Warning against traveling to Thailand

[overherebc]

19 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

"For a while, she and her network was able to extract patients with residence in Thailand from the grip of the hospitals “who only follow the rules” and transfer them to self isolation in their homes or to public hospitals, but this loophole was recently plugged."

 

From the article: don't like the sound of the 'self isolation' at home "loophole" now being off the table. The Day 1 / Day 5 hotel+test requirement is fine for tourists who generally need to stay in a hotel anyway but lunacy for anyone with a permanent address here. It also applies to Thai Nationals so we can't say it's a 'foreigner only' problem.

 

Also, what happens if you have family/friends come to visit and they stay with you other than Day 1 / Day 5, and one of them tests positive on Day 5 ... how far does the 'close contact' net get spread (no need to answer, it's a rhetorical question).

 

 

I did ask about if you go for a weekend away and, let's say ìt's not made obvious to you, it's a hotel used by T&G and a day 5 guest is positive are you going to get roped in as a close contact. Couple of answers said don't use a SHA+ hotel but would you feel safe knowing the place isn't SHA+?

Staying home seems a better choice at the moment.

[huangnon]

5 hours ago, ThaiPauly said:

I want to go back to visit my family in the UK but am dreading returning to Thailand.

 

It's been over three years now and my young grandchildren hardly recognise who I am .

 

But coming back to this!!!

 

I'll just have to wait a bit longer, I had planned for later next month but articles like this scare the living daylights out of me..

 

Very informative article though

Hear ya. Similarly, I haven't been back for 3 years also. But I 'bit the bullet', and booked flights for this April when I heard Boris dropped all travel restrictions in the UK.

Hopefully, with the international press putting Thailand's dystopian travel procedures (scams) under the microscope, these dolts will rescind these very soon. Fingers crossed.

[bougnat]

A small flu cost 100,000 baht, that's all they found to revive tourism.

[Guderian]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In most cases, tourists are requested to pay upfront this amount and coordinate insurance claims by themselves later – holding the risk of not being compensated for their hospital expenses.

I'd like to see some actual numbers on how many people have successfully claimed such compensation from their (Thai) insurers. Zero? Single digits? All I've seen is stories about people saying their holidays have been ruined by the insurance companies refusing to pay these bills, in spite of them obviously having had the level of cover demanded by the government to be allowed into the country.

[Misterwhisper]

Strangely, reading the headline alone I immediately knew this was neither a NNT news report nor a TAT announcement.

[dj230]

You just need to get travel insurance, mine covered any covid fiascos, quarantine hotel, tests, hospitalizations. 
 

 

[Harveyboy]

5 hours ago, ukrules said:

Laughable system, once word of this gets around and by that I mean printed in every newspaper in Europe the tourists will abandon Thailand.

word has gotten around for many years about the fleecing antic's and corruption here But tourist's still came ..millions of them ..do you really think this will be any different 

[Bobydog]

5 hours ago, ezflip said:

Better to wait for the SHA+ and ASQ hotels scams to be abolished and the borders to be open like the majorities of other countries before entering Thailand.

 

I liked the last line of the original article where they use the term "detained" to describe the present situation.

Philippines

Fully vaccinated arrivals are no longer required to quarantine on arrival. From 10 February, fully vaccinated Australians are allowed to enter the Philippines, without a visa, provided they meet certain requirements. A range of COVID-19 measures are in place throughout the country. These can change regularly. Follow the Philippines Department of Tourism for the latest advice.

[Thaidai26]

Surprise Surprise Just discovered my Canadian BlueCross  DoesNot cover Asymptomatic forced Hotel/Hospital stays.  After given runaround with double speak and Insurance BS.                               But covered for $5 million ! or  Not.   OK so IF when we leave LOS we are found positive  Are there symptoms we ‘might ‘ have that would then ‘qualify’ for payment of hotel/ hospital charges.                    Asking for a friend.   

[Thaidai26]

Great News.  What insurance company do you use?

[tingtong]

4 hours ago, 2old4fixies said:

I'm curious how many cycles they're using in the PCR tests.  Run them beyond 30 and false positives become more common.  Makes it pretty easy to stack that game.

And the 2 ingredients being present, money incentive +corruption, one will never know...

The tourists has no option to request a new test from an unrelated lab if feel to dispute the result.

 

 

 

[thairookie]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

If a traveler staying at their hotel tests positive, the guest has no choice but to be hospitalized at that specific hospital for 7-10 days at their own cost – usually around 10.000 THB per day. In most cases, tourists are requested to pay upfront this amount and coordinate insurance claims by themselves later – holding the risk of not being compensated for their hospital expenses.

So what if the tourist does not have 100,000 baht to pay upfront ?  Or he simply refuses, insisting on waiting for his approved insurance to foot the bill ?  He gets transferred to a "hospicell" or "prisontel" to serve his quarantine ?

[potless]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I returned recently, and the threat of hospital imprisonment was very stressful.

I can agree with that. Last month, on day 3 of my hotel quarantine, I was on the balcony at around 8 pm and noticed an ambulance parked below. A few minutes later, a man with a suitcase trundled up and entered the back of the ambulance and was then taken away. On the morning of day 6, I was given my 2nd covid test. That evening at around 6 oclock there was a knock on the door which I ignored. Then the bell rang. I went to the door with mounting trepidation and looked through the spyhole. Two figures dressed head to toe in plastic. I opened the door and one of the figures stepped forward. "Would you like some new bedding or towels sir? "

[kingstonkid]

Personally I am not that interested in traveling anywhere in the world you just don't know when the next strain is going to be or what it will look like.

While I can understand the frustration of those that want to or have to travel.

I can understand the government side.  Imagine if they removed this and a new strain that was worse than omicron hit.  The government in most countries are in no win situations.

If everything stays as is the quarantine should be eased in a few months and cease by the fall.

[thaiman]

What would happen if you are forced into a hospital because of positive test, but you don't have the means to pay for it upfront (let's say you don't have credit cards, atm cards, and only 20k THB cash on you), yet you have the covid insurance?  Will the hospital work with the insurer directly for payment?

[thaiman]

47 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I'd like to see some actual numbers on how many people have successfully claimed such compensation from their (Thai) insurers. Zero? Single digits? All I've seen is stories about people saying their holidays have been ruined by the insurance companies refusing to pay these bills, in spite of them obviously having had the level of cover demanded by the government to be allowed into the country.

Can you provide links to these 'stories' please?

[nakhon thai]

Still beats NZ , wont even let their own citizens in 

[tomacht8]

When every tourist has $50,000 insurance, it's clear that the hospitals are trying to suck the maximum out of it. Whether the insurance actually pays afterwards is uncertain. The question of medical necessity is then often asked when it comes to cases without symptoms. The hospitals know that, which is why they insist on payment in advance.

 

In addition, there are also the cases with wrong PCR test results, or cases where on the 7th day in the hospital there is a negative PCR test, but one is forced to stay in the hospital for 3 more days.

 

The big differences in the cost calculations of the hospitals is also a nuisance. Legally, the insurance companies have many options to refuse payment or to reduce it accordingly.

 

Unfortunately, there is a risk that you have paid for insurance, but the insurance does not pay. You have paid for your hotel room in advance, but you cannot use it and you do not receive a refund. You have paid for a PCR test, but the test gives an incorrect result. And you have to spend parts of your vacation in the hospital and you end up with an extremely high hospital bill, even though you feel physically well.

 

Conclusion: The regulations for tourists are extremely customer-unfriendly and bear the traits of a scam.

[fgmr]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

I'll be back as soon as the grow your own marijuana laws comes into effect, i have this nice piece of land i'd like to start using now...

Another scammed farang! As a foreigner you do not own any land.

 

[tomacht8]

18 minutes ago, thairookie said:

So what if the tourist does not have 100,000 baht to pay upfront ?  Or he simply refuses, insisting on waiting for his approved insurance to foot the bill ?  He gets transferred to a "hospicell" or "prisontel" to serve his quarantine ?

This is similar to the entrance fees at the national parks. Thais without money are usually sent home with home quarantine or put in a hospital camp free of charge. Foreigners with little money rarely have a choice.

[CLW]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Probably get removed by TAT representatives later

Not only removed, sued

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

7 hours ago, webfact said:

the guest has no choice but to be hospitalized at that specific hospital for 7-10 days at their own cost

Not true.

Some of our guests have been allowed to quarantine in their pre-booked private villa. As long as their symptoms are minor.

7 groups so far.

So the author of the article cited in the OP is fundamentally lying and spreading disinformation that's eagerly being lapped up by the stress monkeys and Thai bashers.

 

I wonder if the author Gregers Møller is a forum member already?

[jimn]

6 hours ago, ThaiPauly said:

I want to go back to visit my family in the UK but am dreading returning to Thailand.

 

It's been over three years now and my young grandchildren hardly recognise who I am .

 

But coming back to this!!!

 

I'll just have to wait a bit longer, I had planned for later next month but articles like this scare the living daylights out of me..

 

Very informative article though

I have been back to the UK twice since the pandemic started. I am sorry you are just making excuses, if you really cared about seeing your Grandkids then nothing would stop you.

[sambum]

Let me guess - this warning did not come from TAT?

[NanaSomchai]

6 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Yes! More of this please. This is the kind of BAD international press that Thailand deserves and will hopefully embarrass them enough into dropping this shambolic, pathetic, ripoff system, which does absolutely F all regards the safety of the country…

I couldn't agree more with your statement.

 

Name them, shame them, name them, shame them, name them, shame them until they finally get to their senses.

 

When it comes to the tourism sector, I wish nothing but success to the other neighboring ASEAN nations so Thailand finally comes to their senses and realize they need to drop this whole SHA+, ASQ, Thailand Pass scam operation they have had ongoing for over a year now.

 

If you truly love Thailand, the best thing you can do is NOT to travel there at the moment, not send a single dime through fintech services such as Transferwise, empty your Thai bank accounts and withdraw your local assets as much as you can, leave as little as possible there.

 

Because until then, the goons in charge will keep milking people and making a quick buck on the back of this worldwide scaremongering operation, why you may ask? Because they can.

 

Hit them where it hurts; the wallet.

[NanLaew]

22 minutes ago, thaiman said:

Will the hospital work with the insurer directly for payment?

Probably, but while they are sorting that it, you will most likely still be under 'house arrest' and accruing bills.

[Anant72]

7 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Thailand , Come and Enjoy Hospitality in ....... Real Hospitel!!

You mean “hospitElity”. A friend of mine who came from France in early January and tested negative before boarding his plane, was tested positive after arrival in Bangkok. He had to stay at a really crummy “hospitel” in the Phayathai area. The chow was horrible and we had to bring him some decent food (there were many bags at the reception so he was not alone in this predicament). He stayed there 10 days, got some treatment and was eventually released after testing negative twice. I find it outrageous that the hotels that are requisitioned to take in quarantined people are not checked to make sure their “guests” are properly treated. Quarantine is already an unpleasant experience so the food could at least be decent, especially considering the money those people have to cough up ( pun intended).

[NanaSomchai]

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

Laughable system, once word of this gets around and by that I mean printed in every newspaper in Europe the tourists will abandon Thailand.

One can only hope.

 

5 hours ago, smedly said:

This is nothing but a money grabbing scam

Jet ski scam 2.0, Sick water buffalo scam 2.0, Mama is sick need money for hospital scam 2.0, "I love you too much" scam 2.0.

 

5 hours ago, bluejets said:

However, it seems there is no rush to drop this "confinement".

Of course not, this new "confinement" is the new golden goose scam, they are banking so much money on this. Don't delude yourself, it has nothing to do with health concerns, disease prevention issues, etc. It's all about getting a quick extra buck out of you, insurance scam, forced quarantine (at your expense) scam, etc, etc, etc.

 

Thailand money number #1.

 

[Enoon]

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Absolutely correct, this report needs to be published in all the worlds leading news outlets plus the travel companies

All you need to do is send this address........

 

 https://scandasia.com/warning-against-traveling-to-thailand/

 

............to whosoever needs to know/is likely to disseminate it further.

 

 

 

 

 

[NanaSomchai]

4 hours ago, Dukeleto said:

Stop coming and it will happen much quicker. Keep coming and they will keep it running.

Indeed. Vote with your wallet. Go elsewhere until they are forced to drop this entire scamming and skimming operation.