Unpleasant reading. Best not to read it.

[Road Warrior]

the thai government dont want forang only their money. if they (government ) had a small brain they would welcome forang .but..... no  

[4MyEgo]

7 minutes ago, Almer said:

I disagree on one point but this is only from my experience, i live in Khonkaen and have had the need to have surgery for a stone and a Melanoma the later needing radiation and follow up surgery, i cannot fault the care I hade in the KK  university hospital a private quality room in the new wing 4000 ฿ a night a great care, I’m sure at a fraction the price of private,

I had a Basil Carcinoma on my face removed from the same hospital that you went too a few years ago, that said, I wasn't insurance back then as insurers wouldn't cover me for my pre-existing condition, so I wouldn't go with them and self insured, i.e. until I found an insurer that did cover my pre-existing condition, and now that I am insured, my insurance is for emergency and or elective surgery.

 

Thanks to Sheryl for putting me onto the same place that you went to as the cost was minimal (day procedure), if memory serves me correctly it was about 6,000 baht with the cream.

 

The cost was the same as the cost for me to see the Dermatologist back in Aus when I was there on a brief visit. I would imagine a private hospital would have cost more than the 6,000 baht, but then again, they are not a government hospital and have to run it like a business, pay staff, have better surroundings, less waiting and it would be better than the 2 and a half hour drive to get to KK, plus follow ups no doubt meaning more long drives to and from, and what if I had to be admitted, the wife traveling so far, I don't think so.

 

The person doing the procedure was an Associate Professor and spoke good English, I went through it as nervous as I was, but all worked out great, apart from the long, very long wait for the original assessment and then the procedure, although they fortunately squeezed me in when they were about to cancel, as I noted that I drove 2 and a half hours to get there and waited 4 hours so far, so was very lucky.

[VocalNeal]

42 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

if you can't afford the health insurance, you shouldn't be here. Hard, but true.

Or if you can afford to pay for treatment yourself? A mate of mine just had a new heart valve installed. Just over a million but he just paid it.

[4MyEgo]

27 minutes ago, pattaya1234was said:

Not really as in business you can lose. Insurance companies may lose on one deal but make it up on other ones.

It's all about risk vs benefit, at the end of the day, you either get what you paid for, or you get nothing, the nothing, being peace of mind that your covered, even if you haven't made a claim, the later being my preferred. 

[spidermike007]

On 11/7/2021 at 3:48 PM, sezze said:

Ok , but again , why you want to go to such place ? Standard hospital can take care most things , private room is 1000 baht/day extra ( and that room was much larger then the private hospital i visited once ) which is a bit dark room , but airco is present , tv , also there , ... even private staff is present ... that is in public hospital . 3/4 days stay in such hospital with operation sets you back around 10.000 baht .

Do i like to travel in 1st class , or even a private jet , sure ... but i do not have the money for it . I want also a yacht , a Lamborghini just to look at , a private designer for me alone ... ... but i can't afford such things ... A hospital is there to make me better , and as far as i've witnessed , standard hospitals do that also . Then you got also private hospitals which you pay a lot more , get more luxuries , but thats about it . Then you got like Bangkok Hospital where a single day can cost you 100k .

Like i said , look different hospitals , there are plenty around .

 

I want those luxuries too. And a personal assistant, a 20 year old topless maid, a personal trainer, a private jet, and a customs official in my pocket, like a friend of mine has. He breezes through customs at the airport with ten cases of wine each trip, escorted by his bought and paid for top dog. 

[Rampant Rabbit]

Thailand  talking  balllocks  as usual , the figures  state as  of  below  , so if each person paid just 11.78 baht extra  on arrival that bill  would be COVERED...............but  NO, they now  tack  on "yet another"  500baht  for  all  incoming passengers. Greed  nothing else.

  Last year discussed  adding 300baht on entry   BUT  only 10% would  actually  go to hospitals!! So where does the other 90% go?????

All could be very easily remedied for a minimal fee instead of the ridiculous 100-250k with age premiums.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/Tourism-proves-hazardous-to-Thai-hospitals-financial-health

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/destitute-foreigners-in-thailand-and-unpaid-hospital-bills-360259

 

 

 Thailand as a whole welcomed 38 million -- more than double the figure for 2010. The Public Health Ministry said unpaid bills at hospitals across the nation came to 448 million baht in a year through September 2019.

[Rampant Rabbit]

13 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

It's all about risk vs benefit, at the end of the day, you either get what you paid for, or you get nothing, the nothing, being peace of mind that your covered, even if you haven't made a claim, the later being my preferred. 

AT  least with nothing you KNOW exactly where you  stand

[FritsSikkink]

On 11/8/2021 at 5:11 AM, RichardColeman said:

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. 

Why should the tax payer fork out money to insure people who never bothered to take care of that themselves?

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

AT  least with nothing you KNOW exactly where you  stand

i.e. until your unlucky enough to end up in hospital under an emergency situation, then you will really know where you stand, public or private, 2-3 star or 4-5 star ????

 

[BritManToo]

28 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

i.e. until your unlucky enough to end up in hospital under an emergency situation, then you will really know where you stand, public or private, 2-3 star or 4-5 star ????

 

I've ended up in hospital 4x in an emergency situation in the last 10 years.

Gall bladder infection, 2 nights, 3,500bht.

Split open knee, outpatient, 250bht.

Broken jaw from cycling accident, outpatient, 3,500bht (4 or 5 treatments) 

Prostate problems, outpatient, under 1000bht each (3x emergency treatment).

 

Never any problems at government hospitals, seen right away.

They did invite me to spend more money by having my gall bladder removed, and a TURP, I politely refused those offers.

Edited November 9, 2021 by BritManToo

[thaibeachlovers]

20 hours ago, chilly07 said:

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!

The health industry is as you say an "industry" and it exists IMO to make money, not to prevent people getting sick. When consultants can make a million quid a year it shows the NHS for what it is, IMO.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Why should the tax payer fork out money to insure people who never bothered to take care of that themselves?

Same reason they pay people that never worked ( despite being able to ) to stay at home and watch daytime tv, or pay teenage girls to keep their babies and get a house, a car and an income from other people that work.

Not saying I agree with that, as I don't. Socialism gone mad IMO.

Edited November 9, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[Almer]

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

I had a Basil Carcinoma on my face removed from the same hospital that you went too a few years ago, that said, I wasn't insurance back then as insurers wouldn't cover me for my pre-existing condition, so I wouldn't go with them and self insured, i.e. until I found an insurer that did cover my pre-existing condition, and now that I am insured, my insurance is for emergency and or elective surgery.

 

Thanks to Sheryl for putting me onto the same place that you went to as the cost was minimal (day procedure), if memory serves me correctly it was about 6,000 baht with the cream.

 

The cost was the same as the cost for me to see the Dermatologist back in Aus when I was there on a brief visit. I would imagine a private hospital would have cost more than the 6,000 baht, but then again, they are not a government hospital and have to run it like a business, pay staff, have better surroundings, less waiting and it would be better than the 2 and a half hour drive to get to KK, plus follow ups no doubt meaning more long drives to and from, and what if I had to be admitted, the wife traveling so far, I don't think so.

 

The person doing the procedure was an Associate Professor and spoke good English, I went through it as nervous as I was, but all worked out great, apart from the long, very long wait for the original assessment and then the procedure, although they fortunately squeezed me in when they were about to cancel, as I noted that I drove 2 and a half hours to get there and waited 4 hours so far, so was very lucky.

I noted a mole had got some what larger on my breast, saw the consultant at about 12,00 at 2pm a biopsy was done, with a follow up the next week, 3 days later a phone call at 9pm to say come In tomorrow as the biopsy was non conclusive, another biopsy and same same 3 days later a phone call come in tomorrow, and I was on the table to have a male mastectomy at 7pm same evening, 4 day stay in a private room 20 sessions of radiation, follow ups etc with change I recall from 26.000฿, my 3 monthly check ups a staggering 50฿ consultation fee, two further tumors have since been removed from the same area both benign and 6000฿ day case, if you can suffer the 4000+ Private room which in my opinion are superior to Bangkok Hosp  I would recommend anybody needing surgery to not overlook Khonkaen Uni hospital.

[In Full Agreement]

15 hours ago, jesimps said:

I've been on the verge of blocking swissie several times in the past, but for some reason decided not to. This time, he's gone. Life can throw up enough problems without this guy seeming to delight in seeing people suffer. I reckon sometime or other, a fellow farang must've p..... in his beer.

 

 

Honestly I believe you're on to something and I don't understand the reason behind it.    When I  once posted  that his attitude in one thread would not lead to him making any friends he jumped on  the  idea he wouldn't want any friends from ThaiVisa in the  first place.   You may be correct in that someone has upset him a great deal.     I really don't get it how a person could seem to revel in  the perceived misery of others.      I feel sorry for him.

Edited November 9, 2021 by In Full Agreement

[starky]

On 11/8/2021 at 7:18 AM, 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.

Most travel insurance I thought was mostly about repatriation (for serious events)  and then foregoing all costs once you returned home.

Edited November 9, 2021 by starky

[Grecian]

On 11/8/2021 at 9:22 AM, Gecko123 said:

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.

Yes, I've had the same thoughts.

Gecko, care to give your opinion?

I'm 53, eat healthy vegetarian diet. None smoker, two beers or so a week , intermittent fasting, walk a lot. No stress, exercise, my mom thinks I'm health obsessed hahaha

But I will be breathing in Bangkok air!

Like BM2 I am not afraid of dying and don't need expensive treatment of diagnosed stage 4 cancer etc. I would accept the end.

I avoid motorbikes and have a good assessment of risky behaviour in general.

if treated no need for luxury hospital.

 

So, saying all that. Sorry btw ????, what's a good level of funds needed to self in sure with say covering 95% of all probabilities?

[Gecko123]

1 hour ago, Grecian said:

Yes, I've had the same thoughts.

Gecko, care to give your opinion?

I'm 53, eat healthy vegetarian diet. None smoker, two beers or so a week , intermittent fasting, walk a lot. No stress, exercise, my mom thinks I'm health obsessed hahaha

But I will be breathing in Bangkok air!

Like BM2 I am not afraid of dying and don't need expensive treatment of diagnosed stage 4 cancer etc. I would accept the end.

I avoid motorbikes and have a good assessment of risky behaviour in general.

if treated no need for luxury hospital.

 

So, saying all that. Sorry btw ????, what's a good level of funds needed to self in sure with say covering 95% of all probabilities?

I'm not holding myself out as some expert on the advisability of buying health insurance. My background was in property and casualty insurance and financial risk management, and I was merely applying principles learned during my career to assessing the risks of not having health insurance, and discussing whether you could make an informed decision about whether you should have health insurance or retain that risk yourself. It's a very individual decision, and there's no way I would be comfortable advising someone on this over the internet. I will say that I applaud the lifestyle you described in your post.

 

I will share that I was uninsured or self-insured from age 50 to age 65, but have been paying Medicare Part B premiums since I turned 65 even though I can't use this coverage in Thailand. It's mainly in the event that I repatriate to the US, to avoid paying late enrollment penalties down the road, and also as backup/emergency medical coverage here, even though I am well-aware of the risks of being unable to travel were i to experience a medical emergency. I chose this strategy based on my assessment of my individual case, and I certainly understand how others could easily conclude that being insured is the best option for them. I'm neither pro- nor anti-insurance. There's no "one size fits all" answer to this question.

My only point was that the need for insurance can be objectively assessed and it's an individual decision.

 

The issue about whether to purchase insurance here in Thailand is further complicated by the fact that many policies have restrictions, sub-limits and caps on hospital stays, any one illness/accident, so that even with an insurance policy in hand, you can end up incurring substantial out-of-pocket expenses. Having a solid understanding of what your medical insurance covers is a critical part of the decision making process.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Gecko123

[LoeiI]

4 hours ago, Almer said:

I noted a mole had got some what larger on my breast, saw the consultant at about 12,00 at 2pm a biopsy was done, with a follow up the next week, 3 days later a phone call at 9pm to say come In tomorrow as the biopsy was non conclusive, another biopsy and same same 3 days later a phone call come in tomorrow, and I was on the table to have a male mastectomy at 7pm same evening, 4 day stay in a private room 20 sessions of radiation, follow ups etc with change I recall from 26.000฿, my 3 monthly check ups a staggering 50฿ consultation fee, two further tumors have since been removed from the same area both benign and 6000฿ day case, if you can suffer the 4000+ Private room which in my opinion are superior to Bangkok Hosp  I would recommend anybody needing surgery to not overlook Khonkaen Uni hospital.

Sorry I'm a little confused I am assuming you are not Thai so did you go to the KK Srinagarind hospital using your private insurance or just walk in ? and is it that easy to get an appointment to see a consultant be admitted and get the radiation treatment, follow ups etc. as a walk in ? Hoping you are still well, my Mrs was treated there for breast cancer and her oncologist is fantastic 

[Almer]

40 minutes ago, LoeiI said:

Sorry I'm a little confused I am assuming you are not Thai so did you go to the KK Srinagarind hospital using your private insurance or just walk in ? and is it that easy to get an appointment to see a consultant be admitted and get the radiation treatment, follow ups etc. as a walk in ? Hoping you are still well, my Mrs was treated there for breast cancer and her oncologist is fantastic 

English 72 pre existing  and refused renewal after 10 years of paying, yes Sringarind just walked with my wife asked to see a consultant, and wihin an hour and a few forms I had my hospital card and was waiting to see a charming lady who has cared for me for 3 years, whilst I was waiting to be discharged the Radiographer came to the room and drew some pictures on my chest and the following week I started daily for 20 sessions, private room gives the usual benefits  food wine etc but the medical care would have been the same.

 Sorry as an afterthought I am self pay.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Almer
Addition text

[LoeiI]

1 hour ago, Almer said:

English 72 pre existing  and refused renewal after 10 years of paying, yes Sringarind just walked with my wife asked to see a consultant, and wihin an hour and a few forms I had my hospital card and was waiting to see a charming lady who has cared for me for 3 years, whilst I was waiting to be discharged the Radiographer came to the room and drew some pictures on my chest and the following week I started daily for 20 sessions, private room gives the usual benefits  food wine etc but the medical care would have been the same.

 Sorry as an afterthought I am self pay.

Hope you keep on keeping well, I just retired here, UK 60 just looking into medical insurance but unfortunately have the usual pre conditions T2 insulin dependent, med controlled BP but good to know there are good government hospitals that can be utilised in an emergency without having to flog a kidney to pay for it ???????? 

[NanLaew]

On 11/7/2021 at 10:28 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm only surprised that it hasn't been a minimum requirement for non O and extensions already, but why stop there? IMO all tourists should have travel insurance to enter- not allowed on the plane without. If one can't afford it, should one be traveling?

Why should the current 'young and the reckless' be denied their half-century of riding the ragged edge and dodging the insurance bullet, getting drunk, renting crotch rockets, bungee jumping and more recently flying with gibbons? Just because the septuagenarians (and more) don't have a pot to pish in?

[Chris.B]

13 hours ago, rwill said:

I would just add that to be really safe you need about 10 million baht saved for medical emergencies.  Also the ability to replenish that if you have to use some of it.

Yeah but to be really, really safe 100 million baht would be better......  ????????

[Chris.B]

On 11/8/2021 at 9:44 AM, KarenBravo said:

I use a Thai based insurance company (PC) and pay about 68,000 Bt per annum for 50 million Baht coverage. Good for foreign countries, including the USA. I'm 63.

I chose a deductible of 100,000 Bt. Have a couple of pre-conditions, but then, who hasn't.

 

1,300 baht a week for age 63 with pre-conditions sounds very cheap to me. If I could pay that I would. Anyway lets see what you have to pay when you reach 70 years old and maybe have a couple more pre-conditions. ????

Edited November 9, 2021 by Chris.B

[audaciousnomad]

On 11/8/2021 at 6:48 AM, sezze said:

Ok , but again , why you want to go to such place ? Standard hospital can take care most things , private room is 1000 baht/day extra ( and that room was much larger then the private hospital i visited once ) which is a bit dark room , but airco is present , tv , also there , ... even private staff is present ... that is in public hospital . 3/4 days stay in such hospital with operation sets you back around 10.000 baht .

Do i like to travel in 1st class , or even a private jet , sure ... but i do not have the money for it . I want also a yacht , a Lamborghini just to look at , a private designer for me alone ... ... but i can't afford such things ... A hospital is there to make me better , and as far as i've witnessed , standard hospitals do that also . Then you got also private hospitals which you pay a lot more , get more luxuries , but thats about it . Then you got like Bangkok Hospital where a single day can cost you 100k .

Like i said , look different hospitals , there are plenty around .

 

Which one you recommend ?

[sezze]

2 minutes ago, audaciousnomad said:

Which one you recommend ?

There are multiple hospitals in every single city in Thailand . I can only know from the city i stay in when i'm in Thailand . Check google maps , to see the hospitals in your area , and ask Thai persons which hospital they go to if they have a problem . They will know .

[audaciousnomad]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I've ended up in hospital 4x in an emergency situation in the last 10 years.

Gall bladder infection, 2 nights, 3,500bht.

Split open knee, outpatient, 250bht.

Broken jaw from cycling accident, outpatient, 3,500bht (4 or 5 treatments) 

Prostate problems, outpatient, under 1000bht each (3x emergency treatment).

 

Never any problems at government hospitals, seen right away.

They did invite me to spend more money by having my gall bladder removed, and a TURP, I politely refused those offers.

Nice!  Which hospital did you go to that has these reasonable prices?

[Chris.B]

5 hours ago, Grecian said:

 So, saying all that. Sorry btw ????, what's a good level of funds needed to self in sure with say covering 95% of all probabilities?

I'd say 400,000 baht.

[KarenBravo]

52 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

1,300 baht a week for age 63 with pre-conditions sounds very cheap to me. If I could pay that I would. Anyway lets see what you have to pay when you reach 70 years old and maybe have a couple more pre-conditions. ????

I'm in the 61 to 66 age bracket now, so I reckon at 70, which falls into the next band, it'll be a tad under 100k per year (as long as I get the no claims bonus).

 

They do not cover the pre-conditions, the only one of consequence I have is pre-diabetes type II.

 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by KarenBravo

[gearbox]

4 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

I'm not holding myself out as some expert on the advisability of buying health insurance. My background was in property and casualty insurance and financial risk management, and I was merely applying principles learned during my career to assessing the risks of not having health insurance, and discussing whether you could make an informed decision about whether you should have health insurance or retain that risk yourself. It's a very individual decision, and there's no way I would be comfortable advising someone on this over the internet. I will say that I applaud the lifestyle you described in your post.

 

I will share that I was uninsured or self-insured from age 50 to age 65, but have been paying Medicare Part B premiums since I turned 65 even though I can't use this coverage in Thailand. It's mainly in the event that I repatriate to the US, to avoid paying late enrollment penalties down the road, and also as backup/emergency medical coverage here, even though I am well-aware of the risks of being unable to travel were i to experience a medical emergency. I chose this strategy based on my assessment of my individual case, and I certainly understand how others could easily conclude that being insured is the best option for them. I'm neither pro- nor anti-insurance. There's no "one size fits all" answer to this question.

My only point was that the need for insurance can be objectively assessed and it's an individual decision.

 

The issue about whether to purchase insurance here in Thailand is further complicated by the fact that many policies have restrictions, sub-limits and caps on hospital stays, any one illness/accident, so that even with an insurance policy in hand, you can end up incurring substantial out-of-pocket expenses. Having a solid understanding of what your medical insurance covers is a critical part of the decision making process.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Repatriation can get very expensive....look at the "gofundme" cases popping up here and there. Worst thing is that someone else may decide whether you are repatriated or not, e.g you are in coma and your relatives try to keep you alive with the home country health care:

 

https://www.chubb.com/th-en/articles/how-much-do-medical-repatriations-cost.html

[Adumbration]

14 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

In the case of expat Australians, some of who call Australia a nanny state, if they come home nanny will get them free health care, the age pension or similar, which they may already get, and rent assistance and lots of discounts. If  in a real bad way, they can get emergency housing, and after some time  a permanent government flat or similar. So that can be better than not much in Thailand I suppose. 

Read my other thread on this point.  If someone returns home for medical treatment they will have to resume residency in Australia to get access to medicare.  They will then have to go through a 2 year wait time before their pension is again portable and they can move back to Thailand.