I live in Thailand with a marriage visa, but I also work. I want to know which rate I should be paying at the government hospitals? I understand the rate you pay is based on your visa type which I believe is slightly different for a retirement visa, work visa and a marriage visa. This was told to me at a government hospital.

Is this true:
Retirerees pay the most for medical care
Marriage to a Thai citizen is the next highest
The lowest rate for medical care by a foreigner is with a work visa

I work with a marriage visa so I have a Non Immigrant visa and a work permit. What rate should I pay for hospital services and should I always bring my work permit to the hospital?

I expect the policies vary from hospital to hospital. 

Has anyone on the forum every experienced being required to pay a deposit for medical services like surgery?
Not being able to leave the hospital until the bill is paid after you have been admitted as a patient?

 

Too many variables to answer.

 

Dual pricing at hospitals exists…. & at  some it doesn’t… 

 

The question is impossible to answer - all you can really do is enquire of the costs, negotiate, shop around if the situation permits…. 

 

 

Depends entirely what hospital you go to, who you happdn to see on the day.

Like most things in Thailand there is rarely consistency.

 

 

 

If you were on your death bed would you find time to haggle?

1 hour ago, jingjai9 said:

live in Thailand with a marriage visa, but I also work. I want to know which rate I should be paying at the government hospitals?

If you work, free at your designated SS hospital.

1 hour ago, jingjai9 said:

Has anyone on the forum every experienced being required to pay a deposit for medical services like surgery?
Not being able to leave the hospital until the bill is paid after you have been admitted as a patient?

Government hospitals usually want 5kbht, after treatment but before leaving.

Hit and run got me on a Friday, I insisted on leaving on the Sunday, 5k returned when my wife handed them the police report on the Monday (government min accident ins).

Lowest rate at government hospitals is for foreigners from neighboring countries (Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) who will pay the Thai price.

 

Next lowest is for foreigners with work permits.

 

Highest is for tourists and retirees.

 

I understand that the Ministry of Health allowed government hospitals to apply these tiered charges, but did not require them to do so. I am not sure how diligently it has been applied.

 

No mention of where permanent residents fit into this.

 

 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Government hospitals usually want 5kbht, after treatment but before leaving.

Hit and run got me on a Friday, I insisted on leaving on the Sunday, 5k returned when my wife handed them the police report on the Monday (government min accident ins).

Is that the insurance with a tax disc on a motorbike covering that 5k or you get that cover when you submit a report as someone married to a Thai ?

4 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Is that the insurance with a tax disc on a motorbike covering that 5k or you get that cover when you submit a report as someone married to a Thai ?

Every taxed road vehicle has 30kbht medical cover which can be collected direct by Thai gov hospitals. The only catch is they need a police report of the RTA.

1 hour ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Lowest rate at government hospitals is for foreigners from neighboring countries (Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) who will pay the Thai price.

 

Next lowest is for foreigners with work permits.

 

Highest is for tourists and retirees.

 

I understand that the Ministry of Health allowed government hospitals to apply these tiered charges, but did not require them to do so. I am not sure how diligently it has been applied.

 

No mention of where permanent residents fit into this.

 

 

My Dr is attached to Queen Sirikit Naval hospital Sattahip. Posted on a wall near the cashier is a list of fees.

Lowest is foreigners from neighboring countries (same as Thai)

Next is foreign residents . ( I pay 1.5 x Thais) 

Most expensive is tourists. ( Tourists pay double x 2 locals )

So I guess the type of Visa you have determines which tier you're in.

FYI: There are variations of this in other gov't hospitals in my experience.

54 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Every taxed road vehicle has 30kbht medical cover which can be collected direct by Thai gov hospitals. The only catch is they need a police report of the RTA.

Very good info..I've been aware of this but it was never explained about the accident report. Tip of the hat to you sir! ...is RTA the report?

4 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

I have a Non Immigrant visa and a work permit.

 

Then you are in the SSO health care scheme, right?

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Every taxed road vehicle has 30kbht medical cover which can be collected direct by Thai gov hospitals. The only catch is they need a police report of the RTA.

 

51 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

Very good info..I've been aware of this but it was never explained about the accident report. Tip of the hat to you sir! ...is RTA the report?

 

That's not true, about the police report being needed. A good friend was in a relatively minor scooter accident a few weeks ago. Both decided no need and better not to get the police involved. She spent the night in a private suite in a good hospital while bandaged up etc all covered. Though I do seem to recall that she said it is 30k usage per year, not per accident, but don't quote me on that. Either way, she was fully covered under the 30k taxed vehicle scheme and definitely never got a police report from the accident. 

https://www.pacificprime.co.th/blog/dual-pricing-at-thai-public-hospitals-and-the-implications-on-foreigners/

 

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thai-public-hospitals-ordered-to-implement-dual-pricing-for-foreigners/

I had minor surgery (removal of large cyst from forehead) at Vajira hospital last year. Paid about 5000 THB for the surgery, biopsy and medication.

 

That seems extremely cheap to me and I can't imagine Thai people pay less than that 🤔

8 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

That seems extremely cheap to me and I can't imagine Thai people pay less than that 🤔

Tomorrow I go for a metal inplant in my right ankle at the 'Suraranee University Hospital' Korat, including 4 days inpatient treatment. Cost for everything, I was told, would be no more than 130,000 Baht. Why people on here complain about dual pricing I do not know. Always use the government hospitals they're not fixed against farang. It's all BS.

10 hours ago, jaideedave said:

Very good info..I've been aware of this but it was never explained about the accident report. Tip of the hat to you sir! ...is RTA the report?

Yes, they just want a letter from the police saying an RTA has happened.

The money is paid with no blame assigned to anyone, no other person needs to be involved in the RTA.

My misses sorted out the report for an old Nordic gentleman that toppled his scooter over in his driveway and broke his hip.

Any liability involving private insurances or other persons with insurance will be sorted out later.

The 30k account is opened and claimed direct by the government hospital the moment they get the police report.

Case to case basis for sure, I have had a operation with pins in my hand done by a former minister of healthcare who studied in USA and Japan. Long story short he eventually fixed my hand for like 35K baht all inclusive in a day operation at a private hospital while the semi public one charged 50-60K for the same. The por lor bor (motorbike insurance) covered virtually all of this.

45 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Yes, they just want a letter from the police saying an RTA has happened.

The money is paid with no blame assigned to anyone, no other person needs to be involved in the RTA.

My misses sorted out the report for an old Nordic gentleman that toppled his scooter over in his driveway and broke his hip.

Any liability involving private insurances or other persons with insurance will be sorted out later.

The 30k account is opened and claimed direct by the government hospital the moment they get the police report.

That's just the por lor bor insurance and does require a police report, you can do that later on too as long you keep hospital receipts they just give you a SCB cheque within a few working days to refund the max 30K. It doesn't even matter if you have a helmet, license or were drunk.

 

For some reason, I guess on purpose, many tourists are never aware of this as well rarely take advantage of it. I have used it with two small accidents and it both times paid the full hospital costs I had, once breaking a wrist. I always call my thai bike insurance the best deal on earth (+- 500 baht a year).

 

Anyway I know many people not have it but I would generally speaking recommend a emergency fund of at least 500K to 1M in TH. In a way this entire 400-800K requirements in the bank for both married people and retired people is not unrealistic at all.

12 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Case to case basis for sure, I have had a operation with pins in my hand done by a former minister of healthcare who studied in USA and Japan. Long story short he eventually fixed my hand for like 35K baht all inclusive in a day operation at a private hospital while the semi public one charged 50-60K for the same. 

I had a collapsed lung, 5-6 broken ribs, broken collarbone, stitches, multiple contusions covering my right arm and leg.

Multiple X-rays (3-4 a day looking for blood in my lungs), morphine injections, drips, bags of drugs to take home including Tramadol

 

Treatment over 6 months including one month of physiotherapy 2x a week ....... total cost 13,600bht.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I had a collapsed lung, 5-6 broken ribs, broken collarbone, stitches, multiple contusions covering my right arm and leg.

Multiple X-rays (3-4 a day looking for blood in my lungs), morphine injections, drips, bags of drugs to take home including Tramadol

 

Treatment over 6 months including one month of physiotherapy 2x a week ....... total cost 13,600bht.

Well let's say that to fix 4-5 fingers with micro surgery that required rare talent, what I paid is really peanuts. That hand now even functions better than my other hand, which is 'original' since birth. This guy is one of the best doctors in the country.

18 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

Has anyone on the forum every experienced being required to pay a deposit for medical services like surgery?
Not being able to leave the hospital until the bill is paid after you have been admitted as a patient?

I think I pay reasonable prices in Thai hospitals (married to a Thai). 

Medicines are a bit pricy, so better buy outside if possibel.

A deposit was not required.

Early this year I had a bad dose of bronchial pneumonia and was taken to the Bangkok Rayong hospital, where I have been for treatment and checkups on many occasions. 48 hours in ICU cost 120k baht. As I needed an extended period for further treatment and recuperation I ended up in the Banchang public hospital for 7 nights, 5 of them in a private room. I would say the medical treatment was pretty much what I would have expected at the BKK Rayong. The cost was 30k baht. I wasn't asked for payment up front. I don't know on what basis the charge was calculated, but it seemed pretty reasonable to me.

There are also huge price differences between private clinics.

 

I have been receiving inpatient treatment for more than 30 years, first at Pattaya International Clinic and for the last 20 years at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.

 

The latter because they had a cardiology department.

 

My last operation in 2024 was supposed to cost around 600,000 THB more at BPH than at a private hospital in Korat!

Gallbladder removal and belly button repair...

Price in Korat: approx. 280,000 THB. I pay for my own treatment!

 

And I would only go to a public hospital if there was no other option!

 

I looked into the options in Pattaya and Siracha... No, thank you!

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I had a collapsed lung, 5-6 broken ribs, broken collarbone, stitches, multiple contusions covering my right arm and leg.

Multiple X-rays (3-4 a day looking for blood in my lungs), morphine injections, drips, bags of drugs to take home including Tramadol

 

Treatment over 6 months including one month of physiotherapy 2x a week ....... total cost 13,600bht.

Yes I recall when that occurred to you.Bad luck sure. So you're saying the standard m/c insurance we get every year along with the sticker covered all that?

1 minute ago, jaideedave said:

Yes I recall when that occurred to you.Bad luck sure. So you're saying the standard m/c insurance we get every year along with the sticker covered all that?

Yes

I was quoted at a Bangkok hozzy, 250,000bht to fix a double retina detach, but, the nice consultant advised me to go to a Gov hozzy up country that had the same equipment to do the job, so I did..

 

With 4 days in a very nice private wing, cost me 66,000bht..........

 

That was 6 years back, fingers crossed, still OK.........

Thanks for all the responses. I do work in Thailand but I work at a private school and my employer does not contribute.

 

I have never been asked anything about my Visa status at my local government hospital.

 

I have private insurance but to keep annual premium costs down, (I pay voluntarily the first 40,000 baht), for small stuff, I use the government hospital.

 

Likewise, I did once report back here, though, that I had a colonoscopy, after a test was taken and sent to Kalasin, a private room and all in was around 10,000 baht or slightly less.

 

A bit rough was the bed, (adjacent to the toilet), until they moved me to the private room facility.

 

Not only that, but I think private hospitals are 30-40,000 baht for similar procedures.

I previously had SS cover, but when I started a new contract after the age of 60, I was not allowed to be a member of the SS scheme.

When I was knocked off my motorbike in Chiang Mai some years ago I was not allowed to leave the private hospital until the offending driver’s insurance company had coughed up the money for the treatment, including operation and ICU stay. 

Fortunately now my wife has a Govt job so I get almost free (50 baht) treatment at Govt hospitals.