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Should I disclose my diabetes when applying for health insurance in Thailand?

Health InsuranceDiabetesPre-existing ConditionsInsurance ClaimsExpats in ThailandVeteran AffairsMedical Services in Thailand
May 29, 2025
24 days ago
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Question for those in the know. I’m trying to get some health insurance. Problem is I have diabetes, so no one will touch me here, even with a waiver.

The question is should I just omit the fact that I have diabetes ? With my medication it is kept in normal limits

Any opinions , im 58 btw
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat in Thailand is seeking advice on whether to disclose their diabetes condition when applying for health insurance, as most insurers have denied coverage due to this pre-existing condition. Community responses emphasize the importance of full disclosure to avoid future claim denials and insurance invalidation, highlighting the potential consequences of omitting medical information. Suggestions include contacting Pacific Cross for insurance options and discussing the complexities of veteran benefits related to diabetes.
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Abe ********
I've just spoken with Macallan insurance brokers in Pattaya. I have quite an extensive medical history including pulmonary embolism, broken back, sleep apnoea.

They got me a quote of between 35k-50k baht a year depending on if I want 3million baht or 5 million baht cover and a few extras or exclusions.

So they might well be worth a try. The quote they got me was with Pacific Cross.

***************************
24 days ago
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Andreas *********
It is not only the diabetes itself, but also the resulting diseases. So everything that can be related to diabetes will be rejected. it is closed useless and the contract goes into cancellation (without repayment of already paid premiums). only a small excerpt of secondary diseases in the appendix

Secondary diseases of diabetes (diabetic foot, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease) are diseases that are triggered or exacerbated by the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus. They primarily affect the eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, nerves, and feet.
24 days ago
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Dennis *********
No insurance, we'll except for government sponsored that covers pre existing conditions.

They will eventually find out from your records. They specifically exclude pre existing conditions but will cover everything else.
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dennis ********
 oh sorry, I thought you suffered from the delusion that I actually paid for my medical.

The VA covers my expenses. Especially anything preexisting.

As to getting my medical records, good luck with that. I don’t even know where they’re kept. I haven’t been back to the states in 25 years
24 days ago
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Dennis *********
sorry, i'm not suffering from anything. but for you would be good when asking for advise to give specifics. in your case, it's VA "i.e. US government policy" and there is a VA in Thailand you can register with... so what you looking for is not regular insurance, but insurance through the VA in Thailand "which one could not reasonably assume from your post". however if you go to a regular insurance company, pre-existing conditions would definitely apply, they don't care if you are a veteran or not. So unclear why you'd even bring up pre-existing conditions to begin with. Also I know people who have VA insurance in Thailand, and I'm certain VA only covers Medical conditions from when in the military, and not certain they're going to cover diabetes for you, however fell free to have your own delusions about that... i.e. others I know have the VA there, and private insurance for other issues unrelated to their military service.
24 days ago
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Dennis *********
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dennis ********
 so I’m not exactly following ya. You’re saying no insurance, or government sponsored that covers. Naturally they will know from my medical records from the VA. Can you please explain a little clearer ?
24 days ago
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Dennis *********
whats to explain. they will insist to get your medical records from your home country, and then any pre-existing conditions will be called out on your policy that that's not covered. even in US except for company "group" policies and medicare is exactly the same. Insurance companies, to the surprise of many is a "for profit" enterprise.
24 days ago
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Dennis *********
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Brook ********
If you lie on the application, if you ever make a claim, the claim will be denied and you will have paid all those premiums for no reason.

Additionally, most of the applications ask, “ have you ever been denied?”
24 days ago
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Colin *******
They will contact your UK GP, and access your records, before issuing a policy, most will not cover you. If they do issue a Policy they will give you a policy that only covers Covid and Accident and Emergency for a premium.
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin ******
 my UK GP ? I’m guessing that means United Kingdom General Practitioner ? First I mentioned I was in the US Navy, second I don’t have any records talking about diabetes. Third I don’t even have any medical records unless you go back 35 years when I was discharged
24 days ago
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Terry ********
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Tony **********
It's called fraud.
24 days ago
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Stephen *********
Try pacific cross don't leave anything out
24 days ago
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Gerg **********
Is it type 1 or type 2? If it’s type 2, it’s caused by poor diet and eating too many carbohydrates for your own personal physiology. You can totally reverse type 2 diabetes to a normal A1C (5.6 or less) with an ultra low carb diet. It might take 6 months or more depending on how high it is now, but may be a good way to go in the long run.
24 days ago
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Robert ***********
@Gerg *********
 A low carb diet in Thailand? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
24 days ago
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Gerg **********
@Robert **********
 Yep, I eat it every day. Steaks, ground beef, and eggs. That’s it!
24 days ago
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Robert ***********
@Gerg *********
 Boring.
24 days ago
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Robert ***********
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Andy **********
@Gerg *********
 That doesn't reverse the complications of diabetes. Eg neuropathy, retinopathy. Also, there is genuine division in medicine whether Roy Taylors approach actually gets rid of diabetes or merely puts it in remission. Ie you still have T2D but you no longer need medicine to treat it. The approach is that trials show if you are on less than 800kcal a day for 12 weeks, which is starvation diet, more than 50% of cases put the diabetes into touch.. it also means that ni nearly 50% of cases, they still have diabetes. Don't pedal false hope. Insurance will still nor cover consequences of diabetes and you have to declare past diagnoses.
24 days ago
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Gerg **********
@Andy *********
 I’m not putting out false hope, just because you don’t believe it. I reversed mine and I’ve had a normal A1C for 3 years, I know what the truth is. If you want to rename it “remission”, I don’t care, but mine is gone. Kaput. History. Never coming back because I’ll never stop eating this way.
24 days ago
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Chris **********
@Gerg *********
 dropped mine from a 9.7 to a 5.1, then I lost my foot. A1C of a number put out with fear. 9.7 or 5.1, doesn't matter. Neuropathy, infections and sores still happen on the reg.
24 days ago
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Chris **********
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Michael *******
You must declare!! If you were ill. And don’t declare! No payout fact! 👍
24 days ago
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Fabio ******
• Without prior medical evidence, there is no definitive way to medically prove that someone had Type 2 diabetes in the past.

• Specialist evaluations (neurology, nephrology, ophthalmology) may provide indirect support for a history of long-term, untreated diabetes.

• This kind of medical reasoning might support a hypothesis, but it is not considered proof, especially in legal or insurance contexts.
24 days ago
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Fabio ******
just do not disclose it and buy your medicine by yourself.
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fabio *****
 that is what I do now. It’s only 6,000฿ for a 4 month supply of both my diabetes medication and epilepsy medication total. And they never say anything about my epilepsy, just the diabetes. And no seizures for over 10 years
24 days ago
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Terry ********
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Roland *******
Medical services are very good in Thailand and not that expensive 🫰
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
Were you ever in the US military and receive a VA disability pension?
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 yes, US Navy, 100% permanent disabled
24 days ago
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Ernesto ********
@Terry *******
 from the gulf war ?
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Terry *******
 you can also let the insurance companies know you have it covered via the VA
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Terry *******
 go into Va website and sign up for the FMP (Foreign medical program) it covers all your VA disabilities overseas either via direct billing or via reimbursement

Bangkok Hospital directs bills the VA

If you don’t have diabetes as a disability put in a claim via the pact act or secondary and even if you get a zero percent rating it’s covered
24 days ago
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Ernesto ********
@Jeremy *******
 as you saying you can have diabetes as a disability? The military didn’t cause that.
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Ernesto *******
 you can also look up secondaries

Diabetes can be a secondary to hypertension (high blood pressure)

Diabetes can be a secondary to PTSD, sleep apnea plus probably more

The more you know…google is a great source of information, but only if you use it
24 days ago
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Ernesto ********
@Jeremy *******
 sorry. Don’t buy it.
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Ernesto *******
 you obviously have no idea how the VA works and it shows
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ernesto *******
 sorry, but I do buy it. I’m already at 100%, they can’t make me any higher. But they can add on at 0%. I have been a va disabled vet for over 30 years now
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Terry *******
 you can go higher much much higher

Look into SMC’s (Special Monthly Compensation)
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Ernesto *******
 that’s up to a Dr to diagnose and say yes or no, not me

But if you were in who knows what “Vaccine” they shot you up with, what chemicals you were exposed to (agent orange is a diabetes contributor as per the VA) or geographical area you were in

He stated he was in the navy maybe he was on a nuclear propelled ship and worked in or around the nuclear reactor and being in close proximity to it caused diabetes
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 that’s super helpful, thanks for sharing your expertise!

I’ve already shot off a letter to the DAV
24 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Terry *******
 good luck

If you are going to Pattaya then have a clinic there that specializes in VA FMP

Vfhmec.com
24 days ago
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Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 no, I would go to Bangkok It’s only 15km from my place
24 days ago
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Terry ********
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Patrick ********
I got thyroid issue it didn't increase costs. Reveal everything everytime.
24 days ago
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Pete *******
Disclose everything otherwise your insurance will be invalid. You will just have to accept swallowing the cost of any diabetic treatment.
24 days ago
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Frank **********
No, do not lie. You are required to disclose your condition.
24 days ago
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Peter *******
If you don't declare pre-existing conditions they will just use it against you when you claim, deny the claim and can cancel your insurance even if unrelated. Farangland insurance is better, better regs
24 days ago
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El ******************
@Peter ******
 What is FarangLand Insurance. Googled it and nothing came up. If you are trying to say that getting international insurance is better why not just say that?
24 days ago
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El ******************
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