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Best way to self-pay for operation

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I'm planning on having spinal surgery at BNH hospital cost estimate between 350K and 400K Baht. I'll be paying myself, no problem, the money's in my account but, given the large sum, how exactly should I pay it? I asked the receptionists in the spinal unit but the only answer they gave me was to go and ask my bank (SCB).

I'm not sure how much the hospital will want as a deposit, but I'm sure I can sort that out with my bank here in Pattaya simply by going to see them. Let's say that's 100K Baht for the sake of argument, leaving me with 250K to 300 K to pay on discharge.

If I'm buying a big ticket item, like a car, I know up-front exactly how much it will cost and can get a cashier's cheque. With an operation and several days in hospital, though, you don't know the exact amount until you're being discharged so a cashier's cheque could only be for a part of the total cost. Or could you make it for a cheque for a larger amount and then the hospital would give you a refund of the excess?

For expensive but smaller items, like a large-screen TV, I simply take cash. Could I take, say, 300K Baht in cash with me and deposit it with the cashier before the operation? I'd hoped the hospital would tell me about these options but they just seemed blank when I asked them.

I don't want to pay with my UK credit card as there's a 3% foreign currency charge.

I've read about using the mobile app (I'm with SCB and use it all the time) but for payments over 50K Baht you have to have facial recognition enabled. I'm highly sceptical about this stuff as I've had biometric passports for the past 15 years and the facial recognition at Heathrow has worked a total of twice in all that time.

Am I missing any other options? Which is the safest and simplest route, as it's possible I may still be a bit groggy after the anaesthetic? Thanks.

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  • brewsterbudgen
    brewsterbudgen

    I'd accept the foreign currency charge and just use my credit card.

  • Should be able to pay by bank debit card (which often double as pre-paid credit cards). Look on the app to see what limits are set, you can probably change those. I don't know if they will ask for d

  • scubascuba3
    scubascuba3

    I would visit the bank and get them to help you set up the app so you can transfer that amount, either QR code or account number what ever the hospital gives you

  • Popular Post

I would visit the bank and get them to help you set up the app so you can transfer that amount, either QR code or account number what ever the hospital gives you

  • Popular Post

I'd accept the foreign currency charge and just use my credit card.

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

I've read about using the mobile app (I'm with SCB and use it all the time) but for payments over 50K Baht you have to have facial recognition enabled. I'm highly sceptical about this stuff as I've had biometric passports for the past 15 years and the facial recognition at Heathrow has worked a total of twice in all that time.

I would do a trial of the facial recognition feature in your banking app, then you can find out if it works satisfactorily for you. I use K-bank app rather than SCB but it works fine for me (OK, not always on the first try, but usually within a couple of attempts).

There should be a number of transactions that require facial recognition, that you can use to try it out. In the K-bank app, that includes changing certain parameters, setting up payees etc.

  • Author
39 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I would visit the bank and get them to help you set up the app so you can transfer that amount, either QR code or account number what ever the hospital gives you

I'll have to visit the bank anyway, firstly to transfer the 400K Baht from the underperforming and now taxable SFF Fund, and then to pay the deposit. I'm just trying to see what other self-pay patients have done in the past for amounts involving hundreds of thousands of Baht.

  • Author
26 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

I would do a trial of the facial recognition feature in your banking app, then you can find out if it works satisfactorily for you. I use K-bank app rather than SCB but it works fine for me (OK, not always on the first try, but usually within a couple of attempts).

There should be a number of transactions that require facial recognition, that you can use to try it out. In the K-bank app, that includes changing certain parameters, setting up payees etc.

Well, it certainly can't hurt to try it out but, as I said, my past experience with biometrics hasn't been great. Before Covid, I bought one of those fingerprint activated padlocks for the front gate. You had to take your fingerprint 4 or 5 times to set it up, presumably to cover the different angles you might stick your finger on it, but still it always took multiple attempts to unlock the wretched device, and occasionally it refused to open at all and I had to use the app on my phone. That lasted about a month and was never used again. Not cheap, either, bought in the UK for about £40.

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Should be able to pay by bank debit card (which often double as pre-paid credit cards). Look on the app to see what limits are set, you can probably change those.

I don't know if they will ask for deposit upfront or not as when I had surgery there it was covered by insurance.

I was at Siriraj for radiotherapy. I understood I had to pay for all upfront. Probably not true, but I wanted treatment asap.

The man in front of me had travelled from Vietnam and paid in cash from a bag.

Sorted quickly, they had a machine to count the money.

I wanted to pay using my overseas debit card and I had already upped my limit for the large transfer, and confirmed with the bank, but it did not go through.

I had to call the bank overseas like 3 times, all very stressful as it took about half an hour to clear, making me late for my first treatment on the table.

The overseas bank were blaming the hospital terminal, as no issue at their end.

I think the bank were right, the hospital terminal did not like my overseas card but after many attempts, it went through.

Next time, I would just take a bag of cash - relax, everything under control.

On 2/20/2026 at 2:50 PM, Guderian said:

Not cheap, either, bought in the UK for about £40.

Forty quid is not cheap? Hardly get a round of drinks for that much these days.

9 minutes ago, John49 said:

Next time, I would just take a bag of cash - relax, everything under control.

Walking around with a large amount of cash won't be relaxing

A few years ago I had a hip replacement done, private hospital, total job 240K,60K was on an insurance policy, the rest was cash. I was they for 3 days paid the bill over two days.

As the OP said, being groggy after the op last thing he needs is bank hassles. I would go with cash, which the hospital would like for sure.

Why not pay cash? B400K is four bundles of thousand-baht bills. Fits in a slacks pocket. Go from bank to hospital.

I simply loaded up my Bangkok Bank Credit Card and used that. Bangkok Heart Hospital were happy to take it. 1.5 million in about 3 tranches. Had a bit left over which I eventually cleared.

Don't overload because it cost to take the cash out.

3 minutes ago, CRUNCHER said:

I simply loaded up my Bangkok Bank Credit Card and used that. Bangkok Heart Hospital were happy to take it. 1.5 million in about 3 tranches. Had a bit left over which I eventually cleared.

Don't overload because it cost to take the cash out.

I always use my US credit card.

You should be able to pay by QR code scan.

I had spinal surgery and stayed a few nights at BNH about 6 months ago. The estimated cost was 730,000 -780,000B. I paid 730,000B by QR code right after the pre-op two days before the surgery. Again paid by QR code the final bill when I was being discharged. My Bangkok Bank daily limit is set at 1,000,000B.

On 2/20/2026 at 2:06 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

I'd accept the foreign currency charge and just use my credit card.

Absolutely.

Only good way to go.

  • Popular Post

BNH is quite a bit more than some other Thai hospitals but if you have Dr. Wicharn it will be well worth the difference. He operated on my back 16 yr ago and I walked home 40 hr after surgery. Most hospitals will collect half just before your operation and the balance when you check out.

On 2/20/2026 at 12:14 PM, Guderian said:

I'm not sure how much the hospital will want as a deposit, but I'm sure I can sort that out with my bank here in Pattaya simply by going to see them. Let's say that's 100K Baht for the sake of argument, leaving me with 250K to 300 K to pay on discharge.

My hospital (Bumrungrad) wanted about 110% deposit. Then they would refund the difference.

They did settle for a lot less on deposit because I had to call my US bank to authorize an increase in my daily limit on my debit card.

YMMV

In way of an example, a month ago, they asked for one million deposit for my heart attack, and the bill turned out to be 645K. I called my bank in the USA to increase my daily debit card limit to $10K (which is the maximum they could authorize on the spot) and paid it over 2 days at 300K baht a day. On the 3rd day, I was released.

I'd also add that time zones and banker's hours added a level of complexity. I had to make the payments before 1:00 PM because that's midnight back home. Weird details you never think about until it happens.

#1. They should give you a written estimate of the expected charges.

#2. They will likely require you to pay that amount upfront, no deposit and settle up at the end.

#3. Upon discharge they will bill you for any extra amount you pay before you leave, by cash or card or QR code.

#4. When you are ready to leave make sure to give them a few hours to prepare the final bill, maybe day before if you want a chance to review and not be waiting to leave while they take a couple of hours to prepare it....some chance they can't do it on demand in your room, while you wait.

I have usually been required to pay the estimated cost before the surgery and have used my Thai credit card for payment. My last surgery was a little cheaper than estimated, so the cashier at Samitivej Hospital Sukhumvit refunded me the difference in cash after surgery.

Just paid for Wife's operation. 132,000 baht. Chose to split bill between cash and credit card (no surcharge, earned card points).

If you have a Wise account, get a debit card, real or virtual, and set up a baht account. Convert the estimated required amount and leave it there until needed. Come the day of reckoning, use the Wise card, rest assured if you check the bill carefully... and I mean carefully.... the actual total will come out thousands less than estimated. 40k less in the case of my back op., once overcharges and false entries were deducted!

Capital One temporarily bumped my US credit card limit to cover a 1.3M baht procedure at Bumrungrad. No foreign transaction fee and 1.5% cash back

On 2/20/2026 at 12:14 PM, Guderian said:

I'm planning on having spinal surgery at BNH hospital cost estimate between 350K and 400K Baht. I'll be paying myself, no problem, the money's in my account but, given the large sum, how exactly should I pay it? I asked the receptionists in the spinal unit but the only answer they gave me was to go and ask my bank (SCB).

I'm not sure how much the hospital will want as a deposit, but I'm sure I can sort that out with my bank here in Pattaya simply by going to see them. Let's say that's 100K Baht for the sake of argument, leaving me with 250K to 300 K to pay on discharge.

If I'm buying a big ticket item, like a car, I know up-front exactly how much it will cost and can get a cashier's cheque. With an operation and several days in hospital, though, you don't know the exact amount until you're being discharged so a cashier's cheque could only be for a part of the total cost. Or could you make it for a cheque for a larger amount and then the hospital would give you a refund of the excess?

For expensive but smaller items, like a large-screen TV, I simply take cash. Could I take, say, 300K Baht in cash with me and deposit it with the cashier before the operation? I'd hoped the hospital would tell me about these options but they just seemed blank when I asked them.

I don't want to pay with my UK credit card as there's a 3% foreign currency charge.

I've read about using the mobile app (I'm with SCB and use it all the time) but for payments over 50K Baht you have to have facial recognition enabled. I'm highly sceptical about this stuff as I've had biometric passports for the past 15 years and the facial recognition at Heathrow has worked a total of twice in all that time.

Am I missing any other options? Which is the safest and simplest route, as it's possible I may still be a bit groggy after the anaesthetic? Thanks.

Not sure if they will accept a deposit. I had surgery at a government hospital. They required paperwork from the department involved detailing the procedure and an estimate of how much it would cost. I paid that amount in cash. Part of the discharge procedure before leaving the hospital was getting any medication required, follow up appointment and a detailed bill. Once I had the bill I could go back to the cashier and get a refund or pay extra depending on the estimate and the actual cost. I ended up getting 26,000 baht back.

On 2/20/2026 at 2:06 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

I'd accept the foreign currency charge and just use my credit card.

I try to avoid using a card, so I wired the cash to Bumrungrad.

46 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

Not sure if they will accept a deposit. I had surgery at a government hospital. They required paperwork from the department involved detailing the procedure and an estimate of how much it would cost. I paid that amount in cash. Part of the discharge procedure before leaving the hospital was getting any medication required, follow up appointment and a detailed bill. Once I had the bill I could go back to the cashier and get a refund or pay extra depending on the estimate and the actual cost. I ended up getting 26,000 baht back.

When I had surgery in Chiang Mai, I paid cash. The main payment for surgery was just before it happened. Someone came to my room to collect the money.

I have to paid for 3 back surgerys and 1 Knee replacement . The first Back surgery was at Bumrungrad Hospital 2006. It failed two weeks after surgery it was a parishell disk removal in which the remaining disk pop back in against my neve. Scheduled for 2nd surgery, but one hour before the surgery had a plumery blood clot and almost died. Had the 2nd back surgery in 2018 at Bangkok General, but had a lot of problems and spent over 30 days in the Hospital. Those 2 were covered by insurance and the hospital did all the paperwork. The knee surgery was at Bangkok General also covered by a different insurance, I had to pay first and file against the insurance after paying the hospital first. The Hospital what 100% up front on est cost, I said no and just put 100k down and paid the rest on discharge. Same for the 3rd back surgery. the last two were for my wife not me.

  • Author

I went to the SCB branch in Pattaya I use this morning and the cashier increased my card limit to 400K Baht. I then asked her about needing facial recognition for payments over 50K Baht and she got her tablet out and took photos of me and registered it all, so she says I'm in the system if facial recognition is needed and as well as using the debit card I can simply transfer the money from my account into theirs if that's a better option. No opportunity to test drive it, though, and Thai software tends to be flaky to say the least.

The simplest thing would be to take cash with me, and I think that's what I'll probably do.

37 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I went to the SCB branch in Pattaya I use this morning and the cashier increased my card limit to 400K Baht. I then asked her about needing facial recognition for payments over 50K Baht and she got her tablet out and took photos of me and registered it all, so she says I'm in the system if facial recognition is needed and as well as using the debit card I can simply transfer the money from my account into theirs if that's a better option. No opportunity to test drive it, though, and Thai software tends to be flaky to say the least.

The simplest thing would be to take cash with me, and I think that's what I'll probably do.

Would be easy to test if you had another bank account to use, large amount there, large amount back

On 2/20/2026 at 12:14 PM, Guderian said:

I'm planning on having spinal surgery at BNH hospital cost estimate between 350K and 400K Baht. I'll be paying myself, no problem, the money's in my account but, given the large sum, how exactly should I pay it? I asked the receptionists in the spinal unit but the only answer they gave me was to go and ask my bank (SCB).

I'm not sure how much the hospital will want as a deposit, but I'm sure I can sort that out with my bank here in Pattaya simply by going to see them. Let's say that's 100K Baht for the sake of argument, leaving me with 250K to 300 K to pay on discharge.

If I'm buying a big ticket item, like a car, I know up-front exactly how much it will cost and can get a cashier's cheque. With an operation and several days in hospital, though, you don't know the exact amount until you're being discharged so a cashier's cheque could only be for a part of the total cost. Or could you make it for a cheque for a larger amount and then the hospital would give you a refund of the excess?

For expensive but smaller items, like a large-screen TV, I simply take cash. Could I take, say, 300K Baht in cash with me and deposit it with the cashier before the operation? I'd hoped the hospital would tell me about these options but they just seemed blank when I asked them.

I don't want to pay with my UK credit card as there's a 3% foreign currency charge.

I've read about using the mobile app (I'm with SCB and use it all the time) but for payments over 50K Baht you have to have facial recognition enabled. I'm highly sceptical about this stuff as I've had biometric passports for the past 15 years and the facial recognition at Heathrow has worked a total of twice in all that time.

Am I missing any other options? Which is the safest and simplest route, as it's possible I may still be a bit groggy after the anaesthetic? Thanks.

From a past experience at BNH they asked for a deposit & then came for instalments during my stay. Settlement was on last day. Ask them. Accounts will be able to tell you.

  • Author
2 hours ago, ThaiTraveller2016 said:

From a past experience at BNH they asked for a deposit & then came for instalments during my stay. Settlement was on last day. Ask them. Accounts will be able to tell you.

I spoke to the staff in the spinal unit twice and, at first, they thought I was asking for a discount as I didn't have any money, lol. I eventually got them to understand that I had the money in my Thai bank account but 400,000 Baht is a lot, so what was the usual way people paid bills fro hundreds of thousands of Baht? They didn't seem to know, and just told me to talk to my bank about the best way.

As you've been there already, @ThaiTraveller2016 , may I ask you two questions?

  1. How much was the initial deposit they wanted as a percentage of the estimated cost?

  2. If I take cash, is there somewhere safe to store it or would I be better off paying the whole estimated bill at the start?

Thanks.

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