Government concerned with foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals

[Lite Beer]

Government concerned with foreigners being ripped off by Thai hospitals

BANGKOK, 10 May 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned with how foreign patients have been ripped off by Thai hospitals.

According to Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp, the Prime Minister has been aware of complaints related to inordinately high medical bills local private hospitals have collected from foreign patients, and he has been worried about such situations.

PM Prayut has accordingly instructed all related agencies to launch an investigation and identify the solution to this problem, Mr. Yongyuth said.

Three agencies are to take part in the process, including the Medical Council of Thailand, the Health Ministry and the Internal Trade Department, he added.

All of them will hold a discussion to determine the medical fees that are fair to both patients and hospitals and also to work on the possible amendment of related rules and regulations before reporting the results to the Cabinet.

-- NNT 2015-05-10

[jcisco]

Should this not be done while also looking at what costs are to locals as well as underlying costs to hospitals. Since the data is so similar and would give a better picture of costs if public health if correlated with numbers of each type of visit or stay.

[JOC]

Everyone else in Thailand is ripping of foreigners!!

So why not the hospitals??

As we all are aware "health-care" in Thailand is all about money!!

Just read BP today, cover story about the local Florence Nightingales ripping of their own senior citizens!!

No limits to the greed!!

[wooloomooloo]

I can only comment on our own personal experience with private Thai hospitals and coincidentally that was today.

My wife woke up this morning and found blood in her urine on her first toilet call. We promptly visited Bangkok Hospital in PHS and the service was efficient, friendly and affordable.

In and out of the hospital within forty-five minutes and all for 1300 baht, which included consultation and antibiotics. No requirement to fall back on our travel insurance for such a reasonable amount.

If we want to talk about expensive private treatment in the UK then we can talk all day. Thailand comes no where near.

I am privately covered by my employer in the UK and no way could I afford it without their generosity.

[petedk]

Just three months ago I had to have minor surgery and of course I asked at one of the International hospitals in Bangkok how much it would cost.

I was quoted 300,000 Baht for the surgery, with one night in hospital. Thinking it was a quite expensive, I asked at a well known Thai hospital how much they would charge. They quoted 90,000 Baht for the same operation.

I accepted the second hospital and a few days later the International hospital called me to ask if I was interested in the operation. I told them that I had received a better offer. The woman asked if I lived in Thailand (the whole conversation was in Thai!). When I replied that I did, her reply was “Oh, then we can give you a better price.” and went down to 150,000 baht.

I had the operation at the second hospital and was very pleased with everything.

No more International hospitals in Bangkok for me.

[ukrules]

This should be an argument between the insurance companies and the hospitals.

[trogers]

I have found this correlation:

Prices = % of patients covered by insurance

[Neeranam]

The title should read Tourists, not foreigners. There are many foreigners living here that are never ripped off by hospitals.

The only one ever to rip me off was Bamrungrad, but they rip off Thais and foreigners.

[smedly]

I think not only are they over charging but they are in some cases advising people towards treatments that may not be required and expensive hospital stays that are also not generally required, unfortunately everybody knows full well that Thailand has a tendency for ripping foreigners off and medical treatment is also included

and don't go quoting prices from your home countries - this is Thailand not the US or UK, it is a 3rd world country were "Rip Off" is the primary objective

[Neeranam]

Just three months ago I had to have minor surgery and of course I asked at one of the International hospitals in Bangkok how much it would cost.

I was quoted 300,000 Baht for the surgery, with one night in hospital. Thinking it was a quite expensive, I asked at a well known Thai hospital how much they would charge. They quoted 90,000 Baht for the same operation.

I accepted the second hospital and a few days later the International hospital called me to ask if I was interested in the operation. I told them that I had received a better offer. The woman asked if I lived in Thailand (the whole conversation was in Thai!). When I replied that I did, her reply was “Oh, then we can give you a better price.” and went down to 150,000 baht.

I had the operation at the second hospital and was very pleased with everything.

No more International hospitals in Bangkok for me.

Sounds like Bamrungrad - thieving barstewards.

[JOC]

I have found this correlation:

Prices = % of patients covered by insurance

Spot on!!

Whenever the wife visits the local hospital with whatever minor ailment, and shows the check-in staff her insurance coverage, she is automatically admitted to a single bed VIP room.

Gets a glucose drip overnight and are released the next morning and the bill to the insurance is probably around 50k.

Make no mistake, "healthcare" here is a money spinner!!

[Just1Voice]

If you're a foreigner, and in Chiang Mai, and want to be seriously overcharged for anything medical, simply go to Ram Hospital. You can go to Rajavaj, or McCormick for the same - if not better - treatment, for about half the price. Trust me, I've had the experience and know all about it.

[trainman34014]

Headline should read '' Government concerned with Foreigner's being ripped off by Thai's ''

[wooloomooloo]

and don't go quoting prices from your home countries - this is Thailand not the US or UK, it is a 3rd world country were "Rip Off" is the primary objective

No one mentioned prices, merely expense.

As has been mentioned in previous posts on this very thread, shop around. You're not obliged to accept the first quote.

Up to you.

[Thongkorn]

yet its ok to charge up to 10 times more for entering National parks, I would ahve thought more people want to travel places in Thailand, than those using the hospitals.

[petedk]

Just three months ago I had to have minor surgery and of course I asked at one of the International hospitals in Bangkok how much it would cost.

I was quoted 300,000 Baht for the surgery, with one night in hospital. Thinking it was a quite expensive, I asked at a well known Thai hospital how much they would charge. They quoted 90,000 Baht for the same operation.

I accepted the second hospital and a few days later the International hospital called me to ask if I was interested in the operation. I told them that I had received a better offer. The woman asked if I lived in Thailand (the whole conversation was in Thai!). When I replied that I did, her reply was “Oh, then we can give you a better price.” and went down to 150,000 baht.

I had the operation at the second hospital and was very pleased with everything.

No more International hospitals in Bangkok for me.

Sounds like Bamrungrad - thieving barstewards.

No, it was another Bangkok Hospital.

[nev]

If you're a foreigner, and in Chiang Mai, and want to be seriously overcharged for anything medical, simply go to Ram Hospital. You can go to Rajavaj, or McCormick for the same - if not better - treatment, for about half the price. Trust me, I've had the experience and know all about it.

Same with the Ram hospital in Khonkaen a total rip off, just been to srinakarin hospital at the university to see doctor about my bladder problem, saw a specialist and had a blood test all for 350bt, you do have to waitva bit but they give you a que number and will estimate the time you will be seen, so you can go away and come back later.

[trogers]

Just three months ago I had to have minor surgery and of course I asked at one of the International hospitals in Bangkok how much it would cost.

I was quoted 300,000 Baht for the surgery, with one night in hospital. Thinking it was a quite expensive, I asked at a well known Thai hospital how much they would charge. They quoted 90,000 Baht for the same operation.

I accepted the second hospital and a few days later the International hospital called me to ask if I was interested in the operation. I told them that I had received a better offer. The woman asked if I lived in Thailand (the whole conversation was in Thai!). When I replied that I did, her reply was Oh, then we can give you a better price. and went down to 150,000 baht.

I had the operation at the second hospital and was very pleased with everything.

No more International hospitals in Bangkok for me.

Sounds like Bamrungrad - thieving barstewards.

No, it was another Bangkok Hospital.

Ahhh...the BSB...S being the favourite among Japanese.

[Canucklehead]

Last year I went to a private hospital in BKK. not sure the name. but its about 4? blocks from Victory Monument. across from TV5 and wanted to get a small procedure done on my mouth, went with my Thai GF. she did the talking for me but the dr also spoke decent english , Price I was quoted was Higher than it would cost for the same procedure to be done here in Canada. I was stunned that It would cost so much and they would not say the cost for a Thai. On Principle alone I did not have it done.

Times sure are changing.

[Exsexyman]

Everyone else in Thailand is ripping of foreigners!!

So why not the hospitals??

As we all are aware "health-care" in Thailand is all about money!!

Just read BP today, cover story about the local Florence Nightingales ripping of their own senior citizens!!

No limits to the greed!!

God you must really hate living here. When did you first come to the conclusion that masochism was for you?

[JOC]

Everyone else in Thailand is ripping of foreigners!!

So why not the hospitals??

As we all are aware "health-care" in Thailand is all about money!!

Just read BP today, cover story about the local Florence Nightingales ripping of their own senior citizens!!

No limits to the greed!!

God you must really hate living here. When did you first come to the conclusion that masochism was for you?

Funny thing is, I love living here!!

But after a while you get a little tired of: My wife asking for a price on anything and the answer she gets is: "900 baht, very cheap, we are charging farang 1200". With me standing next to the wifey. You get to a point, where it is not "charming" but outright rude!!

As for the masochism, I realized that it was my cup of tea, when I met Ms Domina Hoy Lek!!

[trogers]

Last year I went to a private hospital in BKK. not sure the name. but its about 4? blocks from Victory Monument. across from TV5 and wanted to get a small procedure done on my mouth, went with my Thai GF. she did the talking for me but the dr also spoke decent english , Price I was quoted was Higher than it would cost for the same procedure to be done here in Canada. I was stunned that It would cost so much and they would not say the cost for a Thai. On Principle alone I did not have it done.

Times sure are changing.

Phayathai 2?

[Neeranam]

Last year I went to a private hospital in BKK. not sure the name. but its about 4? blocks from Victory Monument. across from TV5 and wanted to get a small procedure done on my mouth, went with my Thai GF. she did the talking for me but the dr also spoke decent english , Price I was quoted was Higher than it would cost for the same procedure to be done here in Canada. I was stunned that It would cost so much and they would not say the cost for a Thai. On Principle alone I did not have it done.

Times sure are changing.

I recently got false teeth from Khon Kaen hospital for 1500 baht. A plate thing with 4 teeth on it. Plus I claimed it all back from the Social Security.

[Thian]

Why is it OK to overcharge foreigners 10 times at national parks while hospitals can't overcharge us?

Is that pure Thainess?

[elgordo38]

Just three months ago I had to have minor surgery and of course I asked at one of the International hospitals in Bangkok how much it would cost.

I was quoted 300,000 Baht for the surgery, with one night in hospital. Thinking it was a quite expensive, I asked at a well known Thai hospital how much they would charge. They quoted 90,000 Baht for the same operation.

I accepted the second hospital and a few days later the International hospital called me to ask if I was interested in the operation. I told them that I had received a better offer. The woman asked if I lived in Thailand (the whole conversation was in Thai!). When I replied that I did, her reply was “Oh, then we can give you a better price.” and went down to 150,000 baht.

I had the operation at the second hospital and was very pleased with everything.

No more International hospitals in Bangkok for me.

When I needed my pipe cleaned out in Mexico (prostate roto rotered) the hospital told me that if it was covered by insurance it would be discounted by 25% I would presume the same exists here as they are all big businesses.

[elgordo38]

Last year I went to a private hospital in BKK. not sure the name. but its about 4? blocks from Victory Monument. across from TV5 and wanted to get a small procedure done on my mouth, went with my Thai GF. she did the talking for me but the dr also spoke decent english , Price I was quoted was Higher than it would cost for the same procedure to be done here in Canada. I was stunned that It would cost so much and they would not say the cost for a Thai. On Principle alone I did not have it done.

Times sure are changing.

My insurance pays 4 times the OHIP rate in Ontario Canada and it is still not enough at Ram to have a cataract operation.

[PokerFace]

Recently had rotator cuff surgery at BNH in Bangkok. Initial quote was 360-400,000 Baht. When they found out I had insurance which would cover 75% and would be paid directly to the hospital the cost went up to just over 510,000 Baht. Nothing was covered up and they freely admitted that the cost went up because they had to deal with the insurance.

[DogNo1]

I have gone to Bumrungrad for four times this year and found that everything cost me 20% more than last year. That's a big increase. Has anyone else noticed this? Maybe I should ask them for a discount. I have no idea what they are charging other patients or if their charges are standardized for everyone.

[berybert]

I can only comment on our own personal experience with private Thai hospitals and coincidentally that was today.

My wife woke up this morning and found blood in her urine on her first toilet call. We promptly visited Bangkok Hospital in PHS and the service was efficient, friendly and affordable.

In and out of the hospital within forty-five minutes and all for 1300 baht, which included consultation and antibiotics. No requirement to fall back on our travel insurance for such a reasonable amount.

If we want to talk about expensive private treatment in the UK then we can talk all day. Thailand comes no where near.

I am privately covered by my employer in the UK and no way could I afford it without their generosity.

So you paid 1300 baht to tell someone your good lady wife had blood during her toilet break in the morning. They gave her some tablets and 45 minutes after arriving you left.

You should have gone to Boots they would have given you the same tablets for 200 baht.

[Torrens54]

Wonder if they'll also give thought to the Re-Introduction of a Thai Government Health Insurance Scheme for EXPATS, such as the one that was dumped last year?