Government hospitals price increase up to almost 400% from 30. 9. 2019

[jacko45k]

Is this the same as presented in Coconuts?

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/dual-pricing-foreigners-legal-thai-public-hospitals/

 

[Trollmann]

12 hours ago, NightSky said:

 

The information you are sharing is all good although if I may mention its unfair to doubt Sheryl on these matters since she has a lot of credibility, mainly..

 

- a global moderators tag

- Over 18,000 likes on ThaiVisa

- Over 27,000 posts on ThaiVisa

- history of helping everyone out with medical questions an concerns

- years of history of generally helping people

 

The fact that you only have about 70 likes and your ThaiVisa name is 'Trollman' I tend to trust Sheryl's judgement ????

 

Good post though, very interesting. Although because I am unable to read Thai, Sheryl's comments have made me feel a lot better knowing someone with lots of experience has looked over the document.

 

Sheryl said on page 2 "I never even know such a list or book existed" so she was in fact unavailable to compare the current price list and the New one. This post is about the official price list from the MOPH. The prices in the list is ceiling price. When Sheryl have experienced higher prices than the ceiling prices from MOPH then in the future it is now getting LEGAL to charge double price from foreigners

 

 

 

[Trollmann]

Just now, jacko45k said:

Is this the same as presented in Coconuts?

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/dual-pricing-foreigners-legal-thai-public-hospitals/

 

yes

[Trollmann]

Translated (Google) from the MOPH pricelist pdf document. I understand that the ceiling price can not be exeeded but that the hospital director can adjust the prices (i understand it as lower the prices is the only option because of the former ceiling prices) Good News is that from now on the prices should be made available for the Public

[NightSky]

18 minutes ago, Trollmann said:

Sheryl said on page 2 "I never even know such a list or book existed" so she was in fact unavailable to compare the current price list and the New one. This post is about the official price list from the MOPH. The prices in the list is ceiling price. When Sheryl have experienced higher prices than the ceiling prices from MOPH then in the future it is now getting LEGAL to charge double price from foreigners

 

Yes a very good article thanks for posting it -- it is definitely wrong in my opinion to capitalize on necessary healthcare and even worse to make duel pricing legal and then rub salt in the wound to say that some foreigners pay more than others.

 

It just makes the divide between locals and foreigners more exaggerated and rubs salt in the wound of married expats who don't have a social fund card and retirees. Especially those who cannot or will not afford costly private heath insurance with many exception clauses. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Selatan]

7 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

The price would be for Thai obtaining service out of area (paid basis) - if a Thai uses their assigned or referred hospital (most cases) there is no charge or max of 30 baht.  

Out of area? As in not in the city or town that one lives in? Malaysians are charged the same rate, anywhere in the whole country. Even a Malaysian that has been away for decades can come home and get affordable (almost free) medical care.

[Selatan]

7 hours ago, undercover said:

Seems a heavy price 950 for a filling , Malaysia on the other hand gets a thumbs up . Whats the two tiered pricing system like over there for foreigners  ?

Outpatient general consultation + medicines for citizens at Malaysian government hospitals or clinics is 1 ringgit, specialist consultation + medicines is 5 ringgit.

For foreigners, general is 40 ringgit (290 baht), specialist is 120 ringgit, but I am unsure if those rates are inclusive of medicines or not.

[Selatan]

2 hours ago, NightSky said:

It just makes the divide between locals and foreigners more exaggerated and rubs salt in the wound of married expats who don't have a social fund card and retirees. Especially those who cannot or will not afford costly private heath insurance with many exception clauses. 

It's unfortunate that it is not easy to gain a permanent residency status in Thailand. In Malaysia, foreign spouses can obtain long term social visit passes up to 5 years, but nowadays 2 to 3 years are more common. After living more than 5 years in Malaysia, the foreign spouse may apply for permanent residency. After becoming PR, one can enjoy the same rate at government hospitals like a citizen.

[samran]

16 hours ago, NightSky said:

 

 

I paid taxes in Thailand for many years and I'm not allowed a social fund card. I was owner and director of a Thai company. Only employees can get the social fund. Another ridiculous rule.

Fair call. I’m in the same boat actually. Thinking about resigning my directorship, becoming a simple employee until I qualify for self contribution. Wonder if this constitutes a decent work around...? 

[samran]

8 hours ago, undercover said:

Good luck with that one , Even in 7/11 the Thais are served first.

Somehow you’ve attributed that quote to me even though I’ve never said it..

[NightSky]

41 minutes ago, samran said:

Fair call. I’m in the same boat actually. Thinking about resigning my directorship, becoming a simple employee until I qualify for self contribution. Wonder if this constitutes a decent work around...? 

If you are a shareholder that also exempts you. It has to be employee only.

[Truthhurts]

On 9/1/2019 at 11:16 AM, worgeordie said:

More inflation.....while interest rates go down

regards worgeordie

 

Is it thais fault the interest has gone down?

 

[worgeordie]

1 minute ago, Truthhurts said:

Is it thais fault the interest has gone down?

 

Well the B.O.T. has lowered the rates.

regards worgeordie

[Mister Fixit]

On 9/1/2019 at 11:35 AM, ratcatcher said:

If you're just a visitor, then get dental work done at home where it's cheaper. No need to come to Thailand to see a dentist.

Unless you need urgent treatment.  Toothache doesn't come along according to some pre-set convenient plan.

 

But I use my wife's family dentist in Pathum Thani - why go to a hospital and pay their overheads?  He charges 500 baht for a filling or an examination and clean.  Peanuts.

My wife needed a crown recently which was about 4,000 baht IIRC and 6 or 7 years ago I needed root canal which cost 7,000 baht at the time.  I needed 7 visits and just paid 1,000 per visit.

 

His work is excellent, he speaks good English and has an excellent chair-side manner.  

[Mister Fixit]

On 9/1/2019 at 11:21 AM, Trollmann said:

Actually now the root canal treatment will be cheaper to do in Norway than in Thailand government hospitals and the prices in private dental clinics in thailand for the root canal treatment are currently lower than the new prices that will go into effect 30.9.2019.

But not as cheap as my dentist in Pathumthani who charged me 7,000 baht for a root canal about 6 years ago.  He also let me pay 1,000 a time for each of my 7 visits.  I'm sticking with him.

[Mister Fixit]

On 9/2/2019 at 5:35 PM, EricTh said:

Are the dentist at government hospitals as good as the private dentist?

 

I found that private dentist charge exorbitant prices with mediocre work. 

Mine doesn't.  

[Trollmann]

55 minutes ago, Mister Fixit said:

But not as cheap as my dentist in Pathumthani who charged me 7,000 baht for a root canal about 6 years ago.  He also let me pay 1,000 a time for each of my 7 visits.  I'm sticking with him.

Current prices until 30.9.2019 in government hospitals are 2500, 2500 and 3500 baht depending on the tooth is a front tooth, premolar or molar. That is the price for the root Canal treatment only. In addition there will be filling of the tooth, and if you want to add a tooth pin and a Crown. Your 7000 baht price is meaningless without specifying what work was actually done at the dentist. If you was there 7 times i would Guess you did the pin and Crown too, so the only question left is was it a front tooth, premolar or molar tooth?

Edited September 4, 2019 by Trollmann

[Mister Fixit]

On 9/2/2019 at 6:04 PM, Trollmann said:

Everyone that stays more than 180 days in thaiand have to pay taxes of the money they bring into thailand in one year. So most retirees pay tax to thailand but still have to pay the highest possible rates

When did this start to happen?  I bring in money from the UK every month and never heard of this assertion, much less paid 1 satang in tax.

 

[Mister Fixit]

15 minutes ago, Trollmann said:

Current prices until 30.9.2019 in government hospitals are 2500, 2500 and 3500 baht depending on the tooth is a front tooth, premolar or molar. That is the price for the root Canal treatment only. In addition there will be filling of the tooth, and if you want to add a tooth pin and a Crown. Your 7000 baht price is meaningless without specifying what work was actually done at the dentist. If you was there 7 times i would Guess you did the pin and Crown too, so the only question left is was it a front tooth, premolar or molar tooth?

It was a canine.

 

I have no idea what he did, nor did I care as long as he made the pain go away.  However, with 7 visits it would seem he must have done the lot, but I know he spent a couple of visits fitting a gutta percha filling for the tooth and perhaps he did a tooth pin and crown, but I really don't know.  I'm not an expert on dentistry.

 

A previous dentist wanted 13,500 baht and said 3 visits, but when I went to him for a second opinion he said 3 visits was a short cut job and potentially dangerous.

[Trollmann]

Here is the current pricelist from coolsmile dental in hua hin.

The prices for expats will be more expensive at government hospitals than in private clinics after 30.9.2019. Well, i Guess the private clinics will rise the prices very much to "compete" With the New prices at Public hospitals and all other Health services will rise as well

[DavisH]

Sirirat already charge foreigners 20% extra. Also, I recall seeing a notice in the outpatients there a couple of weeks ago along the lines that foreigners must pay up front the estimated cost of their treatment. How they calculate that I have no idea. 

 

These policies are hardly in line with "medical tourism". It may well be cheaper than "bac home" but it leaves a bitter taste in ones mouth. 

[EricTh]

By the way, can anybody recommend a caring dentist in Chiang Mai that charge reasonable price?

 

By caring I mean those who really care about customer's teeth and not their money.

Edited September 4, 2019 by EricTh

[Trollmann]

Thai visa translation is wrong in Clause 2

 

ข้อ 2 ประกาศนี้ให้ใช้บังคับเมื่อพ้นก าหนดสามสิบวันนบัแตว่ันประกาศในราชกิจจานุเบกษา เป็นต้นไป 

 

30 days after it is published in the Goverment Gazette is the correct translation

 

[ThaiPauly]

But if you have government insurance you still don't have to pay?

 

Is that correct

[batata]

On 9/3/2019 at 7:37 AM, soalbundy said:

That's news to me, 10 years ago in CM I was charged 17,000 Baht (Ram 1)

10 years == inflation + new Benz + new GF + new apartment

[Trollmann]

I made a "foreigner friendly" Excel spreadsheet showing all ceiling prices in government hospials effective from 30.9.2019.

The price list shows that Group 1 in every case pays the same as Thai citizens, while other foreigners pay from 25 to 100 percent more.

It contains ALL the prices for every service available in government hospitals so foreigners now can be able to look up in advance before visiting the hospital. Remember this is Ceiling prices, but it looks like there is room for the director to set prices lower, but not higher

 

Feel free to download and use!

Trollmanns MOPH price ceilings in effect from 30 September 2019 foreigners and thai side by side.xlsx

Edited September 6, 2019 by Trollmann

[Sheryl]

On 9/5/2019 at 6:20 PM, ThaiPauly said:

But if you have government insurance you still don't have to pay?

 

Is that correct

 

If you mean Social Security, correct.

 

this applies only to people paying out of pocket and has no implications for either if the SS schemes.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, Trollmann said:

I made a "foreigner friendly" Excel spreadsheet showing all ceiling prices in government hospials effective from 30.9.2019.

The price list shows that Group 1 in every case pays the same as Thai citizens, while other foreigners pay from 25 to 100 percent more.

It contains ALL the prices for every service available in government hospitals so foreigners now can be able to look up in advance before visiting the hospital. Remember this is Ceiling prices, but it looks like there is room for the director to set prices lower, but not higher

 

Feel free to download and use!

Trollmanns MOPH price ceilings in effect from 30 September 2019 foreigners and thai side by side.xlsx 563.96 kB · 1 download

 

However as said several times, these "ceiling" prices are much lower than govt hospitals have been charging for years now. Do not expect them to lower their prices. So be prepared for an unpleasant surprise if you go to a hospital expecting to pay what is shown here. the difference in most cases is 2 fold or more.

[Trollmann]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

However as said several times, these "ceiling" prices are much lower than govt hospitals have been charging for years now. Do not expect them to lower their prices. So be prepared for an unpleasant surprise if you go to a hospital expecting to pay what is shown here. the difference in most cases is 2 fold or more.

Best practices for not set yourself in risk of been charged more than the prices on the menu is to actually look at the menu before making your order. If the menu is not provided you are setting yourself in risk. The same goes for taxi rides. Sometimes going by the meter is 100 baht but if the driver tells you the meter is not working and says he will take you for 500 baht you can accept it or not. If it is a foreigner that is on his first trip to the city he will not have the knowledge nessecery to know that he being scammed before he taxe a taxi back the same distance this time by the meter. I recommend everyone to download the price list in the link above and tell the hospital what it says if they give you another price

 

Example screenshot from the Excel pricelist

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2019 by Trollmann

[BobinBKK]

You can consider this another forced "take care me" tax.