45 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

And chances are that after years in Thailand, he will have a long waiting time before NHS even want to see him.

Three months' wait in Canada except for Alberta. God, who's want to live in Alberta?!?

19 hours ago, BritManToo said:

If they'd exercised every day, not over eaten, and avoided vaccinations, they probably wouldn't have got diabetes.

You have proof that vaccines are linked to diabetes?

Sounds like quackery.

15 hours ago, Tourist2 said:

Health Insurance is a VERY American obsession.
Every youtube video on living in TH / SEA contains questions about health insurance from Americans.
Not saying they're the only nationality to hold insurance but it seems to be THE number one concern for many Americans - an obsession or verging on one

If you were an American, you'd know why they're obsessed.

The American health system is broken. The system operates as if everyone has insurance, and the doctors and hospitals bill accordingly. In other words, they charge as much as they can possibly get away with. And, more often than not, that's an obscene amount bearing little relation to reality. Anyone with insurance has a degree of protection from the madness. People without insurance? They're in trouble. People over age 65 are usually covered by Medicare, so they mostly don't have much to worry about.

Otherwise, medical care is available to the destitute, but in order to qualify for such care, one has to be truly a poverty case with no real assets. Medical bills are one of the biggest reasons for personal bankruptcy in America.

I went for a check up at a private hospital about 5 years ago they done scans xrays and told me I had a tumour on my left kidney and said I needed to see a specialist.This did not worry me at all because I do not have a left kidney it was damaged due to motor accident over 30 years prior to this.They could see the scar where I was operated on.My wife spoke to them in Thai but no apology to me.

If you’re proactive with your health there should be no problem or surprises. I had a angiogram at my request which ended up with 4 stents later that week. That’s in Australia. I didn’t wait for the heart attack to find out! Likewise I have blood tests every 6 months. To me it’s as important as exercise and diet. Yes I do still eat too much, drink too much and am overweight.

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Absolutely. I have dealt with Thai hospitals that have dealt with serious conditions that I've had, and it's always come out smelling like roses. I would pick a good Thai Hospital over an American hospital any day of the week.

In major cities, yes. In rural thailand they are surprisingly efficient but don't even remotely compare to the USA. The risk of secondary infections at the hospital is a concern in the USA but next level scarry in the Thailand's rural hospitals.

In the ICU many to most don't even have AC and that is no fun in the month of May when your in a world of pain and just trying not to give up and survive somehow. I remember having dark thoughts.

I wasn't going to say anything, but if you had a bleeding stroke and then took 325 mg of aspirin, you might bleed more! Heart health suggests 81mg❤️of aspirin for slight blood thinning..Aloha

Just watched Dr. Anthony Jay, a researcher at Boston University.

The whole way the medical system treats heart disease (not just Thailand) is probably wrong.

LDL is not the major cause of heart disease, it's insulin resistance.

Which doctors never check.

They just check LDL levels and prescribe statins.

We need to check our HOMA-IR (insulin resistance) score.

And try to keep the blood sugar and fasting insulin low.

This is a bit of a scaremongering article, cleverly done by an Insurance Company to play on people’s insecurities and get business, a sort of a scam!

Admittedly these very serious incidents did happen and they also happen in other parts of the world too, including the West.

I visited a hospital with JCI Accedidation, and was diagnosed with food poisoning, when I had no relief, I went for a second opinion and was diagnosed and treated for dengue!

So as highlighted by others here, it happens elsewhere and also as Scuba said, second, third or fourth opinion.

I saw 4 different Specialists in Urology until I found the one who made sense and suited my preference and budget. You have to shop around.

Some Insurance Companies will recommend, but if they are not paying then you need a good budget.

I have self funded most of my health care since living in Thailand, in fact only one did a Company covered me!

Most of the Specialists working at the Private hospitals also work at the Government hospitals. I ask them the name of the Government hospital and go there if necessary. I did that once and paid a quarter of the fees at the Government hospital that I would have paid for the same surgeon at a private hospital.

Recently I saw a Gastroenterologist at a private hospital and the cost for a colonoscopy there was 16K THB, but he could do it at a government hospital for 5K !! I did not need it after all.

If you have a friend who is a Thai speaker, shop around, have a list of relevant questions. Never stick to one diagnosis. Doctors can be wrong, remember the case of Thaskin!

On 8/19/2026 at 9:00 AM, BritManToo said:

Wasted money, plus causes problems if you like insurance IMHO.

My theory, don't test and most problems go away on their own.

You have got to be joking!!

In Aug 25 I went for the full monty check up at Bangkok Hospital, Hua Hin at the age of 70. It came back with possible prostate cancer, PSA 18. High cholesterol, wee shadow in upper left lung, overweight and 30% plaque in carotid arteries.

Yes, I did have prostate cancer which was treated in Oct with radio therapy in Bangkok with 20 sessions.

The lung looks like it is a form of fibrosis. Untreatable but can be slowed down in forming. On statins for cholesterol and plaque as well as baby aspirin. And have now lost 10 kgs.

So to sum up, it was never a waste of money as I would never have known as I had no symptoms. In the long run has prolonged my life admirably. Luckily my insurance has covered the bulk of the costs involved.

Just now, worrab said:

You have got to be joking!!

In Aug 25 I went for the full monty check up at Bangkok Hospital, Hua Hin at the age of 70. It came back with possible prostate cancer, PSA 18. High cholesterol, wee shadow in upper left lung, overweight and 30% plaque in carotid arteries.

Yes, I did have prostate cancer which was treated in Oct with radio therapy in Bangkok with 20 sessions.

The lung looks like it is a form of fibrosis. Untreatable but can be slowed down in forming. On statins for cholesterol and plaque as well as baby aspirin. And have now lost 10 kgs.

So to sum up, it was never a waste of money as I would never have known as I had no symptoms. In the long run has prolonged my life admirably. Luckily my insurance has covered the bulk of the costs involved.

At age 70 you should be ready for death.

Treatment is just wasting money, and your insurance will either drop you or double your policy cost.

On 8/19/2026 at 8:15 AM, Hanuman2547 said:

I would always get a second opinion with anything medical related in Thailand. If it was anything serious, I'd be on a plane back to my home country for further medical treatment.

IF It was Anything Serious.....WOULD You be ABLE to jump on a Plane back to you're OWN Country ?? I Doubt it !!

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

At age 70 you should be ready for death.

Treatment is just wasting money, and your insurance will either drop you or double your policy cost.

Not everyone will die in their 70s. Some won't die in their 80s. I had one great uncle who lived to age 107.

Believe it or not, there are all sorts of people living good lives well past 70.

11 hours ago, jas007 said:

If you were an American, you'd know why they're obsessed.

The American health system is broken. The system operates as if everyone has insurance, and the doctors and hospitals bill accordingly. In other words, they charge as much as they can possibly get away with. And, more often than not, that's an obscene amount bearing little relation to reality. Anyone with insurance has a degree of protection from the madness. People without insurance? They're in trouble. People over age 65 are usually covered by Medicare, so they mostly don't have much to worry about.

Otherwise, medical care is available to the destitute, but in order to qualify for such care, one has to be truly a poverty case with no real assets. Medical bills are one of the biggest reasons for personal bankruptcy in America.

Yep, that whole insurance thing is unique to the US so u all need to chill out with the health insurance questions everywhere all the time always and forever.
From a non American POV it stinks of irrational phobia.
"Yeah I know all that but how much is health insurance?"

FFS.

8 hours ago, worrab said:

overweight

(how overwight? is VERY relevant), living in a boiling hot country with excessive pollution and likely eating goy slop isn't the recipe for a long life..

You don't need a full medical IF u can be honest with yourself

I've used San Camilo a few times. It is a very small private hospital run by the Catholic church. If I suspected something serious I might go there initially but would probably also go to the Bangkok Hospital 20km away for a second opinion. After that, if there was something serious confirmed I would ask for a referal for Sirirajh government hospital.

On 8/20/2026 at 7:16 AM, jas007 said:

If you were an American, you'd know why they're obsessed.

The American health system is broken. The system operates as if everyone has insurance, and the doctors and hospitals bill accordingly. In other words, they charge as much as they can possibly get away with. And, more often than not, that's an obscene amount bearing little relation to reality. Anyone with insurance has a degree of protection from the madness. People without insurance? They're in trouble. People over age 65 are usually covered by Medicare, so they mostly don't have much to worry about.

Otherwise, medical care is available to the destitute, but in order to qualify for such care, one has to be truly a poverty case with no real assets. Medical bills are one of the biggest reasons for personal bankruptcy in America.

A family member had a non-emergency medical procedure in the US. It was an outpatient procedure and he was at the hospital at 8 am and was out by noon. I flew from Bangkok to be there.

The total bill was $99,000 and change. Insurance paid about $36,000. The deductible and co-pay was another $4,000. $56,000 disappeared into the ether.

Without insurance, he would have faced a bill for the full $99,000.

American healthcare is <deleted>.

On 8/20/2026 at 7:53 AM, Tourist2 said:

Yep, that whole insurance thing is unique to the US so u all need to chill out with the health insurance questions everywhere all the time always and forever.
From a non American POV it stinks of irrational phobia.
"Yeah I know all that but how much is health insurance?"

FFS.

Hardly unique to the US.

The (well- functioning) health care systems of most European countries are based on insurance. Single-payer government health systems like UK NHS are the exception, not the rule.

What is unique to the US, among western countries, is the extent to which private health insurers are unregulated, and the lack of effective government subsidies to offset premium costs where necessary. In countries where insurance is properly regulated, and subsidized at least for those of lower income, the system works fine, arguably better than NHS type systems currently do.

9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Hardly unique to the US.

The (well- functioning) health care systems of most European countries are based on insurance. Single-payer government health systems like UK NHS are the exception, not the rule.

What is unique to the US, among western countries, is the extent to which private health insurers are unregulated, and the lack of effective government subsidies to offset premium costs where necessary. In countries where insurance is properly regulated, and subsidized at least for those of lower income, the system works fine, arguably better than NHS type systems currently do.

In the US, a number of states have programs to, one way or the other, supplement the federal "Affordable Care Act." Lower income people in those states usually fare a bit better.

On 8/20/2026 at 6:58 PM, Tourist2 said:

(how overwight? is VERY relevant), living in a boiling hot country with excessive pollution and likely eating goy slop isn't the recipe for a long life..

You don't need a full medical IF u can be honest with yourself

He reckoned I needed to lose between 10 and 15kgs. Have lost 10 and anymore would make me look anorexic! 😄

On 8/20/2026 at 10:46 AM, BritManToo said:

At age 70 you should be ready for death.

Treatment is just wasting money, and your insurance will either drop you or double your policy cost.

Oh! So you reckon I should move into God’s Waiting Room then! I do not think so and why on earth would you think that let alone write it here! I have all intentions of lasting at least another 20 years which I should be able to do now.

Certainly not a waste of money and it does not make any difference to my policy premiums!

All in all a rather offensive comment as you do not even know me!

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Hardly unique to the US.

The (well- functioning) health care systems of most European countries are based on insurance. Single-payer government health systems like UK NHS are the exception, not the rule.

What is unique to the US, among western countries, is the extent to which private health insurers are unregulated, and the lack of effective government subsidies to offset premium costs where necessary. In countries where insurance is properly regulated, and subsidized at least for those of lower income, the system works fine, arguably better than NHS type systems currently do.

The insurance obsesssion is unique to americans in the vast maj of cases was my point.

It's not relevant to thesame extent outside of the US due to their fkd upsystem there.

1 hour ago, Tourist2 said:

The insurance obsesssion is unique to americans in the vast maj of cases was my point.

It's not relevant to thesame extent outside of the US due to their fkd upsystem there.

I thought topic was Thai hospitals. So insurance is very relevant to all nationalities. You trying to state only Yanks have insurance in TH.

As stated above, every country, most, operate on some type of insurance program. From what I read, Thai govt hosp, location dependent, is more easily accessed than many other 'western' countries universal healthcare.

Easy answer NO! I would have another hospital check. Sorry I have a serious mistrust of most doctor$$$$$$$$$$$!

My Thai wife went to the Dr in The UK last year complaining of symptoms associated with lung cancer, two so called NHS Drs failed to diagnose ( this within two weeks of each other) 10 days after the dr appointment we arrived in Thailand where she immediately went to a Thai hospital who within 10 mins suspected cancer which was quickly confirmed. I think this goes to show that in all counties it’s all about how lucky you are if you see a competent Dr or not.

Though I have to admit the further treatment from the NHS has been exceptional.

A flaming post has been removed