friend stuck in hospital with huge bill he can't pay,what now?

[tweedledee2]

14 hours ago, Nong Khai Man said:

That Bill is Quite Ridiculous,But as most have said Thai Hospitals Will & Do rip you off....

 

I Recently had a SMALL & I Mean SMALL Cyst removed from my hand,6 Stiches inserted, Whole Job took 10 Minutes & Cost me 7,000 Baht....& This was at the CHEAPEST Private hospital in Nong Khai...

7000 baht is cheap compared to what it would have cost in the ER  of a US hospital. 

[FatVern]

Dress him up in his hospital gear and have him play guitar or fiddle outside a busy BTS station. It’s not begging, it’s called busking I’m told. 

[Colabamumbai]

18 hours ago, HLover said:

Any ideas for travel insurance for these incidents?

Will not cover you for motorcycle accidents.

[stropper]

19 hours ago, samsensam said:

guess he'll have to borrow from family and friends. or get family/friends to take out a loan for him - there will be someone prepared to loan the money though the conditions of the loan may not be all that attractive, but...

 

as an adult you make a choice; risk taker or risk avoider, if you choose to take the risk you have to be prepared for the possible consequences.

you are so right, what the xxxx are you doing in thailand if you have no money, it is about time this generation learnt about self reponsibility , some thing that at this time is sadly lacking, i personally 2 new hips, all new teeth and still going well, man up you losers

[pby92]

18 hours ago, HLover said:

Any ideas for travel insurance for these incidents?

Revolut premium card cost 10€ monthly as a travel insurance includes cover 11 000 000 GBP the Revolut app on your smartphone locate you when you abroad and you automatically cover.

Road accidents (car and bike) are cover if you have the adequate DL.

[anon537687643]

I had a minor operation in Ayutthaya in a private hospital some years ago. No overnight stay just few hours ! The bill came to 75000 baht! My Thai partner made a vigorous complaint for some hours and it came down to 30,000bht . It just proves that even Hospitals will “try it on “ with falangs! And you need to make a big noise ! 500k for a leg operation? Ridiculous ! What did that include, a new prosthetic leg ?


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[Eaglekott]

A guy I know had an accident and surgery before he got a proper insurance, (funny enough I reminded him many times before the accident that he has to get an insurance) and the Hospital did not allow him to leave until they had settle an agreement. I believe the agreement was pay 50% so he could leave and the other 50% within 3 month. They kept him a few days extra at the hospital so he could lend the 50% from a friend and then he got some money from his business in Germany to cover the rest.

[Colabamumbai]

1 hour ago, tweedledee2 said:

7000 baht is cheap compared to what it would have cost in the ER  of a US hospital. 

Small cyst removed from forehead, 8 stitches, 20 minutes, Kalasin Hospital, 2000 Baht.

[scubascuba3]

500K is not at all unusual for care after a major accident in Thailand.  Indeed, depending on the nature of the injuries, extent of ICU stay,  and type and number of surgical procedures required bills can easily run to a million baht in a government hospital and 3-5 million + in a private one.
 
He needs to meet with the finance/billing dept and explain his problem and work out a payment agreement whereby he pays what he can now and additional amounts monthly thereafter.
 
Do not expect them to lower the bill or accept just what he can pay, at least not if it is a private  hospital -- they won't. But they will agree to a payment plan. It will involve a legally binding contract and it will be enforced.

Sheryl, what would you recommend doing when an ambulance is called say in Pattaya area, what Government hospital would you recommend?
For small things i don't mind going to a private one but for something that could cost a lot I'd rather go the government route and take my chances.

Also if you are sent to a private hospital initially because you are unconscious can you be transferred to a government one?

[stevenl]

38 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Will not cover you for motorcycle accidents.

Would depend on the conditions of the policy.

 

Your statement alone is grossly incorrect.

[jenny2017]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Sheryl, what would you recommend doing when an ambulance is called say in Pattaya area, what Government hospital would you recommend?
For small things i don't mind going to a private one but for something that could cost a lot I'd rather go the government route and take my chances.

Also if you are sent to a private hospital initially because you are unconscious can you be transferred to a government one?

The Chonburi hospital seems to be quite good. 

[jenny2017]

28 minutes ago, stropper said:

you are so right, what the xxxx are you doing in thailand if you have no money, it is about time this generation learnt about self reponsibility , some thing that at this time is sadly lacking, i personally 2 new hips, all new teeth and still going well, man up you losers

 

 

Congratulations on your new hips and your new fake teeth. I'm just wondering who the loser here is?

[scubascuba3]

Hospitals will try to hold a passport, if they have it, until payment is made/agreed, but they have no legal right to do so. It would be easy for a lawyer to get it returned.
 
The hospital would have to take formal legal action against someone to prevent them from leaving the country.

I would expect the hospitals to have a well trodden path how to collect payment, would be interesting to find out their procedure

[scubascuba3]

Will not cover you for motorcycle accidents.

Yes it will

[bkk6060]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Also if you are sent to a private hospital initially because you are unconscious can you be transferred to a government one?

I had to read it a few times.

I guess if you are unconscious it might be difficult to request a transfer.

My suggestion would be to keep a card in your pocket with that particular request....in big bold letters Thai and English.

Have it laminated also..

[giddyup]

34 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

I had a minor operation in Ayutthaya in a private hospital some years ago. No overnight stay just few hours ! The bill came to 75000 baht! My Thai partner made a vigorous complaint for some hours and it came down to 30,000bht . It just proves that even Hospitals will “try it on “ with falangs! And you need to make a big noise ! 500k for a leg operation? Ridiculous ! What did that include, a new prosthetic leg ?


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I had a gallbladder removed a couple of months back, the bill was 200,000 baht including 3 nights in a private hospital with private room. I was told exactly how much I would be up for before I was even admitted, so there was no "springing" a price on me after the op. Surprised that someone wouldn't ask the price before they agreed to the operation.

[scubascuba3]

I had to read it a few times.
I guess if you are unconscious it might be difficult to request a transfer.
My suggestion would be to keep a card in your pocket with that particular request....in big bold letters Thai and English.
Have it laminated also..

I didn't spell it out as i thought it was obvious but seems it wasn't. When you are no longer unconscious you can request to be transferred to a government hospital, I'm just not sure how easy that it. A friend tried to get his mum moved from a private hospital to a government one and they refused

[midas]

18 hours ago, BritTim said:

As others have said, the bill sounds exorbitant. Would you care to name and shame the hospital?

The reputable hospitals, quoting reasonable charges will usually do their best to work with people who cannot pay (or, at least, cannot pay promptly). This may include writing off part of the amount if they see you as a hardship case.

" Would you care to name and shame the hospital? "

 

Now you know full well he would have to be extremely naive or daft to do something like that on here

[giddyup]

12 minutes ago, jenny2017 said:

 

 

Congratulations on your new hips and your new fake teeth. I'm just wondering who the loser here is?

Those who are stuck in a hospital unable to pay the bill because of their irresponsibility.

[scubascuba3]

Revolut premium card cost 10€ monthly as a travel insurance includes cover 11 000 000 GBP the Revolut app on your smartphone locate you when you abroad and you automatically cover.
Road accidents (car and bike) are cover if you have the adequate DL.

There's always a catch with Revolut, i imagine cover is only for a max number of days and other exclusions. I had a look on their website and as per usual the T&Cs for medical cover is difficult to find. I assume you've worked out the rate you get in Thailand is poor? Its hidden on their site somewhere

[BobBKK]

Might I suggest, sorry if this is throwing a cracker in the woodpile, but we don't know the EXTENT of the 'deep cut' nor any nerve damage, infections or much else. Let's see the breakdown bill before we condemn eh?

 

Another thing, private hospitals undoubtedly attract the best physicians and so please be GUARDED in your advice to go to a 'government hospital'. Doctors are like car mechanics some are good and some are ****.

[soalbundy]

45 minutes ago, stropper said:

you are so right, what the xxxx are you doing in thailand if you have no money, it is about time this generation learnt about self reponsibility , some thing that at this time is sadly lacking, i personally 2 new hips, all new teeth and still going well, man up you losers

Two new hips? you sound as if you are on your last legs, what did you do with your old teeth?

[giddyup]

2 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Two new hips? you sound as if you are on your last legs, what did you do with your old teeth?

The joys of old age, everything wears out eventually, even teeth.

[pby92]

15 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

1 hour ago, pby92 said:

Revolut premium card cost 10€ monthly as a travel insurance includes cover 11 000 000 GBP the Revolut app on your smartphone locate you when you abroad and you automatically cover.
Road accidents (car and bike) are cover if you have the adequate DL.

There's always a catch with Revolut, i imagine cover is only for a max number of days and other exclusions. I had a look on their website and as per usual the T&Cs for medical cover is difficult to find. I assume you've worked out the rate you get in Thailand is poor? Its hidden on their site somewhere

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[luk AJ]

IMO the story raises 2 big questions:
1) 500.000 THb is close to absurd
2) a hospital will first make sure the expenses can be covered through insurance or credit card. I cannot believe they let the cost go up to 500k before taking action.
My conclusion; troll


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[soalbundy]

Just now, giddyup said:

The joys of old age, everything wears out eventually, even teeth.

mine are departing one by one, starting with the ones with expensive crowns followed by the ceramic teeth breaking off of the anchor teeth. I can't bite anyone  but I can give a nasty suck.

[giddyup]

2 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

mine are departing one by one, starting with the ones with expensive crowns followed by the ceramic teeth breaking off of the anchor teeth. I can't bite anyone  but I can give a nasty suck.

Tell me about it. Lost 5 in the last couple of years that were all crowned.

[Sheryl]

32 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Sheryl, what would you recommend doing when an ambulance is called say in Pattaya area, what Government hospital would you recommend?
For small things i don't mind going to a private one but for something that could cost a lot I'd rather go the government route and take my chances.

Also if you are sent to a private hospital initially because you are unconscious can you be transferred to a government one?

First of all, avoid ambulance if possible - it is quicker and usually better to go to the hospital by whatever means of transport available where you are. Ambulance takes longer (since it must first reach you) and assuming you mean whatever is dispatched by the government 1669 number, you will have difficulty controlling where it takes you.

 

Secondly, each hospital has its own ambulance service (serving only that hospital), get the one for the hospital of your choice and keep it handy.

 

As to hospital: Pattaya City Hospital if it is nothing terribly complicated or specialized, otherwise one of these: Chonburi Provincial Hosp, Red Cross hosp in Sri Racha, or Queen Sirikit Navakl Hospital. Do not underestimate what care at a givernment hospital may cost you. It will definitely be less than at a private hospital but can still add up to a lot if it is a serious accident or illness. People who lack health insurance and are nto able to readily absorb a medical bill of over 1 million baht cannot afford to live in Thailand. Unfortunately quite a few nonetheless are here, and we read their stories almost every week - here and on the various internet "fund me" sites.

 

Once in a privarte hospital, you can be transferred to a government hospitakl but:

 

1) They will; nto transfer you until you have paid their bill in full.

 

2. You have to be able to make that request or have family member to  do it. ..and may have to be quite assertive about it.

[Media1]

ask for some fresh air and wheel him into a taxi. The taxi robbery is cheaper

[PerkinsCuthbert]

20 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Sounds like a bargain for heart surgery.

Stent insertion is not surgery, angioplasty involves insertion through one of the major arteries. Still expensive though.