British woman, 64, stranded in Thai hospital unless she can pay 450,000 THB for treatment

[khunpa]

5 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Her son lives in Thailand - he's equally as stupid for not making sure his mum had insurance

Totally agree! My family visits every year and I always make sure they have insurrance before coming. It is simply a must!

[Briggsy]

6 minutes ago, nausea said:

Each one idividually is worthy, en masse it's a bit much. The embassies really should be doing something here. This Pontius Pilate attitude just doesn't wash. As a British citizen I expect my embassy to take care of me. If I'm a bit stupid or foolish, then they should be putting measures in place to stop me being stupid or foolish. Ambassodorial roles aren't all about trade and politics, it's also about taking care of your citizens abroad.

Do you really believe this?

 

Surely you are being sarcastic, you can't really mean this, do you?

[Ctkong]

2 hours ago, legend49 said:

Same hospital group I recently had a broken ankle bone. Wow the art of selling tests and treatments you dont need goes on and on $$$$$$$$$$

Father in law ( Myanmar) went for a check up here on his enlarged gall bladder .tests costs about us$1500. Then the specialist quoted us$20,000 for keyhole surgery with no guarantee. Doctor also mentioned that if operation not successful, will need open surgery. Cost not stated. Went to Siri Raj hospital with all the test results. Opt for open surgery. Cost only us$4000. Vast difference.. 

[Bantex]

Just another freeloader going through life on the cheap. She’ll get the GoFundMe donations to pay for her medical bills and on returning home she’ll be telling her woeful tale to everyone who will then wonder why they bother with insurance and some will travel without insurance next time in the hope nothing will happen but if it does, others will pay for their misfortunes.

 

While were on the subject, my pickup needs servicing and my children’s school fees are due all donations will be most gratefully welcomed.

[Briggsy]

Just now, Bantex said:

Just another freeloader going through life on the cheap. She’ll get the GoFundMe donations to pay for her medical bills and on returning home she’ll be telling her woeful tale to everyone who will then wonder why they bother with insurance and some will travel without insurance next time in the hope nothing will happen but if it does, others will pay for their misfortunes.

 

While were on the subject, my pickup needs servicing and my children’s school fees are due all donations will be most gratefully welcomed.

You missed out the bit where she demands a new converted bungalow from the Social due to her medical condition.

[Stevemercer]

It happens every day in Australia and, I assume, other western countries - Thai or other visiting nationalities do not have adequate insurance and must pay hefty bills (of course, if the illness or accident is life threatening they will be treated anyway). No one makes a fuss and life goes on.

 

Why is it such a big deal when the same happens in Thailand? 

[n210mp]

6 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Go fund me.      x

 

Loan.   

 

All those friends and family and nobody is prepared to loan this woman £10,000 instead they go to the local paper to assist in begging money from strangers. I understand that many Brits, used to the welfare state, travel abroad without insurance and expect others to pick up the tab but I don't have to like it. My mother is 86, regularly travels abroad and arranges insurance every time, which she has never used.  

 

Hi Briggsy 

 

I am 74 and have no previous ailments that would stop me getting travel insurance but I cannot get travel insurance the insurers say because I am over 70 , this was  especially from the UK.

Could you advise where your Mum gets her cover from please?

[Briggsy]

Just now, n210mp said:

 

Hi Briggsy 

 

I am 74 and have no previous ailments that would stop me getting travel insurance but I cannot get travel insurance the insurers say because I am over 70 , this was  especially from the UK.

Could you advise where your Mum gets her cover from please?

Saga.

[Letseng]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

A friend of mine had a triple bypass at Chula Teaching Hospital. 180,000 baht. So why the 450,000?

 

Go to a different hospital.

Why should a Thai govt. hospital give her a cheap operation. She couldn't be bothered to pay for a travel policy?

May sound harsh but I pay for insurance to avoid having to go begging.

5 hours ago, mercman24 said:

its not that they want to stay in a private hospital, they are generally taken there by taxi drivers who are in cahoots with the hospital and get a kickback, most tourists do not know of this, my friend, got taken to Pattaya Bangkok Hospital, despite me telling him otherwise. (thats where you end up if you go by taxi), he was cajold by the staff to stay in a private room. it was *oh you dont want to stay in a general ward with the riff raff basically. ok room very nice a bed where a guest could stay fridge etc, but he did not need any of these things, his 3 days cost his insurance company a fortune. i think they see you have health insurance and the bill gets doubled, just scammers, like everything in this country, for instance the 180,000 for a triple bypass. was the realistic bill, i bet that would be near a million anywhere else. still the UK is no different, when they hear BUPA their eyes light up, my knee scan years ago was double the normal rate

I doubt Camillian pays kickbacks.

[Benmart]

No shortage of name callers, experts, judges, teachers and critics. What seems lacking are reserved and grateful people who share their perfect and insured lifestyles with everyone.

[sambum]

6 hours ago, The Stranger said:

You are damn right, this is the first thing I advice people I care of to do, when they come visiting me.
I know I could sound very cynical but, it is always the same story, folks think that nothing's gonna happen to them and that insurances are a waste of money. The fact that she is here just for a short staying is totally irrelevant. BTW Thailand should ascertain that tourists have a travel insurance before entering the Kingdom, this story went too far.

Someone made a very sensible suggestion a while ago that a "small" amount should be added to the cost of a visa to cover such eventualities.

By the way, it may well be that because of her age, she thought that the cost of the insurance in her case may have been quite high. I know that she now probably regrets it now, and in the case of a short stay tourist I quite agree with you, but when you are living here, and reach a certain age the cost of insurance is beyond the reach of many - thousands of pounds per year (in some cases) rather than hundreds, and in most cases pre existing conditions are not covered. So, for instance, if this woman was living here and had previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure, the chances are that her insurance would not have covered the cost of her medical treatment anyway.

[Letseng]

3 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

not true, last one was an Oz lady that i know of.

but i'm sure there are loads all over the world every day.

not just the uk

Last one I read about was a 17 yr old Brit. kid who crashed his hired motor bike. Family begs for repatriation of his remains. He had overlooked to buy insurance.

[The Stranger]

Someone made a very sensible suggestion a while ago that a "small" amount should be added to the cost of a visa to cover such eventualities.
By the way, it may well be that because of her age, she thought that the cost of the insurance in her case may have been quite high. I know that she now probably regrets it now, and in the case of a short stay tourist I quite agree with you, but when you are living here, and reach a certain age the cost of insurance is beyond the reach of many - thousands of pounds per year (in some cases) rather than hundreds, and in most cases pre existing conditions are not covered. So, for instance, if this woman was living here and had previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure, the chances are that her insurance would not have covered the cost of her medical treatment anyway.

Sure, I'm aware about the problems of getting an insurance here when you are old, I was just talking about a travel insurance, which is a totally different thing.
I'm very sorry for this old lady, but it is a harsh world and one must be prepared.

Sent from my CPH1823 using Tapatalk

[hgma]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

A friend of mine had a triple bypass at Chula Teaching Hospital. 180,000 baht. So why the 450,000?

 

Go to a different hospital.

still alive?

[Suradit69]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

To be fair,

it would help if the hospital weren't charging 10x more because of her white face.

 

Alternatively,

Why not just let her die, at 64 she's had a good run, time to leave.

I use Bangkok HospitalPattaya and pay the same amount as Thai friends who choose to go there. There are cheaper alternatives if she was being treated in a non private hospital. I went to Queen Sirikit Hospital one t.ime for an operation and it was cheaper for me than a private hospital.They tell you upfront it will be a bit more expensive than for the Thai military for whom they are tasked with serving. I should add that my in and outpatient medical, dental, vision expenses and prescription drugs are covered by insurance and my insurer has never questioned the amounts charged.

[cmrichsw]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

A friend of mine had a triple bypass at Chula Teaching Hospital. 180,000 baht. So why the 450,000?

 

Go to a different hospital.

Unless you understand the procedures involved why comment. Heart problems are not black & White. Prices have increased in the last years in most all hospitals.

[DaRoadrunner]

5 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Son nam na.

 

Just out of interest I did a search for travel insurance for 14 days for someone her age. It ranged from 15 to 36 pounds.  The sum total of far call.

 

If people will not spend such a small amount of money to look after themselves sod 'em.

 

It's about time people were not allowed to board aircraft without demonstrating that they have taken adequate measures to protect themselves when abroad. Alternately- if people turn up at Immigration on arrival and can't show they have insurance introduce a Gov't scheme at B 1500 per person giving full coverage for 30 day visitors. I would also welcome a compulsory scheme for longer term stayers as well. (By the way I AM insured).

Wait till you find out what long term insurance is going to cost you before you suggest they make it compulsory. Most insurance does not cover every medical condition either. There are exemptions.

[Christophers200]

Many insurance companies refuse cover to the over 60s and those who will provide cover are expensive and cover is limited

[DaRoadrunner]

5 minutes ago, Christophers200 said:

Many insurance companies refuse cover to the over 60s and those who will provide cover are expensive and cover is limited

Exactly, the people who need it most can't get it. If Immigration ever make health insurance compulsory many of us will be unable to get a Visa. Be careful what one wishes for!

[retayl]

These stories are a daily occurrence and becoming tedious. Length of stay is irrelevant as this would be reflected in the premiums cost. Stupid people dumber than a rock!

[bristolgeoff]

The begging bowl with a pic,sorry go fund me page I mean,please help anything will do and thanks alot.travel insurance but that is too late now

[JulesMad]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

she did not take out insurance for her trip

[MuuKondiao]

7 hours ago, shackleton said:

Its all been said before about people not having enough Medical  Insurance cover or None at all

 and no doubt we will be reading about the same subject in the near future 

Good job there are generous people who contribute  to the Go Fund Me 

While you are partly in the right here, and I agree with what other commenters have said ..........

I am 71 and nobody wants to insure me. And even if I could get insurance, like with BUPA or some other crooked company, it would not cover anything: any medical problem they would claim was pre-existing so they are not responsible to cover the expenses. 

So I should not travel? I am supposed to stay home according to your judgement?

Back in the U.S.A., where I could not afford to pay for medicare I had only the "FREE" medical coverage from the

Veterans Administration. The VA often refused to give me medical treatment needed these last few years in the States and sent me to an outside butcher who did far more harm to me than good with his laser surgery - that was the VA hospital in Phoenix, where they urology doctors were found to have caused the unnecessary death of dozens of veterans by withholding cancer treatment - and I have had to  pay hundreds of dollars to outside doctors for medical care that the VA sent me for and later reneged on.

So far I have been keeping up with my bills to the hospital and the TCM doctor out of my pocket.

I could make a mis-step off a sidewalk in Chiang Mai, or get hit crossing a street - so could you - and be crippled. If the happens it would not make much difference if I had coverage by a dishonest insurance company. 

[farangx]

2 hours ago, wgdanson said:

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I will giver her nothing and could care less..

.....couldN'T care less.........

what's wrong with could care less?

[ukrules]

7 hours ago, mercman24 said:

when they hear BUPA their eyes light up

This is why I use BUPA, but in truth it's getting a bit expensive, the price seems to go up by 15% or more a year and I've never made a claim. In fact I've never been ill yet I still pay for it.

[David Walden]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

Someone made a very sensible suggestion a while ago that a "small" amount should be added to the cost of a visa to cover such eventualities.

By the way, it may well be that because of her age, she thought that the cost of the insurance in her case may have been quite high. I know that she now probably regrets it now, and in the case of a short stay tourist I quite agree with you, but when you are living here, and reach a certain age the cost of insurance is beyond the reach of many - thousands of pounds per year (in some cases) rather than hundreds, and in most cases pre existing conditions are not covered. So, for instance, if this woman was living here and had previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure, the chances are that her insurance would not have covered the cost of her medical treatment anyway.

In my younger days, I worked in insurance. Claims as against the premiums collected in many cases were less than 10% of premiums collected?  That is still about the same today.  Just the commission to get the business from the various agents, brokers and other hangers-on was up to about 50% of the premiums collected.  Much the same with all insurance.  At the Royal Commission into the Finance. banking and Insurance industry in Australia (final report to be presented this Friday) evidence into car insurance showed one major company in 2013/2014 financial year that company collected 1.6 billion dollars in premiums.  $600 million dollars were paid out in commissions to agents to get the business, agents, brokers etc.  Some business was direct so no commission was paid.  $154 million was paid out in admin costs and settlements of all the customer's claims.  The profit on this 1.6 billion dollar of premiums was $846million dollars about 60% was profit. There were a dozen or so other insurance companies in the same boat. The travel industry insurance business is about the same profit.  9% of the premium collected is paid out in claims.  Very very profitable business.  Western societies yes really do have very sophisticated corruption.  It's time Western governments stepped in and regulated this travel insurance industry as it is a necessity of life, they only, have that ability.  Your free medical insurance stops in Australia at the moment you leave the country.  Make it mandatory and everyone must have it.  A ballpark figure as to premiums collected indicates that good cover could be provided by Governments at about 15% of what the private travel insurance providers offer.  I'd be happy to pay that.

[the guest]

Introduce mandatory insurance for all, this cannot continue that foreigners burden the Thai system, however sad the situation may be. 

[Spock]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

This situation with crowd funding is getting ridiculous. It seems almost every day there is another one. Do people who come here check nothing about where they are going before they jump on a plane. Traveling anywhere overseas, especially Thailand, without good insurance is stupid and plain wrong.

And travel insurance is cheap.

[Antonymous]

31 minutes ago, farangx said:

what's wrong with could care less?

 

In British English the correct term is "couldn't care less".

 

"I couldn't care less" = I could not care less = I do not care.

 

Whereas "I could care less" = I do care somewhat (clearly I still do care because there is a level below this that I could still reach).

 

In American English I understand that increasingly the British version is used, but it is still more common to hear the grammatically incorrect "could care less" in speech.

 

 

[farangx]

10 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

In British English the correct term is "couldn't care less".

 

"I couldn't care less" = I could not care less = I do not care.

 

Whereas "I could care less" = I do care somewhat (clearly I still do care because there is a level below this that I could still reach).

 

In American English I understand that increasingly the British version is used, but it is still more common to hear the grammatically incorrect "could care less" in speech.

 

 

 

Well, I used both and since I like the sarcasm in it, I COULD care less. ????