NHS Thailand

I'm going to be moving to Thailand on a semi-permanant basis quite soon, and was just wondering how you ex-pats deal with a lack of the good ol' NHS system out there? I'm in pretty good health, but you never know what's around the corner do you? Being typically British, I don't really know how private health works in general, let alone in Thailand.

I was just going to take out an annual travel insurance policy, but I've been told that that only covers me for trips of a certain length of time (like up to a month etc) but I'm planning on staying at least six months, hopefully permanent(ish) so I think I'd be better off taking out some kind of Thai health insurance policy thingy.

I'd be really grateful for some advice as to what I should do. Can anyone recommend me a good Thai health insurance policy? What do you guys who live there do about this kind of thing? What if I'm dying and need to get back to Blighty ASAP????

If you are planning on returning to the UK at least once every 18 months, you can get good holiday insurance.
Check out
http://www.flexicover.co.uk
or
http://www.worldnomads.com
for decent policies

[travelerjim]

Being from the U.K....
you might want to read the GayThailand postings discussion
about NHS in UK and its changes...especially for those outside the country
more than 3 months at a time...

The topic is Medicare & Expats...
but the discussion continues on to discuss the current situation
Expats from the UK are finding themselves in...due to changes in NHS:

http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/Gay-T ... t5650.html (http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/Gay-Thailand-Forums-f1/Gay-Thailand-f3/Medicare-Expats-t5650.html)
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poster billyhouston states:

Alas, eligibility for free treatment under the UK National Health Service
is now based on residence. However unfair this may seem, and it is,
there's very little that one can do about it.

HMG website
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Enti ... /index.htm (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/index.htm)

Guidance on eligibility for free hospital treatment under the NHS

Are you visiting the United Kingdom? Have you been living outside the UK for
more than 3 months? Did you know that you may have to pay for hospital treatment whilst here? Hospital treatment is free to people who ordinarily live in the United Kingdom (UK). If you do not normally live here then you may be required to pay
for any treatment you might need. This is regardless of whether you are a British citizen or have lived or worked here in the past.
PLEASE NOTE: THESE PAGES ARE FOR GUIDANCE ONLY

This is catching out increasing numbers of people. Rather like the freezing of
pensions if you reside in the wrong country, the fact that you have paid NI contributions throughout your working life is ignored.
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A good discussion for Expats from USA & UK...

tj