Not sure if this topic was already discussed but I have on an authority that Bkk Hospital In Pattaya Charges foreigners 25% over the all published fees

for all services, do take the time to verify this information, meaning, two-tier pricings.

Best avoided anyway unless have insurance

Two tier pricing is official policy even for public hospitals.

And as stated: avoid as a self payer.

You pay so much for all the pomp and glamour.

Pattaya is extra expensive over other branches of the Bangkok Hospital chain from my experience.

Got a completely silly cost estimate of 300k for TURP under full anesthesia(!) and one(!) night in hospital. Completely unrealistic decoy.

In Khon Kaen I paid some 200k with spinal block (fully conscious) and 5 nights.

Also ultrasound and MRI before was considered mandatory.

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

Two tier pricing is official policy even for public hospitals.

And as stated: avoid as a self payer.

You pay so much for all the pomp and glamour.

Pattaya is extra expensive over other branches of the Bangkok Hospital chain from my experience.

Got a completely silly cost estimate of 300k for TURP under full anesthesia(!) and one(!) night in hospital. Completely unrealistic decoy.

In Khon Kaen I paid some 200k with spinal block (fully conscious) and 5 nights.

Also ultrasound and MRI before was considered mandatory.

And the Thai government is completely ok with it, that hospitals can charge what they want and how they want without

any government body to regulate this shamble and tacking advantage of sick poor people?

Any reason why is it so, does it have a reason why is this policy is in place, I mean' if there's something wrong in human

society is the blatant greed and disregard to patients.

45 minutes ago, ezzra said:

And the Thai government is completely ok with it, that hospitals can charge what they want and how they want without

any government body to regulate this shamble and tacking advantage of sick poor people?

Any reason why is it so, does it have a reason why is this policy is in place, I mean' if there's something wrong in human

society is the blatant greed and disregard to patients.

 

Probably encouraged if not required to skim what can be skimmed from foreigners. Govt itself doing the same even more blatantly. It's cultural. 

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

And the Thai government is completely ok with it, that hospitals can charge what they want and how they want without any government body to regulate this shamble and tacking advantage of sick poor people?

...

 

In fact, official rates for public hospitals, and the regulations regarding them, indicate higher prices for foreigners.

 

 

 

There was a court case a while back confirming that its quite ok to do this. 

16 hours ago, ezzra said:

And the Thai government is completely ok with it, that hospitals can charge what they want and how they want without

any government body to regulate this shamble and tacking advantage of sick poor people?

Any reason why is it so, does it have a reason why is this policy is in place, I mean' if there's something wrong in human

society is the blatant greed and disregard to patients.

A  vague memory some years ago,  i think was in Hua Hin where a Foreigner took a Hospital to Court for over charging,   he lost the case,   the judge saying it was ok for this to happen

I had my Annual Blood Tests  and meetings with the Heart Doctor, my Thai Wife asked if she could have the same Blood tests as me, and a meeting with the same Doctor, to which I  agreed,  I asked for  Two Bills  just  to compare, and sure enough my Bill was considerably more than my Wifes, I asked the Nurses why, I was directed to the Cashier who informed me its Hospital Policy, when I go home i wrote to that Hospitall to ask why  a Foreigner pays more for the same procedure as a Thai, my question remains unanswered 

I have heard that there are actually 3 rate  categories at that hospital: Thai rate, rate for resident expats, and tourist rate. But cashers may  automatically apply tourist rate when they see a farang. 

 

So explain you are long term resident and show proof (e.g. retirement extension etc) and clearly ask for the resident expat rate. May need to  see a supervisor for this. If possible have a Thai do the negotiating.

 

 

Question, is the Thai movements ok with all this 2-3 tier pricing? with this blatant discrimination between people?

hard to accept that Thai people who are known for their manners and expectance of other races into their society with open arms will be ok with it, what next than? one price for Thais and other for foreigners at the market, or at the DLT

or buying an airline ticket, ect. etc.?  

17 hours ago, actonion said:

I had my Annual Blood Tests  and meetings with the Heart Doctor, my Thai Wife asked if she could have the same Blood tests as me, and a meeting with the same Doctor, to which I  agreed,  I asked for  Two Bills  just  to compare, and sure enough my Bill was considerably more than my Wifes, I asked the Nurses why, I was directed to the Cashier who informed me its Hospital Policy, when I go home i wrote to that Hospitall to ask why  a Foreigner pays more for the same procedure as a Thai, my question remains unanswered

If you were referring to a private hospital I would agree with you. However, as many of us haven't paid a bean into Thai National Health Service I consider myself most fortunate to be able to receive emergency treatment, prescriptions and medicine for a few hundred baht. I have had excellent service at A/E in both my local community and regional government hospitals. In UK, your wife would probably have been denied the same blood tests as yourself because she didn't need them. UK NHS doesn't provide unnecessary services upon demand even if you offer to pay for them. Your wife would have been advised to go the private clinic/hospital route.

My private worldwide coverage health insurance has a white list of hospitals all over the world. The hospitals on the white list are usually those that (over)charge most.

 

I could go to public hospitals that are as good and don't overcharge but then I would risk having my refund claims rejected by my insurance on technicalities like some paperwork missing or not being in due form. So I have no choice but to go on patronizing the overcharging places. My insurance gives two pence about my saving it money.

I just got a colonoscopy, with polyp bioscopy, for 20K total.  Price seems good to me. It was a promotion. Good service.

14 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I have heard that there are actually 3 rate  categories at that hospital: Thai rate, rate for resident expats, and tourist rate. But cashers may  automatically apply tourist rate when they see a farang. 

 

So explain you are long term resident and show proof (e.g. retirement extension etc) and clearly ask for the resident expat rate. May need to  see a supervisor for this. If possible have a Thai do the negotiating.

 

 

This kind of 3 tier pricing is common at private hospitals. 

As is the automatic assumption that every foreigner is a tourist.

You have to actively stress you are resident,  and have some supporting evidence (Yellow book, speaking fluent Thai, long-term visa etc)

Deleted - wrong thread

On 9/28/2025 at 2:31 PM, KhunBENQ said:

Two tier pricing is official policy even for public hospitals.

And as stated: avoid as a self payer.

You pay so much for all the pomp and glamour.

Pattaya is extra expensive over other branches of the Bangkok Hospital chain from my experience.

Got a completely silly cost estimate of 300k for TURP under full anesthesia(!) and one(!) night in hospital. Completely unrealistic decoy.

In Khon Kaen I paid some 200k with spinal block (fully conscious) and 5 nights.

Also ultrasound and MRI before was considered mandatory.

I have been a member of Queen Sirikit Navy hospital for a few years now. There are a couple signs posted on the walls.There are 3 levels of fees.1) migrant workers etc.120b.2) Foreigners resident 180b. 3) foreign tourist 240b. i pay 1.5 times the base fee. Tourists pay double. .I have to go every 4 months for a check-up and blood work. I'm always the last person to see the GP and I'm always done by noon. My fees are never more than 2k without any prescriptions. My Dr suggested I get my meds at Fascino of which I'm a member . FYI I'm a quad bypass and C survivor @ 74 yo. well...

On 9/29/2025 at 2:20 AM, how241 said:

I just got a colonoscopy, with polyp bioscopy, for 20K total.  Price seems good to me. It was a promotion. Good service.

 

It's 200 Euros in Serbia in modern private hospital. 

 

Actually I was thinking if I ever get something I'd go back to Serbia to get it fixed as the plane ride is shorter than Canada. Chemo seems dirt cheap too.

 

I speak the language, but everyone in Serbia speaks English anyway 

Bangkok hospital in Ratchaburi I get charged the same as my wife.  No dual pricing.

 

The local government hospital charges me 50 baht to see a doctor.

On 9/29/2025 at 12:13 PM, ezzra said:

Question, is the Thai movements ok with all this 2-3 tier pricing? with this blatant discrimination between people?

hard to accept that Thai people who are known for their manners and expectance of other races into their society with open arms will be ok with it, what next than? one price for Thais and other for foreigners at the market, or at the DLT

or buying an airline ticket, ect. etc.?  

Don't make this a race thing, (its a Thai vs non Thai thing, big difference).  Obviously foreigners have more money and can afford it compared to locals.   

 

It's a local attraction or hospital or whatever, to allow locals to attend, the price needs to be lower. 

 

Have a Thai walk into a hospital in London NY Paris etc and see if they pay the same.   

 

Also, it's Nothing different than what Disney does at their parks!! 

 

Im happy with 2 tier pricing, hate the whiners.  

 

 

I have written this before in a thread similar to this a couple of years ago. 
I had a stoma hernia repair at Prachuap Khiri Khan hospital. Not private! The op plus 4 nights came to less than a Thai, from our village who had the same op and stayed for 3 nights! Work that one out! 
Have had sterling service from the two private hospitals in Chumphon over the years and now the same at Bangkok Hospital, Hua Hin. No sign of different price tiers.

Bangkok Hospital is a very good private hospital. But, I normally avoid them due to the cost. Unless you are wealthy, or have great health insurance, it is best to use a very good public hospital.

 

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.

 

 

On 9/28/2025 at 3:56 PM, ezzra said:

And the Thai government is completely ok with it, that hospitals can charge what they want and how they want without

any government body to regulate this shamble and tacking advantage of sick poor people?

Any reason why is it so, does it have a reason why is this policy is in place, I mean' if there's something wrong in human

society is the blatant greed and disregard to patients.

Actually that is bankrupting many US persons lately as the hospitals, doctors and big pharma rip off everyone.  Because DJT's big beautiful bill would have meant the loss of affordable hospitalization for millions of Americans and that was/is the prime reason the Dems reportedly voted against keeping the govt open even if only temporarily.  I personally am against any shutdown of the government but also was against the BBB too as it gives the richest the biggest tax breaks while they are the ones not even needing one and it increases the American debt way too much unnecessarily IMHO.

43 minutes ago, Presnock said:

Actually that is bankrupting many US persons lately as the hospitals, doctors and big pharma rip off everyone.  Because DJT's big beautiful bill would have meant the loss of affordable hospitalization for millions of Americans and that was/is the prime reason the Dems reportedly voted against keeping the govt open even if only temporarily.  I personally am against any shutdown of the government but also was against the BBB too as it gives the richest the biggest tax breaks while they are the ones not even needing one and it increases the American debt way too much unnecessarily IMHO.

It's tempting to do the old socialist trick of sucking the wealthy dry out of envy, however (as you can see in the UK under Starmer) the rich just move elsewhere. As they're the main taxpayers and employers, it just means that it's the working people that suffer. Socialist or Liberal governments never work because they're riddled in idealism rather than common sense.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Bangkok Hospital is a very good private hospital. But, I normally avoid them due to the cost. Unless you are wealthy, or have great health insurance, it is best to use a very good public hospital.

 

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.

 

 

It's criminal how these hospitals take advantage of the sick

17 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

It's criminal how these hospitals take advantage of the sick

Then how come Thai people in their droves don't go out protesting against those money hungry operations that all they

care about is the forfeits?

1 hour ago, boloaf said:

It's tempting to do the old socialist trick of sucking the wealthy dry out of envy, however (as you can see in the UK under Starmer) the rich just move elsewhere. As they're the main taxpayers and employers, it just means that it's the working people that suffer. Socialist or Liberal governments never work because they're riddled in idealism rather than common sense.

yeah I understand what you are saying too...like DJT's cabinet, 14 of them are worth more than the GDP of 173 nations of the world.  There is no way that they should pay less taxes than in the new bill, just revert to their prevous taxes as they got super rich off those already.

1 hour ago, boloaf said:

It's tempting to do the old socialist trick of sucking the wealthy dry out of envy, however (as you can see in the UK under Starmer) the rich just move elsewhere. As they're the main taxpayers and employers, it just means that it's the working people that suffer. Socialist or Liberal governments never work because they're riddled in idealism rather than common sense.

 

43 minutes ago, Jonnapat said:

 

Well, if American, no matter where they move to they are legally required to file US taxes every year.  IMHO I don't believe they feel it would be advantageous to remove themselves from US citizenship to avoid those taxes and if they are getting paid from with the US then the govt would still be able to get those taxes owed.  But, then again, I have never been that rich nor do I really know anyone that rich so maybe they do feel that it would be better to change citizenship to some s^&%hole country.

2 hours ago, thjames007 said:

Don't make this a race thing, (its a Thai vs non Thai thing, big difference).  Obviously foreigners have more money and can afford it compared to locals.   

 

It's a local attraction or hospital or whatever, to allow locals to attend, the price needs to be lower. 

 

Have a Thai walk into a hospital in London NY Paris etc and see if they pay the same.   

 

Also, it's Nothing different than what Disney does at their parks!! 

 

Im happy with 2 tier pricing, hate the whiners.  

 

 

   Totally agree.