highland66

1 hour ago, IraqRon said:

Well Tom this is hard to say, but with no money to your name maybe you should just bite the bullet and accept that your days are numbered and go peaceably into the nite.  Do you think yoour friends. etc. should spend their limited funds to prolong your life?

Was this really "hard for you to say?" Somehow I doubt it. 

4 hours ago, payanak said:

I can certainly understand your concerns but you need to try and apply a little common sense here.  If you were part of a GREAT team would you and your team be working at a discount?  Well ... would you?

Cost should be one of the lesser concerns in making your decision where and with whom to trust your life.  Unfortunately it is almost impossible for the consumer to make truly informed decisions on where to receive their health care.  Best of luck to you.

Obviously no one wants to "cut corners" on a critical heart operation to try to save themselves some baht. But this is a situation where he will be able to raise a fixed amount of money. (Let's say, $20,000 USD.) Would he most likely get the same end result at Bumrungrad hospital, as he would at a hospital like Pattaya Bangkok? If the same procedure at Bumrungrad (with its five-star luxurious reputation) would cost $30,000, and it would cost $19,000 at Pattaya Bangkok, then what? This would be a question for someone who has undergone the procedure somewhere besides Bumrungrad. At any rate, all input is much appreciated.  

(Sorry for the accidental double post.) Thanks for the replies...I'm trying to help my buddy (the original poster) gather a few other bits of information to help him out. Specifically: 

- I recently had some hand surgery done at Pattaya Bangkok hospital and received excellent care. To my surprise, my final bill was LESS than the amount they estimated it would be. Bumrungrad has a reputation for being fantastic, but expensive, and in my friend's case, gathering the funds for the bypass won't be easy. Any thoughts on whether he might receive the same level of care at Pattaya Bangkok hospital (for significantly cheaper) versus Bumrungrad? 

- For those of you who have had this procedure done in Thailand, would you advise my friend to book a plane ticket (he is coming from the Philippines), show up at the hospital, and figure on staying a week? Will this likely involve multiple appointments before they schedule the procedure, or could it be like my hand surgery, where I showed up in the morning, saw a specialist within a couple of hours, and had my surgery booked later that day? 

- Given the seriousness of the procedure, do you think he would instructed to stay in the hospital for a period of time, or could he get it done and fly back to the Philippines after a day or two? 

- Would his filipina fiancee be allowed to stay overnight in the room with him, or would she need to book a hotel? (Which would be another added expense...) 

I don't want to ask a million questions, but your first-hand experiences with this matter are hugely appreciated because as far as I know, it isn't possible to call the hospital in advance and get these types of questions answered. The more information we can gather before he gets on a plane, the better. Thank you! 

Thanks for the replies...I'm trying to help my buddy (the original poster) gather a few other bits of information to help him out. Specifically: 

On 5/28/2019 at 9:48 AM, Good Lord said:

Sorry if this is a little off topic: I strongly I assume that you only pay the membership fee AFTER they approve you. So when, the waiting period is over then you transfer the money to their account.

Correct. I got my Elite Visa last week. It took longer than I expected for me to get approved, a little over two months. Once you are approved, they send you an email with the bank wiring instructions. You pay the fee, and the final step is to get the Visa put in your passport.

I scheduled an appointment with an Elite representative at the Bangkok immigration office. I went to meet her, she took my passport, and while I relaxed and ate lunch she took care of everything. She handed my passport back to me 30 minutes later, with the new Visa in it, and I was done. 

Really looking forward to using this when I fly into BKK airport! 

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Is it easy for your girlfriend to stay longterm with you in Thailand?

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

The Philippines is part of the ASEAN treaty in Southeast Asia, and my girlfriend was told by immigration that she is welcome here. I think it is the best of both worlds to have the right Filipina with you in Thailand. 

I've been waiting almost two months for mine. Sent another email to the elite visa office a few days ago to request an update. No response. 

The last couple of times I flew into Bangkok, I was told (very firmly) to apply for a proper visa - so I applied for an Elite Visa over a month ago. I didn't realize the Elite Visa process now takes two months or perhaps even longer. (This is new, apparently it used to take a few weeks at most.)

So I've been out of Thailand in a neighboring country for the past four weeks, while waiting to hear from the Elite Visa office about when I can pay for the visa and receive it. They can't give me any firm time frame. It might take another month. I don't know. And I'd much rather be in Thailand while I wait for it, rather than staying in hotels outside of Thailand. 

Tomorrow, I have a ticket to fly to Vientiane so that I can cross by land into Thailand at the Nong Khai crossing. However, the flight from the neighboring country I am in, to Vientiane, has a one-hour layover in Bangkok. And according to the airline, I will need to pass through Bangkok immigration in order to get on my transfer flight to Vientiane. 

My question: do you think I going to be scrutinized at Bangkok airport, and possibly denied entry, if I am simply trying to pass through to get my connecting flight to Vientiane? If they were to turn me back and say "go back to the country you flew in from," I'd be alright with that. I would check into another hotel in a neighboring country and keep waiting for my Elite Visa.

Unfortunately, I've heard from close sources of mine, that now - if they deny you entry - it means they don't just turn you back. It means you are sent to the detention jail under Bangkok airport until you can work out a flight back to your home country. I do not want to take that risk.  

Any thoughts or advice? Bottom line, will I get scrutinized passing through immigration for a transfer flight to Vientiane, the same as I would if Bangkok was my final destination?