Repatriation Assistance For Sick Brit

[rixalex]

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.

I think that is what puts a lot of people off insurance. You can pay quite a substantial amount over how ever many years, and then when you finally have use to use the insurance, they tell you that your particular circumstances, or your particular condition, is not covered.

I guess if you can afford the most expensive insurance out there with all the bells and whistles, you might feel secure in your health care, but anything less than that, and i'm not sure you can be. Makes some people think, why bother at all. Not that that is a good solution, but i can understand it.

[rixalex]

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?

Unless chained to a post, i imagine you would just be frog-marched off the premises by security.

[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.

I think that is what puts a lot of people off insurance. You can pay quite a substantial amount over how ever many years, and then when you finally have use to use the insurance, they tell you that your particular circumstances, or your particular condition, is not covered.

I guess if you can afford the most expensive insurance out there with all the bells and whistles, you might feel secure in your health care, but anything less than that, and i'm not sure you can be. Makes some people think, why bother at all. Not that that is a good solution, but i can understand it.

Agreed on that, but a lot of people are here on Travel Insurance from their own countries, and there are generally lots of exclusions, particularly around motorbikes. I have my insurance through a local provider, and it generally covers most things. It's actually not that expensive per month, when all is said and done, and at least I have peace of mind.

[qdinthailand]

I find it hard to be compassionate over an individual, and his family, who don't do the first thing - get him to a doctor for a diagnosis of his condition. They can certainly scramble to sell a few trinkets around the house - the TV - whatever - to come up with the cash.

How many more days will this TV chatter go on, speculating about this condition, how to solve his problem - when the man won't go to the <deleted> doctor!

[The Dude]

The Dude advises that the dude in question throw himself at the mercy of the UK embassy. either that or the OP dude can take up a collection somewhere or provide his own funding as he is very concerned for his friend. Of course here in the forum so many posters post questions to help out their friends.

[evadgib]

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?

Unless chained to a post, i imagine you would just be frog-marched off the premises by security.

Under international convention (& against popular belief) responsability falls to the host nation. This usually generates a "The Embassy ain't doing Nuffink" thread when details become public...

Edited January 13, 2013 by evadgib

[samran]

Just in case anyone is wondering - 'Ba-waarn' is the Thai word for diabetes.

[lapoon]

Some random thoughts after reading this, in no particular order.

I, like many live some of my time in Thailand, I am old, and I have some health issues. I often think about what I will do if my health becomes a problem. At the moment I believe I would be better off in Thailand, many people belittle the Thai health system but my personal experience is that they are competent and caring people. I have had reason to be admitted to a local hospital, they treated me well and gave me guidance to change my behaviour and now I am controlling my health better.

In relation to the diabetes , I was called up to attend a local clinic when they were doing blood tests in our village the result showed that I was in the high risk area and again I needed to adjust my food types. My experience with the medical system in Australia was no where near as good, in MY PERSONAL experience.

I know I am rambling but surely a visit to the hospital can give this guy some help and indication of what exactly is his problem. It may in fact be an easy fix.You dont need to go to an expensive private hospital.

How many of us older retirees could very easily fall into this guys situation, we need plan for ourselves and our dependents .

[LaoPo]

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.

I agree; a lot of the non-insured say: "I'm healthy and not sick/ill, so nothing can happen to me"

...really?

Your example proves ANYTHING could happen

[djvolak]

toad,

As far as i can see it, 70k (if you can afford it) is a small price to pay to hold your head high.

Even if you got burned in the end, you probably got more out if it than they did.

My thoughts too. You do what you can to help others regardless of weather you get anything back or not. It shows how you are as a person and I am guessing by your action you are good people. Good deeds dont always get the return but they should make you feel good that you were actually in a position to be able to help instead of the one needing the help. Thanks for doing good deeds! There are good people out there and that is a good thing to know.

[djvolak]

toad,

As far as i can see it, 70k (if you can afford it) is a small price to pay to hold your head high.

Even if you got burned in the end, you probably got more out if it than they did.

Agreed, I know it was the right thing, but it poised me off no end to see that no one else gave a shit. It's pretty sad really. Would I do it again, maybe unlikely, but I would always try and do something.

Yes because you are good people. You do not let the actions of others dictate how you act as a person. That is the best way to live. I do likewise and most times you never hear anything back but every once in a while someone suprises you. I hope you live a long and healthy life!

Edited January 13, 2013 by djvolak

[redcardave]

Very sad. GO AND SEE A DOCTOR A.S.A.P.

[richardjm65]

As mrtoad has pointed out, it's a difficult situation when you understand that you're the person in the frame for a situation, (not of your own making), and which you are not qualified to either deal with effectively or financially. I well know, from personal experience, that the public hospitals offer quite efficient diagnostics and treatment. I am not in a position to haul him off to a hospital and cop the bill - I wish that I were.

I've advised his partner that re-hospitalisation is, essentially, what is required and that it is necessary for her to raise cash by whatever means necessary, so she must sell whatsoever can be sold, and then negotiate with the bank over the sale of the house or re-scheduling of the mortgage. She cannot rely on the financial goodwill of family or friends to support him at home when it is obvious that he needs proper care in hospital. I cannot afford further financial support, but am now trying to contact his other friends to see if they're willing to help. I don't even live in the same town, so that's not so easy.

I originally heard, via the grapevine, that he was sick and offered what help I could, but it's gone far beyond my resources now. I totally agree with those who have advocated hospitalisation. I'm just not sure how to achieve that.

[smokie36]

Some random thoughts after reading this, in no particular order.

I, like many live some of my time in Thailand, I am old, and I have some health issues. I often think about what I will do if my health becomes a problem. At the moment I believe I would be better off in Thailand, many people belittle the Thai health system but my personal experience is that they are competent and caring people. I have had reason to be admitted to a local hospital, they treated me well and gave me guidance to change my behaviour and now I am controlling my health better.

In relation to the diabetes , I was called up to attend a local clinic when they were doing blood tests in our village the result showed that I was in the high risk area and again I needed to adjust my food types. My experience with the medical system in Australia was no where near as good, in MY PERSONAL experience.

I know I am rambling but surely a visit to the hospital can give this guy some help and indication of what exactly is his problem. It may in fact be an easy fix.You dont need to go to an expensive private hospital.

How many of us older retirees could very easily fall into this guys situation, we need plan for ourselves and our dependents .

Yes...regular checkups can save you a lot of pain. Also following a healthier lifestyle.

[Lucrative]

Some people have pre-existing condition even at 30 or 40, time all these are excluded [there get out of paying saying the present problem is related to a pre-existing condition] for a Policy + price, for many in there 50's and 60's 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......

Having a pre existing condition myself (non life threatening) i was declined health insurance,after a long back and forth argument they agrred to insure me at 100% loading at 51 the premium was 13,000 baht pm and climbing rapidly at each age step, so i decided to save my own health fund, now have over 400k and growing sitting in a bank. As far as i was concerned there were so many exclusions and with the hefty loading it didn't seem worth the money

[ignis]

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.

I think that is what puts a lot of people off insurance. You can pay quite a substantial amount over how ever many years, and then when you finally have use to use the insurance, they tell you that your particular circumstances, or your particular condition, is not covered.

I guess if you can afford the most expensive insurance out there with all the bells and whistles, you might feel secure in your health care, but anything less than that, and i'm not sure you can be. Makes some people think, why bother at all. Not that that is a good solution, but i can understand it.

Yes 'you might feel secure in your health care' but unless you need to use it how good is it ? Living outside the UK for many years a good Insurance was a must, until I had to use it.. Seeing my Dr in an Emergency in the Algarve South Portugal, he the Dr phoned the Insurance Company.... they insisted I had to go all the way up to Lisbon to a Private Hospital [ The big brand new Hospital at Faro was only 40km away] was NOT on there list of Hospitals

So in the back of a Private Ambulance all the way up to Lisbon.. 5 hours of Hell in pain.... in Hospital 6 nights, many tests and an Op..... at the end could not leave the Hospital without paying, the Insurance Company will pay later.......... They never did pay me back...... = I have not had Insurance since, I paid for years the Insurance ........ at the end of the day I could have had the same treatment in a Brand new Hospital close to home at a fraction of the cost

That is still how I look at it all these years later and living in Thailand, over the years I have been to Hospital here, yes I have had 3 Ops here and 2 small accidents, the local private Hospital sorts everything and a very fair small price..

But always at the back of my mind I am in my 60's what happens if something major happens ? but then if I had Insurance would they pay, No I would NOT have peace of mind or feel secure just because I had Insurance

Edited January 14, 2013 by ignis

[oldsailor35]

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?

Nothing wrong with government hospital. Last year i went to the one at Naton Koh Samui with bad chest pain. To see doctor, get xrays and prescribed meds only cost me Bht1400 and i was well within two weeks.

[oldsailor35]

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.

I think that is what puts a lot of people off insurance. You can pay quite a substantial amount over how ever many years, and then when you finally have use to use the insurance, they tell you that your particular circumstances, or your particular condition, is not covered.

I guess if you can afford the most expensive insurance out there with all the bells and whistles, you might feel secure in your health care, but anything less than that, and i'm not sure you can be. Makes some people think, why bother at all. Not that that is a good solution, but i can understand it.

Agreed on that, but a lot of people are here on Travel Insurance from their own countries, and there are generally lots of exclusions, particularly around motorbikes. I have my insurance through a local provider, and it generally covers most things. It's actually not that expensive per month, when all is said and done, and at least I have peace of mind.

I would be surprised if you are 70 plus. Thats when it gets far to expensive.

[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.

I think that is what puts a lot of people off insurance. You can pay quite a substantial amount over how ever many years, and then when you finally have use to use the insurance, they tell you that your particular circumstances, or your particular condition, is not covered.

I guess if you can afford the most expensive insurance out there with all the bells and whistles, you might feel secure in your health care, but anything less than that, and i'm not sure you can be. Makes some people think, why bother at all. Not that that is a good solution, but i can understand it.

Agreed on that, but a lot of people are here on Travel Insurance from their own countries, and there are generally lots of exclusions, particularly around motorbikes. I have my insurance through a local provider, and it generally covers most things. It's actually not that expensive per month, when all is said and done, and at least I have peace of mind.

I would be surprised if you are 70 plus. Thats when it gets far to expensive.

I have never claimed to be 70 plus, and I am here working. I would think that people who get to 70 plus would have had made certain plans to cover these eventualities prior to reaching that age.

[Thongkorn]

<p>My friends father came back to England aged 80 in 2011 to die after being in Thailand for over 20 years, after 18 months of staying in a nursing home costing the taxpayer thousands per week he died.

This is whats wrong with The UK , You leave take what you can , while there ,you call the UK but when you need assistance you rely on the Good old UK.

[homeownership]

<p>My friends father came back to England aged 80 in 2011 to die after being in Thailand for over 20 years, after 18 months of staying in a nursing home costing the taxpayer thousands per week he died.

This is whats wrong with The UK , You leave take what you can , while there ,you call the UK but when you need assistance you rely on the Good old UK.

I do sort of agree with you here. It smacks of hypocracy that you leave the UK for a better life in Thailand and when that better life turns bad, demands, promises and expectations that those left behind in the rain the UK will pick up the bill, however as a Brit we are a nation of families and I think the sensible thing to do before any action is taken is taken to follow the advice of myself and other honourable members and that is to seek medical advice.

I am by no means a medical professional and I dont know the first thing about the gentleman involved, but a Doctor would and it is a hell of a lot cheaper and easier to get my countryman to a Doctor and get the matter tested, diagnosed, treated and medicated that the alternative of dumping him at the embassy in the hope that his country of birth will repatriate, treat and of course it has to be said, rehouse and finance him.

On a personal note, the Embassies of the UK are there to provide diplomatic representation to the country they are in as a lines of internal communication. They are also their to build links both financial and cultural between countries. Consular services are provided to its citizens visiting this country. They are not by any stretch of the imagination a place to drop of sick and elderly relatives like the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals). Afterall these embassies are paid for by UK Taxpayers. The cheek of it.

Edited January 17, 2013 by homeownership

[lapoon]

So has the gentleman seen anyone yet ??

[VocalNeal]

So has the gentleman seen anyone yet ??

Get him to Bangkok and go to Chula Hospital. Once diagnosed a plan can be hatched until then everything is supposition, it might simply be a virus?

[jpinx]

It will be really interesting to see how this turns out.

I hope the guy recovers and gets his act together.

What news on a diagnosis from the nearest hospital? I still fail to understand why the wife didn't just take him to the hospital in the first place........

Edited January 17, 2013 by jpinx

[Chivas]

Whilst marginally off topic for Brits who need Travel Insurance for up to 50 days at a time have a look at Staysure..........I had just renewed my annual elsewhere but SS would have covered me for £48 Annually, cheaper than the £63 had just renewed at.........52 Year old.

No real existing conditions as whilst I have had Cancer is was longer than 5 years ago, so irrelvant (as far as they are concerned). They cover or so they say 220 existing conditions.....

Maximum accumlated time abroad annually is 183 days.......

Check it out if you're on multiple visits...

[richardjm65]

For those that might be interested, we had a call from his partner this morning. She advised that John died last evening, (Sunday 3rd March). His condition had deteriorated, (despite hospital attention), and he became unable to breathe. He died at home.

She was unable to give any further details.

I guess this solves the visa overstay problem.

[Eff1n2ret]

Poor chap. I hope his end was peaceful.

[harryfrompattaya]

This is a very sad story.

But reiterates the need to have private medical care whilst living in a foreign country.

Best of luck in sourcing a solution.

England is just a cruel country