Family get shock bill - 40,000 baht for nothing more than paracetamol

[Harveyboy]

forget coke n the other stuff start dealing paracetamol 40.000 

[Purdey]

Am currently self isolating as I tested positive. Not gone to a doctor or hospital as it is all very mild. It does seems that the Thai medical profession is Americanizing and charging what they want, but without people having affordable medical insurance. Seems to be greed. 

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, new2here said:

I know of two people (both foreigners) first-hand who in the last month or so, self-tested (ie home ATK) positive without symptoms…. but rather than go to the hospital for care etc, just stayed home - literally 24/7- for about a week, plus or minus a few days, then when they double tested negative C-19, just carried on as normal. 

 

Their logic was, rightly or wrongly, they didn’t want the possible risk of getting trapped in some kind of cash-driven healthcare solution … be that a forced stay at huge prices, etc…. They just essentially flew “under the radar” until they tested negative again.. 

 

Not so sure I agree with the idea of a home stay without FIRST consulting a legit healthcare provider—- but i cede that there IS a risk of getting caught up in what ends being for some, a fairly massive cost that seems to be outside of your control as the patient. 

 

so to that end, I can see the logic there. 

They did not know about the home isolation program in place that has been set up in order to reduce the hospitals and such being loaded up.....Sorry to hear that they felt they would be forced into somewhere if indeed they were expats and not tourists....

[NE1]

I love it here , when ever anybody gets caught ripping somebody off , it's always a misunderstanding .

Edited March 29, 2022 by NE1

[new2here]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

They did not know about the home isolation program in place that has been set up in order to reduce the hospitals and such being loaded up.....Sorry to hear that they felt they would be forced into somewhere if indeed they were expats and not tourists....

I’m not sure what they knew or otherwise… but I agree that it’s a shame that fear - regardless if it’s based on a credible risk or not - that made them feel it was better they effectively and purposefully stay outside of the formal medical care sphere… 

[cardinalblue]

There is proper treatment for a disease and then there is opportunity to scam money (fraudulent by the way) under the disguise of covid

 

Test and Go comes to mind…

[new2here]

4 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

There is proper treatment for a disease and then there is opportunity to scam money (fraudulent by the way) under the disguise of covid

 

Test and Go comes to mind…

I wouldn’t say T&G itself is a money scam …  because i can make a case for wanting to know who enters the country and their health status…

 

to that end, I can agree with the concept 

 

Where I think T&G kind of grows wrong is the lack of objectivity and clear definitions and process flow.

 

I would have preferred the government fix/set the price for the Day 1 PCR .. each hotel can set their own prices for the room, food, transport parts - but the C19 test may only be charged at the government set price of X.. That way nicer hotels can charge more and perhaps more basic ones less- but the PCR cost is fixed. 

 

concurrent with that, I’d prefer the ministry of health also explicitly define under what conditions will a person be:

- mandated hospital stay

- offered optional home isolation 

- be released or forced to remain 

 

and lastly, that the OIC or Ministry of Commerce set rules about how insurance, billing and pre-payments are handled.

 

In all, I just want more clarity so everyone knows what the rules ate, what they are not and what’s explicitly defined or not.

 

I don’t think the government should be involved in the day-to-day care aspect,  but I DO think they need to set up a process that people can follow, understand and reduces chances for willful abuse, fraud or even misunderstandings. 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

They said they were advised that by paying it into a certain fund first they would be able to get it back later

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Investigations are underway as the possibility of a misunderstanding is mulled.

And they wonder why some do not report infections.

[Farma]

I know of a farang husband, Thai wife couple who tested positive with mild symptoms in a nearby province recently.

 

Wife contacted the covid line and were assessed over the phone by the Govt hospital Dr to home isolate.

 

Wife received free medication while husband required to pay 2,250 Baht, with official receipt, for his Favipuravir.

 

Care package with medications delivered to their door by the local covid team.

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, kingkenny said:

Imagine being a tourist, strange country/language, no home to do house quarantine, an insurance company that decides they wont cover asymptomatic.

You mean like me when I went to the UK, having no home to go to I had to do a week in quarantine at the Gatwick Holiday Inn at my own expense. 

What if I had tested positive pre departure, it would have been the same all over again.

If you want to travel you have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[sambum]

4 hours ago, Hans Johnson said:

My wife’s father who is in his eighties  tested positive yesterday and the family requested for him to be hospitalised and they sent a van and put PPE suit on him and said it cost 12000 Baht. Now we wait what the final statement.

This is typical of the Thai money making mindset. As there are so few tourists requiring treatment foir cuts and bruises, Covid is the ideal way to make up the shortfall on  profits - "legal profiteering" to keep the fat cats in charge happy.

 

"The authorities have reiterated that all Covid-19 treatment should be free. Investigations are underway as the possibility of a misunderstanding is mulled." 

 

What part of "free" do they not understand?  

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Cadan said:

There is zero consumer protection in this country. It’s a joke. I parted with 2500 baht medication that costs 350 baht. Thus my only advise is do not buy Pharma at any hospital - refuse it 

The pharmacy at my hospital is significantly cheaper than any of the ones on the street, saved about 30% on hypertension tablets getting them from the hospital.

[it is what it is]

2 hours ago, SomchaiCNX said:

The owner (doctor) of a well known hospital, just bought a rolls royce. The hotel of a partner (doctor) is now used as a place to isolate Covid patients. Gives you an idea about how doctors in Thailand think. Quite normal with the kind of selection they have in place. You will get a lot of disturbed and antisocial nerds with no EQ at all who pass the entrance exams.

 

i once dated the director of a hospital, she had an amazing house, many servants and, though she couldn't drive, had three cars; a mercedes, BMW and pick up...

[Mavideol]

there must be a confusion/misunderstanding as there are no scams in Thailand  555

[sandyf]

10 minutes ago, sambum said:

This is typical of the Thai money making mindset. As there are so few tourists requiring treatment foir cuts and bruises, Covid is the ideal way to make up the shortfall on  profits - "legal profiteering" to keep the fat cats in charge happy.

And this is typical of the falang Thai bashing mindset.

Costs me 100 baht to have appointment with both the dermatologist and cardiologist.

Would you have me register a complaint?

[RocketDog]

5 hours ago, DezLez said:

A bill for 40,236BHT of paracetamol takes a lot of swallowing!

Indeed. A bitter pill for sure.

[ivor bigun]

When i was ill i spent one night in a private hospital 52k one baby asprin 27 baht , 3 nights in govt hospital with tests ,x rays ,scans etc ,about 40k including 8 kinds of meds for 3 months ,great service there. oh plus an ambulance to collect me.

one other thing i  get eye drops for eye pressure ,govt hospital 780 baht.farcino 1278 baht ,private hospital 2500 baht.

Edited March 29, 2022 by ivor bigun

[RichardColeman]

You do not end a pandemic with hospitals acting as rogue agents and thieves

[RocketDog]

Brake failure.

The inability to put a stop to unbridled greed.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Talk about sticker shock! 

7/11 has paracetamol for 20 baht!

The family (of four) weren't at a 7-11, they were at a hospital for four Covid checks where paracetamol is charged at B59.

Edited March 29, 2022 by Liverpool Lou

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, Harveyboy said:

forget coke n the other stuff start dealing paracetamol 40.000 

The paracetamol cost 59b, Did you read the full OP or just the shock jock thread title ?

Edited March 29, 2022 by Ralf001

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Usually a bill has some sort of summary of expenses.

Their four bills did also, as clearly shown in the photo, one item at B10,000 another at B59.

Edited March 29, 2022 by Liverpool Lou

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, DezLez said:

A bill for 40,236BHT of paracetamol takes a lot of swallowing!

Four bills of B10,059 per person, not a single patient's bill for B40k+, that's a bit easier to take.

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Yes. They forgot to add the vat and service charge ++

The family forgot to mention that the bill also covered four doctor's certificates in addition to the Covid investigations.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, firestar said:

Err.. no. I had covid here and was given the breakdown of all the costs at the start. But don't let it stop you from having a little cry and playing the victim at a situation you made up  .

Just par for his (Thai-bashing) course here!

Edited March 29, 2022 by Liverpool Lou

[MrJ2U]

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

Down at my local pharmacy, Tylenol 500 mg cost 100 baht for 100 tablets.

I'm jealous!

[Dart12]

4 hours ago, kingkenny said:

I can confirm this, here is my ongoing story.

 

Myself and my two sons went to the UK for a month, tested positive with ATK in UK, two weeks later we all tested negative by PCR for fit to fly back to Bangkok. We arrived in Bangkok evening 24th and straight to hotel for PCR tests, Eventually get the results at 3pm on 25th. I showed as positive, eldest son showed as Equivocal, youngest son negative. I eventually get them to accept home quarantine but before they send the transport I must deposit 20,000 Baht to the hospital, I contacted my insurance who said they will not cover me as I have no symptoms. I get the 20k down to 10 and transfer and they send a van to send me home.

 

In the mean time I talk on the phone with the hospital and ask what the money is for, I am told for medicine to cure my covid (yes this is what she said) and for a Dr to call me daily to check my symptoms.

 

Anyway a Dr called on 26th, asked how I am, I told her the same as the previous day, nothing wrong with me, she agreed that I am not infectious (never met me or examined me) and said she will release me from home quarantine on 31st, and she would send medicines and food, I refused meds, she sent a thermometer, an oxy reader, some masks and bin bags, also food has arrived that I reject as I wouldn't feed it to my dog.

 

I have had no more calls, they chat to me via Line app.

 

Long story short for my 10k I have a thermometer, oxy reader, masks and bin bags and one Dr call, and a van home (10km),

Thankfully my insurance have now agreed that as I am home quarantine they will class it as an OPD every day and will cover, so fingers crossed I get my 10k back, or what could have been 20k if I hadn't stood firm. 

 

Imagine being a tourist, strange country/language, no home to do house quarantine, an insurance company that decides they wont cover asymptomatic.

 

Absolute joke.

 

This has been pretty much one of  the true uses of covid from day 1. 

Amazing how nothing has changed...only the narrative being pitched after the robbery and pillaging has been committed.

[MrJ2U]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The family (of four) weren't at a 7-11, they were at a hospital for a Covid check where paracetamol is charged at B59.

Do what everyone else does...

 

Don't purchase over the counter medicine from the hospital.

Edited March 29, 2022 by onthedarkside
flame comment removed

[david555]

And such a horror bill can become starting  yours at any place where you test positive no symptoms needed ...the new covid earner by Thailand ....double it for us farang ????

 

I keep my personal limited  quarantaine untill i fly out LOS in a few months because this is a scam who can easely affect any of us .....hearing a ambulance sirene after a temperature alert on your person ....RUN FARANG RUN ! ????

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Harveyboy said:

forget coke n the other stuff start dealing paracetamol 40.000 

The para was B59, not B40k, the other item on each of the four bills was B10,000 for each of the individual patients.