There is one thing that strikes fear in the hearts of people who are trying to purchase a health insurance policy: Pre-existing conditions! You have probably heard of them, but just what are they? Pre-existing conditions are defined as any injury you have suffered, chronic illness, medical condition, or any other health issue you have been diagnosed with, or are currently showing symptoms of prior to obtaining a new insurance policy- so, pretty much everything is a pre-existing condition!
Your conditions might only be a temporary illness, or it could be a chronic and life threatening problem. Usually, an insurance broker is brought in to evaluate the risks of your health problem costing their company more money than they can skim off the premiums you pay. So, if you have a pre-existing condition in most cases it means your approval will take much longer, or that you will be required to pay a much higher premium, or you could be denied coverage altogether! It doesn’t seem fair, but fortunately Thailand insurance doesn’t exclude you for pre-existing conditions at all, and is available at a very reasonable price!
To give you a better idea of what you are up against in most countries, the following are some of the most common pre-existing conditions:
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Hepatitis B, C, D (Chronic)
- Stroke
- Lung Disease
-Those were just a sampling! The list also includes more mild and common health problems that may require prescription medication:
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Acne
- Sleep Apnea
- Anxiety
- Depression
Those very common pre-existing conditions are something that nearly everyone experiences at some point! They might result from past injuries from which you have otherwise healed, things like a broken bone, a concussion, a torn ligament, or a back injury. Nevertheless, they will count against you if you are trying to obtain insurance from one of the many providers that precludes them! There is a very good possibility that you are suffering from one or possibly several items on those lists and that it might prevent you from procuring the necessary health insurance you need to live your life! It really doesn’t matter how trivial a condition might be, if you presently have symptoms related to it or if you have been treated for it in the past, even after a full recovery, it will still fall under the label of pre-existing condition. Does it sound like a scam? We think so.
The issue of pre-existing conditions preventing people from receiving proper health insurance is so egregious it’s now one of the main reasons why thousands of westerners, especially as they grow older and are considering retirement, are now considering leaving their native lands behind to relocate in countries that maintain a kinder approach to people suffering from health problems. Thailand is ready and willing to grant health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions who would be denied back in their own country. Considering that, along with the gentle climate, incredible cuisine, and relatively low cost of living, it’s no surprise that expats are flocking to Thailand, a country that welcomes them, pre-existing conditions and all!
