Sheryl

That is a regional level facility. About as good as it gets in terms of government hospitals outside Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Hat Yai. And certainly the best choice in Rayong area. That said, given that your issue is whether or not to maintain an international policy, personally I live near a Regional Hospital but still prefer to go into Bangkok for most health care. I like to be able to select my doctor and I want the best. (Also do not want to spend whole day or days waiting in crowding uncomfortable surroundings, but the doctor part is the more important ). And really, really not up for being an inpatient on a crowded non air conditioned ward, I've stayed with friends on same and it is grim in the extreme. Not always possibel ot get a private room). One other point to seriously consider before dropping your private insurance is whether you ever travel outside Thailand. Because your SS insurance will be of no help then. I had a major accident while in Cambodia a few years back, thank god for my April policy.

Oral temp will usually be about 0.5 degrees C higher than axillary (under the arm), sometimes more. Axillary temps are especially low in people in cool air con environments and people with poor circulation (common in the elderly). Oral temp will still be l another 0.5 degrees C (sometimes more) less than actual core temperature. Ear temps, on the other hand, if done correctly with an accurate thermometer are very close to core temp. Important consideration with oral temperature is not to have taken any liquids or food for 10 minutes or more prior, and to do it properly (thermometer up against the underside of the tongue and mouth closed. Digital thermometers in my experience stop working correctly after not much time. The definition of hypothermia is a core temperature below 35 C. With an axillary temp of 34.9, OP's core temp would have been around 36, maybe even a bit more. He is not hypothermic. I would never take an axillary temp on an elderly person unless there was really no other choice.

The problems with the "saving X amount over X years by not paying for insurance" line of reasoning are: It might turn out that way, but it could just as easily occur that you are faced with a costly illness or accident right at the start of this "saving" period. There is no guarantee that you will not need costly care well before you have saved enough in not paying premiums. Once you spend the money, it is gone. What then? No guarantee how many more years will pass before you again have major health expenses. Only people who have already available to them, readily, at least 1 million baht (at least 3 if wanting the option of private hospitals) and the means to replenish it once spent (or a back-up plan like returning to home country), can safely self insure. Ironically most people who meet that criteria prefer to instead get insurance if they can, as a means of protecting their assets. While most of the people who say they are self-insured do not meet this criteria and are really uninsured or under-insured. Which works fine until suddenly it doesn't.

Sorry to hear this. My condolences.

No telling where you will be taken if not conscious. It will be up to the emergency vehicle which responds. This scenario is exactly what the 72 hour law is designed for. By law, SS will reimburse any hospital that provides you with care in an emergency for up to 72 hours...the idea being that by then it should be possible to transfer you to your SS hospital. The problem is that hospitals will often try to recoup directly from the patient. Do not pay, tell them you have SS and SS will pay for the first 72 hours. Call the Head Office if necessary. Good idea to inform your friends/family of your SS status (and which hospital is your SS hospital) and give them copy of the card. You might also consider getting just Personal Accident insurance, it's not expensive and diabetes shouldn't be a problem for that.

Most insurers will not newly enroll a diabetic, full stop. Definitely Thai insurers will not, but also many international ones won't. if they do, exclusion would likely be not just diabetes but also kidney and cardiovascular disease (heart, circulatory etc) since diabetes substantially increases the risk of both. SO very extensive exclusions. What is the medication you refer to? If it is on the MOPH list SS will cover it, otherwise not. SS will cover medical care related to an accident or illness. However you must get care at the specific nominated hospital. Exception is in case of emergency, can receive care elsewhere for up to 72 hours. (Although that is the law, in practice the other hospitals often try to bill patients and it often takes a call to the SS head office to resolve this).

There are both buses and share taxis to Battambang. From there, share taxi to the border.

No, longer. Many procedures to occur first and these are only done during working hours. First police "investigation". You can be held up to 7 days for this alone. Then a court appearance. Once deportation order issues, other formalities. You'd be lucky to get out within 7 days, could easily be 2 weeks.

Then -- even if it is properly calibrated and working -- your actual body temperature is at least 1 full degree higher, maybe more. Again - if this really concerns you, get an old fashioned mercury thermometer and take your rectal temperature.

You omit the (horrendous) stay in the IDC. Which can be a few weeks even if you have the money for ticket home. And usually have no choice in where deported to, it will be to your country of nationality

Normal body temperature can range anywhere from 36 to about 37.2 That is actual internal body temperature. What your thermometer will say, will be less if you take temperature orally or under the arm. Also need to consider whether the thermometer is working properly. The electronic ones are especially apt to not working correctly. If this really concerns you, take your temperature rectally with an old-fashioned mercury thermometer.

Many people have or have had, lipomas. They do not require treatment unless desired for cosmetic reasons. https://aseannow.com/topic/204329-lipoma-removal/ https://aseannow.com/topic/993602-lipoma-removal-on-face/ https://aseannow.com/topic/883389-removing-lipoma/ But other problems can be mistaken for lipoma (if this is a self-diagnosis). Doctor diagnosis based on physical exam is usually accurate but occasionally biopsy is needed to confirm.

He is asking about people's experiences using SS. Many, many, many people have used it. The main drawback -- and it can be a considerable one - is that you must use only your nominated hospital, or another facility it refers you to. And the number of hospitals to chose from in making that nomination (which can be changed) is limited. Most government hospitals accept SS but the really big university affiliated ones are often at their quota and not taking new SS enrollees. What hospital are you registered at under SS?

AA Brokers no longer handles international policies. Supposedly their international portfolio was shifted to something called AA World based in India, website not functional. Personally I switched to a broker based in France when this happened (AOC). If this Regency policy was recommended to you by AA Brokers in Thailand, it is a Thai issued policy and to be avoided. Like many insurers, April has 5 year age brackets and there is always a big increase when you move from one 5 year bracket to another. In between such changes all you will have are inflationary increases (if any) applicable to all. In other words you will probably not face this level of increase for the next 4 years after this renewal. (But likely a bigger one on turning 75). Since you have SS, additional insurance is not essential but of course provides you with a free choice of doctors and hospitals. Up to you whether worth it.

@Playingthefield I strongly recommend you get a visa. With your history you might be denied Visa Exempt entry. And have a return flight booked. Loner term you should consider getting a retirement extension.

Pay no attention to this link, it bears little to no relation to what government hospitals actually charge. In most cases the base charge (shown as charge for Thais) alone is much lower than in the government hospitals have been charging for years. The pricing in the MoH booklet is utterly unrealistic and has been widely ignored accordingly. The only relevant point -- for those who might assume otherwise -- is that government does officially endorse the idea of charging foreigners more for health care. And only some hospitals bother to create different pricing tiers, for many hospitals it is simply not worth the trouble. You will encounter it mainly in areas where there is a large expat population. (Bangkok, Pattaya, CM etc). In fact some (a few) small upcountry government hospitals won't charge you at all because they so seldom treat anyone not covered by either the universal system of SS that they have not set up procedures to collect fees.

In emergencies yes, often the case But I think it is true that the appearance of government hospitals as well as the crowds and forms, signs etc usually being in Thai only is off-putting for most actual tourists. And very hard for them to navigate the red tape etc. (again, tourists -- expats are a whole other story).

Atenolol is no longer used just for BP but is indicated for heart failure, atrial fibrillation etc. As for adding Manidipine to 25mg Losartan, 25 mg Losartan is sub-therapeutic dose, would be more usual to just increase the losartan does and maybe add clorthiazide. Unless -- and this is possible -- it was because of your decreased renal function. Sounds like the change in lab values and the decrease in losartan happened at same visit? If so, this could be why. However the preferred drug for managing hypertension in people with kidney disease is an ACE inhibitor like enalapril. I very definitely do not recommend going to Sai Noi Hospital, it is a tiny community level facility. Suitable only for things like simple wound care. In Nonthaburi I would suggest Panyananthaphikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center, which is university affiliated. And if possible the "after hours clinic", that way you will see senior doctor and can also ensure same doctor each time. Ask for an acharn in Internal Medicine. It will cost you a frw huindred baht more per visit but be well worth it in the long run. Regarding CKD, staging is based on the estimated GFR which in turn is based on serum creatnine, so presumably your creatnine level significantly increased. Is it possible you were dehydrated when the sample was taken? As if so, would be worth repeating it. If you are making additioanl visits solely for med refills might want to rethink that as =drugs like enalapril are dirt cheap at pharmacies.

Go to the Provincial Labor Dept, bringing your contract with you. They will most definitely follow up, and if it is necessary to go to the labor court (often not, often just a call from them is enough to get employer to act), they will provide the legal representation at no cost to you. This is assuming it is a private company and not a school or non-profit. Labor Dept will not pry into your taxes nor ask to see tax documents. The only issues will be the Employer (private company vs private school etc) , the length of time you were employed and the circumstances of your departure. As others have mentioned, depending on the exact situation the last might entitle you to more than routine severance.

This is pretty much the current system. It isn't working out very well.

It was 500 baht, hasn't been enacted yet and there was conflicting discussion about how the proceeds would be used. Emergency medical costs was one idea floated but AFIK nothing decided.

You won't get "gouged" but costs can still easily exceed 1 million baht at a government hospital in case of catastrophic accident or illness requiring long ICU stay, specialized surgeries etc. Even using just government hospitals, still need either a lot of savings or insurance. Travel policies are not at all expensive (they do, of course, only cover emergencies). Main problem is that many exclude motorcycle accidents (or need a special add-on to cover them, which people may not notice) and pretty much all exclude accidents due to negligence, intoxication, or behavior that violates the law (driving without a valid license, not wearing helmet/seat belt would qualify). A lot of tourist emergencies come under those headings.

Yes. Completely impractical.

I am not clear...are you still taking Losartan 25mg (a sub-therapeutic dose) plus they have added Manidipine? By Zosin do you mean Tamsulosin or Doxazosin? In either case this is given for enlarged prostate but will also have a slight BP lowering effect. It really does not sound like you are being at all well managed. What hospital do you attend?

Absolutely. Needed to be especially wary during the first months of the academic year (May - July) as at that point many of the "doctors" were still in medical school just a few months back and have almost nil experience. I have a family member who underwent complex spinal surgery at a government university hospital. Turns out the senior doctor in charge did not even enter the OR, the interns and residents were left totally on their own (I later found out he was altogether out of town). The result was excessive blood loss (needing multiple transfusions afterwards) and a hematoma pressing on the spinal cord which nearly paralyzed her for life. Further, the staff lied about her condition and kept telling the senior doc by phone (and writing in the chart) that everything was fine when in fact she was numb from the waist down and could not stand up. I had to stage a virtual sit-in at the nurses' station two days in a row to finally get the senior doctor to come in (he hopped a plane in Chiang Mai once he knew the actual condition of the patient) following which he operated himself, luckily in time to avoid permanent paralysis. There is a work-around for this issue, which is to utilize the "after hours" clinics that most government hospitals have. There, for anywhere from 250 - 500 baht extra, you can directly see a senior doctor.