Medical repatriation

theoretica

You will also need to check on his eligibility for NHS treatment once in this country if this is an expectation - it looks a bit complicated and may depend on him proving this is a permanent move back.

Archergirl

It seems to me he might be better staying where he is, he did choose to live there after all. I don't think it will be easy or cheap to get him here and as mentioned my not be treated on the NHS even if you can. He should be able to get treatment there. Not sure on travel at them moment anyway, can it even happen? Will he need to quarantine?

Doshwaster

I thought medical insurance was a requirement for a retirement visa in Thailand - and if not then it is strongly recommended to cover more serious events and conditions. 

Voyager2002

Doshwaster said:

I thought medical insurance was a requirement for a retirement visa in Thailand -

It is, but Thailand is Thailand. The requirement is to take out one of a limited number of policies that are approved by the Thai authorities, and all or most of these polices have conditions that exclude claims that many foreign retirees might make. In effect it is a tax, and while it would be smart to take out a policy that actually provides worthwhile cover in addition to one of these "approved" policies, one can understand someone assuming that medical insurance has been taken care of rather than checking the conditions of the approved (but useless) policy.

Voyager2002

Archergirl said:

It seems to me he might be better staying where he is, he did choose to live there after all. I don't think it will be easy or cheap to get him here and as mentioned my not be treated on the NHS even if you can. He should be able to get treatment there. Not sure on travel at them moment anyway, can it even happen? Will he need to quarantine?

Perhaps the reason for bringing him to the UK is to give relatives here a chance to say good-bye to him. Anyone going to Thailand at the moment would have to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks, and of course there is a requirement to quarantine after returning to the UK: difficult for anyone with a job unless WFH.

heatherw_01

If he was living there then he should have not had travel insurance, but medical insurance or enough money to cover it.
You can't just fly home for treatment if you live there. 
Don't mean to sound rude but it is a fact.
That is not what the NHS is there for.

twopenny

Travel insurance will be of no use.

You need to find out about repatriation which the embassy will help with to a small extent but it is not their remit.

If he is ill he will need a special flight possibily with medical attendant and you have to pay for their flight both ways. I do know of an insurance retiree that use to deal with this. I will message her and ask if she'll drop into the thread if you can explain a little more about his state of health and his residential status but she has posted on TripAdvisor before with details of prices and its a huge cost.

However it may give you options.

If he is upright and walking, fine for breathing and the Covid tests he'll need a member of the family could travel and return with him which I did when my partner had a brain tumour but even then it was not easy.

dmcclymont

volorg said:

Hi, has anyone had experience of medical repatriation for themselves or a family member? My brother is stuck in Thailand with severe injuries but has no travel insurance.  We are trying to find a reliable company.

Hi, I work sometimes with private Ambulance service's
Ring capital air ambulance, they are good, if they cannot help you, they will signpost you to sometime who can

Is there any chance that he can recover enough to come home on a normal flight? May be a lot cheaper

Hope it all works out for you all

martindow

dmcclymont said:

volorg said:

Hi, has anyone had experience of medical repatriation for themselves or a family member? My brother is stuck in Thailand with severe injuries but has no travel insurance.  We are trying to find a reliable company.

Hi, I work sometimes with private Ambulance service's
Ring capital air ambulance, they are good, if they cannot help you, they will signpost you to sometime who can

Is there any chance that he can recover enough to come home on a normal flight? May be a lot cheaper

Hope it all works out for you all

But the OP needs to sort out what would happen once the person arrives here.  If quarantine is required or they are not eligible for NHS treatment the situation could be far worse than staying in Thailand.

heatherw_01

You wouldn't be eligible for NHS treatment if they moved abroad.
Can't move abroad and come back for free healthcare when you haven't been paying taxes!


If you're moving abroad on a permanent basis, you'll no longer automatically be entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/moving-abroad/planning-your-healthcare/