Tricare Approved Hospitals

[ginooooo]

Can someone please tell me the approved Tricare for Life hospitals there in Chiangmai? I know of Ram l and McCormick. Any more? Thanks.

[moe666]

Isn't it on the tricare website.

[noise]

Go to the CNX VFW post web site (you can google it) and send an email to the service officer or asst service officer. They can give complete info on Tricare, FMP, VA, etc.

[jimmym40]

I'm almost certain you can go to any hospital in CM and get reimbursed by Tri-care. As long as you have all the paperwork/receipts in English. You can call the JUSMAG-Thai representative in Bangkok if you want to get clarification of what I said. Call 022871036 and you can talk to either Nurse Tida or Nurse Pranee, they are the only ones that work there, so one of them should answer the phone. I've sub mitted claims from both Ram and Sripat, and my neighbor submitted claims from McCormick, all were approved. I also go the MT Lab for all my lab work and they were all approved too.

I don't think you/ll have anyproblem getting reimbursed from useing any hospital in CM. You know you have to submit claims using DD Form 2642???

[NancyL]

The OP has a valid question -- one that can probably be answered on the Tricare website or with a phone call either to Tricare or a local VFW expert.

A frriend of ours was hospitalized here in CM at a hospital that is well-respected, but didn't "accept" Tricare. He had to pay up-front and seek re-imbursement later. He eventually got his re-imbursement, but he had some real anguish while in the ICU and the hospital was holding his passport until he came up with 70,000 baht. He had the funds, but they were in the U.S. and he couldn't make the transfer from the ICU!

The VFW helped him out, although he wasn't a member (at the time). They're definitely a good organization to join if you have the benefits of Tricare.

Sigh -- it would be so nice if all American citizens had something similar to Tricare.

[ginooooo]

I'm almost certain you can go to any hospital in CM and get reimbursed by Tri-care. As long as you have all the paperwork/receipts in English. You can call the JUSMAG-Thai representative in Bangkok if you want to get clarification of what I said. Call 022871036 and you can talk to either Nurse Tida or Nurse Pranee, they are the only ones that work there, so one of them should answer the phone. I've sub mitted claims from both Ram and Sripat, and my neighbor submitted claims from McCormick, all were approved. I also go the MT Lab for all my lab work and they were all approved too.

I don't think you/ll have anyproblem getting reimbursed from useing any hospital in CM. You know you have to submit claims using DD Form 2642???

Thanks, wife has been on Remicade for about 10 years and when we move to Phayao next year, trying to get my "ducks lined up" 1st. I emailed McCormick doctor there for that treatment and was told they did not do those injections or that medicine. Ram l does but almost impossible to see the specialist as my wife gets the drug every 8 weeks. I got a lead from the Chiangrai board at the Suan Dok Hospital which I believe is the 3rd hospital approved. I wrote to the specialist and asked about Tricare and did he do the injection and still waiting for answer. Both my wife and I will be on Tricare for life and was told by the 2 nurses there in Bangkok that everything will be out of pocket 1st and then apply for any money back. Thing is it is about $8000 every 8 weeks which means my saving could go fast if not reimbursed quickly.

Good idea about contacting the VFW about a lot of my concerns. Peace.

[ginooooo]

The OP has a valid question -- one that can probably be answered on the Tricare website or with a phone call either to Tricare or a local VFW expert.

A frriend of ours was hospitalized here in CM at a hospital that is well-respected, but didn't "accept" Tricare. He had to pay up-front and seek re-imbursement later. He eventually got his re-imbursement, but he had some real anguish while in the ICU and the hospital was holding his passport until he came up with 70,000 baht. He had the funds, but they were in the U.S. and he couldn't make the transfer from the ICU!

The VFW helped him out, although he wasn't a member (at the time). They're definitely a good organization to join if you have the benefits of Tricare.

Sigh -- it would be so nice if all American citizens had something similar to Tricare.

What is a bummer is we will both be paying for Medicare, Medicade and can not be used there and while my Tricare pays everything here in the US, everything is paid out of pocket in Thailand and hope to get reimbursed later.

Ha, Obama Care will "take care of everyone".

[richard10365]

I use to get a lot more help from Jusmagthai...but the last time I tried to contact them they told me I should handle things myself.

[JimGant]

A few years back, the word was that Ram I and McCormick were the two hospitals in CM that you could pre-arrange for them to bill Tricare themselves, while you only paid the 25% co-pay. This was for overnight hospital stays only -- not out-patient visits. This info was found at the following site:

http://www.jusmagthai.com/raonewsletter/MAR09.pdf

However, this info is over two years old, and would seem to have been superseded by the following:

5. Inpatient medical care can quickly become quite expensive. Will my medical care provider bill TRICARE directly?

The short answer is “No”. TRICARE requires beneficiaries to pay up front (out-of-pocket) for outpatient and inpatient medical care, then file claims for reimbursement from TRICARE. For numerous reasons Thailand medical providers will not directly bill TRICARE--it’s strictly their decision to make.

The above found at:

http://www.jusmagthai.com/rao_portal/FAQ.pdf

And the above is two years more current than the first, so I guess it's out-of-pocket for everything now.

Which isn't nearly as sad as knowing the $150 deductibles, 25% co-pays, and $3000 annual caps will be history mo skosh.

[Thighlander]

interesting--at least you can get re-reimbursed. You may want to consider www.imgglobal.com--your evacuation is covered. Cover yourself for 1-2mm thb. YMMV.