Tourist faces huge bill, separation from family after testing positive on arrival in Thailand

[Dexxter]

22 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Even with a full-time stunning woman thrown into the mix, 35k a day is extortion.

[Nino3]

2 hours ago, RafPinto said:

 

 

They should make it compulsory for everyone "thais included" to have both vaccines and test negative before flying.

Any and all persons flying scheduled commercial flights must present a negative PCR test. Thai nationals were exempt for only repatriation flights. (Thai Embassy Los Angeles)

[Jimbosan]

With the verified number of false positive tests that continue to occur worldwide, One would think anyone testing positive, with no symptoms...would request a second test before agreeing to the cost of any quarantine.  Especially because everyone entering the Kingdom was already required to test within 72 hours of their flight departure!

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

No they should not.  Thais have the right to enter their country without being vaccinated. 

What a selfish, paranoid attitude. 

Sorry, but in today's times  all should be tested prior to flying and if unvacvinated seated separately.

[ThailandRyan]

37 minutes ago, vinci said:

honestly you can't blame the Thai for what they do, why not blame the retard people that thinking its a good time to travel, they made the choice, maybe get some common sense next time, now they paying the price

Well for one, the Thai Government is falling all over themselves to bring tourism back...

[Farangus]

Thai health insurance for foreigners costs about 3,000 baht per month (average price). Currently, among those who arrived, 0.1% with a positive test. This means that approximately 1 in 1000 people have a positive PCR test upon arrival.
1000 people x 3000 baht = 3 million baht for every thousand people.
Even if we take into account the amount of 350,000 baht (hospital and quarantine hotel for the all family), Thai insurance companies still have 2,650 thousand baht in net profit for every thousand arrivals.
Of course, the calculations are approximate, because not all arriving are foreigners, Thais do not pay for insurance (but they do not need an expensive private hospital). But in any case, this is a grandiose fraud on the part of the Thai authorities.
If they really wanted to get a large number of tourists, it is enough to charge everyone 300-500 baht of special insurance that covers everything (treatment, quarantine hotel, etc.). Insurance companies will not be at a loss, but all tourists will be guaranteed to be protected from large payments and will leave much more money in Thailand for the lives of local residents. Unfortunately, the Thai authorities do not want to understand this (or are simply not interested in it).

[Catoni]

On 11/10/2021 at 2:43 AM, Gold Star said:

Getting in and out of Thailand is too risky at this time. Better off taking a holiday in Afghanistan. 

Looking at a number of alternatives. Sri Lanka, India, Belize, Costa Rica, Equador.  And the city of Asunción in Paraguay is a bit tempting. 

[SmartyMarty]

On 11/10/2021 at 1:20 PM, Bkk Brian said:

Not only if you test positive but as in the OP even if you test negative and were next to someone in the car or plane you still get carted off for 2 weeks. I doubt any International Insurance companies will pay out for this? Even if they do you also need to ensure they pay out there and then and not make you pay first.  Probably only Thai Insurance companies will cover this.

"Probably only Thai Insurance companies will cover this". No they won't.

[SmartyMarty]

33 minutes ago, Farangus said:

Thai health insurance for foreigners costs about 3,000 baht per month (average price). Currently, among those who arrived, 0.1% with a positive test. This means that approximately 1 in 1000 people have a positive PCR test upon arrival.
1000 people x 3000 baht = 3 million baht for every thousand people.
Even if we take into account the amount of 350,000 baht (hospital and quarantine hotel for the all family), Thai insurance companies still have 2,650 thousand baht in net profit for every thousand arrivals.
Of course, the calculations are approximate, because not all arriving are foreigners, Thais do not pay for insurance (but they do not need an expensive private hospital). But in any case, this is a grandiose fraud on the part of the Thai authorities.
If they really wanted to get a large number of tourists, it is enough to charge everyone 300-500 baht of special insurance that covers everything (treatment, quarantine hotel, etc.). Insurance companies will not be at a loss, but all tourists will be guaranteed to be protected from large payments and will leave much more money in Thailand for the lives of local residents. Unfortunately, the Thai authorities do not want to understand this (or are simply not interested in it).

the problem with your (admittedly sensible) idea is that if insurance is included by a special fee then the Thai insurer has little or no chance of rejecting you out of hand and leaving you with a bloody big bill.

[Farangus]

3 minutes ago, SmartyMarty said:

the problem with your (admittedly sensible) idea is that if insurance is included by a special fee then the Thai insurer has little or no chance of rejecting you out of hand and leaving you with a bloody big bill.

I understand this, but I'm sad that the monetary interests of several insurance companies (and, possibly, generals interested in this) are valued higher than the lives and well-being of millions of Thais (who are in dire need of tourist money).

[scorecard]

24 minutes ago, Farangus said:

I understand this, but I'm sad that the monetary interests of several insurance companies (and, possibly, generals interested in this) are valued higher than the lives and well-being of millions of Thais (who are in dire need of tourist money).

Seems to me this strongly indicates the compulsory Covid- 19 health insurance needs to be redesigned to provide full cover for such/all situations!

[anchadian]

Yesterday, 2,019 people flew into #Thailand with four of them testing positive. This brings the total since 1st November to 30,538 arrivals and 35 infections (0.11%). Most are taking part in Test & Go (19,949 | 0.09% infected) and most landed at Suvarnbhumi airport (19,513)

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1458718019090223104

 

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Yesterday, 2,019 people flew into #Thailand with four of them testing positive. This brings the total since 1st November to 30,538 arrivals and 35 infections (0.11%). Most are taking part in Test & Go (19,949 | 0.09% infected) and most landed at Suvarnbhumi airport (19,513)

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1458718019090223104

 

But what they leave out of the statistics is how many were negative but had the unfortunate experience to be next to one of those positive and have now also been carted away to quarantine......

[Fab5BKK]

On 11/10/2021 at 2:02 PM, redsongthaew said:

 

AXA have an excellent policy:

 

https://axaxl.com/insurance/products/security-risks

When you say "Axa has an excellent policy", do yo mean:

1. I bought this policy AND I made a claim AND Axa did pay accordingly to the brochure

or

2. You read the policy online and you've the feeling that this policy is good?

or

3. You work for Axa?

 

Please clarify

 

BTW, they have an "excellent travel insurance policy" with coverage of personal items....

Great!!!

The trick is that, if you make a claim, they do want to see the original receipts / invoices for these personal items (socks, shirts, etc.). Who, in his right mind, would keep this kind of receipts?

[stigar]

3 hours ago, DavisH said:

ICU is about 30K baht / day at a local provate hospital. So make of that fee what you will:) They mus use the most expensive paracetamol in existence lol

Last time i stayed 11 hours in hospital in BKK..48.000 bath..pay or they take my passport.Land of scammers.They wanted me to stay 1 day more.Told them to f... off.I went back to norway.No problems the doctor here told me.

[onthedarkside]

A post with unsourced and unsubstantiated COVID testing claims has been removed.

 

[freedomnow]

Sri Lanka vs current Thai system

 

Vaccinations and vaccinated travel

Travelers who present a valid international certificate for full vaccination against COVID-19, with the use of an approved vaccine, are exempt from testing on arrival, quarantine, and testing on day 14 after arrival requirements.

 

https://www.skyscanner.net/travel-restrictions/Sri Lanka/29475281?origin=29475375

Edited November 11, 2021 by freedomnow

[AndresSP]

14 hours ago, MaiChai said:

Hope the international press pick up on this story up. What they don't tell you will happen if you arrive in Bangkok and test positive!

 

Most people who are vaccinated will suffer bad flu symptoms for a couple of days if they get covid; they certainly don't need to go to hospital unless their health deteriorates.

Yep. No offence to Richard Barrow but this is a BBC worthy story solely on the merits of Thailand's shenanigans.

[aussiexpat]

1 minute ago, AndresSP said:

Yep. No offence to Richard Barrow but this is a BBC worthy story solely on the merits of Thailand's shenanigans.

And yet he is the only one interviewing such people bringing it to the attention of the World?

[AndresSP]

7 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

And yet he is the only one interviewing such people bringing it to the attention of the World?

There is still a good chance this incident or one the next ones, as they are surely coming, is picked up by British/Aussie tabloids. Imagine the creative headlines it can generate. 

[aussiexpat]

4 minutes ago, AndresSP said:

There is still a good chance this incident or one the next ones, as they are surely coming, is picked up by British/Aussie tabloids. Imagine the creative headlines it can generate. 

It already went to the Independent, but nothing since, seems no-one really cares ????

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/thailand-pass-reopening-rules-paperwork-b1954324.html

Edited November 11, 2021 by aussiexpat

[thaivisareader]

Reasons to come to Thailand at this time: returning resident expat reuniting with family & home.

Reasons for tourists to visit Thailand at this time: 0. 

[zzaa09]

7 hours ago, thaiman said:

This is a good point.  So many if not all flights contain unvaccinated people sitting alongside vaccinated people?

Need to update yourself. 

Currently, all airlines/flights [certainly internationally/int'l carriers] require authorized proof of vaccination documentation before flying - and in most other situations, also require proof of testing 48-72 hrs before flight. 

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, Neeranam said:

No they should not.  Thais have the right to enter their country without being vaccinated. 

What a selfish, paranoid attitude. 

Of course they have thr right to enter their own country.

 

On the other hand, the gov't., wants very large numbers of big spending tourist and foreign returnees to enter, so the gov't should have created a structure which caters safely to both groups. And/or redesigned the requirements in the health insurance so that foreigners who fly in can't get stuck with charges like this.

 

So encourage tourist etc., to come in then they caught in massive health costs, doesn't exactly encourage tourists to arrive.  

[Kopitiam]

Come to think of it, the option of Thailand proposing a 500 Baht Hospitalisation Fee for each arrival looks very attractive in this situation.  Furthermore, all visitors don't have to worry about insurance requirement for their Thailand Pass application.  Win-win for all.

[stat]

1 hour ago, Kopitiam said:

Come to think of it, the option of Thailand proposing a 500 Baht Hospitalisation Fee for each arrival looks very attractive in this situation.  Furthermore, all visitors don't have to worry about insurance requirement for their Thailand Pass application.  Win-win for all.

Would be nice if it it were for hospital costs....

 

[redsongthaew]

On 11/10/2021 at 2:22 PM, Mac Mickmanus said:

I dunno , it depends on how you word it on your insurance claim . 

  *I had just arrived at the airport and then a group of three masked men came and accosted me , they stuck something up my nose and then forcible whisked me off to a room where they locked me in for 14 days and wouldn't release  me unless I paid them 325 000 Baht *

 

Or perhaps...

 

I had just arrived at the airport when a group of three masked men came and accosted me. I was face raped against my will by a man with a long probe and then forcibly imprisoned in a room for 14 days. I was held hostage until I paid them a ransom of 325,000 Baht.

[redsongthaew]

On 11/10/2021 at 5:39 PM, ifmu said:

So are you saying that axa would cover these 2 people and family if the bought the insurance

Give them a call and see what they can do for you.

[redsongthaew]

On 11/10/2021 at 10:17 PM, Puccini said:

...but AXA has an age limit.

Perhaps for medical/travel insurance, but not for the insurance I linked to.

[redsongthaew]

On 11/11/2021 at 1:09 AM, Letseng said:

But there is an age limit.

See my comment just above.