I live in Phuket and need an MRI for a rotator cuff injury

[Pinot]

I have a Rotorcuff injury and need an MRI for treatment. I live in Phuket. The insurance I have requires I use a public hospital for treatment but it's limited to 5000 baht for the MRI. The insurance does cover 400,000 baht for treatment. The problem is that before I can get the arthroscopic treatment or surgery which will be covered, I need to get the MRI. In Phuket the MRI from Vachera Hospital is 22,000 baht, but it's a two-month wait for the MRI and they're only going to pay the 5000 toward that. There is no wait at Bangkok Hospital which is the same price. I was just going to pay for Bangkok Hospital to do it because I am in a lot of pain and need to get it fixed. Is there a public hospital I can go to for a less expensive MRI anywhere near me or one that's cheaper? Or a less expensive alternative to Bangkok Hospital? I can get a CT scan in PhangNga but that's not the same and I don't know the price yet. I doubt that's an acceptable substitute anyway. Any suggestions?  

[Sierra Tango]

I am no expert Pinot, however, I do know someone that was in a similar situation and another Bankok hospital was involved, Bangkok Pattaya. The guy I know, talked to them and explained the situation. They just downgraded the MRI cost and itemised it accordingly in their (in this case a different procedure) final operation cost. invoice. It all still came out under the insurance cost limitations. The costing was just adjusted to fit in with the insurance companies requirements. No harm done and problem solved.

I don't know what would have happened if surgery was not required after the MRI results were known, I can only assume that the hospital would have made sure that some form of on going treatment was required, in order for them to recoup their reduced MRI cost.

[Sheryl]

 

Government hospitals outside of Phuket will likely cost much less (though not 5k, nowhere in Thsiland is it that cheap)  but will also have long waits. 

 

Long waits are the norm for MRIs in government hospitals everywhere and Thais who can afford to usually pay privately to do it elsewhere. 

 

Suggest you look into Mission Hospital . Private but non-profit, less expensive than Bangkok Hospital. 

https://mission-hospital.org/en/52-clinics-centers/medicine/neurology-clinic/391-treatment.html

 

[Pinot]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Government hospitals outside of Phuket will likely cost much less (though not 5k, nowhere in Thsiland is it that cheap)  but will also have long waits. 

 

Long waits are the norm for MRIs in government hospitals everywhere and Thais who can afford to usually pay privately to do it elsewhere. 

 

Suggest you look into Mission Hospital . Private but non-profit, less expensive than Bangkok Hospital. 

https://mission-hospital.org/en/52-clinics-centers/medicine/neurology-clinic/391-treatment.html

 

Thank you. I have an inquiry into Mission. Didn't realize they offered that. It's likely to be less.