Claim centres to track down tourists who skip hospital bills

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Give you a true story about medical charges I paid on my second trip to Thailand in 2005. A Thai friend fell ill with high fever and didn't have the money to go get blood work done. At that time it was about 400- 500 baht for blood work. I accompanied her to a clinic in Bangkok. She went in to get the blood work and I sat on a bench in the lobby. 20 mins later she emerged and waited for the results. The nurse called her to the counter to pay the bill and get her prescription. The nurse was selling some trinkets and ask my friend what country was I from and did she want to buy one. My friend told me she said I was from America and told her she liked the item but no money to buy and that I had help her to come and was kind to pay her bill. The nurse said take one and she would add the price to the bill because he farang and don't know. She kindly refused the nurse's offer. But the nurse wouldn't take no for an answer so my friend gave in. Then the nurse presented the bill which shocked her being 4 times the normal amount. 1995 baht and yet to pay for the prescription. The nurse told her to give the bill to me for payment. When she reluctantly handed it to me and I handed her 2000 baht and thinking the bill was cheap as I compared it in my head to what it would cost back home. The next day she confessed to me what had transpired the previous day. When I asked why she didn't protest the bill she just said the nurse was her "Pee" and she didn't want her to lose face. So weather you're a farang seeking medical care or you are accompanying a Thai you are most likely being overcharge for their services. 

[dallen52]

When you compare it to the supposed 800,000 unpaid fines for whatever offenses that local people and others chose to ignore, at say 500 baht each...

(Some obviously more)

 

400 million baht... Its peanuts. 

 

But nice beat up on the tourists again. 

[wwest5829]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Your lying there half dead on the trolley and the first words, How do you want to pay?

My Uncle was having a heart attack, brought to the hospital he was put in a wheelchair and immediately wheeled to ... the desk to fill out insurance forms ... that was in the 1970s in the U.S.

[peterb17]

48 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

And how did they get your PIN when you were unconscious?

Vulcan mind meld 

[CMNightRider]

"FOREIGN TOURISTS failed to pay a combined Bt300 million in medical bills after receiving treatment in state hospitals last year, prompting the government to set up “claim centres” to collect what’s due." 

 

This looks like a wonderful business opportunity for a competent bill collector.  If it were me, I would hire a few unemployed Muay Thai fighters, and have them dress and act professionally.  Then give them a list of the people who owe money to the hospitals, and simply have them convince these people how it would be in their best interest in paying what they owe pronto. ????

[oldcodger]

The Farangs who don`t pay are Bludgers. They should kicked out of the Country.Full stop.

[wwest5829]

I would welcome Thailand developing affordable medical coverage based on Thai costs for long term residents on retirement Visa extensions. I am priced out of the "free market" insurance due to price, plus pre-existing conditions being excluded for coverage.

[brokenbone]

11 minutes ago, DLock said:

 

You know you can leave any time and go to <insert country here>, right?

 

If you are not happy and can't afford to live here, feel free to leave and enjoy quality free healthcare in <insert country here>.

many a retiree, whether by disability or age,

are not fit to leave, unfortunately

[wwest5829]

3 minutes ago, CMNightRider said:

"FOREIGN TOURISTS failed to pay a combined Bt300 million in medical bills after receiving treatment in state hospitals last year, prompting the government to set up “claim centres” to collect what’s due." 

 

This looks like a wonderful business opportunity for a competent bill collector.  If it were me, I would hire a few unemployed Muay Thai fighters, and have them dress and act professionally.  Then give them a list of the people who owe money to the hospitals, and simply have them convince these people how it would be in their best interest in paying what they owe pronto. ????

I'm thinking that many of the debtors have either left or will be forced out by the new enforcement of income for marriage/retirement extensions.

[salavan]

This is just another ploy to line the pockets of the insurance companies 

[DJ54]

Wack those retirees in the head the cheap bassturds .... oh

wait I’m one of those retirees 

[dallen52]

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

i see, so expats without insurance, many of whom won't know this new requirement beforehand , will be turned away and die at the front-door of the hospital; nice look for thailand

Last time i was admitted to Pattaya public hospital acute pancreatitis,  i was required to put 50,000 baht cash downpayment. 

They explained that they don't take credit cards, and don't have facilities to claim from your insurance company. 

The 50k had to be produced before admission. 

 

My partner had to produce the folding stuff and costs were deducted from it. 

 

[NCC1701A]

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

 

This link goes to the companies that currently offer the insurance that is mandatory for O-X visa. A choice of 3 companies, a 60 year old costs $2000US a year, and insurance available up to 100 years old ($10,000US pa)

https://longstay.tgia.org

good information. thanks.

[Krataiboy]

I spent a couple of nights in a government hospital after suffering a TIA. They insisited on my Thai wife staying by the bed in the ward where I had lain until I came back with a receipt showing I had paid for my treatment and medication in full. My wife tells me this is quite normal practice.

[raccos21]

I think it is time to leave this country what I see they are finding many ways to rip off the foreigners. We all should go back to our country and write about this, enforce very strict immigration rules for these country people to travel to our country and advise others not to come to this country for tourism and watch what will happen. This country did not realize that the main source of income is from tourists where they survived for many years. What shame they treat the tourists who spend their hard work income in this country very badly.

[Caine]

Welcome to the real world, the U.K. NHS. Treat half the planet free of charge. Get your thieving charges in order and people might just feel inclined to pay.

[Ulic]

Insurance companies licking their chops and pushing hard. Life insurance, accident insurance, health insurance. The big three. Next will come, police insurance, bank fraud insurance, attack by Thai insurance, an accident caused by drunks insurance, etc...ect... Probably no need to worry, the first three types of insurance will finish off 90% of long term stays. I would suggest life bans and deportation for those who don't pay their hospital bills. Start with that.

[P Funk]

2 hours ago, inThailand said:

I heard they are going to make us all get veterinarian medical insurance. We are treated like dirty animals anyway. 

So leave you deadbeat... so many people getting care here and skipping on the bill... shameful! True, the quality of care may be poor compared to other countries, but if you are going to get care here you should have the decency to make an effort to pay. For those with legitimate grievances about the bill, there should be a government mediation service available.

[Caspersfriend]

19 minutes ago, 5633572526 said:

I think it’s safe to assume that the vast majority of the people not paying are not retirees who could be found easily but tourists who can flee the country. If you are on a retirement extension and have 800,000 in the bank then you have money the government can access to pay your bill.

Agree, and with the latest rule they have 400,000 year-round that we can't touch. Immigration know where we live [they get us to verify that often enough!] and the bank has our passport number >>>>> so there is 400,000 they can draw on if someone can't pay.

[Bill Miller]

22 minutes ago, Sealbash said:

Any factual examples of tourists being overcharged? The hospitals will give an estimate of costs prior to any service given. Final costs may vary depending on individual requirements. Do you have any proof of cost differences for exactly the same service for a national as opposed to a tourist? Medical check up? MRI service? Any actual proof?


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Yes. On the wall at Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip is a sign informing that foreigners will be charged more than Thai patients.
I have not had the opportunity to do a line by line comparison, but I am confident that when there is a sign posted to the effect that they do in fact charge western patients more.
One item I am aware of is that none of "us" qualify for the thirty baht scheme for "basic" service. For farangs it is a minimum 200 baht, and more for after hours.
I seem to recall that my biggest bill was after a stroke. That involved an MRI, plenty of meds, and Physical Therapy training. Four days in, plus ambulance, was 15,000 baht. That is less than I have been charged at a US hospital to be wheeled through the ER without a stop! No joke. I already had a room assigned in the cardiac unit. They did not even point one of those temperature taking gadgets at me yet charged for an Emergency Room visit. Total cost of a bypass operation was over $300,000. I forked over $2,000.00 and declared bankruptcy. 

[userabcd]

The hospitals could report the thieves to law enforcement and the govt could easily catch them at airport departures.

[Dania2019]

Chance the rules - be sure visitors have Heath insurance when enter Thailand.  Let farang that live in Thailand get insurance as Thai people if their health is ok when they arrive. 

[Road Warrior]

each time I go the hospital for serious treatment THAY SAY CAN YOU PAY ??? if not P***  off

[dallen52]

42 minutes ago, Sealbash said:

Any factual examples of tourists being overcharged? The hospitals will give an estimate of costs prior to any service given. Final costs may vary depending on individual requirements. Do you have any proof of cost differences for exactly the same service for a national as opposed to a tourist? Medical check up? MRI service? Any actual proof?


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

My last stint in Pattaya public hospital was 4400 a night private room.

They had me on death watch and hourly observation. 

Whatever it was had sent the brain stupid and bp over 220/150..

Hypercalcemia pancreatitis they said. 

Had a place for my partner to sleep too plus private facilities. 

The five litres a day of fluids and drugs seemed reasonable. 

The blood tests were 950 each time. 

The MRI was 14,000 abdominal. 

I thought it was a bit high.

Total was 34,000 included discharge meds.

I had to put 50,000 cash down before admission. 

[randy723]

I have never been able to leave any hospital in Thailand until I paid in full the bill they gave me and I do not know anyone who has been able to leave a hospital with out first paying what the owe.

[Bill Miller]

7 minutes ago, P Funk said:

So leave you deadbeat... so many people getting care here and skipping on the bill... shameful! True, the quality of care may be poor compared to other countries, but if you are going to get care here you should have the decency to make an effort to pay. For those with legitimate grievances about the bill, there should be a government mediation service available.

I have some experience with the government hospitals. I disagree about the quality of care being poor.  The only problem I have encountered is in the communication department. Thank Buddha for my fiancee!???? I recently was an obstreperous old grump at a provincial hospital, mostly because I did not understand what the gorgeous young lady doctor was attempting to do, and my "translator" does not know much about medicine.
The doc thanked me for teaching her the English word for "titration" once I understood what was going on. A new protocol for my insulin dosage was established in the course of four days. US hospitals would not even consider doing such a verifiable protocol because of the expense. Here? 7,350 baht, including a month's supply of insulin and a couple of other meds.
I do not mind that the provincial building could use some fresh paint. I did not check in for the decor. I went because blood glucose readings of 477 do not feel good.????

[evadgib]

During a recent routine appointment my wife was told that the cost of dialysis is double for ferangs.

[jonclark]

3 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Where do you get a figure of 15,000/5,000 baht, insurance costs $2000US a year.

15'000 Baht is the maximum personal income tax deductible figure if you hold private health care insurance in Thailand - So that seemed as good a place as any to start. It was the idea not the detail I was floating. 

[jonclark]

Just now, evadgib said:

During a recent routine appointment my wife was told that the cost of dialysis is double for ferangs.

Cause we have twice as much blood??

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, jonclark said:

This idea can be rectified for those on retirement visas - Simply add in the cost of healthcare to the visa. Say 15'000 baht for the first visa and then 5'000 baht for all subsequent visas. Retirees are then free to use government hospital the same as the locals do and for the same cost.  The UK runs a similar concept for those on Tier 4 visas (students) as part of the visa application process student need to make a one off 500 (ish) GBP contribution to the NHS after which they can use it during their studies. 

 

I would also like to know the break-down of those nationalities who as tourists have come here and not paid hospital bills. Perhaps when Thailand marketed itself as a destination for 'as a medical hub for medical tourism' the meaning was poorly translated in the marketing literature! 

Agree, well said.