Thai Tourism: "Half of foreigners" don't pay their hospital bills; director points finger at three nationalities

[BestB]

Just now, ChipButty said:

And, the Buffalo

Buffalo was healthy ????

[worrab]

Before I moved to retire here, I was with my g/f visiting Chiang Mai on holiday. I became seriously ill with suspected appendicitis. Rushed into Lana Hospital and went under to have it removed. It actually turned out to be diverticulitis! They did ask if I had insurance which I confirmed.  I had travel insurance through using my Lloyds debit card to pay for the flight. Long story shortened. Every time the bill racked up to 100,000 baht then the hospital asked to be paid so I gave my g/f my debit card to pay up. Got released then 2 days later had to be rushed back in with sepsis due to a leak. Same procedure with the bills as there was no need to worry as I was covered. On arrival back in UK put in the bill with all the hospital paperwork and was paid out in 2 weeks.

So I am at a loss to understand firstly why people do not take out travel insurance? It is not expensive at the end of the day!! And secondly, why do the hospitals let these bills mount up? If the person has insurance there is no excuse. If not then just give the very basic aid and send them away!! 

[Henryford]

Why aren't they asked for a credit card or deposit before treatment. Seems easy duh!!

[kingstonkid]

I am confused when I have to get anything done they usually asked for credit card before treatment.

 

Also I think most of the trouble is not long stay but short timers here for a week or two

[IAMHERE]

Leave the Russian's out of this mess; Those guys get all medical paid for by the Homeland.  In fact, I have know by reading  the internet in Thailand, there are many Russian coming to Thailand for medical care because homeland mother Russia pays for it all.  

[phitsanulokjohn]

I just feel that foreigners who live here should pay a compulsory nominal 500-1000 baht per month to be able to access services to a local government hospital.The Thai government would at least be receiving some money and something is better than nothing.Tourists should be made to either have insurance from their own countries or be made to purchase a policy upon arrival.That my two penneth worth.

[jaideedave]

19 hours ago, metempsychotic said:

having worked in and arounds healthcare for over 10 years in thailand, this is utter dross. run away rates are far lower than that.

these numbers have to be down to poor management and process.

 

if a customer is treated and billed efficiently, there is not time to consider running away.

if it is taking half the day to come up with a bill, people simply wont wait around.

 

something as simple as taking card information at registration stops runaways dead.

 

I have personally experienced just that. Told by doctor at 10 am that I can go home and will be released. Never got the bill until 5pm,waiting all that time in the room? Happened every time at Queen Sirikit Navel hospital in Sattahip. nO WONDER PEOPLE BOLT..    

[uncleeagle]

6 minutes ago, worrab said:

Before I moved to retire here, I was with my g/f visiting Chiang Mai on holiday. I became seriously ill with suspected appendicitis. Rushed into Lana Hospital and went under to have it removed. It actually turned out to be diverticulitis! They did ask if I had insurance which I confirmed.  I had travel insurance through using my Lloyds debit card to pay for the flight. Long story shortened. Every time the bill racked up to 100,000 baht then the hospital asked to be paid so I gave my g/f my debit card to pay up. Got released then 2 days later had to be rushed back in with sepsis due to a leak. Same procedure with the bills as there was no need to worry as I was covered. On arrival back in UK put in the bill with all the hospital paperwork and was paid out in 2 weeks.

So I am at a loss to understand firstly why people do not take out travel insurance? It is not expensive at the end of the day!! And secondly, why do the hospitals let these bills mount up? If the person has insurance there is no excuse. If not then just give the very basic aid and send them away!! 

 

Any idea what led to the diverticulitis? Maybe diet related...were you overweight at the time? As I understand it a good diet and healthy weight are the best ways to keep the intestinal tract healthy and hopefully avoid those kinds of conditions.

[Cake Monster]

Of all the money being mentioned that is " so called owed by Foreigners " which is a minute percentage of the revenue generated, there does not appear to be any mention of the huge amounts of money that must be owed by Thai Nationals.

Why do I think there is no mention of these huge amounts ? . Because there is absolutely NO CHANCE that any of the money will ever be recovered, and I really mean NO CHANCE.....Thats why.

Again, its all too easy for  these people to point the finger at Foreign Nationals. Why not point the finger at your own people ???????. 

If the Authorities are going to throw rocks, then lets have all of them thrown. 

 

 

[ChipButty]

I have a card you could call it a Privilege or a Member card at Phuket International I only need to settle the bill when finished

[soalbundy]

Be positive, half pay the extorciant price for foreigners which should cover for a normal price for all of them

[Booboo101]

How’s this even possible ?

At Bangkok Hospital you are escorted from the waiting area to the Doctors room, as soon as you finish there you are escorted to the pay desk, I don’t believe this story for a minute, it’s just an excuse to bring in compulsory insurance !

[worrab]

2 minutes ago, uncleeagle said:

 

Any idea what led to the diverticulitis? Maybe diet related...were you overweight at the time? As I understand it a good diet and healthy weight are the best ways to keep the intestinal tract healthy and hopefully avoid those kinds of conditions.

None at all. I was not overweight and just a normal diet. Known as luck of the draw or not as this case was!! Just have to be careful about eating too much red meat, no worries here, and avoid anything with small seeds in. They are what can get trapped in the tract and start off this problem.

Not a pleasant experience when you get the severe case that I had. Luckily my surgeon, Dr Chattapong, was on the ball so had 2 life saving ops to do in 7 days!!  

[ronaldo0]

Considering most places charge foreigners inflated costs I’m pretty sure you can at least half the unpaid amount !!

As for leaving without paying how is it possible ? You won’t get medication without paying at a counter , if you are staying in I’m sure you would need to be told you are fit to leave or in a lot of cases from bike accidents can’t really leave . So how can so many people be walking out .??

[kensisaket]

"said hospital director Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthaphon half of all patients left without paying their bills"

If that is true you need to stick to what you do best; and, that is obviously not being a hospital director. 

[cheeryble]

448m baht unpaid

 

divided by 14m tourists

 

= $1 per person

[BobBKK]

Surely putting a small levy on tourists is the answer?  what's this "attacks by animals"?  soi dogs?  Nagas?   

[TKDfella]

Ach! just another 'report' as an excuse to ramp up something.

[john69]

19 hours ago, darksidedog said:

While I agree wholeheartedly that anyone who uses a hospital should pay their bill, I think a major point is being overlooked. Tourism generates billions of dollars for the economy. Tourism is also by all accounts other than TAT in sharp decline. That number may well reduce further if every tourist has to pay out for an insurance policy, which may or may not cover problems they encounter. Maybe they should weigh the 448 million baht against the potential tens of billions they might lose.

Maybe TAT could run an ad campaing: "Come to Thailand, free medical care. Just walk out of the hospital."

[Don Mega]

2 minutes ago, cheeryble said:

448m baht unpaid

 

divided by 14m tourists

 

= $1 per person

Bt.448m divide by39m tourists = Bt.11.50

 

Why don't they just up the airport tax by Bt.20 to cover it ?

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai Tourism: "Half of foreigners" don't pay their hospital bills; director points finger at three nationalities

Rubbish.

[Guderian]

Maybe I just look like a shady customer, but every time I've visited a government or private hospital here it's been pretty much impossible to leave without paying.

[Swimfan]

19 hours ago, darksidedog said:

While I agree wholeheartedly that anyone who uses a hospital should pay their bill, I think a major point is being overlooked. Tourism generates billions of dollars for the economy. Tourism is also by all accounts other than TAT in sharp decline. That number may well reduce further if every tourist has to pay out for an insurance policy, which may or may not cover problems they encounter. Maybe they should weigh the 448 million baht against the potential tens of billions they might lose.

Correct income from tourism is 2.5 Trillion Bhat a year or 84 Billion USD 

[bizboi]

If you go to Bumrungrad you will see 80% of patients are one religion - thats why the three races aren’t mentioned here. I dont think this story is about western patients!!

[Deerculler]

Is everyone expecting logical thinking and planning from Thai.

[Jaxxper]

19 hours ago, metempsychotic said:

having worked in and arounds healthcare for over 10 years in thailand, this is utter dross. run away rates are far lower than that.

these numbers have to be down to poor management and process.

 

if a customer is treated and billed efficiently, there is not time to consider running away.

if it is taking half the day to come up with a bill, people simply wont wait around.

 

something as simple as taking card information at registration stops runaways dead.

 

Well said ????

[Momofarang]

51 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

he best solution if it really troubles is to disallow French, Russian and Chinese

Maybe not disallow, but make visas issued in the country of residence mandatory, with a robust income/employment verification.

[Kurtf]

With the cost of health ins for people over 75 in the stratosphere if available at any price, it’s obvious to the most casual observer, Thailand will no longer be a place for people to retire to. Or for elderly to even visit. I will be 80 in January and the message is loud and clear. I am not wanted here. And after living here for the past 8 years, as soon as I can sell my house, the government will get their wish.

[thurien]

19 hours ago, cmsally said:

Simply make it compulsory for those hiring motorbikes and doing watersports to purchase appropriate insurance when they hire the service in question. "attack by animals" ??!! don't know what to think about this one , is it by any chance stray dogs? In which case it is the municipalities job to sort out.

forget about the single stray dog - it is always a wild elephant, wild boar, a python, king cobra, 10 centipedes at a time, sharks, deadly jellyfish and so on...and all this  in the middle of Pattaya ... fancy attacks, indeed

[ian007]

I find this very, very hard to believe! I was in Phuket hospital (Siriroj) after an accident and needed an MRI scan and treatment. I was there 3 times and each time I had to pay immediately.