It is a long (suffering) road to try to get the exceptional increase in monthly health insurance premiums for expats at Univé off the table. Without consultation or announcement, this 'non-profit insurer' has increased the premium by no less than 37 percent to 495 euros per month.
Dozens of readers of Thailandblog have responded to the previous story about this painful state of affairs who are also affected by this exorbitant price increase (see: thailandblog.nl/zorgverzekeraar-naait-expats-oor-aan/).
In consultation with a few people, the writer has submitted a complaint to the committee that handles any obstructions at Univé. As expected, I got completely meaningless answers. Univé claims that the price of care abroad has risen sharply and that the increase is therefore understandable and acceptable. A few rules I could have come up with myself. But strange in light of the price reduction of 5 euros over 2014. Did healthcare costs rise so sharply abroad in one year, while they actually fell in the Netherlands?
Univé claims in a response that the Universal Complete Policy involves several hundred insured persons. I doubt that, because these are Dutch people who are spread all over the world. I received responses from various countries. It may even concern several thousand insured persons under this policy.
It is even stranger that expats with ONVZ foreign insurance before 2015 were confronted with an increase of approximately 3 percent and now pay approximately 360 euros per month. Doesn't this company suffer from price increases for foreign healthcare? All in all, a remarkable case, in which there is apparently no question of solidarity between Dutch people in their own country and those abroad at Univé.
In some cases, compatriots have therefore canceled the insurance as of 1 January because they cannot or do not want to pay the mandatory 495 euros. That is certainly regrettable. I was also contacted by a former senior civil servant who had been lent to Brussels by The Hague and insured with Levob for a reasonable price. After the takeover by Univé, he is now only confronted with substantial premium increases that he cannot do anything about.
Can the complaints be filed with Univé itself by more people affected at the same time, otherwise it will be with the Health Insurance Complaints and Disputes Foundation (SKGZ). Which ultimately issues a binding advice. However, before the SKGZ makes a statement about the problem, there must be at least two exchanges of letters between the complainant in person and the insurer in question. I met that requirement. Now it remains to wait and for the time being deposit 495 euros monthly in the name of the non-profit insurer (with a lot of money in the pocket…)
have the premiums also increased like this for others?
Why stay with Unive in particular?
Why not switch to another health insurer?
If you read carefully, you will see that the premium at ONVZ, for example, has risen by approximately 3 percent. Unfortunately, switching is not possible, partly due to inspections and exclusions.
Better go to uncle's insurance I pay 380 euros for me and my wife together. Good coverage and claim online. So for that amount I have health costs, wa and death risk for 2 people
I have also filed a complaint with the university about the increased costs. Also in answer: the increase in costs. I actually added a completely different argument to that. Military personnel (including ex-conscripts) who leave the service (for whatever reason) MUST be taken over as customers by the university. This is because, for example, due to an accident at work, injury during deployment, PTSD, etc., they may be refused by other insurance companies. Many former soldiers are also returning to their country of birth (Indonesia, for example). They are now also confronted with this high increase. Due to age, they can no longer switch to another insurance policy. I have and will once again submit this to the Minister of Defense and the Veterans Ombudsman.
I am insured with ONVZ and also received a significant increase. Now have to pay €420 pm. (70 years old) With the current price no longer affordable, I'm going to try AIA.
@hans
Quote ; “If you read carefully, you will see that the premium at ONVZ, for example, has risen by approximately 3 percent. Unfortunately, switching is not possible, partly due to inspections and exclusions.”
ONVZ that is one, and are there several?
What you can't switch for, that wasn't listed, and what kind of inspections and exclusions are those exactly, I'm missing something in your story.
What do you want to say with your story, and how can we help you?
I don't feel the need to read my medical baptismal certificate here. The possibility of switching has been extensively investigated and is not possible. With my story I want to say that thousands of Dutch insured abroad are faced with an exorbitant premium increase, without explanation and announcement. We can only be helped by putting pressure on Univé (non-profit) that cannot do this.
A number of agencies, including the Ministry of Health, have already addressed this issue in November
addressed.Even the program Radar with Scammed because that's how I feel.
After the well-known “no reply” answer, the “deafening” silence remained.
It is remarkable that as soon as you turn 70, healthcare costs will increase by 37% in 2015.
I was still accepted at April for € 275.=pm
Sincerely,
Lodewijk
Hello Bauke,
I just looked on the site of uncle's insurance, but I can't get that amount.
it is much more expensive.
what should i watch out for.
I would like to hear from you.
i am 67 years old my wife is 50 years old
Sincerely,
Henk
Dear Henk
Maybe it has to do with our age 31 and 32 I'll check it out for you tomorrow
Univé – I have written that before – is in very dire straits and is short of a lot of money and – according to RTV Drenthe – there will be many layoffs. In addition, if you file a complaint, “it is the butcher who inspects his own meat” and that does not really help you. I don't know if it is possible to file a complaint from Thailand - perhaps through someone representing you through an authorization - with the KIFIB (not sure if the name is right) which is independent. But it is worth trying.
A sudden increase of 37% on the already considerable premium amount is indeed a significant hit on your wallet. I can well imagine that you feel taken aback, partly because the increase in the premium in 2014 was only €5. Health insurance policyholders living in the Netherlands still benefit somewhat from the mutual market forces of health insurers, but due to the relatively low number, expats are less interesting for the health insurer. Due to the significantly higher average age of the expat, I can imagine that the risk of healthcare costs is greater. Perhaps the lower exchange rate of the euro, which affects you as an expat anyway, has also caused healthcare costs abroad to rise. I doubt whether SKGZ can be of service to you and other Univé policyholders in this matter. The SKGZ is not a consumer organization and unfortunately does not determine whether or not your complaint can be considered reasonable, but only assesses whether a health insurer, in this case Univé, applies the legal provisions and (policy) conditions correctly. I would still look for an insurer that will accept you for a lower premium than you are currently paying. Good luck!
It will have to do with our age I just did a calculation with health insurance comfort with 250 eu deductible is 133,52 per person
dentist with 700 euro cover 25 op
Liability 7,06 pp
and funeral insurance of 5000 euros 0,42 pp
Total say 324,94 for 2 people.
I will have a slightly higher cover somewhere because I pay 380
Think it has to do with your age
I have been in contact with Jan Demie of the VBM and he has written to me that the VBM cannot do anything.
I read about a premium increase of 37%, but I read something about the age of 70 in other comments.
Is that increase of 37% now because someone has turned 70, or because the premium has increased by 37% for everyone?
Of course that makes a difference.
if you have ever opted for an insurance policy with the condition that you had to pay a higher premium when you reach the age of 70, you cannot complain about that.
Then you simply chose the wrong insurance, probably because this insurance up to 70 years was relatively cheaper than others.
Dear Ruud, you connect one thing with another, which has nothing to do with each other. The premium increase applies to all insured persons with the Universal Complete Policy, regardless of age. So your response is irrelevant.
In other responses, the age of 70 years is suggested as the reason.
Hence the question.
This makes the topic a bit clearer.
I also pay the same high new premium and I have only just turned 62. .
If I read this like this, what such an insurance does not cost, then I wonder what these people lack for illnesses or the like because they are insured for an average of 400 euros per month, and the question arises how often do you have to appeal on the insurance per year, these are sick people who constantly come to the doctor because I am also 69 years old and occasionally go to the hospital for trifles, but that never costs more than 1000 bath and already a lot.
Now I wonder if I pay about 5000 euros per year in premium, in the good time still 200.000 baht and do not use the insurer and put the money in an account and the following year do not use those thieves, it has become 400.000 Then it might be interesting to calculate what the useful costs are of staying insured with those thieves who only make money from those old men, but (up to you) think about it.
I am 66 years old and pay 50.000.bath per year for the bupa, including the increase in the elderly, excluding medicines and a dentist.
Dear Hans.
I feel for you. In fact, they are all scammers. Non-profit means the top
in that board they skim profits through their salaries (far above the Balkenende standard) and that in their
reward yourself by grabbing even more money. In the Netherlands, the government does not deal with such customers.
For example, it is only in broadcasting and some housing associations where something happens.
Was a civil servant myself and went with FPU at the age of 61 (that was still a great time).
Immediately moved to Thailand. As a civil servant you were still privately insured at that time. I also had the
Univ. Received a letter that I could stay insured (talk about 10 years ago) until I was 65.
After that no more. The premium was (10 years ago) 385 Euro. After that you could (in Amsterdam terms)
to the gas. I thought to myself, I'll just save that money and see what happens.
So 385x12x4=18480 Euro. They are still on the couch.
I know it was a gamble.
Greetings Cor van Kampen.
Morning Cor,
Very wise to do it that way.
just take out a new interest plan every time for 6 months or a year and of course with the option to remove it.
So more interest.
We have been doing this for 8 years, husband 73-me 68, so approximately total premium per year over 250.000 baht.
And then with a dozen exclusions for my husband.
In the Netherlands, insurance companies know how to lift things, but it was invented here in Thailand.
LOUISE
Dear Cor and Tonymarony
When I went to Thailand in 2009 I was also thinking what should I insure or not
In the end I did it anyway and luckily guessed well.
In 2010 I had prostate surgery and radiation.
In Dec.2012 I had colon cancer surgery and 12 chemo.s in RAM Hospital Changmai
and ct pet scan in Bangkok hospital and keyhole surgery And the necessary checks
All in all, it still bought between 65000 and 70000 euros and what comes next is still under control.
It is and remains a gamble that you take, I'm still thinking, I'll have myself unsubscribed, what if it doesn't come back and put it aside, I've built up a nice pot because now the costs are not that much anymore.
But if it comes back in the not too distant future then I'm devastated
It is and remains a gamble
Greetings Hans van Mourik