I have never had travel insurance, but it was on my credit card, that too I have no more. I have 3rd party insurance for my 400cc motorcycle (the insurance company would not insure me for my 125cc). Motor insurance is essential if you are riding a motorcycle in Cambodia, even more so if you ride in Phnom Penh. Not forgetting it is more likely that if your involved in any traffic accident it is going to be your fault, damage to a vehicle of any kind here is going to be an expensive payout, injury or death to another is going to be a very large sum of money. If in the instance you have not got the money to pay out, I could see the police holding you until you find the finances.
I was once in need of an operation here, but the hospitals could not do that kind of surgery, so it left me with the option of travelling to another country that could, I took the opportunity to return to my own country for the operation. If you found yourself in a position of being incapacitated from illness or injury, to me it does not comprehend, due to the severity of the situation, personally after visiting hospitals, doctors and specialists, I have no faith in any kind of health care whatsoever in this country.

I did a post on the other thread that may have prompted this, and I would say I held back a little on that thread in respect of those involved. Unless you have a spare $100,000-$500,000 lying around (and if you did then you'd probably chuck $1500 on some good health insurance) why wouldn't you? This live by sword mantra I hear is total crap. I will give two examples where I lucked out, both on minivans. Going to Prey Veng a lunatic driver then burst the tire (as the only Barang I had the privilege of sitting in the front) and fortunately no cars but we missed a tree by an inch, hit a wing mirror I recall an accident with one NGO similar where several lost their life or had life-changing injuries. the second I couldn't get a ticket for a bus in Siem Reap at 12pm to return to PP so caught the 1pm. towards Kampong Thom we saw the 12pm. Diver went to avoid a dog (of course no passengers wore seat belts - anyone else see that occurrence I only see them wear them when I clip mine on) bus had flopped several times, our driver pulls up terrible scenes and injuries. coulda been me.

I will be unpopular by some to say this though. Good Quality insurance is less than 5 bucks a day and if you can't afford it then don't come begging for help when things go wrong. I "wasted nearly $15000 or $1,500 per year" apparently but I had the peace of mind that if things went wrong I had $1miillion of cover (if I cost more I thought heck shoot me).

If anyone is interested I used AG insurance https://www.agcambodia.com/

Using the insurance: Several years ago Royal Phnom Penh told me that in event of catastrophic illness / accident they can contact Blue Cross \ Blue Shield ( my insurance carrier) and bill directly. Last week was there with my wife and stopped by the insurance desk to reconfirm. "No" have to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed by insurance. Got the 50 yard blank stare when I replied that I usually do not have $20,000 - $30,000 available within minutes notice. Anyone have experience with direct BC / BS billing?

Clutch Cargo wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:09 pm
As Doc posted, I carry my insurance card in my wallet at all times. I also carry a credit card and a photocopy of my passport with phone numbers of next of kin/local contacts with a direction to take me to Royal Phnom Penh Hospital. I'm working on the presumption that if you're in an accident and unconscious, someone will check your wallet.. well, that's the hope anyway.

Reminded me - had a very nice officer hand me back my wallet (emptied) when I regained consciousness in Calmette. He also gave me his phone number and told me i'm in trouble as I didn't remember anything. Fortunately, the local news picked it up and it was clear I was not at fault.

After I recovered and we got my moto from the station it had no gas in it. There was no leak either.

Good news is that a nice man (not Khmer) took my cell phone from the accident scene. He called all female contacts in my phone and pretended that he helped me go to the hospital and paid for it, and asked them to meet him at/near his hotel. They didn't.

And just when you're feeling down, remember the local hospital saying you need surgery in six areas of your body instead of the three you ended up having in Thailand.

angkorjohn2 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:35 pm I did a post on the other thread that may have prompted this, and I would say I held back a little on that thread in respect of those involved. Unless you have a spare $100,000-$500,000 lying around (and if you did then you'd probably chuck $1500 on some good health insurance) why wouldn't you? This live by sword mantra I hear is total crap.

I wrote a reply for that thread but ultimately decided not to press the send button.
The two unlucky persons asked for a humble 20k on GoFundMe. So far they raised 10.250 plus the 500 Roz collected with the gigs.
That means their close family back home not only faces tremendous worries about the physical condition on their loved ones but possibly also the financial burden to cough up the difference between actual costs of treatment and funds raised.
I sincerely hope my kids never surprise me with something like this when they're in a similar position because I may not be prepared to step in with large amounts of money.

Old8404 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:10 pm Using the insurance: Several years ago Royal Phnom Penh told me that in event of catastrophic illness / accident they can contact Blue Cross \ Blue Shield ( my insurance carrier) and bill directly. Last week was there with my wife and stopped by the insurance desk to reconfirm. "No" have to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed by insurance. Got the 50 yard blank stare when I replied that I usually do not have $20,000 - $30,000 available within minutes notice. Anyone have experience with direct BC / BS billing?

Are you covered under the Federal BCBS, which is FEPBlue, or private sector BCBS?

Old8404 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:10 pm Using the insurance: Several years ago Royal Phnom Penh told me that in event of catastrophic illness / accident they can contact Blue Cross \ Blue Shield ( my insurance carrier) and bill directly. Last week was there with my wife and stopped by the insurance desk to reconfirm. "No" have to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed by insurance. Got the 50 yard blank stare when I replied that I usually do not have $20,000 - $30,000 available within minutes notice. Anyone have experience with direct BC / BS billing?

I believe this is correct, RPP is where people assume to go vs calmette, many other hospitals have opened since those choices a good Chinese one on Koh Pich also I think one in the bridge. RPP are just thieves. I know a guy contracted a tropical disease ended up there, had the insurance but was rushed in by friends who found him and had to get the $10000 up front fee.

My advice to anyone with insurance is to get some buddies together and share your insurance details. if you've got it and you have an accident then they may be able to say move him or her to the best place they have insurance, Did it myself and we got a buddy moved from Calmette to RPP and then Bangkok. I realize not practical for all. I think sometimes folk just think insurance is for either super serious injuries or mild. Its Ok no insurance I got assets at home etc. can you instruct from a coma or other someone to sell or release those assets? I have a house in Indio, Ca where i am now but was leased out before worth a few dollars these days (not when i bought in 2008/2009 crash. I coulda said John save that $5 a day you've got finances. but as I say how do you release them when broken up in hospital in a Cambodian hospital. Never a waste of money in a place with no real health service without $$$ and I mean Cambodia not the states

For those folks who dont have it? Why?