Insurance saga shocks

A seemingly minor news story last week sparked widespread public concern about fairness in Thailand's health insurance industry.

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A group of chronically ill patients, including cancer sufferers, heart disease patients, and elderly individuals, on July 22 lodged a complaint with the Lower House Committee on Finance, Fiscal Policy and Financial Institutions.

The complaint is against a life insurance company. These longtime clients, many of whom had paid premiums faithfully for over a decade, suddenly found themselves forced to choose between two unfavourable options for their insurance.

They were told to choose between a premium increase of 1.5 to 2.5 times the previous rate or a 20% co-payment on all medical expenses.

Failure to respond within 30 days would result in the policy's cancellation. For patients with existing conditions or at an advanced age, securing new health coverage would be nearly impossible, leaving them abandoned by the company they had supported for years.