Health Insurance From Thai Government

[samran]

I have lived for 21 years. I am now 71 years old . I have NEVER,NEVER,NEVER had any form of health insurance in ALL that time. So many of you talk absolute nonsense, without any understanding or involvement with the health care system here.First , Or Primary care , you have your local clinics.Pretty near every 2nd village has one. To treat basic illnesses. FOR FREE. Minor scrapes ,cuts ,infections colds ,etc.. Brilliant. Then your next level is your Amphur Hospital . They treat to their level of competence. Given that the doctors are first or second year graduates from Medical Unis. Got a medical problem beyond their level of competence ? Whamo !! , before YOU know it ,YOU are consigned to a trip in an ambulance, with fully qualified nurses,accompanying you ,to your provincial hospital where Specialist care is GIVEN,, Which is what happened to me in February,this year. Pneumonia. + Tuberculosis. ( Which is a serious problem in the area in which I live- over 200 people have T,B. in this Amphur). I spent 6 days , flat on my back, many tubes stuck down my throat, Could not even go to to the toilet. Had to wear nappies!!! The care was excellent ,Cost? Including Ambulance and first level of treatment at my Amphur hospital? Less than B15,000. TOTAL.What was fascinating - the nurses were wonderful -NOT a dragon amongst them, And my G/F stayed with me 24 hours a day=slept on the floor under my bed.That helped enormously , and speeded up my recovery.You do not need Health Insurance. For medical problems. Good Morning trolls

So you're basically stating that public hospitals in Thailand provide a fair level of health care at rock-bottom prices.

Well, that's also my opinion, though honestly I never had any experience with In-Patient care.

So does anyone else agree that Thai public hospitals are pretty good or is this just a fantasy?

I've had loads of experience at both the top end Thai(privately insured), Australian Medicare (in Australia of course) and watching a Thai uncle die of cancer at a Thai hospital.

I'd take the first two over the latter, though the latter would do in a pinch especially for less serious problems.

The experience of the Thai public system is the level care you receive is can range from abysmal to excellent. My Thai uncle unfortunately received more of the former, less of the latter. A lot of shuffling about from one place to the next, many times only to be told - go home, you aren't eligible/supposed to be here today. Doctors spent about 2 mins per day looking after him. The rooms we hardly clean (talking Minburi here).

I'm certain that that affected his prognosis and it delayed him receiving timely care.

But, stories will differ, and I'm thankful that at least there is a safety net, even if it has a few holes in it.

[Bangkokbutcher]

Thanks for the info TerryLH, it's appreciated.

"...regarding the use of the Thai Social Card for medical purposes.

Does anyone know if this covers my kids?"

No, unfortunately it doesn't cover other family members.

[travelmann]

My wife has just told me I have the 30 baht card because I have a yellow book and Thai driving licence id????? news to me but she says its true??? She checked already with the hospital as Iam married to her and its only 1 company hospital?????

A real marrigae with certificate not a village mickey mouse one

[qualtrough]

I have lived for 21 years. I am now 71 years old . I have NEVER,NEVER,NEVER had any form of health insurance in ALL that time. So many of you talk absolute nonsense, without any understanding or involvement with the health care system here.First , Or Primary care , you have your local clinics.Pretty near every 2nd village has one. To treat basic illnesses. FOR FREE. Minor scrapes ,cuts ,infections colds ,etc.. Brilliant. Then your next level is your Amphur Hospital . They treat to their level of competence. Given that the doctors are first or second year graduates from Medical Unis. Got a medical problem beyond their level of competence ? Whamo !! , before YOU know it ,YOU are consigned to a trip in an ambulance, with fully qualified nurses,accompanying you ,to your provincial hospital where Specialist care is GIVEN,, Which is what happened to me in February,this year. Pneumonia. + Tuberculosis. ( Which is a serious problem in the area in which I live- over 200 people have T,B. in this Amphur). I spent 6 days , flat on my back, many tubes stuck down my throat, Could not even go to to the toilet. Had to wear nappies!!! The care was excellent ,Cost? Including Ambulance and first level of treatment at my Amphur hospital? Less than B15,000. TOTAL.What was fascinating - the nurses were wonderful -NOT a dragon amongst them, And my G/F stayed with me 24 hours a day=slept on the floor under my bed.That helped enormously , and speeded up my recovery.You do not need Health Insurance. For medical problems. Good Morning trolls

So you're basically stating that public hospitals in Thailand provide a fair level of health care at rock-bottom prices.

Well, that's also my opinion, though honestly I never had any experience with In-Patient care.

So does anyone else agree that Thai public hospitals are pretty good or is this just a fantasy?

My experience with public hospitals is limited, but has been good. One time one of our daughters cut her forehead and needed stitches. Took her to the public hospital in Prachuab that evening. No wait, very professional and friendly care, cost was minimal. Another time took the child of a worker to Phumiphon hospital, service and care were good.

[Satcommlee]

Great post about being covered by your credit card if you book the plane tickets, but I wouldn't like to try and explain that one to the hospital when I am in dire need of life saving surgery.

I'm with BUPA international and it's not cheap, it's $8000 PA for myself the wife and the kid but is fully comp and covers inpatient and outpatient with no excess, but it is peace of mind worth having.

I've seen what the government 500 baht a month scheme get's you, and it barely amounts to a bed in a ward and a few Paracetemol while you are left to die of chronic pneumonia..

[paulian]

I have lived for 21 years. I am now 71 years old . I have NEVER,NEVER,NEVER had any form of health insurance in ALL that time. So many of you talk absolute nonsense, without any understanding or involvement with the health care system here.First , Or Primary care , you have your local clinics.Pretty near every 2nd village has one. To treat basic illnesses. FOR FREE. Minor scrapes ,cuts ,infections colds ,etc.. Brilliant. Then your next level is your Amphur Hospital . They treat to their level of competence. Given that the doctors are first or second year graduates from Medical Unis. Got a medical problem beyond their level of competence ? Whamo !! , before YOU know it ,YOU are consigned to a trip in an ambulance, with fully qualified nurses,accompanying you ,to your provincial hospital where Specialist care is GIVEN,, Which is what happened to me in February,this year. Pneumonia. + Tuberculosis. ( Which is a serious problem in the area in which I live- over 200 people have T,B. in this Amphur). I spent 6 days , flat on my back, many tubes stuck down my throat, Could not even go to to the toilet. Had to wear nappies!!! The care was excellent ,Cost? Including Ambulance and first level of treatment at my Amphur hospital? Less than B15,000. TOTAL.What was fascinating - the nurses were wonderful -NOT a dragon amongst them, And my G/F stayed with me 24 hours a day=slept on the floor under my bed.That helped enormously , and speeded up my recovery.You do not need Health Insurance. For medical problems. Good Morning trolls

So you're basically stating that public hospitals in Thailand provide a fair level of health care at rock-bottom prices.

Well, that's also my opinion, though honestly I never had any experience with In-Patient care.

So does anyone else agree that Thai public hospitals are pretty good or is this just a fantasy?

A casual friend that lives in my Condo Complex got pneumonia and bronchitis last year and went to a public hospital in Pattaya and was treated very well he claimed at a price he was able to afford. I do not know which one it was.

Which brings me to my next question.

Does anyone know the names of any of these public hospitals in Pattaya ?

[JSixpack]

Does anyone know the names of any of these public hospitals in Pattaya ?

Only one, far as I know: Banglamung Hsp in Naklua.

Other public hsps are in Sattahip, Sriricha, and Chonburi.

[chiang mai]

I have lived for 21 years. I am now 71 years old . I have NEVER,NEVER,NEVER had any form of health insurance in ALL that time. So many of you talk absolute nonsense, without any understanding or involvement with the health care system here.First , Or Primary care , you have your local clinics.Pretty near every 2nd village has one. To treat basic illnesses. FOR FREE. Minor scrapes ,cuts ,infections colds ,etc.. Brilliant. Then your next level is your Amphur Hospital . They treat to their level of competence. Given that the doctors are first or second year graduates from Medical Unis. Got a medical problem beyond their level of competence ? Whamo !! , before YOU know it ,YOU are consigned to a trip in an ambulance, with fully qualified nurses,accompanying you ,to your provincial hospital where Specialist care is GIVEN,, Which is what happened to me in February,this year. Pneumonia. + Tuberculosis. ( Which is a serious problem in the area in which I live- over 200 people have T,B. in this Amphur). I spent 6 days , flat on my back, many tubes stuck down my throat, Could not even go to to the toilet. Had to wear nappies!!! The care was excellent ,Cost? Including Ambulance and first level of treatment at my Amphur hospital? Less than B15,000. TOTAL.What was fascinating - the nurses were wonderful -NOT a dragon amongst them, And my G/F stayed with me 24 hours a day=slept on the floor under my bed.That helped enormously , and speeded up my recovery.You do not need Health Insurance. For medical problems. Good Morning trolls

It's taken me several years of wasted and expensive visits to the private hospitals of Thailand, Bumrungrad, Bangkok/x etc to realize that the provincial hospitals are streets ahead in terms of quality of care, professionalism and reduced costs, I agree I've been a slow learner on this point and hope that other ex-pats get the message quicker than I did.

[nong38]

I use a govt hospital here in Nakhon Sawan for monthly BP checks. Have visited several friends who hve been treated at the same hospital and all say it is good, the rooms seem good and clean to me and pretty close to the private one next to Sawan Park for standards. I also know a nurse who works there and she does not dispute what I have said or noticed. Whilst they will vary the bottom line is this, if you are really ill and need a doctor you have to hope, whether its govt or private, that you get the right one who knows how to sort you out, life is a lottery.