Why is Thai health care so good?

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I have travel insurance 

 

What duration does your 'travel insurance' cover you for ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Fugitive]

2 minutes ago, paddypower said:

plus a copy of my most recent or a new annual check up

Interesting but also disturbing thank you. For those of us who've never had an annual medical a new 'first' check up would obviously be required. Is this fairly standardized? How far do they go? Any advice would be much appreciated on this!

[MalcolmB]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

What duration does your 'travel insurance' cover you for ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How would I know?

i didn’t read it, they offered it to me when I bought my ticket.
I thought it would be a good idea, especially with the roads here being so dangerous 

[Celsius]

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

How would I know?

i didn’t read it, they offered it to me when I bought my ticket.
I thought it would be a good idea, especially with the roads here being so dangerous 

 

So most likely 30 days or until your return ticket date.

[Gottfrid]

Strange headline. Would you prefer it to be bad?

[MalcolmB]

7 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

So most likely 30 days or until your return ticket date.

I am sorting out a longer visa now, will revisit the insurance issue then.

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

How would I know?

i didn’t read it, they offered it to me when I bought my ticket.
I thought it would be a good idea, especially with the roads here being so dangerous 

 

It would be stupid not to know.. 

 

Travel insurance is for 'travel', not for taking up residence somewhere - thus you might find that the travel insurance only covers you for xx days (i.e. up to a month from initial travel date).

 

Thus, you may find yourself un-insured (or the travel insurance expired already).

 

Travel insurance is not the same as health insurance. 

 

 

 

[MalcolmB]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

It would be stupid not to know.. 

 

Travel insurance is for 'travel', not for taking up residence somewhere - thus you might find that the travel insurance only covers you for xx days (i.e. up to a month from initial travel date).

 

Thus, you may find yourself un-insured (or the travel insurance expired already).

 

Travel insurance is not the same as health insurance. 

 

 

 

See post above yours.

 

i have had many other things on my mind, haven’t got around to sorting that out properly yet.

 

i think I have enough cash to get my prostate looked at anyway if insurance doesn’t cover it.

[Celsius]

2 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

See post above yours.

 

i have had many other things on my mind, haven’t got around to sorting that out properly yet.

 

i think I have enough cash to get my prostate looked at anyway if insurance doesn’t cover it.

 

And you should keep it that way.

 

Farang insurance in Thailand is useless.

[MalcolmB]

1 minute ago, Celsius said:

 

And you should keep it that way.

 

Farang insurance in Thailand is useless.

Self insure?

sort of agree but if I get cancer or something it might be better to be insured?
it is hard to understand to be honest.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

See post above yours.

 

i have had many other things on my mind, haven’t got around to sorting that out properly yet.

 

i think I have enough cash to get my prostate looked at anyway if insurance doesn’t cover it.

 

Up to you as they say...

 

There a lot of discussion regarding self insurance, & the main issue is if incapacitated or unconscious treatment could be refused until you can prove payment (plenty of stories of this).

 

2 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Farang insurance in Thailand is useless.

 

What do you mean by 'Farang Insurance' ???

 

If you mean 'International Insurance Policies' obtained from overseas (i.e. Cigna etc) then its not useless at all, cover is excellent. 

Additionally, 'International Insurance Policies' obtained from overseas operate under 'tighter rules' and there is less probability of the underwrite rejecting a claim - this obviously has to be balanced against the extra cost.

Also, many Thai policies start excluding people at the age of 70 (or close to that age).

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Self insure?

sort of agree but if I get cancer or something it might be better to be insured?
it is hard to understand to be honest.

 

There are decent brokers around... i.e. Pacific Prime who can guide you.

 

There are also dedicated Cancer Policies etc (but careful with the age cap).

 

 

 

[MalcolmB]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

There are decent brokers around... i.e. Pacific Prime who can guide you.

 

There are also dedicated Cancer Policies etc (but careful with the age cap).

 

 

 

Ok, thanks.

cigna.

 

what do you pay per month/ year?

[The Fugitive]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There are also dedicated Cancer Policies etc (but careful with the age cap).

Good advice. I stopped looking when I found out the upper age limit was 60.

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Ok, thanks.

cigna.

 

what do you pay per month/ year?

 

Mine is through work (global policy) and covers anything / everything... in patient & outpatient, dental, eyes etc... 

(until they fire me)...    I looked at similar Policies to self cover and its about 350,000 Baht (which I wont pay myself).

 

If I were not working - I would chose VUMI (which I have for my Wife and Son) -

In Patient Treatment only / No Excess / World Wide Except USA - it would be about 70,000 Baht per year (for someone in their mid-late 40's).

 

Note: I'm not sure VUMI has an age cap though.

[Cat Boy]

8 hours ago, stoner said:

 

you sound canadian. 

Actually, I read his comment as written by an American, where denial of coverage is automatic, lengthy delays to see specialist are routine, healthcare is completely unavailable for many, and choosing between death and bankruptcy for a surviving spouse is commonplace.

[Celsius]

23 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

What do you mean by 'Farang Insurance' ???

 

If you mean 'International Insurance Policies' obtained from overseas (i.e. Cigna etc) then its not useless at all, cover is excellent. 

Additionally, 'International Insurance Policies' obtained from overseas operate under 'tighter rules' and there is less probability of the underwrite rejecting a claim - this obviously has to be balanced against the extra cost.

Also, many Thai policies start excluding people at the age of 70 (or close to that age).

 

I mean insurance bought in Thailand aimed at stupid farang who think they will be covered.

 

For the above insurance policies, you will have to pay substantial premiums. As if they are useless or not I do now know. 

 

Ah, you mentioned your insurance is through employed. Completely different ballgame. 

[Ralf001]

4 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

I'm getting Thai social insurance right now!

Social Security is great.. I prefer it over my private insurance.

[stoner]

2 hours ago, paddypower said:

you sound American 😉 

 

Sorry cannot be American. 

 

I am.

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

I mean insurance bought in Thailand aimed at stupid farang who think they will be covered.

 

For the above insurance policies, you will have to pay substantial premiums. As if they are useless or not I do now know. 

 

Ah, you mentioned your insurance is through employed. Completely different ballgame. 

 

I see.. you mean the crappy 'travel insurance' etc that comes free or very cheaply and covers only accidents etc and has very strict conditions..

...no cover while under the influence of alcohol (or drugs) / no cover on a motorcycle etc... 

 

 

-------

 

I recently 'nearly got caught out' with dedicated travel insurance. 

I took out travel insurance for a recent trip (which covered trip cancellation / loss of luggage / delayed luggage / damage to sports equipment etc / Injury)... 

 

I ended up getting injured and required hospital treatment while overseas - I was under the impression (mistakenly) that the coverage would pay for treatment overseas and as the injury occurred overseas that treatment for cover would continue upon return to Thailand.

The insurance did pay out for the initial treatment received while overseas (put in a cast).

Had I had a (far more expensive) operation while overseas, the travel insurance would have paid out.

But, I opted to return to Thailand for treatment, as soon as I returned to Thailand there was no further cover - luckily my 'other' (work) insurance covered the costs of an Op (approximately $15,000)... 

 

On the healthcare system in Thailand...

- The surgery / surgeon, treatment, facilities etc were outstanding - 1st Class.

- The follow up (physio) was atrocious - so much so I complained and aborted them opting to do my own.

 

It was almost as if the physio was not taken seriously and the Physio Dr's were just going through the motions without any real plan (they had no plan at all), they seemed to be 'winging it' - whereas I wanted aggressive hard core rehabilitation, they seemed disinterested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[StevieAus]

9 hours ago, stoner said:

 

you sound canadian. 

Totally agree with that we live in the North and can walk into Chiang Mai Ram and see a specialist without an appointment or referral seven days  per week. 

The standard of medical treatment including dental is as good as I experienced in Australia except considerably cheaper. 

I think the general care is better here as they employ a higher number of nurses. 

Speaking from experience in both Government and Private hospitals. 

[Purdey]

Except for Rutnin, where I had two cataracts removed, I use my nearest hospital for diabetes testing and medicine (pills are paid for by my corporate health insurance). As others mention, there seems to be a thing in Thailand about selling pills at inflated prices for everything.

 

Can't complain about the quality of doctors. When my prostate ballooned, I went to my local hospital and a famous 5 star hospital in town for a second opinion. Both said the same thing, which gives some confidence that I'm not going to pop off soon.

 

More worrying was that I used to know a young man who was doing his medical degree. He could never answer my enthusiastic questions about his studies, telling me, "I took that exam last month and can't remember now."

[paddypower]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

I have travel insurance 

will that cover the 2 of you to fly 'United air' ?

[paddypower]

24 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Except for Rutnin, where I had two cataracts removed, I use my nearest hospital for diabetes testing and medicine (pills are paid for by my corporate health insurance). As others mention, there seems to be a thing in Thailand about selling pills at inflated prices for everything.

 

Can't complain about the quality of doctors. When my prostate ballooned, I went to my local hospital and a famous 5 star hospital in town for a second opinion. Both said the same thing, which gives some confidence that I'm not going to pop off soon.

 

More worrying was that I used to know a young man who was doing his medical degree. He could never answer my enthusiastic questions about his studies, telling me, "I took that exam last month and can't remember now."

i get around that by accepting 5-10 pills on RX. then i check with my wholesale pharma outlet. they usually have the same pills cheaper, or a Thai Govt generic versions. we spend +/- 12k a month, wholesale prices. obviously, the wholesaler cannot sell prescribed narcotic meds. but as posted earlier, you can buy Seroxat/Co-approvel/Lamictal /Wafarin, my cholesterol and heart meds.....etc. (just about any anti-depressant). Last month, i was just was advised by my pharma that there is a generic version of Lamictal priced at 40% less.

[john donson]

for thai maybe costing nothing but tax payer's money and 90% never pay tax

 

over the rest, over expensive no limits money extortion for basic stuff

[paddypower]

25 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Except for Rutnin, where I had two cataracts removed, I use my nearest hospital for diabetes testing and medicine (pills are paid for by my corporate health insurance). As others mention, there seems to be a thing in Thailand about selling pills at inflated prices for everything.

 

Can't complain about the quality of doctors. When my prostate ballooned, I went to my local hospital and a famous 5 star hospital in town for a second opinion. Both said the same thing, which gives some confidence that I'm not going to pop off soon.

 

More worrying was that I used to know a young man who was doing his medical degree. He could never answer my enthusiastic questions about his studies, telling me, "I took that exam last month and can't remember now."

the other answer to watch out for is ''i will call my Professor in Bangkok and get back to you''. 🙂 

 

[paddypower]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I see.. you mean the crappy 'travel insurance' etc that comes free or very cheaply and covers only accidents etc and has very strict conditions..

...no cover while under the influence of alcohol (or drugs) / no cover on a motorcycle etc... 

 

 

-------

 

I recently 'nearly got caught out' with dedicated travel insurance. 

I took out travel insurance for a recent trip (which covered trip cancellation / loss of luggage / delayed luggage / damage to sports equipment etc / Injury)... 

 

I ended up getting injured and required hospital treatment while overseas - I was under the impression (mistakenly) that the coverage would pay for treatment overseas and as the injury occurred overseas that treatment for cover would continue upon return to Thailand.

The insurance did pay out for the initial treatment received while overseas (put in a cast).

Had I had a (far more expensive) operation while overseas, the travel insurance would have paid out.

But, I opted to return to Thailand for treatment, as soon as I returned to Thailand there was no further cover - luckily my 'other' (work) insurance covered the costs of an Op (approximately $15,000)... 

 

On the healthcare system in Thailand...

- The surgery / surgeon, treatment, facilities etc were outstanding - 1st Class.

- The follow up (physio) was atrocious - so much so I complained and aborted them opting to do my own.

 

It was almost as if the physio was not taken seriously and the Physio Dr's were just going through the motions without any real plan (they had no plan at all), they seemed to be 'winging it' - whereas I wanted aggressive hard core rehabilitation, they seemed disinterested.

 

 

yeah, same experience here. complete ruptured one of my achilles. superb surgeon specializing in sports injuries. then - no follow up physio recommended . now i can't wear any kind of sports/running shoes

 

 

 

[thailand49]

People who write these article, come get entertain you know what I mean,  red carpet treatment wine and dine then handed a big brown envelope like the Olympic committee then write what they have never seen as the truth.🤑

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

See post above yours.

 

i have had many other things on my mind, haven’t got around to sorting that out properly yet.

 

i think I have enough cash to get my prostate looked at anyway if insurance doesn’t cover it.

A manual prostate check by a urologist here should not cost more than 1000 baht. A blood test for PSA will cost even less.

[MalcolmB]

Just now, Lacessit said:

A manual prostate check by a urologist here should not cost more than 1000 baht. A blood test for PSA will cost even less.

I don’t mind paying a bit extra for the manual

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

In Patient Treatment only / No Excess / World Wide Except USA - it would be about 70,000 Baht per year (for someone in their mid-late 40's).

Quite cheap all things considered