If you have been overcharged by a private hospital in Thailand you can contact them

[ubonr1971]

Last month I felt I was overcharged by a Dr at large private hospital. 

 

After paying the bill I wasn't happy with the final price based on the service provided. So the next day i called the main number and asked for the email address of the complaints dept. A few weeks later I received a phone call from the hospital and they refunded me 500 thb. It wasn't the money but the principle of the matter to be honest. 

 

I was impressed with their response and thought I would share this with other westerners on this forum. Im wondering after the icon drama, many companies are trying to do better and keep their precious names out of the press cycle. 

 

All the best...

[Lorry]

Not every private hospital has a complaints department  (just like Western companies).

[scubascuba3]

Surprising, they are more likely to just ignore the email

[jippytum]

I have unfortunatly been a regular at both private and government hospitials over the years. 

 

On many occasions i have had occasion to query what i considered to be overcharging when presented with my bill. If the cashier can not explain they usually refer you to customer relations. 

A polite enquiry as to perceived overcharging has often resulted in a correction and reduced settlement. 

Because of my  health insurance excess and 10% refund for no claims i often request an estimate prior to treatment and  may decide to pay myself. 

[bkk6060]

Had a skin surgery at one of the major hospitals awhile back.  Paid for the surgery which included everything according to them.  Went back a week later for an appt. and a nurse saw me. She took off a bandage ( very small like the ones at 7-11) and put a new one on that was it.

Then, I was handed a bill which identified the cost of the bandage as 750b.

Total BS, I complained to the nurse and left without paying.   Maybe there is a warrant for my arrest.

[The Old Bull]

55 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Had a skin surgery at one of the major hospitals awhile back.  Paid for the surgery which included everything according to them.  Went back a week later for an appt. and a nurse saw me. She took off a bandage ( very small like the ones at 7-11) and put a new one on that was it.

Then, I was handed a bill which identified the cost of the bandage as 750b.

Total BS, I complained to the nurse and left without paying.   Maybe there is a warrant for my arrest.

They are happy, they will get a 750฿ tax deduction for a 15฿ bandage

[fittobethaied]

I am really surprised that these private hospitals have been allowed to charge these exorbitant prices without posting prices or at least giving quotes for services and materials before they are requested. Name me one other industry where one buys a product or service without first knowing the price so that one may make an informed decision before giving the go ahead to purchase? They have been taking advantage of the public for way too long, and it needs to stop. Where are our advocates who can take these grievances before the proper government authorities? Even some of the government hospitals are getting in on the scam. I was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and was charged 7000 Baht per month for medication that I must take the rest of my life. After complaining to my doctor multiple times, she made contact with a local supplier in Bangkok and sourced the very same med from the same manufacturer for 700 Baht per month, so the hospital was charging me 10 times as much for the same medication. After having lived in Thailand for 15 years and knowing what I know about the way business is conducted in this country, I would suspect that many palms are being greased all the way from the prescribing doctor to the managing director of the hospital to the Minister of Health who allows this travesty to continue unabated. Someone prove me wrong!

[Hawaiian]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Had a skin surgery at one of the major hospitals awhile back.  Paid for the surgery which included everything according to them.  Went back a week later for an appt. and a nurse saw me. She took off a bandage ( very small like the ones at 7-11) and put a new one on that was it.

Then, I was handed a bill which identified the cost of the bandage as 750b.

Total BS, I complained to the nurse and left without paying.   Maybe there is a warrant for my arrest.

Maybe there was a hidden charge for her TLC.  Just kidding.

Here in Hawaii I went back to my dermatologist after skin surgery to address an irritation caused by the bandage.  The nurse took care of it.  No charge.  I asked her if there was anything I could bring back for her from our upcoming trip to Thailand.  She said, "Just a postcard."

Six weeks later I showed up announced with a goody bag of Thai snacks.  Just loved the big smile on her face and a gracious thank you.

[BobHG46]

Recent heart failure resulted in a bill of ฿450,000 which included 4 days in CCU at ฿20,000 a day. Cheap for a life.

[Hawaiian]

18 minutes ago, fittobethaied said:

I am really surprised that these private hospitals have been allowed to charge these exorbitant prices without posting prices or at least giving quotes for services and materials before they are requested. Name me one other industry where one buys a product or service without first knowing the price so that one may make an informed decision before giving the go ahead to purchase? They have been taking advantage of the public for way too long, and it needs to stop. Where are our advocates who can take these grievances before the proper government authorities? Even some of the government hospitals are getting in on the scam. I was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and was charged 7000 Baht per month for medication that I must take the rest of my life. After complaining to my doctor multiple times, she made contact with a local supplier in Bangkok and sourced the very same med from the same manufacturer for 700 Baht per month, so the hospital was charging me 10 times as much for the same medication. After having lived in Thailand for 15 years and knowing what I know about the way business is conducted in this country, I would suspect that many palms are being greased all the way from the prescribing doctor to the managing director of the hospital to the Minister of Health who allows this travesty to continue unabated. Someone prove me wrong!

Medications, including aspirin (paracemetol) is always ridiculously expensive in U.S. hospitals and I would assume is the same in many other places.

Since you have been in Thailand for long and know how about business practices, why didn't you inquire earlier about a less expensive source or alternative?

[Tom100]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Had a skin surgery at one of the major hospitals awhile back.  ...

Then, I was handed a bill which identified the cost of the bandage as 700 baht.

My 5 baht bandage cost "only" 200 baht at samitivej sukhumvit LOL! But they billed me for 3!! 

I agree that private hospitals may overcharge deliberately to increase profits and that customers must be alert and push back. 

[Nick Carter icp]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Had a skin surgery at one of the major hospitals awhile back.  Paid for the surgery which included everything according to them.  Went back a week later for an appt. and a nurse saw me. She took off a bandage ( very small like the ones at 7-11) and put a new one on that was it.

Then, I was handed a bill which identified the cost of the bandage as 750b.

Total BS, I complained to the nurse and left without paying.   Maybe there is a warrant for my arrest.

 

    You are paying the hospital overheads . You wasn't just paying for the bandage , if you just want a bandage , then go to 7/11 and buy one from there 

[jeffandgop]

14 hours ago, fittobethaied said:

I am really surprised that these private hospitals have been allowed to charge these exorbitant prices without posting prices or at least giving quotes for services and materials before they are requested. Name me one other industry where one buys a product or service without first knowing the price so that one may make an informed decision before giving the go ahead to purchase? They have been taking advantage of the public for way too long, and it needs to stop. Where are our advocates who can take these grievances before the proper government authorities? Even some of the government hospitals are getting in on the scam. I was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and was charged 7000 Baht per month for medication that I must take the rest of my life. After complaining to my doctor multiple times, she made contact with a local supplier in Bangkok and sourced the very same med from the same manufacturer for 700 Baht per month, so the hospital was charging me 10 times as much for the same medication. After having lived in Thailand for 15 years and knowing what I know about the way business is conducted in this country, I would suspect that many palms are being greased all the way from the prescribing doctor to the managing director of the hospital to the Minister of Health who allows this travesty to continue unabated. Someone prove me wrong!

Here in Chiang Mai at Bangkok Hospital I have always been given an estimate of costs, without my asking, whenever surgery was to be performed.  The final bill has never exceeded the estimate.

[superal]

I believe that both private and government hospitals will milk foreigners .

Me yesterday at a Thai government hospital . 

 Charged 250 baht for " extra clinic service charge " ( whatever that is ) before seeing the doctor .

Drug and parental charge   75 baht 

Charge nurse               80 baht 

Medical service fee     300 baht 

Pharmacy service fee  140 baht

National list of Nonessential Medicines charge    5,724 baht  .

At a previous hospital 3 day stay in a v.i.p. room , the bill showed itemized costs of every time the nurse took my blood pressure and / or temperature . I guess its the standard 2 tier pricing for foreigners 

 

[ubonr1971]

I was in bumrungrad and visited the dept that does hernia ops. I had an appt with a specialist (professor) dr. Whilst waiting I took photos of the hernia packages. In the room the man himself didnt show up. His assistant did. She quoted 40% more than the package price. I showed the photo to her. She said sorry but he is the top surgeon for this. I walked out and did the op elsewhere. 

[nana kid]

The word is PRIVATE             They can charge whatever they want, and quote one price, and then upsell it with leftouts.

If you ae a foreigner you are fair game                If you sue a hospital you will be sued for defamation even if you can prove your case.  It's a stacked deck  Get any quotes in writing and specify  "TOTAL"

[bigt3116]

pays ya money, takes ya choice

[Sheryl]

On 12/19/2024 at 9:51 AM, superal said:

I believe that both private and government hospitals will milk foreigners .

Me yesterday at a Thai government hospital . 

 Charged 250 baht for " extra clinic service charge " ( whatever that is ) before seeing the doctor .

Drug and parental charge   75 baht 

Charge nurse               80 baht 

Medical service fee     300 baht 

Pharmacy service fee  140 baht

National list of Nonessential Medicines charge    5,724 baht  .

At a previous hospital 3 day stay in a v.i.p. room , the bill showed itemized costs of every time the nurse took my blood pressure and / or temperature . I guess its the standard 2 tier pricing for foreigners 

 

You apparently used the aftrr hours private channel rather than the public channel. Hence the pricing. 

 

Thais would pay same if using that channrl. 

[superal]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You apparently used the aftrr hours private channel rather than the public channel. Hence the pricing. 

 

Thais eould pay same if using that channrl. 

Thanks Sheryl . Yes that " extra clinic service charge " is the doctors overtime working . I was given an appointment for 4 00 pm because the daytime was too busy  . I had no choice in the matter . However the 4 00 pm appointment  was also very busy with probably another 40 patients given the same appointment time .  BTW , I do not like the first come first served appointment system that seems to be the method used in all Thai hospitals including private hospitals . It means you can spend a couple of hours sat in crowded waiting rooms alongside people who may have infectious illnesses .

[superal]

23 hours ago, nana kid said:

The word is PRIVATE             They can charge whatever they want, and quote one price, and then upsell it with leftouts.

If you ae a foreigner you are fair game                If you sue a hospital you will be sued for defamation even if you can prove your case.  It's a stacked deck  Get any quotes in writing and specify  "TOTAL"

Getting a quote for a procedure in a Thai hospital ? They will give you a quote but it will seldom cover all costs .

E,G. Consultant fees . Any additional medication etc  . They can make it up as they go along .

[Dan O]

On 12/18/2024 at 2:51 PM, fittobethaied said:

I am really surprised that these private hospitals have been allowed to charge these exorbitant prices without posting prices or at least giving quotes for services and materials before they are requested. Name me one other industry where one buys a product or service without first knowing the price so that one may make an informed decision before giving the go ahead to purchase? They have been taking advantage of the public for way too long, and it needs to stop. Where are our advocates who can take these grievances before the proper government authorities? Even some of the government hospitals are getting in on the scam. I was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and was charged 7000 Baht per month for medication that I must take the rest of my life. After complaining to my doctor multiple times, she made contact with a local supplier in Bangkok and sourced the very same med from the same manufacturer for 700 Baht per month, so the hospital was charging me 10 times as much for the same medication. After having lived in Thailand for 15 years and knowing what I know about the way business is conducted in this country, I would suspect that many palms are being greased all the way from the prescribing doctor to the managing director of the hospital to the Minister of Health who allows this travesty to continue unabated. Someone prove me wrong!

Its up to the patient to use due diligence in requesting cost of the procedures and what they entail before accepting the procedure. Then check the bill before paying to ensure it matches There was a case a couple years ago where a European Foreigner took a private hospital to court over dual price and lost the case. The judge ruled it was acceptable to charge foreigners more as they had the financial ability to pay more versus a Thai National.

[superal]

On 12/20/2024 at 3:20 AM, Dan O said:

Its up to the patient to use due diligence in requesting cost of the procedures and what they entail before accepting the procedure. Then check the bill before paying to ensure it matches There was a case a couple years ago where a European Foreigner took a private hospital to court over dual price and lost the case. The judge ruled it was acceptable to charge foreigners more as they had the financial ability to pay more versus a Thai National.

I know of a guy who had a quote for a minor procedure which was 1000 baht . He got the bill which was 5000 baht . He protested but was told that whoever told him 1000 baht was wrong . So I guess that a written quote on the hospitals official paper , is the only way to be sure .

[chiang mai]

It is at the discretion of the private hospital whether or not they charge foreigners more, they are legally entitled to do so. I believe (think) the four sanctioned charging tiers are, Thai nationals, ASEAN citizens, foreigners who are visiting, foreigners who are resident. The further away you are from a tourist area, the less likely you will be charged differently from Thai nationals.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, chiang mai said:

It is at the discretion of the private hospital whether or not they charge foreigners more, they are legally entitled to do so. I believe (think) the four sanctioned charging tiers are, Thai nationals, ASEAN citizens, foreigners who are visiting, foreigners who are resident. The further away you are from a tourist area, the less likely you will be charged differently from Thai nationals.

These tiers refer to government hospitals..and are not widely used  as too complicated. Some government hospitals charge foreigners more than Thais, some do not.  Mostly this occurs in locations which get a lot of foreign patients (Bangkok, CM etc). 

 

Private hospitals likewise may or may not have diffrtent pricing tiers, it is up to them.

 

To date there is no effective government regulation of the private medical sector.  Overcharging is a very well known issue at private hospitlas and also affects Thais.