Unpleasant reading. Best not to read it.

[Gottfrid]

31 minutes ago, fredscats said:

Posted 1 hour ago

Cheap   too cheap,.....medical care is far cheaper too outside of Thailand,elective/selective, that is

So, your explanation was to post the same again? Smart! ????

[Will B Good]

4 hours ago, sezze said:

Better choose a different hospital . You do not have to go to Bangkok Hospital , with tenniscourt , swimmingpool and supernice entrances . Take a standard hospital and your bill is very cheap , spending even 100.000 there is something very very serious happening to you .

Had a three night stay in a cheaper hospital......bit rough around the edges, but.......three nights, all meds, intravenous antibiotics, 5 Ltrs of saline.......£60.....laughing.

[Denim]

5 hours ago, swissie said:

As I said before here: "The doors are closing", globally. Especially for undercapitalised elderly Farangs.

Yup, it's inevitable . Let's just all kill ourselves now and cheat ill health.

 

After you , I'm first.

[Gold ticket]

53 minutes ago, Almer said:

Agreed a discussion in a bar the other evening “coffee bar” you understand on this very subject, gave me the impression many uninsured Falang lives in fear on this very subject.

Thai gvmnt you are missing an opportunity, if Falang are chased out the pensions stop coming in, so why not take say 2500 a month from those willing to pay, i for one would jump at the chance at 72 knowing that it’s this or nothing.

500 million Chinese and Indians would also jump at that chance.

Still want to live the dream here?

 

[KarenBravo]

2 hours ago, Pravda said:

Absolutely not true. 

 

Back surgery in a cheap hospital. 500,000 baht.

 

Head excision - over 1 million baht.

 

These are the prices my ex wife's father paid despite being a retired school director meaning he had government insurance.

 

 

Head excision sounds like the answer to all health problems.

What happens to the cut-off head. Given back to the relatives, or put on a spike for advertising purposes?

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

"The life span of humans – opposed to life expectancy, which is a statistical construct – hasn’t really changed much at all"

Walter Scheidel

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181002-how-long-did-ancient-people-live-life-span-versus-longevity

 

I like this bit ............

"Surely, by the soot-ridden era of Charles Dickens, life was unhealthy and short for nearly everyone? Still no. As researchers Judith Rowbotham, now at the University of Plymouth, and Paul Clayton, of Oxford Brookes University, write, “once the dangerous childhood years were passed… life expectancy in the mid-Victorian period was not markedly different from what it is today”. A five-year-old girl would live to 73; a boy, to 75."

They must have missed London Docklands. According to the info in the museum, life expectancy for workers was about 40 or so early last century. Not surprising when one considers all the ships burned coal, as did the locomotives pulling the freight. It'd be like smoking continuously 24 hours a day.

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They must have missed London Docklands. According to the info in the museum, life expectancy for workers was about 40 or so early last century. Not surprising when one considers all the ships burned coal, as did the locomotives pulling the freight. It'd be like smoking continuously 24 hours a day.

If you'd read the article you would have noticed the 'false baseline' indicated by the early 1900s where several factors combined to make the place more unhealthy for a decade.

[rott]

The topic title should be changed to "stating the bleedin' obvious." 

[BusyB]

6 hours ago, Pravda said:

Absolutely not true. 

 

Back surgery in a cheap hospital. 500,000 baht.

 

Head excision - over 1 million baht.

 

These are the prices my ex wife's father paid despite being a retired school director meaning he had government insurance.

 

 

And I think I read recently that a court had ruled dual pricing in hospitals entirely legit.

[RichardColeman]

6 hours ago, Pravda said:

Are you joking?

 

Do you know how much health insurance costs? 

Not really , give retirees a yearly  2-3000 baht health insurance policy, and all incoming tourists a 500 baht health policy and thai health care would be booming. 

[chilly07]

Another apparently unpaid lobbyist for the gross profits of the greedy insurance scammers. Doesn't everybody realise that whilst advocating the gouging of unnecessarily expensive so called 'health' insurance just encourages the gougers to load charges onto the gullible expat because they have health insurance. You are not insuring your health you are just lining the pockets of insurance scammers, big pharma, private hospitals, and all their hangers on including government officials responsible.

Do not advocate imposing your dystopian views by encouraging Immigration to constantly expand their Insurance interests to the detriment of those of us too old to get cover

[chilly07]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sadly, not an uncommon tale of life and love in LOS.

Was he insured?

[chilly07]

7 hours ago, Pravda said:

Absolutely not true. 

 

Back surgery in a cheap hospital. 500,000 baht.

 

Head excision - over 1 million baht.

 

These are the prices my ex wife's father paid despite being a retired school director meaning he had government insurance.

 

 

Yes I made the mistake of asking BPH to look at my back spasms problems linked to sciatica. First day x-ray. Second day MRI. Third day offered a fusion op. Fourth day returned to blighty! UK osteopath said absolutely no need for op! Gave me a series of exercises and the spasming stopped. Mind you when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in the UK I was offered a angioplasty with a view to a stent. Blood pressure under control 20 years laterwithout stent so maybe the health industry should concentrate on prevention rather than invasion. The insurance industry  should back out! And don't start me on dentists!

Edited November 8, 2021 by chilly07

[Bigz]

Government hospital is the answer. I got diagnosed with gout 3 months ago. Initial visit, blood test, fluid taken from my knee, lab fee, medication for 3 months - 400 Baht. Today went for check up - blood test 60 Baht , consultation fee + medication for the next 3 months 200 bahts

[Gecko123]

This broadcast of another gleefully dispiriting sermon from Jesus of Mukdahan has now mercifully concluded.

[Expat68]

9 hours ago, sezze said:

Better choose a different hospital . You do not have to go to Bangkok Hospital , with tenniscourt , swimmingpool and supernice entrances . Take a standard hospital and your bill is very cheap , spending even 100.000 there is something very very serious happening to you .

And equally good doctors, if not better

[KarenBravo]

51 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

Another apparently unpaid lobbyist for the gross profits of the greedy insurance scammers. Doesn't everybody realise that whilst advocating the gouging of unnecessarily expensive so called 'health' insurance just encourages the gougers to load charges onto the gullible expat because they have health insurance. You are not insuring your health you are just lining the pockets of insurance scammers, big pharma, private hospitals, and all their hangers on including government officials responsible.

Do not advocate imposing your dystopian views by encouraging Immigration to constantly expand their Insurance interests to the detriment of those of us too old to get cover

You don't have any insurance, do you?

[Tropposurfer]

In my personal opinion and experience (as an expat) a foreigner to live in Thailand or any country other than their country of origin and passport for that matter and not have decent international coverage health insurance is a fools game and false economy, and frankly just plain stupid.

If you can't afford to pay the premium for a workable and practical insurance (even past 60 yrs old premiums) then you can't afford to live, safely, securely, and independently in Thailand.

[wwest5829]

10 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Since many don't retire into their 6o's any health insurance will lead to an extreme exodus, since most will be either unable to get it in older age and wont want to stay in a place they know they will be evicted form in a few years

 

But if the Thai government were on the ball, they'd just announce a say 2-3000 baht health insurance per annum premium on your visa and be done with it. 

I would not be adverse to the 11,400 baht cost required policy (O-A Visa, 200,000 deductible) if it would cover all over, say 500,000 baht (so, a basic, major medical policy). The way this is appearing to be going … too old, pre-existing conditions at age 74 … I am being told to leave. Devil take the hind post as to “unintended consequences” for Thailand. It really is sad … Thailand positioned to offer world class medical care for foreigners at a quite reasonable cost with recovery at a resort on the beach (especially Americans due to their incomprehensible support for their current healthcare system … or lack thereof). Add to the Thai cultural attributes of care that would also provide an excellent “elder care” retirement setting for working middle class westerners no longer being able to afford retirement in their home country. This is the niche market that Thailand should develop. Yes, great to want the rich and famous but then, Thailand you are competing with the glamour capitols of the globe. Not your primary advantage Market. 

[rwill]

8 hours ago, Pravda said:

Absolutely not true. 

 

Back surgery in a cheap hospital. 500,000 baht.

 

Head excision - over 1 million baht.

 

These are the prices my ex wife's father paid despite being a retired school director meaning he had government insurance.

 

 

My wife just had vertabrae fused in her neck at Bangkok Hospital in Ratchaburi.  The total cost was 341,000 baht.  But then she had some complications and since then we have spent an additional 140,000 baht (and that was after they gave us a 50% discount after the initial surgery).  We have insurance but anything to do with her spine is excluded because she had some lumbar surgery about 20 years ago.

I have insurance but I think the only thing I would actually be covered for is cancer or injuries from accidents.  If you take medication for blood pressure, cholesteral or blood sugar they are going to exclude tons of things that could affect you.  You would think that if they aren't covering you for the majority of problems you could have the premium would be lower.  But no they just screw you over harder.

 

So just having medical insurance isn't always the answer.

 

We are fortunate to have the funds to be able to cover stuff like this.  Many are not.

[Gecko123]

17 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

In my personal opinion and experience (as an expat) a foreigner to live in Thailand or any country other than their country of origin and passport for that matter and not have decent international coverage health insurance is a fools game and false economy, and frankly just plain stupid.

If you can't afford to pay the premium for a workable and practical insurance (even past 60 yrs old premiums) then you can't afford to live, safely, securely, and independently in Thailand.

My entire career was in risk management and insurance. You can definitely assess your probability of needing medical insurance based on your age, medical history, family medical history, and lifestyle risk factors.

You can greatly reduce your risks of needing medical care through diet, exercise, and reducing the risk of accidental injury (seat belts, defensive driving, avoiding motorcycles, power equipment, ladders, etc.)

 

Yes, unexpected illnesses and accidents occur, but check the fine print on your policy for sub-limits on chronic diseases, lengthy hospital stays, pre-existing conditions, etc. If you have adequate funds to cover a medical emergency, self-insuring is not necessarily a foolish choice. It's not a hard and fast rule that medical insurance is always the most prudent choice.

Edited November 8, 2021 by Gecko123

[Isaan sailor]

I have a catastrophic health insurance policy with a high deductible.  It costs 72,000 Baht a year—a little more than US Medicare Part B or Part D.  When I reach 71 years, it will rise to over 100k per year. May look at higher deductible or less coverage.  Will consider self insure at some point—or return to America for Medicare.

[KarenBravo]

6 minutes ago, rwill said:

My wife just had vertabrae fused in her neck at Bangkok Hospital in Ratchaburi.  The total cost was 341,000 baht.  But then she had some complications and since then we have spent an additional 140,000 baht (and that was after they gave us a 50% discount after the initial surgery).  We have insurance but anything to do with her spine is excluded because she had some lumbar surgery about 20 years ago.

I have insurance but I think the only thing I would actually be covered for is cancer or injuries from accidents.  If you take medication for blood pressure, cholesteral or blood sugar they are going to exclude tons of things that could affect you.  You would think that if they aren't covering you for the majority of problems you could have the premium would be lower.  But no they just screw you over harder.

 

So just having medical insurance isn't always the answer.

 

We are fortunate to have the funds to be able to cover stuff like this.  Many are not.

The trick is, getting the policy before 60 years old. After 60, you are medically examined by a health professional and I can take a guess where their sympathies lie. Before that age, no examination.

[rwill]

4 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

The trick is, getting the policy before 60 years old. After 60, you are medically examined by a health professional and I can take a guess where their sympathies lie. Before that age, no examination.

The trick is getting insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.

[Almer]

9 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

This is why I have been an adamant supporter of having private health cover when out of your home country for emergency and elective surgery. The policy also having repatriation included in the policy.

 

I can appreciate those older cannot get it, and others choosing not too, and that is fine as it is their choice, to me private health insurance is = to car and or house insurance, albeit they are lower risk, therefore cost cheaper.

 

As human beings on the other hand, we are ticking time bombs once we reach a certain age, e.g. guy I know has been in hospital 3 times this year, his bill was 2.6 mil baht, and he is in his early 60's, another had a quadruple bypass as he didn't renew his policy due to the increase when he hit the 59-64 bracket, again in his early 60's.

 

I don't know what the operation cost him but it was done in a private hospital, so I would ballpark that at 750k baht.

 

I took that hit last renewal, the policy went 50,000 baht per annum, almost doubling, but without insurance I feel naked and this would expose my life savings should something like the above happen to me, I would take a hit that would hurt, but not enough to wipe me out, or hurt my family, but the point of retiring is to feel safe, secure and covered in the event of something happening to you.

 

So for the 330 baht that it cost me per day, I will continue to insure, i.e. until I get to the next bracket, then assess the increase to the policy, being insured is common sense to me, and it requires good budgeting and accepting that you are worth the outlay, regardless if you don't see anything for your money, e.g. same as car insurance or house insurance, and when something does happen, you can be compensated for it. 

 

It's a choice, and I choose not to go public and pay for that choice.

 

 

You will get to a point that your insurers will refuse to quote due to your age

[bert bloggs]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sadly, not an uncommon tale of life and love in LOS.

Not among the people i know,they have real marriages.

[473geo]

Why worry yourself into an early grave over health insurance, appears a bit contradictory. ????

 

[473geo]

9 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sadly, not an uncommon tale of life and love in LOS.

Still the occasional bitterness and resentment surfacing then ????

[Bangkok Barry]

10 hours ago, sezze said:

Better choose a different hospital . You do not have to go to Bangkok Hospital , with tenniscourt , swimmingpool and supernice entrances . Take a standard hospital and your bill is very cheap , spending even 100.000 there is something very very serious happening to you .

Indeed. Even my village hospital can supply an air-conditioned room and my experience there has been generally good.

[scorecard]

10 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

However, it should cover repatriation if too sick to travel normally.

I'm pretty sure mine covered things like heart attacks, but not minor problems like flu.

Yes, repatriation is very concerning. I'm aware of a US guy living in LOS 2+ decades with little money but has survived well.

 

He's suddenly in a an advanced state of dementia. His US folks are just surviving. A friend who has been trying to keep his affairs in order got a quotation to repatriate him by air, which involved the fees for a suitably qualified nurse, his/her accommodation, flights to the US and return plus a close/long-term friend must travel with them (expenses as above. 

 

Plus 2 airlines approached indicated they would only carry the passenger in a curtained area using quite a few seats and fare about double for the 'patient'. One airline added a trained security officer to also accompany the group, with same expenses as above.