Topic: Bangkok Christian College 2007

[Andy]

It's time for a new BCC thread. Previous threads of interest about BCC:

http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php/topic,259.0.html

http://www.teflwatch.org/282/bangkok-christian-college-enters-the-caution-zone/

http://www.teflwatch.org/29/bangkok-christian-college-enters-hall-of-shame/

Let's keep this thread on current issues, ok?

[Thighlander]

Have they told new teachers that they will be required to pay many medical bills, when services are rendered.  Then they must wait a couple of months for a partial reimbursement of 60-70%.

Has anyone seen JJ?  Now that it is a new school year, maybe someone could tell us what the actual turnover really is.  That would mean, how many teachers were there at the start of last year returned for the start of this year.

[happyteacher]

New teachers must pay for medical bills?  Partial reimbursement?  Returning teachers received our new medical cards when returned a couple of weeks ago.  New teachers receive those after probation.  If they get sick they go to the doctor get a receipt and are paid within a couple of days.  A new teacher in another department hurt his next over last weekend and by Tuesday was still in pain and went to the doctor.  He got a receipt had his Thai boss sign off on it and received his 1200 baht back on Friday morning.  100% reimbursement.  I know this because he mentioned it when I was in his office Friday morning at 11am.  I don't think that is too long to wait.

JJ is still here.  He works in another building and another department (IEP) but I do see him and he was at the welcome back to school speech. I don't know what the turnover was in his department but it was 0 in mine.

[Thighlander]

What you are talking about (1200 Thb) is small potatoes.  I'm talking about 100-200- or 300,000 Thb.  And yes you will be expected to pay before you are discharged from the hospital, and yest they will only reimburse you for 60-70%.  And if they have any reason to believe it was an "existing" condition; you are SOL.
Think medical insurance companies suck in the USA?  Guess what?  They are the same companies that deny claims in LOS.  Salud!

[ponder]

What you are talking about (1200 Thb) is small potatoes.  I'm talking about 100-200- or 300,000 Thb.  And yes you will be expected to pay before you are discharged from the hospital, and yest they will only reimburse you for 60-70%.  And if they have any reason to believe it was an "existing" condition; you are SOL.
Think medical insurance companies suck in the USA?  Guess what?  They are the same companies that deny claims in LOS.  Salud!

This seems to be a comment on insurance companies rather than BCC. I have medical insurance (paid by BCC) with AIA (part of AIG) and I had an operation last year at St. Louis Hospital. I can't remember how much it cost but it involved an overnight stay and was definitely over 25,000 baht. I had to pay a small part (about 2,000 baht), certainly not 30-40%. I did not have to pay and reclaim, I just paid the small charge that was not covered when I was leaving the hospital.

I was very happy with this. I don't know what the maximum cover is, but my card says 1,000 baht per incident (maximum 31 visits per year) Out- Patients; 2,000  Baht per day (maximum 31 days per year)In-Patient; and 6,000 baht per time ER/_Acc. However, I suppose we should all check out exactly what cover we have and I will do that.

[anyonefortennis]

I have medical insurance (paid by BCC) with AIA (part of AIG) and I had an operation last year at St. Louis Hospital. I can't remember how much it cost but it involved an overnight stay and was definitely over 25,000 baht. I had to pay a small part (about 2,000 baht), certainly not 30-40%. I did not have to pay and reclaim, I just paid the small charge that was not covered when I was leaving the hospital.

Well, I dunno a lot about medical cover over here but that seems fair dinkum to me.

[hero]

Yep, it seems like fair dinkum to me too!

In the interest of keeping this thread on topic I split and moved a blossoming discussion on health insurance and medical expenses to a new thread ..... here: http://www.teflwatch.org/forum/index.php/topic,1414.msg9747.html#msg9747

[Thighlander]

Have they told new teachers that they will be required to pay many medical bills, when services are rendered.  Then they must wait a couple of months for a partial reimbursement of 60-70%.

The key word here is "NEW," as in less than one year.  I'm not doubting that those "teachers," who pre-date John Karr, will not have to pay when services are rendered.  I'm saying less than one year.

Yes, maybe it is an issue with AIA (it is part of AIG, largest in the World).  However, it is BCC, who chooses this company, selects the limited coverage, then fails to inform their new teachers about their real coverage.
Since many of the teachers at BCC have been there less than one year, I really believe this is relevant information.  If they get a simple food poisoning from using the water fountain, or get kicked in the face by a soccer ball, or twist their ankle being run over by an obese 12 year old; they will get pretty decent coverage over at St. Louis.  If it something serious, the people in purple polyester will be nowhere to be found, when it comes time to pay in order to be released.

[Thighlander]

 

[happyteacher]

You really don't like BCC do you Thighlander?  What happened?  I'm just curious as to why u post without any examples of being abandoned at the hospital when it comes time for leaving.  Do you in fact know of any?  Or are you just assuming?  I have never heard of situations regarding the school not paying and as a matter of fact I have known several new teachers one of who was in hospital for 2 plus weeks and the school paid.  Another who was in hospital for food poison for 4 days and again the school paid.  I've even been chased down to submit a medical bill to HR as I forgot my medical card once during a hospital visit.  Now I know of course many teachers with the school 2 plus years who have had various surgeries and again the school paid.  Everything from motorcyle accidents to appendix being removed. 

Also you mention many of the teachers have been here less than one year...?  Yes I see new faces but not "many" as you describe.

OH and you show your maturity by dragging up the John Karr saga/picture....are you upset that nobody has been posting negative comments about BCC?  What are you hoping for?  I'm really curious.

[hero]

He has a point I reckon Thighlander - let's keep it factual.

 

[Thighlander]

......as a matter of fact I have known several new teachers one of who was in hospital for 2 plus weeks and the school paid.  Another who was in hospital for food poison for 4 days and again the school paid.  I've even been chased down to submit a medical bill to HR as I forgot my medical card once during a hospital visit.  Now I know of course many teachers with the school 2 plus years who have had various surgeries and again the school paid.  Everything from motorcyle accidents to appendix being removed. 

Did JJ train you on how to put your foot in your mouth, Happy?  Read your statement above , you readily cite cases where the school paid for hospital bills.  And why is that Hap?  BECAUSE THE TEACHER WAS NOT COVERED.  So new teachers aren't really covered by the largest insurance company in the World; they are at the mercy of a two star HOS General, with a reputation for botching paperwork, and being less than honest.

Why the hostility towards posters Hap?  Without us, I doubt you would have received raises this year; their would have been plenty of "newbies" to fill the void.  But, thanks to this forum, teachers are allowed to know the facts (and opinions) about their prospective employers.

Congratulations on your employer's removal from the HOS.  Perhaps, someday, maybe five or ten years from now, you will actually be able to come back to the States and put their name on an application, without it getting tossed in the round file.  But don't worry about not being qualified to enter a classroom; cafeteria workers are making 11.50 usd per hour now, and you don't even have to listen to the Filipino woman try to read from the Bible.

[happyteacher]

First of all Thighlander I don't work for or with JJ.  Ok I concede and agree that the insurance we are given is not full coverage but what I'm saying is that the school makes up the difference including prescription drugs.  I don't know of any other schools that would pay the difference nor do I know of any company in the USA that would pay the difference on your insurance if you went to the emergency room or a normal hospital visit.How many other schools here in Thailand do have/offer full coverage and how many schools don't give coverage at all.  I would say we are better than most.  I have many friends who work for other private schools and their insurance is similar to ours but I also know many other teachers who don't have any coverage at all. 

You mention cafeteria workers earning 11.50usd per hour but do they get health coverage?  The USA is one of the biggest countries in the world that does not give health insurance to employees.

I also seriously doubt with your negative views, you had anything to do with me/us getting raises this year.  I've always gotten the higher end of the pay raise scale.  I agree this forum is good for new and old teachers to find out what is going on and we are all entitled to our views.  I'm happy here and are most of my fellow teachers. 

You are so pro american and so pro insurance that I think the following will be interesting reading for you.  It seems that over 47million people in the USA are without health insurance and this includes professionals.

http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml

Who is this Philipino that your talking about?

OH and you never answered any of my questions. 

[Thighlander]

Think medical insurance companies suck in the USA?  Guess what?  They are the same companies that deny claims in LOS.  Salud!

If this statement seems "pro insurance" to you Hap, you need to quit smokin' the banana peels.

[happyteacher]

So then what are you moaning about???  Insurance coverage sucks!  So what is your point?  Why do you think the insurance coverage should be better here?  I have friends in the UK under the National Health Scheme and they travel to France as they have to wait months for a "regular checkup'.  Even my own parents come here for medical tourism and they worked for top companies all their lives.

But once again let me say that I know of nobody here at BCC who is a penny out of pocket for any minor or major injury.  The school has always been fair and have reimbursed.  There is even one teacher who has gone for numerous tests to find out what is going on with his immune system and again the school is paying and I'm talking in hundred of thousands.  Again I don't know of many or any employers that would do that, be it here or at home.

[bccteacher]

"There is even one teacher who has gone for numerous tests to find out what is going on with his immune system and again the school is paying and I'm talking in hundred of thousands.  Again I don't know of many or any employers that would do that, be it here or at home."

I happen to work with, and know the above mentioned teacher very well. The school paid a small percentage (about 10%) of his bills, the remainder (approx 250,000B) has come out of his own pocket. If the school would like to reimburse him for this, I know he would really appreciate it...........

[happyteacher]

Hmmmm somebody is lying then.  Because I also work with the above mentioned teacher and this is not what I've been told. 

[bccteacher]

You're absolutely right. Somebody is lying, but not the teacher in question. I spoke to him yesterday and he confirmed the fact that his medical bills were paid by himself. Don't take my word for it though, if you also work with him ask him yourself.

[Thighlander]

You mention cafeteria workers earning 11.50usd per hour but do they get health coverage?  The USA is one of the biggest countries in the world that does not give health insurance to employees.

It seems that over 47million people in the USA are without health insurance and this includes professionals.

Something else you didn't learn about America on your church choir trip to Disney World.  Yes, 47 Million do not have coverage, but 260 million do.  Employer coverage is the largest source of health insurance coverage.  As for the cafeteria workers; yes they are covered if they work 30 hours per week.  They can choose to be covered by one of the largest HMOs on Earth and they must contribute 50 usd per month towards the 350usd premium.

Now would you please give us the rest of the story about the teacher with 250,000 thb worth of unpaid bills.
Was he a FOJ ("Friend" of John Karr)?  Have a good time at Bible Study, say hello to the nipple tickler for me.

[Thighlander]

Ok I concede and agree that the insurance we are given is not full coverage......

OH and you never answered any of my questions. 

We are still waiting to find out the truth about the teacher with 250,000 Thb in unpaid medical bills.