Bupa And Aek Udon A Different Experience Then Before

[ray23]

My first usage of Bupa was a very painless experience.

Got food poisonings. Of all the Gin joints, Man I have never gotten ill from food here I have ate in places that had dirt floors with dogs and chickens freely walking through the eating area and never have gotten sick. This came for something at home. Perhap the wife's last dich effort to use the last drop of milk from a container. Possibly from me trying to make a bean soup from and longer opened package then I would care to admit. Never had it before I have new found respect of the bugger.

I really only had one experience before this, perhaps four years ago when the car hit the wife and I on the bike. The Dr, signed the release and we were out of there.

The Dr, signs the release a hour and half an no progress. finished with the confrontation with the international office explaiinng to me they were staff and that was the proceedure. With me repsonding I'm not staff forms are signed you got a problem with BUPA I paid for the insurance. Incidentally the time was charged to BUPA as after release patient care. So they didnt like it talk BUPA it was BYE BYE.

When I got the itemized list, man was that bugger padded. I was thinking if it was was under 7K I would pay it, that would be less would have been less then my 10% discount I would be losing. But, it was over 11K one day. Admittely I had a nice room so 8K was in services. They called my home a 1730 hours telling me BUPA paid the bill, I guess I was supposed to sit there for six hours while they dealt wih BUPA. I had offered to pay cash and deal with BUPA. If you haven't had the experience when you are released your not a 100% yet the only thing I wanted feeling better was the comfort of my home.

Was it BUPA or AEK with the padded bill I don't know. Care I was say professionally for what I was dealing with adequate met the proceedures. Personal touch forget it, one E.R. nurse was the only person that I actually saw showing any impathy. If your thinking staffing, not the problem I was in the high rent district five nurses for that floor, they had three patients on it. Whose main activity seemed to be sitting on their butts chit chatting for the shift.

Thought I had came close with the first nurse until she found out I was married and then she was a like a streak out the door. I now understand just how important it is to visit people here when they are in the hospital and why wifes insist on staying overnight with you. The only time you see nurse is when you call them or they have to make an entry on a patient care form. You have to notify them when the I.V. alarm goes off, they won't hear it .

My poor wife she was being stuck in the middle with the billing something I hate. I finally asked the " staff member " if she spoke in english in perfect english she explained she did. Nothing angers me more then being talked around and leaving my wife stuck with the mess. I had major chunks of that womans hind in. I explained to her plain and simple the forms were signed and it fifteen minutes I was going home. Her response the bill had been faxed to BUPA. I told her give me the bill I would go to the ATM and pay it. She is standing there with that typical Thai smile, saying I hate your guts. I didn't buy that in any way shape of form and called her on it. I said what are smiling about I see nothing l pleasant going on here. She started back into the song and dance. My repsonse get out of my room and get your work done.

My wife is scared to death of anything that resembles authority so I simply told her to give me the car keys, she could or stay her choice but I was going home. Fifteen minutes up I grabbed my dirty bag and out the door I went. Walked to the door as I reached the elevator first time I ever saw those nurses really move in my entire experience. I thinked them for their help.

Went to the International office gave them my card and told the manager you got a problem call me and will come back and resolved Monday. To which she became indignant and stated to me they were staff. I told them I know that and it didn't frighten me as it did my wife. Plain and simple I didn't work for her she had no authority over me.

True to form my wife waited I went home went back and picked her up in about 30 Mins. They called later saying that the bill was paid. So I was supposed to sit in that room witing for for hours receiving no treatment whatsoever nor and contact with staff the I didn't instigate. The entire time they are billing BUPA for. I don't think so.

Did I get the treatment I needed yes would I have gotten that elsewhere yes, not a good experience, for the monies paid.

Two things really stood out on the bill, I noticed the nursing staff kept pushing Thai food, I knew they got farrang food from the Chareon. Lets see my stomache was a mess what I really needed was spicey food. I ordered toast and she finally admitted I could get a " American Breakfast from across the street. Toast was all I felt confident handling, my normal breakfast anyway. I had Thai food for lunch as may stomache was settling just took all the chilis out of it, Really tastey, I understood the push when I signed for the meal they padded it on the bill.

One thing on the bill 300 baht stood out an addition to the room fee for usage of hospital equipment I guess that was for the I.V holder,cause nothing else was used.

The billing hey BUPA or AEK take your choice. Patient care not the AEK is used to be, sad really.

[kamalabob2]

I had a minor "misunderstanding" once at a major Bangkok Hospital with "Thai Health Insurance" and it took one phone call to my insurance BROKER to straighten out the situation. That same broker arranged for BUPA policies for our family after Thai Health Insurance was not a good value. Ray 23 did you purchase BUPA direct from the company or through a Broker? Did you phone BUPA PRIOR to going to the Hospital so they could start the billing process? Sorry to hear about your experience in that hospital and it gives us all reason to be careful.

[ray23]

I don't recall if it was a broker, the policy has been in force for seven years. This is the third time it has been used it is a hospital only policy. Used once at Palo and Once at AEK prior to this. No problems whatsoever on the last two times. It was used at Palo last year not problem out the door within fiftteen mins. No sitting around waiting for fax to come back form Bupa. It was a real mess, but I don't think it was Bupa. So I beleive most can breath easy on that one.

Edited August 30, 2009 by ray23

[Macx]

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I was in there to do a regular dental cleaning and was considering some oral surgery, but was neither impressed with the prices or the services.

One question: Where else would you go in Udon (if not Aek)?

I do hear that many rich Laotians, who drive into Thailand for medical care, simply drive all the way to Khon Khaen.

[ray23]

From what I hear going to be hard to beat what Khon Kean offers, but another local choice is Panyaventer Hospital. It to is a private hospital. My personal experince I would have good hing to say about it. But, I would haev said good things about AEK before this experience.

So what happened may have been a off day I have no idea the experience was what it was.

[barryofthailand]

My first usage of Bupa was a very painless experience.

Got food poisonings. Of all the Gin joints, Man I have never gotten ill from food here I have ate in places that had dirt floors with dogs and chickens freely walking through the eating area and never have gotten sick. This came for something at home. Perhap the wife's last dich effort to use the last drop of milk from a container. Possibly from me trying to make a bean soup from and longer opened package then I would care to admit. Never had it before I have new found respect of the bugger.

I really only had one experience before this, perhaps four years ago when the car hit the wife and I on the bike. The Dr, signed the release and we were out of there.

The Dr, signs the release a hour and half an no progress. finished with the confrontation with the international office explaiinng to me they were staff and that was the proceedure. With me repsonding I'm not staff forms are signed you got a problem with BUPA I paid for the insurance. Incidentally the time was charged to BUPA as after release patient care. So they didnt like it talk BUPA it was BYE BYE.

When I got the itemized list, man was that bugger padded. I was thinking if it was was under 7K I would pay it, that would be less would have been less then my 10% discount I would be losing. But, it was over 11K one day. Admittely I had a nice room so 8K was in services. They called my home a 1730 hours telling me BUPA paid the bill, I guess I was supposed to sit there for six hours while they dealt wih BUPA. I had offered to pay cash and deal with BUPA. If you haven't had the experience when you are released your not a 100% yet the only thing I wanted feeling better was the comfort of my home.

Was it BUPA or AEK with the padded bill I don't know. Care I was say professionally for what I was dealing with adequate met the proceedures. Personal touch forget it, one E.R. nurse was the only person that I actually saw showing any impathy. If your thinking staffing, not the problem I was in the high rent district five nurses for that floor, they had three patients on it. Whose main activity seemed to be sitting on their butts chit chatting for the shift.

Thought I had came close with the first nurse until she found out I was married and then she was a like a streak out the door. I now understand just how important it is to visit people here when they are in the hospital and why wifes insist on staying overnight with you. The only time you see nurse is when you call them or they have to make an entry on a patient care form. You have to notify them when the I.V. alarm goes off, they won't hear it .

My poor wife she was being stuck in the middle with the billing something I hate. I finally asked the " staff member " if she spoke in english in perfect english she explained she did. Nothing angers me more then being talked around and leaving my wife stuck with the mess. I had major chunks of that womans hind in. I explained to her plain and simple the forms were signed and it fifteen minutes I was going home. Her response the bill had been faxed to BUPA. I told her give me the bill I would go to the ATM and pay it. She is standing there with that typical Thai smile, saying I hate your guts. I didn't buy that in any way shape of form and called her on it. I said what are smiling about I see nothing l pleasant going on here. She started back into the song and dance. My repsonse get out of my room and get your work done.

My wife is scared to death of anything that resembles authority so I simply told her to give me the car keys, she could or stay her choice but I was going home. Fifteen minutes up I grabbed my dirty bag and out the door I went. Walked to the door as I reached the elevator first time I ever saw those nurses really move in my entire experience. I thinked them for their help.

Went to the International office gave them my card and told the manager you got a problem call me and will come back and resolved Monday. To which she became indignant and stated to me they were staff. I told them I know that and it didn't frighten me as it did my wife. Plain and simple I didn't work for her she had no authority over me.

True to form my wife waited I went home went back and picked her up in about 30 Mins. They called later saying that the bill was paid. So I was supposed to sit in that room witing for for hours receiving no treatment whatsoever nor and contact with staff the I didn't instigate. The entire time they are billing BUPA for. I don't think so.

Did I get the treatment I needed yes would I have gotten that elsewhere yes, not a good experience, for the monies paid.

Two things really stood out on the bill, I noticed the nursing staff kept pushing Thai food, I knew they got farrang food from the Chareon. Lets see my stomache was a mess what I really needed was spicey food. I ordered toast and she finally admitted I could get a " American Breakfast from across the street. Toast was all I felt confident handling, my normal breakfast anyway. I had Thai food for lunch as may stomache was settling just took all the chilis out of it, Really tastey, I understood the push when I signed for the meal they padded it on the bill.

One thing on the bill 300 baht stood out an addition to the room fee for usage of hospital equipment I guess that was for the I.V holder,cause nothing else was used.

The billing hey BUPA or AEK take your choice. Patient care not the AEK is used to be, sad really.

I guess the Hospital name AEK, where ever that is, is your problem. I have had Bupa for six yrs now and never had a problem. Yes it takes about an hour for Buoa to settle the bill via Fax from Bangkok, so if you were in a hurry to leave, I guess that was Bupa then.

Barry

[ray23]

They may have changed their proceedures then, before I just checked out and that was it. One hour would have been tolerable. Five hours was not. I wasn't concerned about BUPA paying the bill that is why I offered to give them cash and leave. Then get my money back from Bupa. That broke down to clerical staff not listening and talking around me even though they spoke English. Something I truly hate, I don't like seeing my wife stuck in the middle when their is absolutley no reason for it. Medicaly I got what I needed, no complaint there.

[mca]

I do hear that many rich Laotians, who drive into Thailand for medical care, simply drive all the way to Khon Khaen.

I was in KK Ram a couple of weeks ago for my medical for my insurance renewal and there were half a dozen Laotian registered vehicles there.

[ray23]

The University Hospital has a very good reputation, guys with heart problems go there for treatment. I think worth it if yuor dealing with a major problem