Jump to content

Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent


webfact

Recommended Posts

7 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

"Hospitals accused of over-pricing will be asked to lower their charges."

 

I would think that in other, civilised countries, it would be worded 'TOLD TO', as opposed to 'asked to'. I am sure if the pricing structure is submitted with a certain goodwill gesture (money), no action will be taken against the culprits, and it will be business as usual. 

Good for the Thai government for at least exposing the rip-off culture among private hospitals. Caveat emptor seems to be the message.

 

I have yet to see any evidence that political leaders in "civilised countries" with state-run healthcare schemes give a hoot what the private sector charges for anything. 

  • Confused 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

I never thought any different. Brits rip off Brits. Americans Rip off Americans so on we go. I do find the whole medical profession from drug manufacturers to hospitals pretty distasteful though. Saying it is a business just doesn't quite get there to me.

Unfortunately though the fact is that without any critical oversight of the business practice of Private hospitals in particular the hyper inflation of costs would continue. 

Insurance  companies would simply either decline more often on any pretext or similarly simply increase  the cost of premiums or both. The question of " compulsory" insurance  involves the risk of that in itself.

From personal experience I have no issues with Thailand's public hospital services or costs including urgent surgery under general anesthesia which I paid for in full. But recently for a quite simple consultation and lab tests for minor unrelated issue in a Private Hospital I think the cost was exorbitant.

I do have unlimited medical cost insurance via a broker which by not calling on incrementally lowers the annual premium which after many years is now so ridiculously cheap that the cost savings have equaled out my personal expense. If I were to require claiming  for extreme expense  medically I am well covered.

But there  should  be no excuse for profiteering from medical victims.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Sealbash said:


You are correct about the insurance. And if the chosen private hospital charges are excessive, the insurance company ( also in business to show a profit) will remove that hospital from its list of approved vendors. Again resulting in allowing the free market to determine costs. As mentioned, if a customer does not agree with private hospital prices, they can always go to a government run establishment.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

"they can always go to a government run establishment".  Really?? What if in an emergency, the nearest hospital is a money grabbing private one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hate to say this, but between haze in northern Thailand ( and Esan) and overcharging for such a fundamental need , it is better just to leave. We had our best years, it is getting worse with no hope of light.

Go where you are treated best. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, possum1931 said:
5 hours ago, Sealbash said:


You are correct about the insurance. And if the chosen private hospital charges are excessive, the insurance company ( also in business to show a profit) will remove that hospital from its list of approved vendors. Again resulting in allowing the free market to determine costs. As mentioned, if a customer does not agree with private hospital prices, they can always go to a government run establishment.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

"they can always go to a government run establishment".  Really?? What if in an emergency, the nearest hospital is a money grabbing private one.

 

Had to take my Father in Law to the emergency room the other night after dinner...  (turns out it was a sudden blood pressure loss)....  Samitivej (Sukhumvit 49) was the nearest, he was charged B3500 and was there for an hour, they took a couple of blood tests and checked his vitals... he was ok after about an hour. 

 

The same thing happened a couple of months previously, he was closes to Piyavate Hospital (near RCA). My Mother in Law said they did exactly the same tests, the treatment was identical and they charged him B15,000 baht !!!!

 

He has an appointment at Siriraj a month from now which was made after his 'first turn' (and visit to Piyavate).  The difference between Private and Public hospitals is often the time it takes to receive treatment. 

 

They don't have insurance and don't want to pay the prices of the 'Expensive' Hospitals so is happy to wait for his appointment at Siriraj, however, in the mean time he had 'his turn' while we were out for dinner.

 

Sometimes I guess that wait could be more costly to your health.

 

The difference between Piyavate and Samitivej is also astonishing, I didn't know about it until the other day, but would like to see the bill and exactly what was charged for to justify B15,000 compared to B3500 at Samitivej.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Had to take my Father in Law to the emergency room the other night after dinner...  (turns out it was a sudden blood pressure loss)....  Samitivej (Sukhumvit 49) was the nearest, he was charged B3500 and was there for an hour, they took a couple of blood tests and checked his vitals... he was ok after about an hour. 

 

The same thing happened a couple of months previously, he was closes to Piyavate Hospital (near RCA). My Mother in Law said they did exactly the same tests, the treatment was identical and they charged him B15,000 baht !!!!

 

He has an appointment at Siriraj a month from now which was made after his 'first turn' (and visit to Piyavate).  The difference between Private and Public hospitals is often the time it takes to receive treatment. 

 

They don't have insurance and don't want to pay the prices of the 'Expensive' Hospitals so is happy to wait for his appointment at Siriraj, however, in the mean time he had 'his turn' while we were out for dinner.

 

Sometimes I guess that wait could be more costly to your health.

 

The difference between Piyavate and Samitivej is also astonishing, I didn't know about it until the other day, but would like to see the bill and exactly what was charged for to justify B15,000 compared to B3500 at Samitivej.

 

Capitalism at work again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Capitalism at work again.

 

There is something immoral to the overcharging when in an emergency situation the only choice is to go to the closest hospital.

 

That said - you do pay for what you get. We were told that as he had stabilized and was ok, if we took him to Siriraj they wouldn't admit him as it was no longer an emergency case and wouldn't be treated as so. However, they could keep him overnight at Samitivej for observation as they'd admitted him as an ER case (and I'm sure they were happy to get paid for it - business model). 

My FiL refused to stay in over night anyway. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, MrMuddle said:

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

 

How do they get away with it? Are you suggesting that they are deceiving the Thai consumer protection department? What? Oh I forgot. No such department exists. Do you really think this administration cares one iota if foreigners are getting overcharged? What have they done in the past 60 months, that makes you believe that they care about you, as an ex-pat, or for the average Thai? This is simply more evidence that they are not doing the job they are supposed to be doing, and that is improving the lives of the average person. It is just not happening, on any level that I know about. 

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

There is something immoral to the overcharging when in an emergency situation the only choice is to go to the closest hospital.

 

That said - you do pay for what you get. We were told that as he had stabilized and was ok, if we took him to Siriraj they wouldn't admit him as it was no longer an emergency case and wouldn't be treated as so. However, they could keep him overnight at Samitivej for observation as they'd admitted him as an ER case (and I'm sure they were happy to get paid for it - business model). 

My FiL refused to stay in over night anyway. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope your FiL has a good recovery.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
There is something immoral to the overcharging when in an emergency situation the only choice is to go to the closest hospital.
 
That said - you do pay for what you get. We were told that as he had stabilized and was ok, if we took him to Siriraj they wouldn't admit him as it was no longer an emergency case and wouldn't be treated as so. However, they could keep him overnight at Samitivej for observation as they'd admitted him as an ER case (and I'm sure they were happy to get paid for it - business model). 
My FiL refused to stay in over night anyway. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I have heard anecdotal evidence of both good and poor service from both private and government hospitals. Everyone has a story, and that does not invalidate opposing opinions.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"they can always go to a government run establishment".  Really?? What if in an emergency, the nearest hospital is a money grabbing private one.

So if it became financially unviable for private hospitals to make a profit, would you prefer all private hospitals closed, leaving only government price controlled hospitals? Allow the free market to determine what private enterprises can exist.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, MrMuddle said:

The Hospital I used to use, St Louis, Bangkok, started to have separate billing for Thais and foreigners. The foreigners prices for everything, went through the roof. How on earth do they get away with it ?

The Sirikit Naval Medical Center in Sattahip-Ban Kilo Sip is overcharging Farangs by 100%. Asked by my Thai wife why the bill was high like that (137000 baht) did she get as answer "farangs pay double' the farang being me with a broken leg. She got an itemized bill where after each item was written "not thai".

  • Like 1
  • Sad 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Sealbash said:

So if it became financially unviable for private hospitals to make a profit, would you prefer all private hospitals closed, leaving only government price controlled hospitals? Allow the free market to determine what private enterprises can exist.

 

 

No... because there doesn't have to be 'an either or' / 'take it or leave it' / 'black & white'  approach...  this is were some (non corrupt) oversight comes in to establish the difference between operating at a profit vs taking advantage under morally questionable circumstances. 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, Trevor Collins said:

Why is anyone surprised by this?

 

You mean, why is any surprised by a meaningless and pointless comment which offers nothing to the topic?... or did you mean why is anyone surprised that private hospitals are over charging?

 

Your smart arsed response was not smart enough in its smartarsedness to offer sufficient clarity on your intended point !!... :coffee1:

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.










×
×
  • Create New...