Private hospitals overcharging: 30-300 percent

[Krataiboy]

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. 

[thailand49]

18 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

It's their country !

Then bend over and take it up the ass!   Yes it is their country and i applaud their own study by Thais who aren't afraid to stand up to their own government or business and point it out!  

It's really surprises me at times that people can make sure a statement while talking about another country yet if they were in their own country would be the first to complain about such treatment.  Just because you step foot into someone home or invited it is o.K. for them to discriminated or abuse you because of your color or even. Stand up and have some balls in someone home or country?

[jamden]

I always look at the bill and note the drugs required and have them taken off the bill and then buy from a pharmasy

[Guderian]

6 hours ago, mania said:

The scary part will be when they show when it is uncovered how many unnecessary operations are sold

That can just mean them starting a new career in a private clinic of their own. An ophthalmologist in Bangkok Hospital here in Pattaya was telling people they needed cataract surgery in both eyes when in reality it was only required in one. The hospital eventually found out about this and dispensed with his services. He opened what is now the biggest and most successful eye clinic in the city, he justifies the extra surgery on the grounds that it’s “sight correction surgery”. He also operates on both eyes at the same time, something I was told back home should never be done just in case something goes wrong. Cataract removal is classed as major surgery, after all. Whatever, he’s an unethical crook and is making a mint, but this is Thailand so that shouldn’t surprise anybody.

[Dumbastheycome]

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.

[NoshowJones]

8 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. 

Asked to lower their charges???? They should be told, it is their greed that is the main reason that many expats cannot afford health insurance.

[delgarcon]

i was taken to a well known private Hospital in Koh Samui a few years back and on arrival in A&E I was asked to sign an agreement to pay between 60000 and 68000 baht per night of which they required 30% deposit. This being a Saturday and as the local doctor in Koh Phangan suspected a heart attack, I naturally asked when I would see a cardiologist. We don't have one, I was told, there isn't a cardiologist on the island, he only comes here on Tuesday! So, I was faced with the prospect of spending about 200,000 baht on a hospital bed for 3 nts before someone could properly diagnose my condition. Anyway after the awful speedboat ride from KP and the ambulance to the hospital I was actually feeling a lot better, but rather than go back to KP, I got my GF to call a cab to take me to the Samui Gov hospital where I spent the night and was well looked after. I was discharged in the morning and given a bill for less than 7000baht, including meds.

If my maths are correct, the private hospital were charging 1000% more than the public hospital!

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, sahibji said:

more than the wording i would like to see ENFORCEMENT.

Enforcement in Thailand?? That only mainly applies to drug and Immigration offences.

[NoshowJones]

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.

[william76]

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. 

[richard_smith237]

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.

 

[NoshowJones]

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.

[Polaky]

300% is criminal 

[richard_smith237]

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

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. 

[mommysboy]

Ironic that hospitals-of all places- should be taking advantage of sick people. Humanity is best served by universal health care.

[NoshowJones]

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.

[Sealbash]

 
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.


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[Sealbash]

"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

[crazykopite]

I was quoted 500,000 baht for my wife to have an operation privately in the end took her to the Government hospital cost less than 100,000 and that included 3 months after care  

[bandito]

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".

[tlandtday]

Thailand is once again screwing up a golden opportunity through sheer greed and corruption.  They had a huge edge in the medical and dental markets for foreigners but this will soon be replaced by Vietnam.  Watch and learn.

[gerritkaew]

I am shocked ,, who would have think thai's would do like this!!!

[tlandtday]

5 minutes ago, gerritkaew said:

I am shocked ,, who would have think thai's would do like this!!!

Isn't there a taxi driver somewhere that can return the overcharged amount?

[Trevor Collins]

Why is anyone surprised by this?

[richard_smith237]

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

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 !!... 

[sambum]

9 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 ?

Because they can!

[sambum]

8 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

easy to get away with it, some countries have laws to prevent discrimination on grounds of race, disability, gender, etc. i'm no expert but it appears thailand does not, and even if it did it's questionable whether such laws would be effectively enforced by the authorities.

 

i suggest medical insurance, let the insurance companies sort it out.

And if you can not get medical insurance? And having medical insurance is part of the problem. The first question you are asked after giving your name is "Do you have insurance?" If yes, then the cost goes through the roof because they can charge virtually whatever they want. This obviously has a "knock on" effect, and the price goes up for everybody. I mentioned previously on here that a few years ago, a friend of  mine was charged 4000 baht just for a doctor to say hello at one of the hospitals in the "Bangkok Hospital" chain

 

[300sd]

Had a visit to Bumrungrad. Had searched out the top specialist for this particular internal problem. I also had brought him an MRI on disc, from Bangkon Hospital for a second opinion. He said the MRI was not good enough for him to read and he wanted to do a endoscopy for 100,000 Baht.

 

I got a second opinion with a top specialist working at Samitevej, at the time, and she read the MRI for next to nothing, said she could read it fine, and said to come back in 6 months for another check.

 

One smart honest young lady, with top credentials and ethics, gets my business.