it could be that he had been overseas for longer than the 31 days permitted for individual trips.

 Either way it does look as though there was some small print which he didn’t read. He just assumed he had annual cover.

I suspect he might have been using insurance associated with a premium bank account. They often include travel insurance which makes their annual subscription fee more palatable.

Having learned the hard way the lengths that insurance companies will go to minimize their liability, I always check the fine print on policies. My current annual policy limits me to a maximum of 90 days per trip, and a maximum of 120 days over the year - most of the generic policies that come with premium bank accounts (I think mine has one, I have never bothered to check) are so hedged round with limitations as to be almost worthless, the same goes for the policies pushed by the online travel companies. If you are doing anything outside the two week package tour, it always best to go to one of the specialist companies.

[Ramanathan.P]

His motorcycle had a collision with what? What about the condition of the motorcycle that he was riding? Is it road worthy condition?....So it is all the domino effect....First failure is a failure until the end. 

[MrNovax]

On 1/6/2023 at 10:50 PM, Vigo said:

How does an insurance company  "steal half of it'? You are very quick to make conspiracy claims, but never able to substantiate the claims outside the realm of the imaginings of paranoia. The health insurers pay out hundreds of millions of baht every year, based upon what the contract of coverage states.  I have had some of my health insurance claims denied, and it is typically because I chose not to insure something or selected a lower policy sublimit.

and your quick to label anything you disagree with a "conspiracy theory."  

i say that because i, and many people i know, have been screwed over by insurance companies.  sometimes its not paying a rightful claim and other times its cancelling policies if a claim is submitted.  I must admit i have not had many issues in the LOS like i have back home but am not a fan of the many western insurers.

i'll admit "steal" was a bit strong, more like over pay.   

[Vigo]

12 hours ago, MrNovax said:

and your quick to label anything you disagree with a "conspiracy theory."  

i say that because i, and many people i know, have been screwed over by insurance companies.  sometimes its not paying a rightful claim and other times its cancelling policies if a claim is submitted.  I must admit i have not had many issues in the LOS like i have back home but am not a fan of the many western insurers.

i'll admit "steal" was a bit strong, more like over pay.   

Insurance carriers who apply the letter of the law typically or the carriers who cater to the low end segment of the market, a segment that chases premium not coverage. There are carriers who take into consideration overall realtionship and premium. There are bad faith claims, but these typically involve large  amounts of indemnity. The settlement of claims of less than 50,000 $$$/ Euro are typically formulated  sausage factory type things. And  physical injury is adjusted based upon a common meat chart. Insurers have no desire to drag out claims because legal fees can be more than the actual indemnity.

[MrNovax]

10 hours ago, Vigo said:

Insurance carriers who apply the letter of the law typically or the carriers who cater to the low end segment of the market, a segment that chases premium not coverage. There are carriers who take into consideration overall realtionship and premium. There are bad faith claims, but these typically involve large  amounts of indemnity. The settlement of claims of less than 50,000 $$$/ Euro are typically formulated  sausage factory type things. And  physical injury is adjusted based upon a common meat chart. Insurers have no desire to drag out claims because legal fees can be more than the actual indemnity.

no incentive to drag things out?  you realize how insurance companies make money right?  In case not, they take the premiums paid and invest them and profit from the interest.  the longer a claim takes to process the more interest they collect on that money.

A colleague in FL had his entire house flooded during last years hurricane.  he spent months battling the insurance company to get paid out even though he specifically bought a policy covering floods from hurricanes.  He makes a fair living and the amount of money he lost in lost revenue while his attention was focused on getting the claim processed alone was 5 figures.  

Sorry if i have not love for the insurance companies.  They are a necessary evil and im all for people finding ways to avoid using them.  Going back to the OP, i just hope this guy recovers and if so he helps someone else in need when he is back on his feet.  

[parcel]

On 1/6/2023 at 11:01 AM, bushav8r said:

I almost feel compelled to donate.  I wonder if he was wearing a helmet or had a license.  It's likely safe to assume neither based on his injuries and lack of insurance coverage. I also wonder why he crashed.  Still feel sorry for him.  Looks like the GoFundMe page has already raised the requested funds. 

 

[parcel]

 

I agree, and its the fact that he crashed on a form of transport he wouldn't normally ride in Britain.

But many people thro caution to the wind in foreign climes, along with safety an common sense.

Just cos u can, doesn't mean, u have to...

 

[cowslip]

A lot of talk about insurance in various circumstances

This chap doesn't seem to have enough cover for one reason or another.

So .... should he be left to die?

[Faraday]

1 minute ago, cowslip said:

A lot of talk about insurance in various circumstances

This chap doesn't seem to have enough cover for one reason or another.

So .... should he be left to die?

No, of course he shouldn't. Why do you ask this?

[Faraday]

1 hour ago, parcel said:

I agree, and its the fact that he crashed on a form of transport he wouldn't normally ride in Britain.

But many people thro caution to the wind in foreign climes, along with safety an common sense.

Just cos u can, doesn't mean, u have to...

Welcome to Thaiger Talk Forum. 

Yes, I think many people seem to think they're 'invincible' or it 'won't happen to me', when they are on holiday.

Unfortunately it does.

I hope he makes a full recovery soon.

[Marc26]

9 minutes ago, Faraday said:

Welcome to Thaiger Talk Forum. 

Yes, I think many people seem to think they're 'invincible' or it 'won't happen to me', when they are on holiday.

Unfortunately it does.

I hope he makes a full recovery soon.

I started travelling Internationally when I was around 25yrs old

 

It never even occurred to me to get travel insurance

Quite honestly, I don't even know what I was thinking, I must have had some thoughts on possibly getting hurt or sick

 

It wasn't that I felt "it won't happen to me"

I just didn't think about it

 

I still haven't ever purchased travel insurance because my extended health coverage through work has a pretty comprehensive travel policy

 

But I would if I didn't have that