Best company for emergency evacuation insurance?

[surfermoe]

Hi all,

We moved to Bali one month ago (we're a family of four with two kids ages 7 and 11) and didn't feel the need for emergency evacuation insurance prior to moving here. Now that we've been here a month and heard the motorbike accident horror stories, we've reconsidered.

We received quotes from providers in Canada before moving, but we're wondering if it would be better to get evacuation insurance from a local provider (we've seen ads in the Bali Advertiser).

We're bewildered by the number of providers offering this type of insurance, and are hoping some experienced expats on this forum can provide some advice. What should we look for in a good insurance provider? Any specific companies to recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Markit]

Mo the insurance game is one of averages and that being the case each individual is treated, well, individually. What might be good for me as an old fart is definitely not going to fit for your family with kids.

If you have committed enough to Bali by bringing your kids then go the whole way and buy a car. In the long run probably cheaper than 4 motorcycles and for sure healthier - problem is someone has to be taxi driver.

Skip the repatriation insurance. What are you going to do if one of the kids is sent home with something bad? Leave 2 of you in Bali long term alone? Bring all the family back?

The logistics of that make me shudder.

 

[Mark]

Sorry Markit, but I totally disagree. And surfermoe, it's not just bike accidents that are cause for worry. In case of a serious accident or illness requiring competent, specialist medical attention you would want to be medevac'd to someplace like Singapore. The alternative is to die in Indonesia like many do. The stories I've heard from docs in Singapore about people evacuated from Indonesia and other lesser developed countries in Asia would make your hair stand on end - thankfully most survived but would not have if they had not made it out. Sure, it's going to be expensive insurance, so shop around. But then again, what is a life worth? On a lighter note, buying evacuation insurance means you'll probably never need it, sod's law and all that...

 

[surfermoe]

Thanks to you both for your (opposing) views.

We intend to get insurance, so if anyone could recommend a company they've used and provide good coverage, we'd appreciate it. The rate we received in Canada was ~$1,800 per year. I'm still wondering if it makes sense to go with a Canadian provider or one here.

 

[alex margou]

Hi Surfermoe,

I guess you don't speak Indonesian, you don't know much about the available health care available here, in the event of an emergency do you know whom to phone here, or where to go? If, God forbid, one of your kids is suddenly seriously ill you and the wife will be too stressed out to suddenly find that you are at the bottom of an impossibly steep learning curve.

So get the insurance in place now. It's vital for you!

Of course I've no idea what your budget is but Medevac is not cheap. I'll send you a Private Message (PM) with a few more thoughts.

 

[danissy]

Hi Surfermoe,

I'm moving to Bali in October and like you am considering medevac insurance.

I'd be interested to know which way you end up going, i.e. local company or overseas?

Cheers

 

[simonblackie]

Hi All, I too have been looking into Medical Insurance, the ones that I have been involved with are BUPA and International SOS. Both were company provided health insurance.
I have also looked into both from a private point of view and depending on your coverage vary in cost.
Bets thing is obviously to get a quote from them as they both have relationships with providers in Bali, both with clinics and evacuation services.

 

[natta]

Evacuation insurance is possible however you would need to guarantee you would be evacuated to your home country, in addition the medical bill in Bali could be pretty high if evacuation is required.
I am the General Manager at Asialife, we are an insurance advisor based in Kuta Bali and have been here for 15 years. Please feel free to look at our website Home - Bali Health Insurance and General Insurance | Asia Life or drop me an email.

 

[joji gulapetis]

Evacuation insurance is possible however you would need to guarantee you would be evacuated to your home country, in addition the medical bill in Bali could be pretty high if evacuation is required.
I am the General Manager at Asialife, we are an insurance advisor based in Kuta Bali and have been here for 15 years. Please feel free to look at our website Home - Bali Health Insurance and General Insurance | Asia Life or drop me an email.

Mr Natta, please check yr website first, and correct the spelling or others here may think you are not an expatriate.

:topsy_turvy:

You ask our name, and email address, after which you want our massage?

 

[balibule]

I'm with AsiaLife and have been for a couple of years now. Very happy and the pretty girls in their office are just another reason to go with them :icon_lol:

 

[natta]

Thank you for your reply, our IT changed this page yesterday...It will be amended ASAP. Many thanks

 

[Natasha]

Surfermoe, correct me if I am wrong but what I gather from your post is you are Canadian and have only left Canada for one month-- therefore you are still eligible for Canadian socialized medical benefits, and therefore I suggest contacting the Canadian government in your province to find out what insurance companies are affiliated with the government program. Pretty much as long as you are eligible for Canadian socialized medical assistance you can get cheap travel/medical insurance covering you and your family while traveling abroad, which would include emergency medical evacuation. But once you are outside of Canada for over 180 consecutive days, you then automatically lose your eligibility for Canadian socialized medical benefits and have to get private insurance covering you where ever you are. During your first year of travel outside your country of residence/origin you qualify for basic travel insurance (including medical evacuation) which is cheaper than expat medical insurance, but it is usually only good for one year or less, and after that you would have to look into expat medical insurance.

When looking into expat medical insurance I think it's important to assess your situation, where you are living and how often you travel, where you travel to and where would you like to be evacuated to incase of an emergency. If you are just staying in Bali and no longer eligible for Canadian socialized medical benefits and would choose to be evacuated and treated in Singapore, then I would suggest either going with a local insurance company or an International medical insurance provider (not necessarily a Canadian one). If you want to be covered in Canada or North America or evacuated there, be prepared that the insurance costs/rates with definitely double or even triple (and in this case you might be better off going with a Canadian insurance provider). The more locations/countries you are covered by expat medical insurance the more you will pay, that sometimes it is more cost effective to be covered in the location you are living, plus medical evacuation and treatment in neighbouring countries (like Singapore), and when travelling to other countries for visits/vacation, better just to get travel insurance (that includes emergency medical insurance/evac.)- this can be a much cheaper option and give you and your family a little more security and peace of mind where ever you are.

 

[simonblackie]

Natta, I cant seem to connect with your website, i am interested in having a chat.
Will send a PM with a HP no.

 

[matsaleh]

Evacuation insurance is possible however you would need to guarantee you would be evacuated to your home country, in addition the medical bill in Bali could be pretty high if evacuation is required.
I am the General Manager at Asialife, we are an insurance advisor based in Kuta Bali and have been here for 15 years. Please feel free to look at our website Home - Bali Health Insurance and General Insurance | Asia Life or drop me an email.

Natta, how does one guarantee they will be evacuated to their home country? Isn't that the choice of the insurance company, if they feel adequate medical services are not available in Bali?

 

[alex margou]

Natta, how does one guarantee they will be evacuated to their home country? Isn't that the choice of the insurance company, if they feel adequate medical services are not available in Bali?

I'm insured with AETNA. It's written in the standard policy that I'm covered for evacuation to "the nearest appropriate medical facility". I guess that would be generally be Sanglah if I'm in Bali or some other hospital if I fall ill somewhere else in the world.

But I always add an extra $85 annually and get what AETNA call Extended Evacuation. For this I now get cover for evacuation to "the nearest appropriate medical facility, Country of Residence (i.e. Bali if I'm outside Bali), Country of Nationality or Country of your choice."

Those last words are the important bit. If I'm ill and need treatment not locally available I can ask AETNA to fly me to Singapore.

 

[natta]

Hi Matsaleh,

The evacuation policy differs between insurance companies, in most of the wording the evacuation is to the nearest place of excellence. We don't sell evacuation policies only, so if someone was opting for that type of coverage I would be suggesting to read the policy wording thoroughly to ensure you have a choice of where you are evacuated to.
In addition, emergency evacuation is at the discretion of the treating doctor and insurance provider not the client.

Thanks