Surgery without insurance

[Max69xl]

On 10/8/2020 at 5:58 PM, Sheryl said:

Quality will be fine if done at a tertiary level hospital, I suggest either Siriraj or Chulalongkorn.

 

Cost for the surgery alone will depend on whether done open or laparoscopically. Open procedure maybe 30-40,000 baht. Laparoscopic 15-20k more but well worth it if you are a candidate (smaller incision, quicker recovery). If you opt for a private room (much advised but should have someone who can stay with you) that will add about 2000k a night.

 

 

 

 

It's always nice to have a few cold beer in the fridge when having a private room. ????

[lopburi3]

3 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Don't you think OP would have mentioned if she had an insurance back home? She has to spend maybe ฿100,000 in total incl quarantine if she wants to come back. 

Do not believe he is talking about going home for operation - some home country insurance also covers expenses charged overseas (as mine does).

[spornb]

Three yrs ago I had major surgery at Chulalongkorn, was on the operating table 13 hrs, keyhole surgery, absolutely excellent at very very reasonable cost, nice private room in new block on 23rd floor overlooking lumpini Park

PM me if I can help more

[DJ54]

If it ends out your footing the bill ask for discount usually they give a break. I was in ER in America (self insured) for about 1-1/2 hrs to 

check heart. The bill was like $3500 USD I asked about a discount 

because self insured (multiple heart issues).

 

Hospital said I’ll get an email with bill ask to ask discount which amounted to @ 1/3 .. Wonderful health. are we have in the US.

i was living in China at the time. Had procedure done at a joint venture

China/Taiwan hospital in China. The surgeon works at China hospital a

few times a month, 

 

Great service operation came out good. Opted for private very inexpensive

compared to US. I have no monthly test for heart and the staff are wonderful caring people in my experience....

 

[swissman53]

It is not always true, that private hospitals have better doctors. Many doctors in private hospitals have to work some hours a week in a government hospital. Many of them have their private clinics in the city. You can go first to a private hospital for the first consultation and ask the doctor if he has to do some hours in a government hospital. The price different could be huge.

[lujanit]

Be aware that if you decide to use Siriraj they will require up front payment of 100% of the total estimated cost of the procedure and stay in hospital.

 

I know this because I see a specialist there to get my meds (not available in a regular pharmacy (Fascino etc) and there is a sign at the hospital pharmacy stating that requirement.  I don't know about other government hospitals.

[bobandyson]

13 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

Do you really need a private room? I stayed in the open ward.

When I suffered a perforated ulcer I had a private room. Had to pay 1,000b a day for the doctor's daily check-up visits. Just something to contemplate when going for a private room.

[Primo D]

I cannot speak on public hospitals in general terms but I can recommend Queen Sirikit Hospital, situated in U-tapao which is about 30klm south of Pattaya.

I have had an eye operation and a triple bypass in this facility. (three years ago)

 

OK, sometimes there are long waiting times when attending doctors appointments however, my actual surgery and post operation care were no less than perfect.  

 

This hospital was recommended to me by a friend who was seriously ill (with some abdominal problem) in a "private" hospital.

This private hospital, after operating on him (more than once I believe) advised him to discharge himself and go to Sirikit Hospital.

He was operated on again in Sirikit Hospital and cured in less than a month.  

 

The other positive aspect is the fact that public hospitals are very cost effective by comparison.

 

Good luck.

[puck2]

A different idea:

 

write an e-mail to the CHIANGMAI-RAM-Hospital - E-mail : [email protected] , give them the details and ask about the estimated price.

I guess you will receive an answer within a short time, up to 24 -48 yours.

 

RAM has a lot of quailified, good doctors. Although it is the most "expensive" hospital in Chiang Mai, in gereral it's cheaper than a lot of private Hospitals in Bangkok. The service there is excellent.

 

Then add the price for a return-air ticket by a cheap airline (Vietjet, Bangkok Airways, Air Asia from the main airport in BKK or Lion Air, Nok Air, Air Asia etc. starting from Don Muaeng) and compare it to the price of your favorite hospital in BKK.

 

Good luck for your surgery.

Edited October 12, 2020 by puck2

[lopburi3]

56 minutes ago, puck2 said:

A different idea:

 

write an e-mail to the CHIANGMAI-RAM-Hospital - E-mail : [email protected] , give them the details and ask about the estimated price.

I guess you will receive an answer within a short time, up to 24 -48 yours.

 

RAM has a lot of quailified, good doctors. Although it is the most "expensive" hospital in Chiang Mai, in gereral it's cheaper than a lot of private Hospitals in Bangkok. The service there is excellent.

 

Then add the price for a return-air ticket by a cheap airline (Vietjet, Bangkok Airways, Air Asia from the main airport in BKK or Lion Air, Nok Air, Air Asia etc. starting from Don Muaeng) and compare it to the price of your favorite hospital in BKK.

 

Good luck for your surgery.

Sorry but Bangkok is the hospital/doctor center for Thailand.  I would not suggest to anyone to go upcountry for cheaper private hospital price myself - expect same price or cheaper can be found in Bangkok with more qualified staff.  Obviously if you live upcountry you may prefer to use close by facility but with understanding it may not have all the facilities that Bangkok has in case of complications but in most cases will be fine.

[Sheryl]

The OP is not looking at private hospitals.

 

CM Ram while less expensive than private hospitals in Bangkok is still at least 3 ti.es the cost of a government hospital.

 

She plans to go to Chula.

[puck2]

23 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Sorry but Bangkok is the hospital/doctor center for Thailand.  I would not suggest to anyone to go upcountry for cheaper private hospital price myself - expect same price or cheaper can be found in Bangkok with more qualified staff.  Obviously if you live upcountry you may prefer to use close by facility but with understanding it may not have all the facilities that Bangkok has in case of complications but in most cases will be fine.

If you would follow expert Sheryl's advice you wouldn't write such a nonsense. I guess you have never been in RAM-hospital of Chiang Mai. I can report about some excellent work of "qualified" doctors.

 

Her advice: quality doesn't depend on (the name of) a hospital, but on a good and experienced doctor. You can find them in first-class/noble private hospitals, but in public hospitals, too. For some docctors money has not the priority in their job, but serving the needy people. 

 

Sorry Sheryl, that I turned the thread to "private" hospitals.

 

 

[lopburi3]

13 minutes ago, puck2 said:

If you would follow expert Sheryl's advice you wouldn't write such a nonsense. I guess you have never been in RAM-hospital of Chiang Mai. I can report about some excellent work of "qualified" doctors.

 

Her advice: quality doesn't depend on (the name of) a hospital, but on a good and experienced doctor. You can find them in first-class/noble private hospitals, but in public hospitals, too. For some docctors money has not the priority in their job, but serving the needy people. 

 

Sorry Sheryl, that I turned the thread to "private" hospitals.

 

 

Actually I have been in that Hospital and would personally not return but will not argue that there are some good doctors working there (as at many private hospitals).  And I have always said some of the best doctors are at government hospitals.  But that does not change the fact that Bangkok is the medical center for Thailand and where most would want to work or receive treatment, private or government.  

[NancyL]

CM Ram would be fine if the OP was in Chiang Mai, but it's not worth the trip, given that there are fairly easy ways to access the public hospitals in Bangkok. 

 

It's becoming more and more difficult for foreigners to access the government hospitals in Chiang Mai, probably because of all the unpaid medical bills left behind by the elderly expat population.  For example, Suan Dok (Maharaj, Chiang Mai University) hospital has dual pricing for their room rates and long wait times for non-emergency procedures for foreigners.

 

I live in Chiang Mai and often assist elderly foreigners who find themselves in hospital without health insurance.

[sirocco]

Nancy, out of simple curiosity, how do you go about helping hospitalized people who do not have health insurance? Thank you

[NancyL]

23 minutes ago, sirocco said:

Nancy, out of simple curiosity, how do you go about helping hospitalized people who do not have health insurance? Thank you

Get them into the lowest cost hospital that makes sense.  Help them negotiate payment contracts with the hospital.  Work with their consulates/embassies to contact family members.  Sometimes they have money in bank accounts, credit/debit cards that they are having difficulty accessing, so help them to overcome that problem.  If British veterans, get the Royal British Legion involved.  If U.S. veterans who served during a wartime period, get started on the lengthy process of applying for the VA Low Income Wartime Pension, if they qualify.  Sometimes, people haven't started their U.S. Social Security yet, so that can be started.  The list is endless and there are a lot of rocks that can be turned over.

 

If someone plans to live here long-term without health insurance -- that isn't a good idea, so we work to convince them to return to their home country and can help them organize that process. 

[sirocco]

 Nancy, very nice of you for answering my question.
Thank you for that and I wish you a good end of the afternoon.