Bummer

[smokie36]

What are you talking about?

I offered to cut it out for him, and at a great price.

Got you last as I am turning off my computer now. Good luck with the wart HappyRobert gives you. I am not going to listen any more. Na na na na na with fingers in my ears. I hereby irrevocably sign off now. By.

[Moonrakers]

He's still online

Last hit, buckaroo

[BuckarooBanzai]

He's still online

Last hit, buckaroo

You got me, I could not resist!

Edit: where the hell did you get my picture?

[Kilgore Trout]

Well, gee, Kilgore, are you saying I was hallucinating when I visited my GP in the States?

Mirth: 50k to remove a wart?

I don't know if you were hallucinating or not, but it seems that you are portraying the state of health care in the US to be affordable when nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, most people who don't have health insurance (and there are millions of them) can not afford even basic care, when I was working and had insurance provided for me by my employer, to add my wife to my policy would cost 400 USD (cheap compared to a single private insurer) per month and still includes major co-pay.

Bottom line; many US citizens can not afford health care, full stop!

This is not the case in Thailand. Poor Thais seem to have more access to health care than poor Americans.

That is my point.

[JSixpack]

Well, gee, Kilgore, are you saying I was hallucinating when I visited my GP in the States?

Oh, you probably misread your bill or insurance paid most of the real cost.

You see, the price you quoted is impossible to find in the USA. You don't even say hello to a GP for less than $100. The $300 quoted by another poster is realistic.

The Bummie price has also become standard at the big private int'l hsps. Suggest you go to a dermatologist at St. Louis and request the cheapest method, likely freezing.

[theoldgit]

A few years back, I went to Vibhavadi Hospital to get some skin tags removed. The total cost was around 2500 THB.

I paid 8000 Baht to have one skin tag removed at Samitivej hosp a couple of years beck, that included about 2000 Baht for "nursing care". As far as I can make out the "nursing care" was nothing more that weighing me and taking my blood pressure when I had the tag removed and again when I had the single stitch removed.

Nursing care my ar*e.

[pauljones]

A doctor at a Pattaya clinic burned one off with acetic acid for 100 baht a few weeks ago.

[happyrobert]

Typical of the attitude towards healthcare from the OP. A similar treatment in the UK would cost upwards of £300 at a private clinic. Do the maths.

Attitude? Snort! Who's the one with the (apologist) attitude. I simply made a series of factual statements. Unless, of course, you consider Cheesy to be demonstartive of attitude?

And my post had nada to do with the UK.

[happyrobert]

Soldering iron but not on face.

I can handle that. What kind of solder, though?

[smokie36]

Typical of the attitude towards healthcare from the OP. A similar treatment in the UK would cost upwards of £300 at a private clinic. Do the maths.

Attitude? Snort! Who's the one with the (apologist) attitude. I simply made a series of factual statements. Unless, of course, you consider Cheesy to be demonstartive of attitude?

And my post had nada to do with the UK.

Your assessment of medical costs in the US is nonsense. The UK has similar costs for private treatment. Not so difficult to make the connection is it.

[happyrobert]

I wish I knew where to see a doctor in the US for $35 and get a laser treatment for $40. Maybe from an unlicensed illegal immigrant in the barrio

In the Hill Country of Texas, little town called Fredericksburg. Licensed MD. Had been a patient for three years so level 3 office visit is $35. 5 minute procedure and out the door.

What's wrong with you people? You all think New York is representative of all America? Apparently K. Trout does. And, no, Jsixpack, although my IQ is only 48 , I did not misread the insurance bill 'cause I paid cash.

TYPO

[Richard4849]

Robert, you're comparing possibly the cheapest doctor in all of the United States with possibly the fanciest, most expensive medical facility in all of Thailand.

There are plenty of cheaper alternatives here...and a Starbucks in the lobby and white glove valet service out front don't mean diddly about the quality of the medical service you receive inside.

[happyrobert]

Typical of the attitude towards healthcare from the OP. A similar treatment in the UK would cost upwards of £300 at a private clinic. Do the maths.

Attitude? Snort! Who's the one with the (apologist) attitude. I simply made a series of factual statements. Unless, of course, you consider Cheesy to be demonstartive of attitude?

And my post had nada to do with the UK.

Your assessment of medical costs in the US is nonsense. The UK has similar costs for private treatment. Not so difficult to make the connection is it.

My "assessment" of "medical costs in the US"? I didn't realize I was authoring a doctoral dissertation on "The Current State of Medical Costs for all Doctors in all States of the USA".

Geez, some of you people must not be able to crap without a crowbar.

[snarky66]

A few years back, I went to Vibhavadi Hospital to get some skin tags removed. The total cost was around 2500 THB.

I paid 8000 Baht to have one skin tag removed at Samitivej hosp a couple of years beck, that included about 2000 Baht for "nursing care". As far as I can make out the "nursing care" was nothing more that weighing me and taking my blood pressure when I had the tag removed and again when I had the single stitch removed.

Nursing care my ar*e.

So you paid it without asking to speak to admin? I give the hosp credit. Charge the falang as much as possible. He might just pay up with out a squawk. Over at ThaiNakarin nursing fee is maybe 70 baht. They took the Mickey & you swallowed it. I personally have no problem using Samitived or BGH.

My advice. Unless you are on an expense account avoid Bummers.

As others have said for you cheap charlies use St Louis or BNH (also in Silom area).

[happyrobert]

Robert, you're comparing possibly the cheapest doctor in all of the United States with possibly the fanciest, most expensive medical facility in all of Thailand.

There are plenty of cheaper alternatives here...and a Starbucks in the lobby and white glove valet service out front don't mean diddly about the quality of the medical service you receive inside.

Of course yu are right here, medical care in Texas is cheap compared to many places in the States. LA was very expensive when I lived there.

Contrary to what some contrarian members apparently think, I really wasn't pointing anything out in my post, just stating some facts and allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. But my conclusion, if I must give one, is that many expats and tourists feel that medical care, even at Bum, is far cheaper here-across the board- than "back home". Which simply is not always true. And, yes, there are many exceptions, such as hair transplants and gender changes and joint replacements, but I don't know of too many GP's, outside of major metropolitan areas, in the States that removing a single wart from a hand would be almost $300.

[Latindancer]

Yes, they saw you coming. It would have been interesting to see the guy's projected breakdown of costs though....

For such a small procedure, government hospitals are the go. 10 days ago I went to a government hospital here in Bangkok to get a small but suspicious mole cut out so it could be examined in the lab. Despite my thinking I'd have to sit there for hours, they had me in and out in only 35 minutes, and the total charge was 350 baht ( local anesthetic + cutting and sewing ). May have to pay a little extra for the lab results when I go to see them.......

[DP25]

I wish I knew where to see a doctor in the US for $35 and get a laser treatment for $40. Maybe from an unlicensed illegal immigrant in the barrio

In the Hill Country of Texas, little town called Fredericksburg. Licensed MD. Had been a patient for three years so level 3 office visit is $35. 5 minute procedure and out the door.

What's wrong with you people? You all think New York is representative of all America? Apparently K. Trout does. And, no, Jsixpack, although my IQ is only 48 , I did not misread the insurance bill 'cause I paid cash.

TYPO

$35, and how much would it have cost with no insurance or medicare?

[TheWalkingMan]

I had a wart on the hairline of my forehead and went to a dermatology clinic in a pricey area of Tokyo to have it removed. Price with gov't insurance about 1.5k baht, without insurance about 5k baht. So yeah, that 8k sounds like a total rip-off.

TheWalkingMan

[KeyserSoze01]

He's still online

Last hit, buckaroo

You got me, I could not resist!

Edit: where the hell did you get my picture?

Oh my dear Buddha.

Here's a quarter, go down to the local 7 and buy yourself a sense of humor.

As far as posting crap, you do know where you are, right?

[vpi78]

A few years back, I went to Vibhavadi Hospital to get some skin tags removed. The total cost was around 2500 THB.

I paid 8000 Baht to have one skin tag removed at Samitivej hosp a couple of years beck, that included about 2000 Baht for "nursing care". As far as I can make out the "nursing care" was nothing more that weighing me and taking my blood pressure when I had the tag removed and again when I had the single stitch removed.

Nursing care my ar*e.

So you paid it without asking to speak to admin? I give the hosp credit. Charge the falang as much as possible. He might just pay up with out a squawk. Over at ThaiNakarin nursing fee is maybe 70 baht. They took the Mickey & you swallowed it. I personally have no problem using Samitived or BGH.

My advice. Unless you are on an expense account avoid Bummers.

As others have said for you cheap charlies use St Louis or BNH (also in Silom area).

Bullshit. Bumrungrad is a good hospital and it charges fair pricing for the services it provides. If it was any other that that it would not be in business.

[ozzydom]

Thanks for the offers, but I repeatedly spread some of the canned sardine in tomato sauce on it and endured my dog gnawing it off.

Cost: 16 baht.

You are referring to a wart of course.

[happyrobert]

I wish I knew where to see a doctor in the US for $35 and get a laser treatment for $40. Maybe from an unlicensed illegal immigrant in the barrio

In the Hill Country of Texas, little town called Fredericksburg. Licensed MD. Had been a patient for three years so level 3 office visit is $35. 5 minute procedure and out the door.

What's wrong with you people? You all think New York is representative of all America? Apparently K. Trout does. And, no, Jsixpack, although my IQ is only 48 , I did not misread the insurance bill 'cause I paid cash.

TYPO

$35, and how much would it have cost with no insurance or medicare?

Uhm, $35, cause I didn't use my insurance. Besides, who the *#@+ cares? This is not a political discussion about the downtrodden who can't afford insurance blah blah woof woof....

[welsh1]

An old wives tale:- take a small peice of steak and rub it on the wart then go and bury the peice of steak in the garden and forget about it. In a few days the wart has gone.

I did this once when I was a kid and it worked for a wart on my hand.

If i get hold of a nice piece of STEAK here in Thailand the last place i will be putting it is on my wart

[BuckarooBanzai]

He's still online

Last hit, buckaroo

You got me, I could not resist!

Edit: where the hell did you get my picture?

Oh my dear Buddha.

Here's a quarter, go down to the local 7 and buy yourself a sense of humor.

As far as posting crap, you do know where you are, right?

Sorry you did not have time to follow the thread. I was referring to the picture of the monkey which I thought was quite funny. Please keep your quarter as you may need it next time you are at 7-11.

[smokie36]

He's still online

Last hit, buckaroo

You got me, I could not resist!

Edit: where the hell did you get my picture?

Oh my dear Buddha.

Here's a quarter, go down to the local 7 and buy yourself a sense of humor.

As far as posting crap, you do know where you are, right?

Sorry you did not have time to follow the thread. I was referring to the picture of the monkey which I thought was quite funny. Please keep your quarter as you may need it next time you are at 7-11.

+1 for having a sense of humour. Unlike some it seems!

[Beetlejuice]

I have received medical treatment at doctors surgeries, clinics and hospitals and have been astonished by how cheap it was, then at the other end of the spectrum, I have visited certain medical practices and have knowingly been ripped off. Some time ago at a couple of local Government clinics they tried to charge me way over the top and were reluctant to issue me with a receipt. I stood my ground and argued the point until the price was decreased.

I have personally witnessed a well known big hospital in Chiang Mai charging farangs over 10 times more than Thais for similar medical treatment.

Most medical practices in Thailand are on the level but we can never be sure which ones are or not going to try and rip us off. In other words, we are at their mercy once under their so called care.

I heard of a case where a farang went into a Bangkok hospital for some heart surgery and received a bill for 3 million baht.

What I do these days is request a rough price estimate from the doctor before I agree to go ahead with any treatment. In some cases the doctor will say; sorry, but it is not possible to give an estimate until we are sure what needs to be done. Don`t fall for this old excuse and if not satisfied, shop around.

I am sorry about our Happyrobert`s bad experience with that hospital, but at least he will be wisher the next time round, hoping of course that he will stay healthy and there won`t be a next time round.

[tartempion]

Ah Bumrungrad!!!

May 2000 had a myocardial infarct whilst on holiday in Thailand.

My good insurance company had me transferred to Bumrungrad where I was welcomed at the ambulance waiting station by a sympathetic Swiss doctor dr Phillippe.

They took good care of me in intensive care, sweet nurses I remember.

Insurance company asked diagnosis/outlook.

I was told I needed 4 artery bypasses, seemingly Bumrungrad's specialty, IC unit was full with ethnic Chinese and farangs who had undergone this (expensive) procedure.

But I was told needed to wait 1 month before such procedure could be performed.

My good insurance company send a cardiologist over to bring me back to my home town university hospital (among the bests)

Asked him about the 4 bypasses, he smiled and said: you will get a second opinion in your home town university don't you?

Before I was taken to the airport with my accompanying cardiologist two Bumrungrad cardiologists asked me to say hello to prof. De Werf at my university hospital because they studied there!

The trip home did not do me good and after a few days of recovery in intensive care prof De Werf himself implanted two stents and I mentioned the two Bumrungrad cardiologist saying hello.

When I mentioned the 4 bypassed he said: "that's how they make money at Bumrungrad?"

Bumrungrad's bill was 200k for 10 days stay, doctors fee was 50k, 5k/day for a 5 minutes daily visit (sure they needed to write up a report also!).

50k was for PCTA exam, which I think was reasonable considering the procedure and equipment required.

I have been stabilized very well at Bumrungrad, at some expensive cost though.

It seems they now have progressed very well and moved to stent implants, we are no longer 2000 but 2011

11 years down the road I am doing well enjoying Thai village life, thank you.

[vpi78]

Ah Bumrungrad!!!

May 2000 had a myocardial infarct whilst on holiday in Thailand.

My good insurance company had me transferred to Bumrungrad where I was welcomed at the ambulance waiting station by a sympathetic Swiss doctor dr Phillippe.

They took good care of me in intensive care, sweet nurses I remember.

Insurance company asked diagnosis/outlook.

I was told I needed 4 artery bypasses, seemingly Bumrungrad's specialty, IC unit was full with ethnic Chinese and farangs who had undergone this (expensive) procedure.

But I was told needed to wait 1 month before such procedure could be performed.

My good insurance company send a cardiologist over to bring me back to my home town university hospital (among the bests)

Asked him about the 4 bypasses, he smiled and said: you will get a second opinion in your home town university don't you?

Before I was taken to the airport with my accompanying cardiologist two Bumrungrad cardiologists asked me to say hello to prof. De Werf at my university hospital because they studied there!

The trip home did not do me good and after a few days of recovery in intensive care prof De Werf himself implanted two stents and I mentioned the two Bumrungrad cardiologist saying hello.

When I mentioned the 4 bypassed he said: "that's how they make money at Bumrungrad?"

Bumrungrad's bill was 200k for 10 days stay, doctors fee was 50k, 5k/day for a 5 minutes daily visit (sure they needed to write up a report also!).

50k was for PCTA exam, which I think was reasonable considering the procedure and equipment required.

I have been stabilized very well at Bumrungrad, at some expensive cost though.

It seems they now have progressed very well and moved to stent implants, we are no longer 2000 but 2011

11 years down the road I am doing well enjoying Thai village life, thank you.

So Bumrungrad basically saved your life. As far as cost, heart bypass surgery in Bumrungrad is 10% of the cost in the States and with arguably equally qualified surgeons. I know I paid for one at Bumrungrad for a relative who had one previously under medical insurance in the US ... and of course the medical insurance disappeared after my relative lost his job. But health care/lack thereof is just another unhappy story in the US these days.

A little common sense goes a long way and in the medical field that would mean get care at facilities like Bumrungrad for serious/complex medical procedures where complications and recovery care are common but leave your scrapes and bruises for simpler ... and less expensive facilities.

[Kilgore Trout]

A few years back, I went to Vibhavadi Hospital to get some skin tags removed. The total cost was around 2500 THB.

I paid 8000 Baht to have one skin tag removed at Samitivej hosp a couple of years beck, that included about 2000 Baht for "nursing care". As far as I can make out the "nursing care" was nothing more that weighing me and taking my blood pressure when I had the tag removed and again when I had the single stitch removed.

Nursing care my ar*e.

So you paid it without asking to speak to admin? I give the hosp credit. Charge the falang as much as possible. He might just pay up with out a squawk. Over at ThaiNakarin nursing fee is maybe 70 baht. They took the Mickey & you swallowed it. I personally have no problem using Samitived or BGH.

My advice. Unless you are on an expense account avoid Bummers.

As others have said for you cheap charlies use St Louis or BNH (also in Silom area).

Bullshit. Bumrungrad is a good hospital and it charges fair pricing for the services it provides. If it was any other that that it would not be in business.

I remember a few years ago going to the hosp. in question, I saw one doctor and he gave me a diagnosis and medicine. It did no good. I returned to said hospital and saw a different doctor who gave me a completely different diagnosis. I suggested that he may want to consult with the other doctor I had seen the other day. His response was "ha ha ha, we don't do that here." When I questioned his response he replied "stop pushing me or you go away."

Needless to say I have never returned to that particular hospital.

[happyrobert]

I remember a few years ago going to the hosp. in question, I saw one doctor and he gave me a diagnosis and medicine. It did no good. I returned to said hospital and saw a different doctor who gave me a completely different diagnosis. I suggested that he may want to consult with the other doctor I had seen the other day. His response was "ha ha ha, we don't do that here." When I questioned his response he replied "stop pushing me or you go away."

Needless to say I have never returned to that particular hospital.

The, "or you go away", sounds a bit ominous.

Maybe a new prescription?