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

[Blumpie]

Zero.  Sympathy.

Well I do for his little ones.  This will be a holiday to remember all right.

When a hospital stay is not medically required and yet you have to go and sit there for 10 days for no real reason (you could do it in a hotel room) then generally they will not pay for it.  

As so many people have stated, travel right now is very very very messy and hard with many hoops to go through and many problems can exist.  It is simply not the time to be travelling right now but if you choose to, then it's ok, you took into account all these eventualities right?  Right?  

[acepredator]

6 hours ago, Chris.B said:

350,000 baht hospital bill, nearly £8,000 for 10 day stay! Must be a good room at 35,000 baht a night!

The 350,000 baht bill included the cost of hotel quarantine for his wife and two children, not just the cost of the hospital alone. This was clearly stated in the article.

[Blumpie]

1 hour ago, whaleboneman said:

I'm in Costa Rica now. PM me if you have any questions. I'm trying to stop posting here but I still am a follower.

I have two friends in central america right now.  ????  

[Russell17au]

19 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

So, the Thai people who have been close to that infected farang also have to quarantine in an expensive hotel? I don't think so. This is about money. Several Thai people in my neighborhood in Bangkok have tested positive during the pandemic and all of them have simply been told to go home and self-isolated. All of them. (And, not all were asymptomatic.) None of their family members were carted off to quarantine. Exactly none.

That is right they tell the Thai's to go home and self quarantine. You seem to forget that this man and his family are not Thai's and they are not residents of Thailand so yes just tell them to go home and self quarantine when they don't have a home in Thailand.

[MarkyM3]

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I read that other countries have similar rules if Covid positive on arrival. 

The Thai government has done a lot better than my home country, Scotland's government. So you don't live in Thailand and don't want to come here - welcome to the forum ????

Para 1 - wrong. I am flying to the US next month to visit family there. Also just returned to the UK from Slovakia 2 weeks ago. Neither have anything like these requirements, as any cursory check on the internet would reveal. You're either ill-informed or a wind-up merchant (probably both having read your posts over the years - I've been on this forum since 2009 iirc so no welcome needed LOL).

 

Para2 - the Thai government have forced millions into poverty by destroying the tourist industry and the economy is flatlining. If Wee Jimmy Krankie were to lay out the welcome mat for you when you return home and set up a special 2 week C19 stay in hospital paid for entirely out of your own pocket, despite being fully vaxxed and tested, I'm sure you'd approve? ???? 

[KhaoYai]

Another nail in the tourism coffin.

[KhaoYai]

6 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

When a hospital stay is not medically required and yet you have to go and sit there for 10 days for no real reason (you could do it in a hotel room) then generally they will not pay for it.  

So many people are saying this, I can't speak for other people's insurance policies but provided I'm instructed to quarantine by the authorities, my insurance (UK company) covers that.

 

I'm sure I'm not alone and I believe this requirement is covered by the specific policies provided by Thai insurers.

[Digitalbanana]

3 hours ago, Boyn said:

To qualify for entry into Thailand you have to have covid insurance so why would they not pay out?

Just like the o/p said:

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Kirovs estimates he may have to pay 350,000 Baht towards hospital and quarantine fees if his insurance provider won’t cover it.

 

“I knew that I was taking a gamble when I chose to buy plane tickets as soon as the Thailand reopening was announced,” Kirovs told Richard.

 

“We lost that bet.”

[thaiman]

23 minutes ago, freestyle said:

 There are too many people who know someone who has been send to quarantaine after arrival...

 

Where did you get this info?

[Molly Malone]

5 hours ago, jaiyen said:

So out of the 7000 Thai people who are testing positive every day, where are they going and how much are they paying ?  

They are going home, at zero cost and God bless and protect them all. Who was the Joe Ferrari doppelgänger that calculated the 350,000 bill?  Heaven help the Thai Tourisim Industry after this gets worldwide exposure! 

[Morty T]

Not following the logic here. If someone tests positive after landing, it would follow suit that everyone else on the plane with this person should also be quarantined. They were also exposed. 

[Russell17au]

2 minutes ago, Morty T said:

Not following the logic here. If someone tests positive after landing, it would follow suit that everyone else on the plane with this person should also be quarantined. They were also exposed. 

No one knows and it has not been reported if the other passengers have been notified to get a covid check. But knowing what it is like on here there will be all the warriors screaming that the other passengers have not been notified when they do not know same as the taxi driver.

[ThailandRyan]

7 hours ago, Chris.B said:

350,000 baht hospital bill, nearly £8,000 for 10 day stay! Must be a good room at 35,000 baht a night!

They charge you for the PPE worn by the nurses and staff that check on you every day, and then the room needs to be sanitized as well.  Who do you think pays those costs.  The average runs between 250k and 350K Thb for just being asymptomatic.  If you have symptoms and need true medical attention the cost rises tremendously.  Everyone who test positive is put in isolation here in one way or another.

[Fairynuff]

Hospitals are for sick people, if you’re not sick and forced into hospital it’s nothing more than a scam and open to serious abuse. Self isolation is a different story and there should be a way to enforce and monitor it. The successful opening of the country could screech to a halt when this gets around.

[Paradise Pete]

6 hours ago, tezzaaa said:

Interesting post (+ good to know), does anyone know/recommend any Thai insurance that would  cover costs if found positive?

 

 

 

Mine does, even if asymptomatic forced hospitalization. I bought it for the Test & Go deal.  (approved and I received my pass)

 

It says in the Remarks section:

1. This plan is covered for any medical expenses for COVID-19.
2. The expenses of Quarantined with no symptoms or treatment is not covered under the policy unless the insured is tested positive to COVID-19 and that government regulation requires hospitalization for monitoring.

 

Company is Tune Protect. I paid 3,100 baht for 30 days. It's cheaper if you're younger (I'm 64).

I'd never heard of them, but it took only a few minutes and I received the necessary documents by email.

https://www.tuneprotect.co.th/th

(change the /th to /en for English)

[JCP108]

15 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

 Everyone who test positive is put in isolation here in one way or another.

Not true in our part of Bangkok. Some Thai people in the neighborhood have tested positive during the pandemic and some were not fully asymptomatic. All were given some meds and simply asked to self-quarantine. Some of their contacts were asked to test and those who were positive were asked to self-quarantine. None were sent to formal quarantine. 

[Russell17au]

4 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

Hospitals are for sick people, if you’re not sick and forced into hospital it’s nothing more than a scam and open to serious abuse. Self isolation is a different story and there should be a way to enforce and monitor it. The successful opening of the country could screech to a halt when this gets around.

So if you show a positive test result to the current worlds most contagious virus you are not sick so you do not need to be hospitalised? So as far a concerned you must wait until a person is dying before they are taken to hospital for treatment. The people that I know who have had a positive result to this virus has been taken to hospital where they received treatment to try a minimise the affect and to try and stop it from progressing further. Which is something that they do not get when in Quarantine.

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Not true in our part of Bangkok. Some Thai people in the neighborhood have tested positive during the pandemic and some were not fully asymptomatic. All were given some meds and simply asked to self-quarantine. Some of their contacts were asked to test and those who were positive were asked to self-quarantine. None were sent to formal quarantine. 

I didn't say for locals. That was changed many months ago to allow self isolation. The OP is on travelers. Locals can isolate at home tourists can not isolate in their hotels. They are made to move to an AQ hotel where they can be watched and food delivered. The people that check o  them do wear PPEs and the rooms are also sanitized.

[CH1961]

6 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

to provide a negative PCR test before boarding.

Bought on Internet?

[Mrfox]

I thought insurance coverage was mandatory for entry to Thailand? 

[mran66]

If I were Thai goverment, as part of the overall tourist attraction plan, I would institute a policy that anybody who would be quarantined due to being victim of this testing policy would be put to nice luxyry pool villa with full board at goverment cost, and on top of that would give $1000 voucher for each person to welcome them later. Best I could do to alleviate concerns of this system. So few test positive cases that for sure it would bring more than cost, and minimise the bad press.

 

But I know they are too simple-minded xenofobic that for sure they will not.

[JustAnotherHun]

14 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

So if you show a positive test result to the current worlds most contagious virus you are not sick so you do not need to be hospitalised? So as far a concerned you must wait until a person is dying before they are taken to hospital for treatment. The people that I know who have had a positive result to this virus has been taken to hospital where they received treatment to try a minimise the affect and to try and stop it from progressing further. Which is something that they do not get when in Quarantine.

It seems you have no idea what you're talking about.

Worlds most contagious virus? BS!

Anyone who's infected is taken to a hospital? LoL! As long as you're tested positive but asymptomatic, you do not need any treatment and surely not in a hospital. Otherwise there would be MILLIONs of people in each country staying in hospitals. Positive but asymptomatic means quarantaine at home, nothing else.

[Farangus]

Indeed, frightening information.
I am going to travel to Thailand in January, and I need to pre invest about $ 2000 in the trip just to apply for a Thai visa (air tickets, insurance, payment for hotels, tests, transfers, etc.).
I have recently been ill with Covid-19 and I hope that I have developed immunity. Also, I'm going to get vaccinated in December.
What scares me most is the possibility of getting a false positive test or "bad neighborhood" on the plane.
But the most important question: how can I be forced to pay for an expensive hospital or quarantine hotel? I do not use credit cards (only debit cards with my personal money). And on my card, I won't even have 30,000 baht on purpose to pay for a quarantine hotel (all accommodation is paid in advance to obtain a visa, and the main money for rest is on a bank account, which I will not tell).

 

Will Thai police or soldiers torture me to get my relatives to transfer money? Will they tie me to a chair (like terrorists) and make a video in which I, with tears in my eyes, ask my family to send them money? Or will they put me on a return plane (who will pay for this if I don’t give money)? Any ideas?

[WHansen]

14 minutes ago, Paradise Pete said:

Mine does, even if asymptomatic forced hospitalization. I bought it for the Test & Go deal.  (approved and I received my pass)

 

It says in the Remarks section:

1. This plan is covered for any medical expenses for COVID-19.
2. The expenses of Quarantined with no symptoms or treatment is not covered under the policy unless the insured is tested positive to COVID-19 and that government regulation requires hospitalization for monitoring.

 

Company is Tune Protect. I paid 3,100 baht for 30 days. It's cheaper if you're younger (I'm 64).

I'd never heard of them, but it took only a few minutes and I received the necessary documents by email.

https://www.tuneprotect.co.th/th

(change the /th to /en for English)

You do understand that if you sat next to a positive case on the plane, got sent into quarantine or hospital and did not test positive yourself, your insurance would not pay out ?

[JustAnotherHun]

8 minutes ago, CH1961 said:

Bought on Internet?

sure. and the double vaxxination was fake..blabla

[Russell17au]

1 minute ago, JustAnotherHun said:

It seems you have no idea what you're talking about.

Worlds most contagious virus? BS!

Anayone who's infected is taken to a hospital? LoL! As long as you're tested positive but asymptomatic, you do not need any treatment and surly not in a hospital. Otherwise there would be MILLIONs of people in each country staying in a hospital. Positive but asymptomatic means quarantaine at home, nthing else.

You need to go back to school and learn to read. I said the CURRENT which is something that it appears that you cannot see and understand

[JeffersLos]

2 hours ago, relax33 said:

937,979 baht

I hope they didn't short change him and gave him back the full 21 baht. 

[JCP108]

1 hour ago, Russell17au said:

That is right they tell the Thai's to go home and self quarantine. You seem to forget that this man and his family are not Thai's and they are not residents of Thailand so yes just tell them to go home and self quarantine when they don't have a home in Thailand.

I have an apartment in Bangkok where I could go home and self-quarantine. Wonder what would happen with me if I am in this situation?

[madmen]

No way I would pay if forced to hospital testing negative. They can say a thousand times.. You pay you pay followed by me.. No hab no hab.. 

[JustAnotherHun]

2 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

You need to go back to school and learn to read. I said the CURRENT which is something that it appears that you cannot see and understand

I know the word current, but you don't know what contagious means.

What you wrote about asymptomatic people taken to hospitsals is just laughable.

Sue your teachers.