Repatriation Assistance For Sick Brit

[ignis]

To late to edit post 51, just had a phone call from an Insurance Company on here......... for me would cost 8,433 baht per month !!!!!!! or 98k yearly... You would need to have a lot of sickness and accidents to justify paying this amount.

Few years ago with Thai Insurance was 3,800 baht per month..........

You think Baht 100,000 will be enough to stay 2 weeks in hospital in case you get seriously ill or had an accident? Is it also enough to pay for eventual surgery

2 months time I have lived here 10 years, Stayed in Hospital 3 times. 2 x surgery, one being an Emergency in the middle of the night with a burst Appendix, almost 3 years ago now, the 1st one was no rush in 2006 a double Hernia..........., one 4 nights, one 3 night, and 1 x last year 2 nights,,, Total of all 3 less then 100k in total.. .surgery...Hospital... Medication... the only extra was going to get the dressing changed, only I went to a Village Hospital no problem cost 35 baht. per visit, just going back to the big Hospital to have the stitches/staples out 6 weeks later.

Last year was 1,100 baht per night for Private room,[which I had] 590 for share room of 6...

As I said you would need to have a lot of sickness and accidents to justify paying this Insurance amount

[LaoPo]

To late to edit post 51, just had a phone call from an Insurance Company on here......... for me would cost 8,433 baht per month !!!!!!! or 98k yearly... You would need to have a lot of sickness and accidents to justify paying this amount.

Few years ago with Thai Insurance was 3,800 baht per month..........

You think Baht 100,000 will be enough to stay 2 weeks in hospital in case you get seriously ill or had an accident? Is it also enough to pay for eventual surgery

2 months time I have lived here 10 years, Stayed in Hospital 3 times. 2 x surgery, one being an Emergency in the middle of the night with a burst Appendix, almost 3 years ago now, the 1st one was no rush in 2006 a double Hernia..........., one 4 nights, one 3 night, and 1 x last year 2 nights,,, Total of all 3 less then 100k in total.. .surgery...Hospital... Medication... the only extra was going to get the dressing changed, only I went to a Village Hospital no problem cost 35 baht. per visit, just going back to the big Hospital to have the stitches/staples out 6 weeks later.

Last year was 1,100 baht per night for Private room,[which I had] 590 for share room of 6...

As I said you would need to have a lot of sickness and accidents to justify paying this Insurance amount

That's very cheap indeed.

A hospital bed in my country is around Euro 1,000/1,200/night (Baht 40,000-47,000 per NIGHT!)

I spent 11 times in hospital with 6 surgeries between spring 2011 and june 2012 (with 3 times on Intensive Care ) and almost died June 2011 and in total 3,5 months hospital, with awaiting a -hopefully- last tough surgery this spring.

Thailand would have been cheaper indeed but without my insurance I would have suffered immensely, financially.

Now everything was "free" but not for the insurance company

Q: how do you cope when you are abroad or during a visit to your home country if something happens there?

Edited January 10, 2013 by LaoPo

[Briggsy]

The Thai immediate and extended family will step in and help. Thai culture and all that.

[richardjm65]

I still fail to see why everyone thinks he would be better off in the UK

I agree. But it does depend on his medical condition. If he requires long-term nursing, and has no assets, the UK probably would be the best place for him. Those, however, who do have assets above £16k (or have they increased that figure?) would be required to pay for nursing, and if I was in such need I would spend those assets in Thailand where the money would go further.

On the other hand, if he could receive treatment to enable him to have some sort of life he should at least get a proper diagnosis before he decides what to do. I must say I don't think much of his partner, to whom he seems to have outlived his usefulness, so she just tries to dump him at the British Embassy. I must be one of many who are helping to support aged and ill family of our loved ones. It's a pity to think that the Thai ethos of "looking after family" doesn't appear in some cases to extend the other way, even to the limited extent of getting some checks done at a local hospital.

This, I think, is not quite fair. Far from trying to dump him at the British Embassy, his partner managed to get enough cash together to take him to the Embassy staff who, it transpired, were unable to offer either help or advice and, indeed, had no wish to even see him. I was contacted as a last ditch resort - something I did not invite, and my assistance, so far, has been limited to financing the fruitless trip to Bangkok, with a result I'd already predicted.

We will try and find a way of getting him hospitalised and, hopefully, properly diagnosed and appropriately treated. I do assure you that the partner is doing whatever she can, but with little to work with, she's now reliant on goodwill and the charity of those who know them. To put it as succinctly as possible, she finds herself in a situation where she simply does not know which way to turn.

[LaoPo]

The Thai immediate and extended family will step in and help. Thai culture and all that.

So, why didn't they yet, otherwise the OP wouldn''t have brought the problem under the attention here?

[Briggsy]

So, why didn't they yet, otherwise the OP wouldn''t have brought the problem under the attention here?

"Why didn't they yet?" That, indeed, is the pertinent question.

[evanson]

Do as a previous poster has advised and take him along to his nearest Government hospital (cheap) and find out what's actually wrong with him and whether it can be easily and cheaply cured FIRST.

Edited January 11, 2013 by evanson

[Morakot]

I still fail to see why everyone thinks he would be better off in the UK

What does the gentleman in question want?

[stiggy]

What a mess, unfortunately many out here stick there head in the sand until it happens to them.

Uk would have to treat him but he must first go And E as others pointed out.

Embassey not in a position to help him unless IDC get him or he's arrested, then there is still only a limited amount they can do.

Overstay yes he would have to pay, I had a friend (now dead) who was repatriated in a coma after a fundraiser also no insurance. He (read his medical escort) was still asked to pay overstay before being allowed out of the country.

Best advice I have seen was two posts up, establish whats wrong first and take it from there.

Good on you for trying to assist but if at any point your help is unwelcome, take it elsewhere plenty of good people who would welcome compassion elsewhere.

[ravip]

As far as I can tell here is the Do Gooder count :

Do Gooders willing to buy a plane ticket 2

Do Gooders willing to pay for a doctor visit 0

Amazing Thailand

You think it would be any different elsewhere?

Lot's of other people have their own responsibilities, and doesn't mean they have to help out this bloke.

Anyway, how many Thai nationals are involved in this scenario to make it "Amazing Thailand" ?

Amazing Indeed!

OP - A very sad situation.

[ravip]

Do as a previous poster has advised and take him along to his nearest Government hospital (cheap) and find out what's actually wrong with him and whether it can be easily and cheaply cured FIRST.

May be the Thai Red Cross would at least help him out on this issue?

http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia-pacific/thai-red-cross-society/

[Briggsy]

Send him to Singapore. They've got good hospitals. See what happens.

[mrtoad]

As far as I can tell here is the Do Gooder count :

Do Gooders willing to buy a plane ticket 2

Do Gooders willing to pay for a doctor visit 0

Amazing Thailand

It's not amazing anymore, it's miracle Thailand

You think it would be any different elsewhere?

Lot's of other people have their own responsibilities, and doesn't mean they have to help out this bloke.

Anyway, how many Thai nationals are involved in this scenario to make it "Amazing Thailand" ?

Amazing Indeed!

OP - A very sad situation.

[FritsSikkink]

it is not an option unless you have more money then sense, or would not miss 3 - 4,000 baht per month.

You have to way up what it cost at a Hospital here, Drs..., poss long term medication etc......

Spend the money on beer and when you can't pay the hospital bill hope a friend of yours starts a thread on TV.

[Hedghog]

This beats the Sick Buffalo.

Hands down.

[Rob8891]

This beats the Sick Buffalo.

Hands down.

Trumped, however by your sick posts.

[edwardandtubs]

Do as a previous poster has advised and take him along to his nearest Government hospital (cheap) and find out what's actually wrong with him and whether it can be easily and cheaply cured FIRST.

May be the Thai Red Cross would at least help him out on this issue?

http://www.ifrc.org/...-cross-society/

Why would the red cross be needed? He just needs to be taken in a taxi to the nearest government hospital - would cost a few hundred baht. If anyone really gave a dam_n they would just do it.

[Briggsy]

Is the £10 ticket scheme to Australia for Brits still running? That would get around the "too sick to fly" question.

True to TV form, no doubt we will never hear the endgame of this intriguing tale.

[ignis]

it is not an option unless you have more money then sense, or would not miss 3 - 4,000 baht per month.

You have to way up what it cost at a Hospital here, Drs..., poss long term medication etc......

Spend the money on beer and when you can't pay the hospital bill hope a friend of yours starts a thread on TV.

Read my Post 61.......... anyway I don't waste money on beer, don't drink and never have...

[FritsSikkink]

it is not an option unless you have more money then sense, or would not miss 3 - 4,000 baht per month.

You have to way up what it cost at a Hospital here, Drs..., poss long term medication etc......

Spend the money on beer and when you can't pay the hospital bill hope a friend of yours starts a thread on TV.

Read my Post 61.......... anyway I don't waste money on beer, don't drink and never have...

OK, you did allright and had money in the bank. There are enough others who don't.

[richardjm65]

Thanks Frits (#74), Hedgehog (#75) and Briggsy (#78) for your helpful comments. Much appreciated. I'm amazed and humbled by the kindness and compassion offered.

Edited January 11, 2013 by richardjm65

[homeownership]

I am new to the site but would like to offer my advice.

Loss of sight (temporary or permanent), problems with balance, and mental disorientation are classic signs of high blood sugar. Your friend should be tested for TYPE II (2) DIABETES. With immediate affect.

A sudden change of environment, diet, climate can bring to symptoms on and they can be very severe.

A diagonosis should be made regarding his medical condition before any further action is taken as the airlines will be unwilling to transport him, if you attempt to repatriation him to the UK.

A local hospital would be able to provide a blood sugar test for very little money, it sounds to me that this is almost certainly what has happened and it can be resolved quickly and cheaply.

Edited January 12, 2013 by homeownership

[ignis]

I am new to the site but would like to offer my advice.

Loss of sight (temporary or permanent), problems with balance, and mental disorientation are classic signs of high blood sugar. Your friend should be tested for TYPE II (2) DIABETES. With immediate affect.

A sudden change of environment, diet, climate can bring to symptoms on and they can be very severe.

A diagonosis should be made regarding his medical condition before any further action is taken as the airlines will be unwilling to transport him, if you attempt to repatriation him to the UK.

A local hospital would be able to provide a blood sugar test for very little money, it sounds to me that this is almost certainly what has happened and it can be resolved quickly and cheaply.

Yes as I thought as I posted in Post 42.

[oldsailor35]

The very tip of the welfare disaster iceberg Thailand has unwittingly imported.

Desperate as this case sounds it is certainly repeated and certainly will be repeated again and again.

Guys 'Winging-it' in Thailand, emigrating here with neither insurance of the personal funds to cover their own care/repatriation. The bridges burned to back home and a bunch of other guys treading water here, hanging on on subsistence incomes, not saving for their inevitable future needs.

Maybe you would like to point out some insurance options for the over 60's? I could not even get anyone to give me a quote.

You are not alone there.

[DoctorG]

The very tip of the welfare disaster iceberg Thailand has unwittingly imported.

Desperate as this case sounds it is certainly repeated and certainly will be repeated again and again.

Guys 'Winging-it' in Thailand, emigrating here with neither insurance of the personal funds to cover their own care/repatriation. The bridges burned to back home and a bunch of other guys treading water here, hanging on on subsistence incomes, not saving for their inevitable future needs.

Maybe you would like to point out some insurance options for the over 60's? I could not even get anyone to give me a quote.

You are not alone there.

These responses are very strange. I am 64, travel the world constantly, and easily get travel insurance. My policy starts to get difficult (but doable) after year 70. Admittedly it is not cheap at around AUD90 per month but covers me for all sorts of things besides medical. I am with "Guesthouse" - if you cannot afford insurance, then you cannot afford to travel. There appears to be a huge number of "poor farangs" hanging around asia.

[rixalex]

The very tip of the welfare disaster iceberg Thailand has unwittingly imported.

Desperate as this case sounds it is certainly repeated and certainly will be repeated again and again.

Guys 'Winging-it' in Thailand, emigrating here with neither insurance of the personal funds to cover their own care/repatriation. The bridges burned to back home and a bunch of other guys treading water here, hanging on on subsistence incomes, not saving for their inevitable future needs.

Maybe you would like to point out some insurance options for the over 60's? I could not even get anyone to give me a quote.

You are not alone there.

These responses are very strange. I am 64, travel the world constantly, and easily get travel insurance. My policy starts to get difficult (but doable) after year 70. Admittedly it is not cheap at around AUD90 per month but covers me for all sorts of things besides medical. I am with "Guesthouse" - if you cannot afford insurance, then you cannot afford to travel. There appears to be a huge number of "poor farangs" hanging around asia.

As far as travel insurance goes, the poor farangs you speak of i think are long term residents in Thailand, so i assume would not be able to use that sort of policy. I get your point though.

[NoshowJones]

The very tip of the welfare disaster iceberg Thailand has unwittingly imported.

Desperate as this case sounds it is certainly repeated and certainly will be repeated again and again.

Guys 'Winging-it' in Thailand, emigrating here with neither insurance of the personal funds to cover their own care/repatriation. The bridges burned to back home and a bunch of other guys treading water here, hanging on on subsistence incomes, not saving for their inevitable future needs.

Repatriating the guy might help him, but his recklessness leaves his g/f or his children with facing a grim future.

I'd ask if the family have a garden shed and advise expats winging it here who are setting themselves up for the same mess to go check where their shed is.

If there is no garden shed, building one might be a plan of sorts.

Do you mean a garden shed made of wood which you see in many UK gardens? I have never seen one in Thailand. I even thought it would be nice if I could buy a GS to keep some things in here.

[asdecas]

Among the trite, facetious, flippant, disrespectful and irrelevant posts here, I see only one or two that point out the obvious and very urgent first step - the man's illness needs to be diagnosed, and quickly - today if possible. As has been pointed out, a Thai government hospital may not be the preferred point of treatment, but the costs are modest and with a little cash he will be seen by a competent doctor, who will refer him to a specialist if need be. And if the man does not have the wherewithal for even that, then surely a whip round could gather a few hundred Baht?

[mrtoad]

Interesting discussion about insurance - think there are plenty of people here who have never considered it. I was reminded yesterday when a friend had an accident, how quickly medical bills can run up, he's racked up an estimated bill of around 500,000 already - his insurance doesn't cover it either as it was a motorbike accident.

[siamsaint]

What would happen if he went into the British embassy and then refused to leave? Don't embassies follow the law of their home country?