Government Insurance

[Baht Man]

I'm currently looking for insurance and realize I cannot get what I want from any Thai company due to pre existings, age restrictions and renewal limitations.

Most international comanies that will cover the hypertension (with a load), with 0 deductable and 0 copay will charge $5500 to $6000 annually.

I'll soon be in a position to recieve the free (maried to a government employee) insurance with access to the local army or public hospital.

The public (30 baht)hospitals I've been in are a zoo with masses of patients everywhere awaiting thier turn.

The wife insists that her governmant insurance is of much better quality and service.

I know many here are self insured and justify thier reasoning as well as those that purchase a private policy.

But just how extreem are the differences between the care provided for the military and other government employees and that of the private hospitals, and do you use the government hospitals?

Any and all information is appreciated.

[ProThaiExpat]

I have been going to RAM hospital for ten years and have yet to receive medical care from a physician that didn't work for a local government hospital in addition to their duties at Ram, perhaps except for a dermatologist.

All of the professors at CMU Medical School are required to work out of the government hospital that has the 13th floor Falang Clinic, as well as working at RAM.

Grace Dental Clinic likewise has many Government Dental Professors who teach as does my dentist and owner of the clinic Dr. Korakot.

I would think that any clinic in Chiang Mai that is only open in the evenings and weekends is owned and operated by moonlighting government physicians.

[Baht Man]

I have been going to RAM hospital for ten years and have yet to receive medical care from a physician that didn't work for a local government hospital in addition to their duties at Ram, perhaps except for a dermatologist.

All of the professors at CMU Medical School are required to work out of the government hospital that has the 13th floor Falang Clinic, as well as working at RAM.

Grace Dental Clinic likewise has many Government Dental Professors who teach as does my dentist and owner of the clinic Dr. Korakot.

I would think that any clinic in Chiang Mai that is only open in the evenings and weekends is owned and operated by moonlighting government physicians.

Are you saying that the doctors at RAM are the same doctors as your local government hospital?

If your going to RAM, I'm assuming that your insured privatly.

If the doctors are the same, why not save the $$ and go to the local government hospital?

Thanks for the information

[ProThaiExpat]

I have been going to RAM hospital for ten years and have yet to receive medical care from a physician that didn't work for a local government hospital in addition to their duties at Ram, perhaps except for a dermatologist.

All of the professors at CMU Medical School are required to work out of the government hospital that has the 13th floor Falang Clinic, as well as working at RAM.

Grace Dental Clinic likewise has many Government Dental Professors who teach as does my dentist and owner of the clinic Dr. Korakot.

I would think that any clinic in Chiang Mai that is only open in the evenings and weekends is owned and operated by moonlighting government physicians.

Are you saying that the doctors at RAM are the same doctors as your local government hospital?

If your going to RAM, I'm assuming that your insured privatly.

If the doctors are the same, why not save the $$ and go to the local government hospital?

Thanks for the information

I asked my Orthopedist who is a professor at CMU Medical School who must put in time at the government hospital allied with the University the very same question about whether I should see him at the government hospital allied with the University and his reply was that I would be happier at Ram as there is little waiting to be seen and the staff at Ram is more attentive to the patient. The plastic surgeon I used for a lesion removal works mostly at Nakonping Government Hospital but works nights and late afternoon at Ram and Lana Hospitals.

He advised that the hospital costs at Lana were 25% cheaper than Ram so I had my procedure done there. His fee, however, was quite high in my opinion and when I asked him why his lesion removal was so much more than I had experienced with surgeons at Ram previously, he replied that Plastic Surgeons get bigger fees since they are specialists. Frankly, I would go to Dr. Ekachai, the general surgeon at Ram and the CMU Allied Hospital for most surgeries since his fees are reasonable but probably higher than two years ago.

Which ever way you go, always ask for what the fees would be ahead of time and certainly use either hospital's

pharmacy only in an emergency. After my first surgery at Ram and saw their exorbitant pharmacy charges, I bought all my meds outside the hospital. My doctor said don't mention that you are doing it while in the hospital and he would note my chart that I was to be asked before giving me any meds. Once I learned what med they wanted to give me, I had a Thai friend buy it at a local pharmacy and bring it in to me. They gave me an injectable vitamin concoction after the first surgery at a very high expense and when I learned what it was, I merely refused it in subsequent hospitalizations.