Expat health insurance
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19
Expat health insurance
Do any expats have experience with Bupa health insurance in Malaysia or know of those that do. Have those experiences been good or bad? Any other health insurance suggestions?
#2
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Expat health insurance
However, a few weeks ago I was flying from Singapore to New York and just as the first meal service began, part of a rear tooth broke off. I saw my dentist in the US and she said I needed a new 'cap' (crown). With BUPA you can send IM's to their customer service reps, so I contacted them and got the treatment pre-authorised. My dentist submitted the bill directly to BUPA (in Brighton, England) and they actually sent the cheque to me! I just handed it over to my dentist. Oddly enough they didn't deduct 10%, although they do when I have the usual check-ups. They always have English-speaking reps if you wish to contact them and they will call you back if you prefer - although I always use Skype.
I've only seen GP's in singapore for minor ailments (eg. eye infection) so no need to call BUPA beforehand, I just pay the bill on the spot and send the form in (signed by the doctor and myself) with the medical bill/receipt for re-imbursement. You can also scan it in and e-mail to them. You can choose from a number of currencies for re-imbursement and can have a cheque mailed to you or have it credited to your bank account.
All our claims have been dealt with and re-imbursed really quickly (spouse had an operation with a general anaesthetic in Singapore last year as a day-patient at the Raffles Hospital) and again he contacted BUPA to get the treatment pre-authorised - I think in this case the hospital was paid directly by BUPA.
(Not sure if this is relevant, but neither my spouse or myself had pre-existing conditions and we had no need to consider pregnancy. I believe that for most medical insurers though, one needs to have the policy for 10 months before pregnancy is covered. You may also want to check if contraception is covered too, if that is a concern).
#3
Re: Expat health insurance
I don't know of anyone here in Penang on BUPA. We have med insurance with Allianz. They seem okay but have not actually made a claim (yet).
My OH had BUPA med insurance for 1 year while we were in Thailand and it was jolly expensive so didn't carry on with it in the second year - just not worth it.
When we were trying to get quotes for med insurance in Malaysia, some companies would not touch us as we weren't "permanent" enough and did not have the MM2H visa at the time. A bit of a Catch 22 as you need the med insurance (or waiver) to get the visa
I have friends using AIA and they are pleased with the med insurance. I may get a quote from them when my Allianz one comes up for renewal.
Tried to get a quote from Kurnia but they had so many hoops to jump through, just gave up on them in the end.
My OH had BUPA med insurance for 1 year while we were in Thailand and it was jolly expensive so didn't carry on with it in the second year - just not worth it.
When we were trying to get quotes for med insurance in Malaysia, some companies would not touch us as we weren't "permanent" enough and did not have the MM2H visa at the time. A bit of a Catch 22 as you need the med insurance (or waiver) to get the visa
I have friends using AIA and they are pleased with the med insurance. I may get a quote from them when my Allianz one comes up for renewal.
Tried to get a quote from Kurnia but they had so many hoops to jump through, just gave up on them in the end.
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Posts: 31
Re: Expat health insurance
I set myself up with BUPA healthcare last year as the policy my work provides me with is not up to my own personal standards (ie I want to be able to go to Singapore hospitals if anything happens and not rely on the private hospitals in JB, which have caused more harm than good for friends that have used them - 1 passed away and another nearly had his leg amputated until BUPA moved him to Singapore).
So far though I have (fortunately) not had to make use the service, which is making me reconsider whether I will renew next year (as bakedbean has mentioned it is jolly expensive). I think I will look into other options and see which is the cheapest / offers best value for money when my policy is up for renewal and go with them.
So far though I have (fortunately) not had to make use the service, which is making me reconsider whether I will renew next year (as bakedbean has mentioned it is jolly expensive). I think I will look into other options and see which is the cheapest / offers best value for money when my policy is up for renewal and go with them.
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19
Re: Expat health insurance
Thanks for all the comments, they are helpful.
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Malaysia / Thailand
Posts: 302
Re: Expat health insurance
This is one of the things I need to look into and plan to do a comparison write up on my blog in due course. It will be some time coming though as I have too much to do just now. All of the people I mixed with on a recent month visit were locals and I tended to get the view from them that there are three main players that they consider:
Great Eastern
Prudential
AIA
There is also a package offered by Hong Leong Insurance which I plan to go through as one of my friends there also deals with this insurance.
Great Eastern
Prudential
AIA
There is also a package offered by Hong Leong Insurance which I plan to go through as one of my friends there also deals with this insurance.
#7
Just Joined
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2
Re: Expat health insurance
Medical Plan under AXA called International Exclusive. International health insurance that provides a range of options up to age of 80 years old.
Comprehensive medical expense annual insurance plan that covers eligible inpatient and outpatient expenses as a result of illness or accident. Yearly maximum limit from RM7 million to RM9 million.
Option to include health screening, pregnancy and delivery benefits, routine dental and optical care. Also International emergency assistance, 24 hour claims enquiry and preexisting and non pre existing chronic conditions covered.
Medical treatment not only in your country of residence but also in any other country within the chosen area of cover
Please contact 6013 4886898 if you are interested to know more about this plan.
Comprehensive medical expense annual insurance plan that covers eligible inpatient and outpatient expenses as a result of illness or accident. Yearly maximum limit from RM7 million to RM9 million.
Option to include health screening, pregnancy and delivery benefits, routine dental and optical care. Also International emergency assistance, 24 hour claims enquiry and preexisting and non pre existing chronic conditions covered.
Medical treatment not only in your country of residence but also in any other country within the chosen area of cover
Please contact 6013 4886898 if you are interested to know more about this plan.
#8
Just Joined
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2
Re: Expat health insurance
I don't know of anyone here in Penang on BUPA. We have med insurance with Allianz. They seem okay but have not actually made a claim (yet).
My OH had BUPA med insurance for 1 year while we were in Thailand and it was jolly expensive so didn't carry on with it in the second year - just not worth it.
When we were trying to get quotes for med insurance in Malaysia, some companies would not touch us as we weren't "permanent" enough and did not have the MM2H visa at the time. A bit of a Catch 22 as you need the med insurance (or waiver) to get the visa
I have friends using AIA and they are pleased with the med insurance. I may get a quote from them when my Allianz one comes up for renewal.
Tried to get a quote from Kurnia but they had so many hoops to jump through, just gave up on them in the end.
My OH had BUPA med insurance for 1 year while we were in Thailand and it was jolly expensive so didn't carry on with it in the second year - just not worth it.
When we were trying to get quotes for med insurance in Malaysia, some companies would not touch us as we weren't "permanent" enough and did not have the MM2H visa at the time. A bit of a Catch 22 as you need the med insurance (or waiver) to get the visa
I have friends using AIA and they are pleased with the med insurance. I may get a quote from them when my Allianz one comes up for renewal.
Tried to get a quote from Kurnia but they had so many hoops to jump through, just gave up on them in the end.
Comprehensive medical expense annual insurance plan that covers eligible inpatient and outpatient expenses as a result of illness or accident. Yearly maximum limit from RM7 million to RM9 million.
Option to include health screening, pregnancy and delivery benefits, routine dental and optical care. Also International emergency assistance, 24 hour claims enquiry and preexisting and non pre existing chronic conditions covered.
Medical treatment not only in your country of residence but also in any other country within the chosen area of cover
Please contact 6013 4886898 if you are interested to know more about this plan
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Malaysia / Thailand
Posts: 302
Re: Expat health insurance
Yes i'd come across their site before, just not got round to looking yet. Thanks for link anyway. God question as to whether Malaysian, a wider Asian or a more international provider will be better VFM etc.
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Malaysia / Thailand
Posts: 302
Re: Expat health insurance
I did a quick online quote with William Russell (I think the post relating to it was an ad and got deleted - thought it was strange I must admit) but in any event the quote was £133 pm for bronze (I'm assuming basic!!) cover - that's some premium!! Think I'll be crossing them off the list of options. Might come down following a telephone call maybe but at a starting price of £133 I think they would be one of the last companies I contemplate using. I hope their cover would be excellent at that price, have to say, with the headline figure, I didn't bother looking any deeper
Last edited by Atilla; Jun 22nd 2011 at 10:42 am.
#11
Meandering
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 27
Re: Expat health insurance
I did a quick online quote with William Russell. £133 pm - that's some premium!! Think I'll be crossing them off the list of options. Might come down following a telephone call maybe but at a starting price of £133 I think they would be one of the last companies I contemplate using. I hope their cover would be excellent at that price, have to say, with the headline figure, I didn't bother looking any deeper
Fair enough.
I think I will be avoiding them too! That is some hefty pricing.
(Lol @ my post being deleted, but an obvious salesman post just above mine is still sitting there! The thanks you get for trying to help.)
#12
Re: Expat health insurance
It's ok to share useful info as long as posts aren't made to plug one's own site/product
#13
Meandering
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 27
Re: Expat health insurance
Just saying.
#14
Re: Expat health insurance
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 733
Re: Expat health insurance
back on track- we found Allianz excellent. Whatever you do stay away from Nordic (seriously expensive, promise the world but fail to deliver) we should have trusted our instincts and stayed with one of the know insurers like Allianz.
[edit:Allianz, not Alliance]!
[edit:Allianz, not Alliance]!