Road Accident Victims To Get Hospital Treatment Regardless Of Insurance: Thailand

[Scottish Thailander]

Hmmmm...

All of out Tambien Bans are blue.

Had my yellow one for a few years now. Not needed to get it out often, but looks like it might cover more than I realised, i.e. some/all of the hospital costs if in the local district. Thanks for the info bendebeer.

Southernman,

Foreigners can not be listed as owner in a blue one, only as tennant/registered a living there. If you want to be listed as owner you get a blue one with no name in it as owner, unless you supply someone else's name (must be a Thai citizen), and you can apply for a yellow book with you listed as owner (if there is noone listed as owner in the blue one). Any one living at the address can be added to the blue book if the owner approves it and has the right paperwork to register at the district office. You might want to look into it more and get one if you qualify. It is also useful as additional ID when two or more forms of ID are required.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Scottish Thailander

[snooky]

I am in my 80's an unable to buy insurance here so I've kept up my AAA insurance in the US which is supposed to cover me for all road/highway personal injury accidents. Hope I never have to use it but it is worth the 39 US a year!

[SouthernMan3]

Any road accident victim, or just Thai?

As a farang you are always the cause of the accident, as if you had not come to Thailand, the accident would not have happened. Ergo you will recieve treatment and then the insurrance company will claim the mony from you as per: "Then later the insurance company involved will collect medical expenses from those who violated traffic laws."

B.S.

The one who was wrong was wrong.

Of course I know all of the cops bosses so there is no way that they could put me in the wrong if I was not.

BS yourself, owner, of course, of many new vehicles.

First time I used the term on TV, some people seem to find it an intelligent and use it all the time.

B.S. what ?

Please explain yourself or you are just making yourself look like a fool.

Re : "First time I used the term on TV, some people seem to find it an intelligent and use it all the time."

I have no idea whatsoever you are talking about.

P.S. For your info. Mr Smartypants I own 5 new vehicles (and that's just the new ones).

So what's you beef ?

C'mon.

Spit it out.....

[SouthernMan3]

Hmmmm...

All of out Tambien Bans are blue.

Had my yellow one for a few years now. Not needed to get it out often, but looks like it might cover more than I realised, i.e. some/all of the hospital costs if in the local district. Thanks for the info bendebeer.

Southernman,

Foreigners can not be listed as owner in a blue one, only as tennant/registered a living there. If you want to be listed as owner you get a blue one with no name in it as owner, unless you supply someone else's name (must be a Thai citizen), and you can apply for a yellow book with you listed as owner (if there is noone listed as owner in the blue one). Any one living at the address can be added to the blue book if the owner approves it and has the right paperwork to register at the district office. You might want to look into it more and get one if you qualify. It is also useful as additional ID when two or more forms of ID are required.

Yep.

Know all of that but thanks anyway.

I'm sure that some folks will find this helpful.

Good informative comment.

[lounger]

You know all the cops bosses. You are in cloud cookoo land if you believe you are so safe.

I saw a chap attacked by a woman while leaving a bar and the police he was drinking with at the time walked away from the scene........

Another chap asked his police colonel for help and the colonel wanted 300,000baht. He didnt pay, the colonel lost face. The guy was then in real trouble.............

However if you pay the police in advance...................

[Thai at Heart]

Well insurance in Thailand is h going to go through the roof

[belg]

just thais, farangs are not even 3rd rank people overhere, just under dogs and kwais

[cooked]

@ Mr Southern man

Well bully for you, but I as well as most other people aren't interested in how many vehicles you own, doesn't seem to be relevant to the argument. Can you in fact write a sentence disagreeing with somebody without using it? Most people feel insulted when they read it. This may well be your intention but it doesn't help you win arguments. Same goes for using the word 'fool' and what was the other one, 'smarty pants'? Nice one, most entertaining.

I used the the 'BS' term in this forum for the first time today, had to do it because you used it and you seem to think it is something to be used in intelligent discussion. That's my beef.

If you don't understand that, then maybe because you didn't learn English or manners.

:

[johnlandy]

Any road accident victim, or just Thai?

Same question crossed my mind.

I would put money on it being only be for Thais 'TIT'

[thequietman]

Thats excellent - and even if one had to pay a bill of 32,000 baht for 7 days in hospital, thats peanuts in comparison to what you would pay even for basic medical care overseas.

Yes, but "basic medical care" is all you're gonna get, and I do mean basic.

not true. an older friend of mine had a stroke with a yellow book. I lost count of the number of scans they did for his head. checking it every three to four days until they were sure he was ok. I live in a small rural town so maybe different in Bangkok. However here, they dont hold back on care for local or foreigner.

[Andre0720]

In a minor accident, I was struck riding my motorbike, with damage to the side of my motorbike, and to an elbow. I followed the truck that struck me, made him stop, and called police. A police report was made,and the Thai truck driver had to pay the damages to my motorbike, and the doctor's bill.

So not all farangs must automatically be responsible...right?...

[fasteddie]

Thats excellent - and even if one had to pay a bill of 32,000 baht for 7 days in hospital, thats peanuts in comparison to what you would pay even for basic medical care overseas.

Yes, but "basic medical care" is all you're gonna get, and I do mean basic.

Not so! in the good old UK you get the best care for free.

[rbrooks]

spr&q you are wrong about the USA emergency treatment policy. We have what is called "The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act" that requires hospitals to provide emergency treatment regardless of the patient's ability to pay (even Thai or British Farlang). In addition to this free emergency treatment, if the hospital mistakenly refused the service or god forbid, caused the patient further pain and suffering during or after the treatment the patient is able to sue the hospital for big money regardless of nationality (unlike other countries in the world). I admit our health care system is screwed and overpriced in our country but emergency treatment is there for free and it is quality service. In fact 34 of the top 50 ranked hospitals in the world are located in the U.S. I know many HISO Thais that prefer to make the trip here to get the best medical treatment. I have an elderly Thai friend that is a widow here. She receives her deceased husband's military pension and is on social security pension with free medical through the military system. She has had open heart surgery in the past but is doing quite well now thanks to her excellent health treatment and hospital care in the U.S. I asked her why she did not just go back to her home country, Thailand and retire since she had no bills and plenty of pensions coming in. She told me quite frankly that she would die soon if she went back to her country because she knew that the Thai medical system would not take care of her properly and they would not care. I have been to only a few hospitals in Thailand and I was only impressed with one, Bumagraad Hospital in BKK. I also found out that their doctors received their schooling and training in the Western world.

Edited August 11, 2012 by rbrooks

[ttelise]

Any road accident victim, or just Thai?

If they adopt the same as in Australia and other countries where you pay extra on your registration for 3rd party insurance then it would cover all persons injured or killed including pedestrians and foreigners. If you are unlicenced or your vehicle is unregistered then you will still be treated in the 1st instance but will receive a bill and possible charges.

As far as I know, in Britain anybody who turns up in a hospital Casualty department needing emergency treatment is treated free of charge regardless of nationality or insurance status. There are presumably other countries which do the same, but one can say for sure that the USA -- "leader of the free world" -- is not one of them.

In America, you will get same quality of care whether or insured. They will send you a bill afterward though. This us why our health care is so costly. Hospitals and doctors get stiffed for a large portion if the services rendered so they make up costs against those with insurance or a means to pay.

The doctors and staff really do not have a clue if insured or not. Most people who are not insured show up at hospitals for colds and etc. Because they know hospitals cannot turn them away for no insurance and doctor's offices can.

[Heng]

With the amount of irresponsible driving on the roads, ...a little extra insurance (assuming you can afford it) is well worth it. Keep a few extra copies of your insurance card around (in your wallet, hanging on your windshield wiper lever, in your glove compartment, etc.) as well so it can be found when you're unconscious and bleeding and prefer to go to Bamrungrad or BNH instead of the closest 'people's hospital.'

[notime]

Any road accident victim, or just Thai?

I just don't see foreigners from motor bike accidents being treated for free here at the Eastern side of Samui (where the beaches are). There are 4 private hospitals here and they all practically live from tourist money and their insurance money with the most "popular" treatment being injuries from bike accidents. Are they going to be moving out of town now?

[samsara]

Any road accident victim, or just Thai?

If they adopt the same as in Australia and other countries where you pay extra on your registration for 3rd party insurance then it would cover all persons injured or killed including pedestrians and foreigners. If you are unlicenced or your vehicle is unregistered then you will still be treated in the 1st instance but will receive a bill and possible charges.

As far as I know, in Britain anybody who turns up in a hospital Casualty department needing emergency treatment is treated free of charge regardless of nationality or insurance status. There are presumably other countries which do the same, but one can say for sure that the USA -- "leader of the free world" -- is not one of them.

In America, you will get same quality of care whether or insured. They will send you a bill afterward though. This us why our health care is so costly. Hospitals and doctors get stiffed for a large portion if the services rendered so they make up costs against those with insurance or a means to pay.

The doctors and staff really do not have a clue if insured or not. Most people who are not insured show up at hospitals for colds and etc. Because they know hospitals cannot turn them away for no insurance and doctor's offices can.

not so much. health care costs so much in the US primarily because there are no price controls and because the health care system itself, the style of care, creates the need for advanced, ie expensive treatment, as opposed to preventative care. its a huge racket.

you honestly think ER visits and people with colds going to the hospital drive up the costs?

[ttelise]

If they adopt the same as in Australia and other countries where you pay extra on your registration for 3rd party insurance then it would cover all persons injured or killed including pedestrians and foreigners. If you are unlicenced or your vehicle is unregistered then you will still be treated in the 1st instance but will receive a bill and possible charges.

As far as I know, in Britain anybody who turns up in a hospital Casualty department needing emergency treatment is treated free of charge regardless of nationality or insurance status. There are presumably other countries which do the same, but one can say for sure that the USA -- "leader of the free world" -- is not one of them.

In America, you will get same quality of care whether or insured. They will send you a bill afterward though. This us why our health care is so costly. Hospitals and doctors get stiffed for a large portion if the services rendered so they make up costs against those with insurance or a means to pay.

The doctors and staff really do not have a clue if insured or not. Most people who are not insured show up at hospitals for colds and etc. Because they know hospitals cannot turn them away for no insurance and doctor's offices can.

not so much. health care costs so much in the US primarily because there are no price controls and because the health care system itself, the style of care, creates the need for advanced, ie expensive treatment, as opposed to preventative care. its a huge racket.

you honestly think ER visits and people with colds going to the hospital drive up the costs?

Yep, and they generally call ambulance to get free ride also rather than taking the bus. Ambulance has to take them. I have represented hospitals and doctors for almost 17 years and most of my good friends are docs. I know the system very well.

[samsara]

Yep, and they generally call ambulance to get free ride also rather than taking the bus. Ambulance has to take them. I have represented hospitals and doctors for almost 17 years and most of my good friends are docs. I know the system very well.

well, youre greatly misinformed

why does every health care cost study point to other reasons, chiefly the ones i mentioned?

you wouldnt be a republican, by chance, would ya?

its all them 'spics and negroes riding the ambulance for free and getting free antibiotics from the ER that makes your avg specialist visit $500, right? oh, but, its only $500 if they graciously decide its only a "level 3", i.e. 20 min visit with no frills. but get some actual tests done and youre over $1000 easy

Edited August 11, 2012 by samsara

[ttelise]

Yep, and they generally call ambulance to get free ride also rather than taking the bus. Ambulance has to take them. I have represented hospitals and doctors for almost 17 years and most of my good friends are docs. I know the system very well.

well, youre greatly misinformed

why does every health care cost study point to other reasons, chiefly the ones i mentioned?

you wouldnt be a republican, by chance, would ya?

its all them 'spics and negroes riding the ambulance for free and getting free antibiotics from the ER that makes your avg specialist visit $500, right?

You sound racist as well as ignorant. American hospitals cannot turn anyone away. I think that is the way it should be. Proper medical care is vastly more important than money. I have a buddy who used to be an EMT. They spent 90 percent if the time on non critical calls for indigent people needing rides. Matters little what my view point us in that. The way it is.

[rbrooks]

Lets put it this way. Farlang walks into Thai hospital complaining of ailment or worst case scenario needs emergency treatment, unresponsive. Thai docs unable to speak in proper English mistakenly give wrong treatment , wrong medication causing allergic reaction. Farlang die. Mai pen rai. Or in other terms SOL so sorry GI wrong place wrong time RIP. No repercussions, no penalty but maybe a chance for rebirth in next life with different doctor?

[Cheops]

@ Mr Southern man

Well bully for you, but I as well as most other people aren't interested in how many vehicles you own, doesn't seem to be relevant to the argument. Can you in fact write a sentence disagreeing with somebody without using it? Most people feel insulted when they read it. This may well be your intention but it doesn't help you win arguments. Same goes for using the word 'fool' and what was the other one, 'smarty pants'? Nice one, most entertaining.

I used the the 'BS' term in this forum for the first time today, had to do it because you used it and you seem to think it is something to be used in intelligent discussion. That's my beef.

If you don't understand that, then maybe because you didn't learn English or manners.

:

@ cooked:

Although it's indeed completely unnecessary of Mr. Southern man to mention how much vehicles he has (maybe he needs to make up for something small?), he used the word (or abbreviation) BS correctly! Actually I wanted to write about the same comment (without all the people letting know how may vehicles I have ), since it's indeed total BS that you as a foreigner are always wrong in an accident, because you simply are not! I speak of experience after about 5 accidents (non of them due to my wrong-doing). All of them were nicely paid by the other people insurances.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Cheops

[samsara]

Yep, and they generally call ambulance to get free ride also rather than taking the bus. Ambulance has to take them. I have represented hospitals and doctors for almost 17 years and most of my good friends are docs. I know the system very well.

well, youre greatly misinformed

why does every health care cost study point to other reasons, chiefly the ones i mentioned?

you wouldnt be a republican, by chance, would ya?

its all them 'spics and negroes riding the ambulance for free and getting free antibiotics from the ER that makes your avg specialist visit $500, right?

You sound racist as well as ignorant. American hospitals cannot turn anyone away. I think that is the way it should be. Proper medical care is vastly more important than money. I have a buddy who used to be an EMT. They spent 90 percent if the time on non critical calls for indigent people needing rides. Matters little what my view point us in that. The way it is.

so youre trying to actually argue that the entire US health care system is set up to support EMT and ER services for the indigent? wow

why do emergency expenses only account for 2% of health care costs, then?

did you know that each state has a fund set up to pay for indigent care?

its all those indigents, right? nothing to do with pharmaceuticals, fraud, medical errors, etc. absolutely nothing at all. its all those indigents who dont pay

[Scott]

This thread isn't about the US health care system. Please stay on topic.

[sailblue]

Rarely do I enter into the petty arguments here, but had to comment on Southernman. And what do you know someone beat me to it. My expensive overinsured

cars and my big police friends, give me a break!!

If you are a falung and you injure a Thai in an accident, does not matter if he is drunk and comes out of a side street into your car, you better have bail insurance as an option on your vehicle policy. I know people that have had huge expensive dramas in these cases.

[hellodolly]

@ Mr Southern man

Well bully for you, but I as well as most other people aren't interested in how many vehicles you own, doesn't seem to be relevant to the argument. Can you in fact write a sentence disagreeing with somebody without using it? Most people feel insulted when they read it. This may well be your intention but it doesn't help you win arguments. Same goes for using the word 'fool' and what was the other one, 'smarty pants'? Nice one, most entertaining.

I used the the 'BS' term in this forum for the first time today, had to do it because you used it and you seem to think it is something to be used in intelligent discussion. That's my beef.

If you don't understand that, then maybe because you didn't learn English or manners.

:

@ cooked:

Although it's indeed completely unnecessary of Mr. Southern man to mention how much vehicles he has (maybe he needs to make up for something small?), he used the word (or abbreviation) BS correctly! Actually I wanted to write about the same comment (without all the people letting know how may vehicles I have ), since it's indeed total BS that you as a foreigner are always wrong in an accident, because you simply are not! I speak of experience after about 5 accidents (non of them due to my wrong-doing). All of them were nicely paid by the other people insurances.

Many of the posters here are just posting what they were told they have no real experience. That is not to say that the odd one did not have it happen to he/she. But they are in the minority.

On a side note you might want to consider different transportation.

[ttelise]

Yep, and they generally call ambulance to get free ride also rather than taking the bus. Ambulance has to take them. I have represented hospitals and doctors for almost 17 years and most of my good friends are docs. I know the system very well.

well, youre greatly misinformed

why does every health care cost study point to other reasons, chiefly the ones i mentioned?

you wouldnt be a republican, by chance, would ya?

its all them 'spics and negroes riding the ambulance for free and getting free antibiotics from the ER that makes your avg specialist visit $500, right?

You sound racist as well as ignorant. American hospitals cannot turn anyone away. I think that is the way it should be. Proper medical care is vastly more important than money. I have a buddy who used to be an EMT. They spent 90 percent if the time on non critical calls for indigent people needing rides. Matters little what my view point us in that. The way it is.

so youre trying to actually argue that the entire US health care system is set up to support EMT and ER services for the indigent? wow

why do emergency expenses only account for 2% of health care costs, then?

did you know that each state has a fund set up to pay for indigent care?

its all those indigents, right? nothing to do with pharmaceuticals, fraud, medical errors, etc. absolutely nothing at all. its all those indigents who dont pay

Nope, just pointing out that your wrong that US hospitals do not and cannot turn anyone away. The State insurance system such as say Tenncare for Tennessee is basically only available to unemployed and those below poverty level. The problem is the huge chunk if people who have crappy jobs that make to much for say Tenncare, but do not make enough to pay $900 a month for private health insurance.

Seriously, your using Google to argue with someone who has spent most of my professional career representing hospitals, nursing homes and doctors. I counsel my clients on the very issue we are discussing along with Medicare, Medicaid and xxxCare reimbursement, classification and compliance (insert any state for xxx).

I also represent drug and medical device companies such as GSK, Smith Newphew, Biomet and Medtronic since you brought up pharma industry. I know more about Stark/reimbursement/antikickback laws and medical malpractice than you could learn in a lifetime of Googling.

Edited August 11, 2012 by ttelise

[samsara]

Nope, just pointing out that your wrong that US hospitals do not and cannot turn anyone away.

where did i say this? never said anything about hospital admissions.

im disputing your claim that "This us why our health care is so costly. Hospitals and doctors get stiffed for a large portion if the services rendered so they make up costs against those with insurance or a means to pay."

that claim is patently absurd, especially considering your "experience" level. you might do well to do some google reading yourself so you can wrap your head around the real factors controlling health care costs.

[ttelise]

Nope, just pointing out that your wrong that US hospitals do not and cannot turn anyone away.

where did i say this? never said anything about hospital admissions.

im disputing your claim that "This us why our health care is so costly. Hospitals and doctors get stiffed for a large portion if the services rendered so they make up costs against those with insurance or a means to pay."

that claim is patently absurd, especially considering your "experience" level. you might do well to do some google reading yourself so you can wrap your head around the real factors controlling health care costs.

Haha, do you think a hospital can legally come out and say we over charge insurance companies and private pay individuals to compensate or offset the huge unreumbursed costs if treating the uninsured. Not if they hope to keep charter, maintain certification and wish to be eligible for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.

So no, some things you just may not read on the Net.

[Lannig]

Rarely do I enter into the petty arguments here, but had to comment on Southernman. And what do you know someone beat me to it. My expensive overinsured

cars and my big police friends, give me a break!!

If you are a falung and you injure a Thai in an accident, does not matter if he is drunk and comes out of a side street into your car, you better have bail insurance as an option on your vehicle policy. I know people that have had huge expensive dramas in these cases.

I can report a completely different story heard from a close friend. A couple of months ago he has hit a guy walking right in the middle of the road at night, most likely a drunk farm worker (pay day, you know). The victim was severely wounded but has recovered. This has happened in the middle of nowhere in central Thailand on a desert secondary road. He wasn't overspeeding, but he saw the poor guy too late to stop before hitting him. He has done what Mr. Sailblue above would probably consider very unwise: stopped and called for help. Although there was no direct witness of the scene, his account of the accident was accepted by the cops, who knew that such drunk people wandering at night on the road is a common occurence in this area. He was taken to the police station, questioned and released without his car which was held and required to report back about a week later. He has had to fork a fair amount of money for hospital care to the victim plus compensation for him being unable to work for several months (I think in the 100K THB range). However his insurance has reimbursed most of this and he could get his car back. As far as I know no tea money was asked for and none was given.

The funniest part of this story is that one of the cops who has questioned him has expressed his surprise at him not fleeing the scene. He said "you know, most Thais would had fled. You are a good person".

I have to mention that my friend has been living in Thailand for over 20 years now, speaks Thai fluently and despite being almost 2 metres tall blends so well with Thais I sometimes find him having more thainess than the Thais, even the slightly irritating aspects :-)

That certainly helped.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Lannig