Expat/permanent resident global medical insurance

Hi Jim,

I had nearly the same issue,

I searched in the Internet for insurance companies and emailed them my requirements.

They all send me their forms, which I had to fill to get their quotes. They don't do individual assesments.

There is NO best insurance.

They don't care about you, only about their profit.

Get quotes from all the big players and check what fits best for you.

HAROLD54, TRUTH

@jimtobias

Have you taken a look at our insurance partners, here?

If you're concerned about privacy issues, you can use an alias when searching for quotes.

I used Prudential for a year, cost around Rp20 million but there were so many exclusions in that first year, The next year I think without their special introductory discount the premium was around Rp24 million. Finally I just use the local BPJS which I've now already used for a few years. If the hospital costs are not too great I will usually pay myself.

I'm always surprised how much more expensive and inadequate those huge insurance companies are in Indonesia compared to Malaysia. If I get some very serious illness I might just go to Malaysia ad pay myself. If it's a matter of having a stent fitted then I would do it here under BPJS.

Do you qualify for BPJS on permanent KITAP?

I have a Spousal KITAP and I have BPJS.

Cool. Thanks! I will check it out! 👍

@jimtobias

Hi Jim, as a personal insurance consultant, I understand that navigating insurance option, especially in a new country can be challenging.

I’d be happy to offer complimentary consultation to help you find a plan that best suits your needs.

Feel free to send me direct message or arrange a meeting 😁

I used Prudential for a year, cost around Rp20 million but there were so many exclusions in that first year, The next year I think without their special introductory discount the premium was around Rp24 million. Finally I just use the local BPJS which I've now already used for a few years. If the hospital costs are not too great I will usually pay myself.
I'm always surprised how much more expensive and inadequate those huge insurance companies are in Indonesia compared to Malaysia. If I get some very serious illness I might just go to Malaysia ad pay myself. If it's a matter of having a stent fitted then I would do it here under BPJS. - @wyngrove60

Actually, I don’t mean to criticize BPJS in some hospitals or clinics, it works quite well. However, from my experience, there can be some challenges. For example, when I used BPJS at Hospital A:

1. Doctor visits were sometimes delayed.
2. Information about procedures or tests wasn’t always clear.
3. I once experienced a mistake in diagnosis and medication.

When I used private insurance at the same hospital (through my company), the difference was quite noticeable:

1. The emergency room and treatment areas for private insurance or self-pay were cleaner and more comfortable.
2. Service felt smoother, doctors were more thorough, visits were on time, and explanations about procedures and tests were clearer.

I asked the administration about this & they explained that it wasn’t the fault of BPJS patients. Sometimes the hospital is just more cautious because BPJS payments can be delayed or even missed.

One thing I’ve noticed & it might sound surprising is that when I used private insurance or paid out of pocket, it sometimes felt like I was going through a “VIP” lane. Honestly, I sometimes felt a bit uncomfortable knowing BPJS patients were waiting ahead of me. But the doctors & nurses assured me that it wasn’t a problem. In fact, it seems to be fairly well known that private insurance & self pay patients often receive faster or more personalized service compared to BPJS.

That said, some of my senior colleagues still prefer to go abroad for major surgeries or serious treatments. So, in the end, it really depends on the type of care you need.

It really depends on various factors.

For minor medical problems you can go directly to a BPJS clinic and get treated there without having to be referred to a different hospital. BPJS also has a Geriatric Department at their clinics so being treated for less serious issues can be very fast.

My father in law had a heart attack and got his stent put in, all under BPJS. No idea how much that would have cost if he'd paid for it himself, but BPJS fully covered it. That's one of the reasons I continue to use BPJS, just in case.

You get the same doctors when you use BPJS as the ones who do private or insurance. The main differences are that  follow ups can be two weeks later instead of immediate or the same day. But things like radiography, consultancy fees etc are generally covered by BPJS.

At the hospital that I usually visit, when you register you take a different ticket for BPJS than for insured or private. There are more BPJS patients and the wait time is longer since they only provide one or two desks for BPJS whereas non BPJS patients have many desks.

When it comes to waiting to see a doctor, you are not placed last because you use BPJS.

For me, I will continue to pay for BPJS but depending on the illness I will decide whether to pay myself or use BPJS.

It really depends on various factors.
For minor medical problems you can go directly to a BPJS clinic and get treated there without having to be referred to a different hospital. BPJS also has a Geriatric Department at their clinics so being treated for less serious issues can be very fast.

My father in law had a heart attack and got his stent put in, all under BPJS. No idea how much that would have cost if he'd paid for it himself, but BPJS fully covered it. That's one of the reasons I continue to use BPJS, just in case.

You get the same doctors when you use BPJS as the ones who do private or insurance. The main differences are that follow ups can be two weeks later instead of immediate or the same day. But things like radiography, consultancy fees etc are generally covered by BPJS.

At the hospital that I usually visit, when you register you take a different ticket for BPJS than for insured or private. There are more BPJS patients and the wait time is longer since they only provide one or two desks for BPJS whereas non BPJS patients have many desks.

When it comes to waiting to see a doctor, you are not placed last because you use BPJS.

For me, I will continue to pay for BPJS but depending on the illness I will decide whether to pay myself or use BPJS. - @wyngrove60

Yes, exactly as I said before, BPJS isn’t always bad.

But honestly, over the years I’ve had more negative experiences than positive ones, not just for myself but also when taking care of my mother, mother in law & wife.

One of the worst cases was with my mother in law. From 8 PM to 4 AM, we went from hospital to hospital looking for a special care room. Every time the admin heard she was a BPJS patient, suddenly the answer was “no rooms,” even when insiders confirmed there were still beds available.

In the end, out of frustration, we went to one of the hospitals that had rejected us before this time paying out of pocket & they admitted her immediately.

And honestly, that wasn’t the only time. I’ve got a few more stories, but I’ll keep it short here. 😁

Of course, experiences can vary & honestly, it might be quite different for foreigners too. I’m not here to bash BPJS. I still use it sometimes myself. It’s actually mandatory for employees in Indonesia, so through my office I have both BPJS & private insurance. What I’ve shared is just from my own experience & to be honest, some of it has been a bit traumatic. 😅