Dual pricing: Retirees and expats may be charged more at Thai govt hospitals

[Anagami]

Thai hypocrisy at its finest.

[new2here]

As a whole I am against so-called two-tier pricing... but.... I DO think there is some merit when the service in question is one that is substantially underwritten by public funds as opposed to a service that is provided by a wholly privately run business.

Yes, I think it’s fair to note that pretty much anyone and everyone here - including those in class 2 or 3, all pay some amount of “taxes” if you will via their own natural spending and the VAT that is included... but... I do think that if you were to look at the typical Thai (such that this is) and a typical person in classes 2 and 3, I’d wonder if the Thai will end up paying more in taxes nett (in their lifetime), than a foreigner in class 2 or 3 (for the period that they are in the Kingdom)




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[justin case]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Under the new pricing structure foreigners from neighbouring countries have relative parity with Thai nationals when it comes to what they are charged for treatment. 

so what does an average laos, vietnamese, burmese spend here compared to farangs to get cheap healthcare...

 

ah, thailand is just a bunch of  ...

 

[pogal]

most of the doctors are the same!!! 

Bangkok hospital surgeon for a hernia operation 400,000 Baht.

My friend at Chuoalongkorn told me to go there because it's the same doctor 140,000 baht. 

 

I think the main difference would be the after care. 

[Tomahawk21]

27 minutes ago, Almer said:

That will have a major impact on the cost of medical insurance for expats

any excuse to increase  premiums thats why i canceled my insurance.

[Jonnapat]

I've just read through all the derogatory remarks about government hospitals but would in my experience say that there is a enormous gulf between them.

I have been treated at Siriraj hospital for the past 11 years and have nothing but praise for the excellence of the doctors and staff. This is a teaching hospital and many specialists are at the top of their profession and the hospital has all the latest technology. They have all the best scanning and radiation machinery which many private hospitals do not possess. And there are other equally good hospitals in Bangkok. The problem is when you get out in the provinces.

Regarding pricing, government hospitals have been allowed to surcharge non Thais since April 2018 and a 25% surcharge is added to my bills. I was told  that Queen Sirikit hospital has a 50% surcharge. So charging extra is nothing new.

What I would repeat about government hospitals is that they're certainly not all bad but you should be careful in your choice.

 

[Blue bruce]

In some other foreign countries senoir citizens are given a discount. Here we are charged double, go figure !!!!

[avvocato]

3 hours ago, Zack61 said:

I’m free. One of the benefits of marrying a government employee 

Me 2. But what happens if the government worker health administrators get flagged. Then we will be thrown into the bouillabaisse, eh?

[gunderhill]

18 hours ago, Angry Dragon said:

old age pensioners who earned their salary and paid taxes back in their home country and then come to Thailand to retire will pay more

And can go back to their  old  country and pay 1.5  times the amount (normally free) even if they've paid into the National insurance  scheme for 40 years........fixed that for  ya (UK)

[Fairynuff]

Third world mentality prevails.

[gunderhill]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

 

1. Foreigners from neighbouring countries (including Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam)
2. Foreigners working or studying in Thailand (Non B, ED, M)
3. Foreign retirees and tourists (Non O, TR, VOA) 

More interesting is how they group the  foreigners, doesn't bode  well for any other changes they invent.

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, oobar said:

Yes, such an excellent idea for a supposedly democratic country -- blacklist all those who express their opinions.  How refreshing.

You better ask yourself what your place as a foreigner in their country is. Is it coming here trying to stir up, protest and change things, or is it to accept and abide by the rules, regulations and adapt to the way people think and live?

Take a good sit down and think. What is your place in a foreign country? After that, if you do not like the answer you are coming up with, then ask yourself what other countries of option there is that might be a suitable choice?

[chrissables]

19 hours ago, monkfish said:

Well this should please those who are happy to pay more Thai's club what next dual pricing at supermarkets and restaurants.

An example from the link below
 

For example, an HIV test costs 160 baht if you’re Thai. It goes up to 240 baht for working expats and then to 320 baht for retirees and tourists.

Or, a spinal MRI examination will cost Thais 18,700 baht. That jumps to 23,375 baht for working expats and 28,050 baht for retirees and tourists.
 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/foreigners-crying-foul-over-the-new-dual-pricing-policy-at-thai-public-hospitals

Will this mean dual pricing at private hospitals in the future?
 

That already happens. One well known hospital in Bangkok has a policy to charge 25% more. That can add up on scans and surgeries!

[RBOP]

2 hours ago, unamazedloso said:

Depends on the hospital in particular whether its worth it or not. Ive had to visit the local kanchanaburi public hospitals regularly with dying neighbours admitted there. Its horrid!!! Balls out on display for all to see, people shtng themselves, i dont need to see cathiders fitted, people.just bleeding from ill fitted butterfly clips and usually family have to clean up the mess, not enough beds so people lined up along corridors, family of just sleeping all over the place, smells like death and pollution with all windows open to the humidity and constant burning rubbish smell, people dying constantly and laying there for quite some time, doctor comes around everyonce and a while and they look like they are 15yrs old and know nothing and dont talk, nurses are just flatout lazy and sometimes theres not any nurses or doctors to be found with hundreds of desperately needing attention.

 

Ive been in private hospitals and the main difference is they cost more, little cleaner but they still have idiot doctors and lazy nurses. I had a curable disease that can be done for free world wide these days but at the time when the treatment arrived here it was easier to do it here. Cost 1m and my treatment was stopped early because i showed great results but the disease hadn't been killed off. I did treatment again which will usually fail with a small chance of success. It failed miserably and now my life will be shortened considerably do to the effects of the treatment let alone the disease.

 

I did a last ditch effort at curing myself by buying fake drugs from india and getting them in the country illegally which was a success but not sure yet if all the disease has gone. I should state that it cost 100,000b to get all drugs from india sofar with better success and i ended up spending 3m in thai hospital to be worse off. Thais get the treatment for free!

Should have just gone home for free treatment in the beginning.

 

Many private hospitals dont have equiptment needed also. I dont have faith in any hospitals here at all.

Damn! That sounds like Canadian hospitals. 

[chrissables]

18 hours ago, 2long said:

I teach English to a surgical oncologist who says that this is standard practice and has been for some time. It's not news.

As for some comments already, such as knowing more than the doctor and only going to private hospitals.... I wonder what makes these people bother to comment... oh now I know. ????????????‍♂️

Standard practice maybe, but now legal!

[Time Traveller]

52 minutes ago, newnative said:

There's nothing 'racist' about it.  Thai is not a race.  Foreigners come in all races.  It would only be racist if the pricing was based on race.   

Oh yes. Discrimination that is perfectly acceptable when it's against foreigners. 

Jews are not a race either, so I guess you'll be telling me next that the Nazis were not racists either.

Realize that there is something seriously sick with your mind.

 

[George Aylesham]

Really little different to the British National health Service - go as a private patient you pay. I have no problem with this - the Thai state/taxpayer finances the hospitals, doctors and nurses and the equipment so it is only logical for non-Thais to pay.

[tandor]

19 hours ago, monkfish said:

Well this should please those who are happy to pay more Thai's club what next dual pricing at supermarkets and restaurants.

An example from the link below
 

For example, an HIV test costs 160 baht if you’re Thai. It goes up to 240 baht for working expats and then to 320 baht for retirees and tourists.

Or, a spinal MRI examination will cost Thais 18,700 baht. That jumps to 23,375 baht for working expats and 28,050 baht for retirees and tourists.
 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/foreigners-crying-foul-over-the-new-dual-pricing-policy-at-thai-public-hospitals

Will this mean dual pricing at private hospitals in the future?
 

..our Viruses, Bacterium and Parasites are very hard to find in a blood test it seems.

[Jimdandy]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Dual pricing: Retirees and expats may be charged more at Thai govt hospitals

A more accurate heading would be 'Retirees and expats SOON to be charged more at Thai govt hospitals. Do you think it was a coincidence that this story ran simultaneously with the story about the increase in affluent tourists? Paris, New York, London? 

[Time Traveller]

29 minutes ago, new2here said:

As a whole I am against so-called two-tier pricing... but.... I DO think there is some merit when the service in question is one that is substantially underwritten by public funds as opposed to a service that is provided by a wholly privately run business.

Yes, I think it’s fair to note that pretty much anyone and everyone here - including those in class 2 or 3, all pay some amount of “taxes” if you will via their own natural spending and the VAT that is included... but... I do think that if you were to look at the typical Thai (such that this is) and a typical person in classes 2 and 3, I’d wonder if the Thai will end up paying more in taxes nett (in their lifetime), than a foreigner in class 2 or 3 (for the period that they are in the Kingdom)




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Not sure if you realize, but the thai cost of the medical care IS the cost of the treatment. The service that is "substantially underwritten by public funds" is the 30 baht gold card scheme, not the hospital bills. Charging people way above what the base cost is , is simply to make profits. I don't think anyone would ever suggest public services should be in the business of making profits.

[drbeach]

15 hours ago, Mister Fixit said:

Wow, so self-entitled!  And such hubris!

 

FYI, in my 15 years here I have used a number of hospitals from Bumrungrad down.  NONE of the Government hospitals I have been to could ever be described as 'dirty'.  That's a problem of perception that you seem to have, not the hospital. 

 

Shabby, yes, some of them are indeed shabby, but not dirty.  But many public hospitals in many countries aren't as bright and shiny as the expensive private ones.

 

As I've posted elsewhere, I pay 50 baht to see the top knee specialist in Thailand and 440 baht for a knee X-ray.  So, less than 500 baht per 6-monthly visit.  Sure, I have to wait about 3 hours and it can be a minor hassle, but I take a book.  

 

You carry on paying your 5 grand a pop for a 10 minute consultation and X-ray in your inflated private hospital and I'll carry on paying 500 baht for exactly the same, except my chappie is the top knee and hip replacement doctor in Thailand and not some doctor working 2 or 3 gigs a day flitting between hospitals.  Makes sense to me.

Well you should have insurance, which will eventually become compulsory anyway.

 

I have insurance and pay nada, zero, zilch for treatment at a top tier hospital. Some public hospitals don't even treat foreigners...

[drbeach]

10 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

Oh yes. Discrimination that is perfectly acceptable when it's against foreigners. 

Jews are not a race either, so I guess you'll be telling me next that the Nazis were not racists either.

Realize that there is something seriously sick with your mind.

 

Good point. Also, it should be noted that some foreigners (Burmese, Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese) can avail themselves of the local price, which means it's a racist policy because they look similar to Thais whereas we don't. It confirms that the Thai government prefers these foreigners over us. No wonder so many expats from other countries are leaving this backward country and moving onto other more welcoming ones.

[theonetrueaussie]

19 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

No matter what a Thai government hospital charged I would never use one.  I been to one with my wife  The doctor was an idiot.  I knew more than he did.

Private ones are not much better, I went to a private one in phuket and saw a Specialist...2000thb for 30 min meeting and the whole meeting was him telling me i knew nothing and he knew everything until he finally googled what i was saying to learn i was correct and he was not.......and still thought he knew better afterwards....

Fly to vietnam even with the airfare and accommodation it is WAY cheaper!!

Edited September 5, 2019 by theonetrueaussie

[drbeach]

12 minutes ago, George Aylesham said:

Really little different to the British National health Service - go as a private patient you pay. I have no problem with this - the Thai state/taxpayer finances the hospitals, doctors and nurses and the equipment so it is only logical for non-Thais to pay.

Except that many non-Thais don't. Burmese, Cambodians, Laotians etc. why do they get the same price as Thais? Because they have the right skin color? It's a racist policy period, but I shouldn't complain because I would never go to a filthy government hospital. I have insurance like the rest of us should, and go only to private ones.

[newatthis]

16 hours ago, Matzzon said:

You are soo right! When his fighting thread was up, and I posted that he was making too much noise, and just should have accepted his compensation from start. Then I got attaced from soo many posters here. Now we see what it leads to. I also hope that all of them are super happy now. Or at least that they understand better next time. Unfortunately that is also a hope i vain. Anyway, thank you for todays best comment.

So, now everybody out there on this forum knows exactly why I am so utterly tired of all the foreigner coming to this country an feel some kind of entitlement. Complaining over rules and regulations, complaining over Thai thinking, values and culture. Complaining over all they can complain about. That´s the real people that should be blacklisted for life.

There's no proof of this being a reaction to that foreigner's complaint. That idea really is a "webfact'" assumption.

[drbeach]

1 minute ago, theonetrueaussie said:

Private ones are not much better, I went to a private one in phuket and saw a Specialist...2000thb for 30 min meeting and the whole meeting was him telling me i knew nothing and he knew everything until he finally googled what i was saying to learn i was correct and he was not.......and still thought he knew better afterwards....

Fly to vietnam even with the airfare and accommodation it is WAY cheaper!!

I would have told him to go screw himself but your point is well taken. It's not as if the private hospitals have top class doctors or that doctors know everything. They don't...and it's no different here to other countries in that respect. I generally avoid seeing doctors except in the event of a medical emergency or other serious complication.

[Moo 2]

As long as it's reciprocal for Thais living in foreign countries, then it would not be so bad, but

 if they are treated the same as the locals then it's wrong and not fair.

[HHTel]

For goodness sake.  I'm a Brit and foreigners will pay for treatment through the NHS in the UK.  Even I have to pay for treatment in the UK unless I return on a permanent basis.

What right have we to expect treatment in a government subsidised hospital on the same basis as a Thai.  I despair sometimes at the sheer stupidity and mentality of many posters on here.  Westerners move here from choice and then expect to pay the same as locals who are paid much less than ourselves and at the same time expect to be identified as superior.  

 

Ridiculous.

[drbeach]

43 minutes ago, pogal said:

most of the doctors are the same!!! 

Bangkok hospital surgeon for a hernia operation 400,000 Baht.

My friend at Chuoalongkorn told me to go there because it's the same doctor 140,000 baht. 

 

I think the main difference would be the after care. 

So? You don't pay that, your insurance does. Get insurance and then price isn't an issue. I go where I get the best quality healthcare and that's at a private hospital. If insurance pays anyway, then why would I care what one place charges over another?

 

It's the principle not the amount that is important here - I'd much rather have my insurance pay 400,000 at a facility where everyone else also pays 400,000 than at a racist hospital where Burmese laborers and Thais pay say 20,000 and I would have to pay 140,000.

[alien365]

13 minutes ago, Jonnapat said:

I've just read through all the derogatory remarks about government hospitals but would in my experience say that there is a enormous gulf between them.

I have been treated at Siriraj hospital for the past 11 years and have nothing but praise for the excellence of the doctors and staff. This is a teaching hospital and many specialists are at the top of their profession and the hospital has all the latest technology. They have all the best scanning and radiation machinery which many private hospitals do not possess. And there are other equally good hospitals in Bangkok.

 

I agree they do have the latest technology and I'm sure they do some great work there but but it looks like a third world hospital on the surface. We eventually changed to a more local hospital (Ban Phaeo) where it was cheaper, the waiting lists were shorter, the doctors actually listened to our concerns and performed good quality keyhole surgery. A local hospital of mine also spotted cancer in a friend of mine which Siriraj failed to see. Another friend of mine had problems there as they registered him as a Mrs! Easy to say its not a big deal but it doesn't instill confidence in what is meant to be one of the best hospitals in the country.