5 stitches, 18000 Baht

[Hummin]

7 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

130 tablets and 466 line items in 3 days? That's beyond excessive.

It is impressive what they put on as items, and the prices is out of the sky. 

[Lorry]

11 minutes ago, Bosse137 said:

Last week,my wife had Covid.I brought her to BKK-KhonKaen hospital.I was told to prepay 30000 Baht.I was also told,that if the bill would be less.I naturally would get som money back.After 3 days she left the hospital,and I was presented with a bill of 66000 Baht,that is,I had to pay 36000 more.At no time did she meet the doctor,never used any machin,except for one,that meassured bloodpreassure automatic.We had to pay for a lot of tests,that I did not see were needed.Antibody test for HiV,for instance (755B).She had to take 16 different medicin,total 130 tablets...Her stomac has not got back to normal yet....All in all,there were 466 different,individual items, to pay for !I will not accuse them of doing anything wrong,but I dare say,that it was an experience....

It works the other way round.

To run a place like Bangkok Hospital you have very high sunk costs. For example,  Bangkok Hospital Udon had the first cath-lab north of Khon Kaen. 

To get a return on investment, this kind of hospital has to make a certain amount of money every day for every  patient

The break-even point is rather high. I remember being told 25,000, but that was another hospital and long ago.

 

So, you cannot expect to stay there for less than 25,000 per day - they would lose money. 

 

What they do to justify these 25,000 doesn't really matter. 

Just be creative and find some tests you can do,  or give the patient 5 useful meds where one would do, or find another specialist to consult.

In the end, it must be at least 25,000.

 

It is a business,  after all.

 

[PJ71]

6 hours ago, SuperSilverHaze said:

I've literally sown a friend up with three stitches with a sewing needle and thread.

What's your name, John Rambo?

[Damrongsak]

In October, I went to Loei hospital ER with gut pain.  They did 3 x-rays and a CT scan. I stayed over one night as a precaution.  16,500.  One line item was 14,000, presumably the CT scan & x-rays.  They told me in advance that the scan would be pricey. 

[Celsius]

13 hours ago, Bosse137 said:

Last week,my wife had Covid.I brought her to BKK-KhonKaen hospital.I was told to prepay 30000 Baht.I was also told,that if the bill would be less.I naturally would get som money back.After 3 days she left the hospital,and I was presented with a bill of 66000 Baht,that is,I had to pay 36000 more.At no time did she meet the doctor,never used any machin,except for one,that meassured bloodpreassure automatic.We had to pay for a lot of tests,that I did not see were needed.Antibody test for HiV,for instance (755B).She had to take 16 different medicin,total 130 tablets...Her stomac has not got back to normal yet....All in all,there were 466 different,individual items, to pay for !I will not accuse them of doing anything wrong,but I dare say,that it was an experience....

 

Just for general information and not endorsing this at all. I never go there.

 

But for some small amount....I think 1000b or so, you can get a Bangkok Hospital membership and get 10% off.

[Gottfrid]

18 000 baht!?? Oh dear! First trip to Thailand?

[daveAustin]

On 1/18/2023 at 8:13 PM, PJ71 said:

What's your name, John Rambo?

Beat me to it!

'John J?'

[nigelforbes]

On 1/18/2023 at 1:43 PM, BritManToo said:

Fell and cut my knee open (bone showing) while running in the mountains, 8 stitches, 250bht (CM neurological hospital) inc meds, another 150bht to have them removed.

Fell off my bicycle face first, chin split, jaw broken, 2 teeth snapped in half, under 4,000bht (CM Siam Hospital), 8 stitches in my chin, jaw glued, 2 teeth rebuilt (5-8 visits in all).

 

Yes, I think Thailand is cheap.

I think so too. Last night I made my first visit to San Sai public hospital after stepping on a rusty nail buried in a piece of wood. Injection to numb the foot, open the wound to explore and clean out any debris, close, bandage, tetanus shot, five day course of antibiotics plus Tylenol, 197 baht, all in! Excellent  care and all very professional, i would have been 6k at RAM, easy. 

[spidermike007]

You simply went to the wrong place. Some hospitals are quite expensive here. Many are not. And a small clinic could have helped you for next to nothing. 

 

It is fairly hard for me to relate to this post. I am not a rich man. But, I find the public hospitals here to be extremely fair, with their pricing. Even a visit to Bangkok Hospital, to see an orthopedic specialist, get some x-rays, and an exam costs me $60. At a private clinic in the US, probably $300-400. A visit to the emergency room of a hospital in the US, costs $2,000 and up. For an hour visit. In a public hospital here, that same visit is about 600 baht. They are charging so little to the Thai people, due to universal health care. And that is a very good thing for the people. They have to make up for it, to some extent with us. What is the issue with that? I am quite happy with the medical care here, and the associated costs. No complaints from me.

 

A good friend of mine got in a bad motorcycle accident some time ago. He almost lost his leg. He got his first of 11 operations at Bangkok Hospital Samui. It costs him over a million baht. They wanted to do a second procedure. They quoted him 1.4 million baht. He decided to transfer to Bangkok. He was quoted 460,000 baht for the same procedure, at a top private hospital there. The surgeon told him that he worked at a public hospital too, and could do the same operation there, for alot less money. He told him he would get him a quote. In the interim, my friend called a buddy in San Diego, who is an orthopedic surgeon. Since my friend is a retired chiropractor, who knew all the terminology, and explained what he needed, and asked for the best price. His friend called him back, and quoted him $960,000, with cash discounts! The local surgeon got back to him, and told him he could do it for 46,000 baht. He transferred, and they did all the rest of his procedures. So, 1.4 million at Bangkok Hospital, 460,000 at the other private hospital in Bangkok (I think it was Vejthani Hospital), and 46,000 at the public hospital, with an excellent surgeon. VS. 32,000,000 baht in the US. Again, no complaints from this peanut gallery.

Edited January 24, 2023 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

52 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

I think so too. Last night I made my first visit to San Sai public hospital after stepping on a rusty nail buried in a piece of wood. Injection to numb the foot, open the wound to explore and clean out any debris, close, bandage, tetanus shot, five day course of antibiotics plus Tylenol, 197 baht, all in! Excellent  care and all very professional, i would have been 6k at RAM, easy. 

And $2,100 at a US emergency room, or $300 and up at a private clinic. Thailand is very reasonable for medical care, as long as you know the spots to avoid. 

[Lorry]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

went to the wrong place

Alternatives  would  been: a place with a bad reputation, on the other side of the road; a place closed down before covid - maybe they are open again?; a plastic surgery place, not sure whether they are still in business after covid; the public hospital,  1 hour away - should have  gone there

[Lorry]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

You simply went to the wrong place. Some hospitals are quite expensive here. Many are not. And a small clinic could have helped you for next to nothing. 

 

It is fairly hard for me to relate to this post. I am not a rich man. But, I find the public hospitals here to be extremely fair, with their pricing. Even a visit to Bangkok Hospital, to see an orthopedic specialist, get some x-rays, and an exam costs me $60. At a private clinic in the US, probably $300-400. A visit to the emergency room of a hospital in the US, costs $2,000 and up. For an hour visit. In a public hospital here, that same visit is about 600 baht. They are charging so little to the Thai people, due to universal health care. And that is a very good thing for the people. They have to make up for it, to some extent with us. What is the issue with that? I am quite happy with the medical care here, and the associated costs. No complaints from me.

 

A good friend of mine got in a bad motorcycle accident some time ago. He almost lost his leg. He got his first of 11 operations at Bangkok Hospital Samui. It costs him over a million baht. They wanted to do a second procedure. They quoted him 1.4 million baht. He decided to transfer to Bangkok. He was quoted 460,000 baht for the same procedure, at a top private hospital there. The surgeon told him that he worked at a public hospital too, and could do the same operation there, for alot less money. He told him he would get him a quote. In the interim, my friend called a buddy in San Diego, who is an orthopedic surgeon. Since my friend is a retired chiropractor, who knew all the terminology, and explained what he needed, and asked for the best price. His friend called him back, and quoted him $960,000, with cash discounts! The local surgeon got back to him, and told him he could do it for 46,000 baht. He transferred, and they did all the rest of his procedures. So, 1.4 million at Bangkok Hospital, 460,000 at the other private hospital in Bangkok (I think it was Vejthani Hospital), and 46,000 at the public hospital, with an excellent surgeon. VS. 32,000,000 baht in the US. Again, no complaints from this peanut gallery.

You should never compare US prices for health care with the rest of the world.  US prices are obscenely expensive,  and the rest of the world knows it.  

Your gallery is very instructive!

 

[ThaiPauly]

On 1/18/2023 at 7:37 PM, Hummin said:

I know, I know, I tried to figure out what my gf now wife got when she ended up in Hospital and we got 60k in bill for 4 days and nights, and had to wait to 16:00 before they let her go. I googled all of them and just deleted coloured non medication 3 out of 5 as far I could understand, but at least we only had to pay covid test and 5k in Deductible. 

We're you billed for an extra night?

Is that why they kept you till after 4pm?

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, ThaiPauly said:

We're you billed for an extra night?

Is that why they kept you till after 4pm?

My wife

 

Not sure, but we spoke with the insurance (thai branch of axa) and they said this is normal, and also all the suspect additional cost of each and one item. 

[dingdongrb]

On 1/18/2023 at 1:25 PM, SuperSilverHaze said:

I've literally sown a friend up with three stitches with a sewing needle and thread.

My friend is an extreme kayaker with Red Bull and he told me the first thing he and his close kayaking friends learned to do was to stitch up themselves.

[xylophone]

On 1/18/2023 at 4:35 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

There are tourist places and tourist places.

Bangkok might be expensive.

Phuket is expensive

And many small islands are ridiculously expensive. 

Phuket certainly is expensive and I'm just waiting for confirmation of the quote I had from THE major hospital here (part of a chain) to remove a very small basal cell carcinoma, and who wanted to charge the procedure to my health insurance company, but I only have inpatient cover.

 

The cost quoted, if paid by the insurance, was 49,000 baht and the whole procedure would have taken less than an hour and if the insurance company won't pay it, then the hospital said that we can "renegotiate the price" – – take from that what you will.

[Hummin]

2 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

My friend is an extreme kayaker with Red Bull and he told me the first thing he and his close kayaking friends learned to do was to stitch up themselves.

Thats when it is acute! Should not be necessary in Thailand, or? 

 

And by the way, red bull gives you wings! 7 friends who where sponsored by Red bull is not among us anymore!  

Edited February 3, 2023 by Hummin

[papa al]

B18,000

~$550.

Would cost $everal thousand in USA.

[Lorry]

9 minutes ago, papa al said:

B18,000

~$550.

Would cost $everal thousand in USA.

I repeat:

On 1/25/2023 at 11:42 AM, Lorry said:

You should never compare US prices for health care with the rest of the world.  US prices are obscenely expensive,  and the rest of the world knows it.  

 

[dingdongrb]

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

And by the way, red bull gives you wings! 7 friends who where sponsored by Red bull is not among us anymore!  

My longtime friend has since gotten married, settled down, and given up all his extreme adventures. The most extreme activity he does these days is where I met him 35 yrs ago, thrashing on a foosball table at the World Championship in Dallas.

[sherwood]

Sut ure self if you don't like the price.

[Celsius]

My wife slammed the finger with a car door. It started to look bad after a few days. The whole nail turned purple. She went to the hospital and insisted not to have the nail removed. Instead they took an x-ray and poked some holes in the nail to clear the puss. Price 4,300 baht. The hospital was nothing fancy private hospital a bit run down. I checked the bill afterwards.

 

1100 for thumb x-ray. I remember paying a 500b for x-ray a few years back at some fancy marble lobby hospital. Shocked. 

 

2000 specialist fee. I think medpark is cheaper, but whatever.

 

1200 for a painkiller haha

 

 

She told me she has accident insurance and will get refunded. I wait in anticipation to see that as this was a telesales insurance that costs her 189 baht a month. She said they paid before, so lets see.

[TorquayFan]

Larry I wonder if that was a premium price in the tourist 'area' - where exactly?

 

I recently had 3 stitches in Bangkok Hospital, Chantaburi. Total costs including removal B13,000 including B6500 for a CT brain scan which was necessary because I take blood thinners. The anti biotics which I did not take, were just B300.

 

You bill was excessive and even mine seemed expensive - but I was very grateful to have been in AND out in 90 minutes - in the UK I'd still be waiting for the ambulance !!

 

Hope you OK now.

 

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by TorquayFan

[Hummin]

3 minutes ago, Celsius said:

My wife slammed the finger with a car door. It started to look bad after a few days. The whole nail turned purple. She went to the hospital and insisted not to have the nail removed. Instead they took an x-ray and poked some holes in the nail to clear the puss. Price 4,300 baht. The hospital was nothing fancy private hospital a bit run down. I checked the bill afterwards.

 

1100 for thumb x-ray. I remember paying a 500b for x-ray a few years back at some fancy marble lobby hospital. Shocked. 

 

2000 specialist fee. I think medpark is cheaper, but whatever.

 

1200 for a painkiller haha

 

 

She told me she has accident insurance and will get refunded. I wait in anticipation to see that as this was a telesales insurance that costs her 189 baht a month. She said they paid before, so lets see.

Bangkok hospital 800 - 1250 for dr or specialist!

 

Edit note 800 was last seen before covid.

Edited February 3, 2023 by Hummin

[Lorry]

4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

My wife slammed the finger with a car door. It started to look bad after a few days. The whole nail turned purple. She went to the hospital and insisted not to have the nail removed. Instead they took an x-ray and poked some holes in the nail to clear the puss. Price 4,300 baht. The hospital was nothing fancy private hospital a bit run down. I checked the bill afterwards.

 

1100 for thumb x-ray. I remember paying a 500b for x-ray a few years back at some fancy marble lobby hospital. Shocked. 

 

2000 specialist fee. I think medpark is cheaper, but whatever.

 

1200 for a painkiller haha

 

 

She told me she has accident insurance and will get refunded. I wait in anticipation to see that as this was a telesales insurance that costs her 189 baht a month. She said they paid before, so lets see.

Second tier private hospitals often charge the same prices as the fancy marble ones

[Lorry]

6 minutes ago, TorquayFan said:

that was a premium price in the tourist 'area'

Sure it was, one of the big islands

Edited February 3, 2023 by Lorry

[Hummin]

26 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

My longtime friend has since gotten married, settled down, and given up all his extreme adventures. The most extreme activity he does these days is where I met him 35 yrs ago, thrashing on a foosball table at the World Championship in Dallas.

Red Bull have taken many lives in the hunt for the perfect picture and video often being first to do,,, also all those chasing the sponsorship died trying to get enough attention. 

 

Anyway, can really only blame those who chasing it for the fame thow

Edited February 3, 2023 by Hummin

[BE88]

On 1/18/2023 at 1:29 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Bangkok Hospital chain by any chance?

 

Regardless....  That is an utter rip off...  In reality I wouldn’t expect to pay more than 6000 baht for such treatment at Bumrungrad or Samitivej in Bangkok. 

 

 

It would be interesting to know the bill breakdown.... to see specifically where you were shafted. 

 

Did you say Bangkok Bank?

 

[BostonRob2]

For those who think Thailand is expensive:

Collisions with laceration wound at forehead, no loss of consciousness (so  no x-ray or CT), cleaned, 5 stitches,  sent home with antibiotics.

Small govt clinic (part of a well-known 'chain') in two non-tourist places. 

80 baht a time....21 stitches in forehead total after slipping at Sai Yok waterfall and another day head butting my son on a banana boat in Rayong.

 

18K is only 18K. 

 

Regards,

 

Rooster

[FritsSikkink]

Private hospital in BKK, doctor visit, 2 x-rays, 5 different meds for a week 3451 thb