Reader Submission: Statement of insurance
After intensive e-mail exchange, I finally received the following message from Member of Parliament Mrs Aukje de Vries, of the 2nd Chamber faction of the VVD.
I hope that this will solve the problem of refusing the statements of insurance by the Thai embassy in a reasonably short term.
Of course I keep a finger on the pulse to see if what has been promised actually happens. However, so far and given my experiences, I am confident.
In my answer to Mrs De Vries, I once again pointed out the fact that the Thai embassy wants to see explicit amounts included in the statements, namely USD 19 for COVID-100.000 cover and regular cover for inpatient 400.000 b and outpatient 40.000 b.
I assume this will also be followed.
Dear Mr Groenewegen,
As indicated, we have asked Zorgverzekeraar Nederland (ZN) whether health insurers can provide a standard statement stating that the cover amounts are higher than the requested threshold amount of cover that the relevant country requires, in your case Thailand. There is now a response from ZN; they are in the process of arranging this for policyholders. They do not (yet) know when the standard statement will be ready, but the intention is to make it available quickly. This offers a solution for you and others who are in the same situation, so hopefully soon.
Yours faithfully,
Aukje de Vries
Member of the VVD parliamentary group of the Lower House of the States General
Binnenhof 1A, PO Box 20018, 2500 EA The Hague
Submitted by Theo Groenewegen
But is that enough? That the coverage is higher than the requested threshold coverage? If Thailand does not accept the concept of 'everything is covered', what will the country do with this?
So wait and see what eventually rolls out of the printer. Yet another step in the right direction.
Please read carefully. My last paragraph states that I once again pointed out to Mrs de Vries that the Thai embassy wants to see amounts.
Matthew, yes, I read that.
However, I assume that you have also pointed this out explicitly in the correspondence with Mrs. and that she either did not see it or explained it differently.
M curious. After that we'll see if the items from Arjen, Laksi and others can also be solved.
The problem also seems to me to be that if you have tested positive for Corona you always have to be admitted to a hospital. Even if you are not or hardly sick.
I wonder if an insurer will pay the hospital costs if you don't have to be admitted sick.
Isn't that exactly the problem? The statements of 'our' insurers already state that the reimbursed amounts are higher than those requested by the Thai embassy.
The problem is that they want to see exactly those amounts.
Well,
I, and many with me, will be very happy that his standard letter (in English) will be published.
In the Netherlands, the standard is much higher than the requested Thai 40.000 + 400.000 standard.
But you are obliged to take out a second, totally useless insurance policy, while every Dutch person already has one.
In addition, various Thai companies no longer allow people from the age of 70.
Sounds very nice, but in the end it's about whether Thailand agrees. Because as I understand it, still no amounts will be mentioned. And it turned out that it was precisely that that was the problem. And it does not show that they have already had contact with the Thai embassy, so I fear that it is another unilateral action, of which it remains to be seen whether the Thai embassy will agree.
The Thai embassy does nothing on its own behalf and without the permission of the Thai government, it must be contacted.
I have been in contact with ambassador Kees Rade, who will also raise the issue during his farewell audiences with the Thai leaders.
That's another half-hearted answer that is of no use to you. The health insurance companies already issue a statement that there is no maximum coverage. So nothing changes
Thank you Mr. Groenewegen for keeping you informed about your action regarding the in/out insurance statement.
Just have a question for all the commenters who are so nice and negative in their comments.
Can they indicate what action they have taken to eea. to get arranged.
Have a nice day and stay healthy.
mrsgr.
Piotr
Dear Pjoter, you are making a lot of noise and clearly have not followed all the postings on this subject. Otherwise you would have known what I, and a few others, have already done. Such as reporting the dispute to the SKGZ. Can I ask you what you did?
Have a nice evening!, haki
@Pjotr, I just took an extra insurance for Thb 7500 for 3 months. That's enough for a COE and when I'm in TH I'm going for an extension of stay based on retirement.
Normally I apply for my visa on the basis of marriage at the embassy in The Hague. This means leaving and entering the country every 90 days. No problem under normal circumstances, my parents-in-law live close to Malaysia and then I cross the border and that's it. I stay that way in Thailand for 7 -8 months every year.
This year it is different, because it is not possible to cross the border and come back straight away, so I am doing it differently. I also had a statement from my insurance stating “unlimited” etc. But what made me decide to take out insurance anyway is the fact that the Dutch health insurance excludes admission in the event of asymptotic contamination. And that is precisely the biggest risk because that does happen in TH. 3x a PCR test during the ASQ. Here only one virus needs to be in your nose and you hang. Admission to hospital related to your hotel. We all know the costs by now and just count on about 10 days. You will lose THB 60.000 or more that your health insurance will not cover.
But I do understand the struggle of Haki and the others, when you are older insurance is much more expensive, to unaffordable.
Dear Haki
Yes, I have followed all the posts on this blog on this subject.
Otherwise I wouldn't respond.
You could also have concluded that from the fact that I thank Mr Groenewegen for keeping me informed.
The question I asked was also because of the negativity in comments.
I am therefore glad that there are blog readers who are positively committed to getting this subject settled.
It is not given to everyone to defend themselves orally or in writing.
So thanks to Haki and others who are committed to solving this problem.
Mrsg.
And stay healthy
Piotr
Dear Piotr!
Nice to read your comment this time. Indeed, I am one who sometimes takes action myself, such as with state pension issues that play a role here.
But as far as the Statement is concerned, I will of course do that for myself in the first instance, but pass on the hint to others via Thailandblog. In the hope that others will also pick it up and form that route themselves. Unfortunately, it often remains with me to praise without also - in this case - submitting a complaint to skgz. Because the more, the better, and the stronger we are. And it is very easy to submit that dispute to the skgz. It is pure laziness or fear “to show your head above the parapet”. Now I'm standing with, to my knowledge, only one other TB-er at the skgz to raise this problem. Not strong and to be honest, I have a heavy head in it. Even more so after the faction member of the VVD has responded because there is also a lot going on in it, not to mention amounts. And frankly, I don't understand their problem because as we know insurers can be very creative with their texts and what is wrong, for example, by stating “Cover covid related treatments US $ 100.000 or more, if necessary”? Then the amount is there and no limit is indicated. But this all seems too difficult. tunnel vision? Maybe.
I also received a response from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, which read as follows:
“”””””We have received your email about the refusal of Dutch health insurers to issue a Statement of Insurance in accordance with Thai immigration/embassy requirements. You ask whether VWS can handle this matter. I have forwarded your email to the responsible policy department for advice and we cannot help you in this regard. You have a dispute with your health insurer and you must therefore contact SKGZ. The SKGZ is an independent and impartial organization with which the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has no substantive involvement and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport does not mediate in such disputes.
I am sorry that I cannot provide you with a more positive answer and hope that you can reach an agreement with SKGZ. The SKGZ also has an ombudsman function and can possibly mediate between you and your health insurer CZ. “””””””””
end quote VWS, so also of little significance, which is why I have not had it placed on Thailandblog before.
I would also like to know whether Dutch expats in other countries do not also encounter such obstacles. Do expats in the Philippines or other expat places, for example, not have a kind of “Thailand blog”?
Incidentally, my reason for fighting for this is not in the first place my age (69) but rather that I really hate having to take out double insurance, especially when I consider that I will now also be forced to spend 14 days in a (for me expensive) hotel, while I could better spend that money on the help of my dear father-in-law (simple rice farmer in Surin), who has also just become a widower. But postponing a visit to my wife for another year is no longer an option either. I must go now.
Hopefully you now understand my situation.
Kind Regards, Haki