Cost of a doctor visit without insurance?

[AjarnMartin]

If you have a tabien baan then your local hospital doctor (govt.) is free but you must expect to pay for medicines, blood tests, operations etc.

It must be a blue tambien baan, not a yellow one.

I get free treatment on a yellow book , I was given a hospital number as well.

If you are a farang and you get free treatment on the basis of a yellow book alone, you must live in the back of beyond, cut off from all communication with the outside world and be the only farang in the history of Thailand who can do that! Getting a hospital number is no big deal, everyone gets one of those.

Sorry, CM, but you are mistaken... Is Phitsanulok the 'back of beyond'? I don't think so... My personal experience to match that of previous respondent...

[Brer Fox]

Sorry I didn't specify.

Just want to check for parasites and Giardia...

Local clinic as I am in the middle of nowhere. I live in a village pretty much.

Forget the doctor. Just take flagyl for giardia ( look up on google for dosage for giadia) and the parasite tablets (2) for worms and other. Buy from some half decent pharmacy.

[chiang mai]

It must be a blue tambien baan, not a yellow one.

I get free treatment on a yellow book , I was given a hospital number as well.

If you are a farang and you get free treatment on the basis of a yellow book alone, you must live in the back of beyond, cut off from all communication with the outside world and be the only farang in the history of Thailand who can do that! Getting a hospital number is no big deal, everyone gets one of those.

Sorry, CM, but you are mistaken... Is Phitsanulok the 'back of beyond'? I don't think so... My personal experience to match that of previous respondent...

So you're saying that farangs in Phitsanulok get free government health care, they don't even have to pay 30 baht? Really, I don't think so!!!!

[Muhendis]

Reading these opposing views about yellow/blue tabien bann makes me wonder if I am lucky to be living near Buriram where my yellow tabien bann counts as my ID both in the main city hospital and our local one.

Does anyone have any any experience of this elsewhere?

[swissbie]

What are blue and yellow tambien bean's?

A Tabien Bahn is a book that shows ownership of property, a blue one is for locals whilst a yellow one is for farangs.

Yellow book just shows where you live,as we all know you can't own land.

I don't know what it shows for other people but in my case it shows that I have an interest in a property, my name is on the back of the chanotte as being in control of an usufruct. I would not have been able to get a yellow book with out it, according to Land Office in Mae Rim and also the village headman where I live.

The blue Tabien Bahn doesn't necessarly show ownership of the property, it's only proof of the registered adress. For example; my wife is the "Chau Bahn" in the Tabien Bahn where we are living right now, in the Tabien Bahn of our second property in the deep south there are some relatives registered, but not my wife, tough she is the owner. Reason: you can't register at two places simultaneously. Never heard that ownership of a yellow Tabien Bahn qualifies for a Bat Thong (30-Baht-scheme), normally it needs a registration in a blue Tabien Bahn and a Thai-ID.

[emilymat]

I went to the doctor in Pattaya International Hospital with chest pains. (I was sure I was having a heart attack - you know how you fear the worst).

Examined by doctor, listened to heart etc, and pronounced I had a muscle strain in my side. My ticker was fine. Asked me if I had any pain killers at home and I said yes.

Cost.? Doctor fee - nil. 100 baht for nursing services (blood pressure etc). The girl who took me to the cashier to pay the 100 baht said the doctor had explained that there was nothing wrong with me and so no charge!!

Pretty good I thought.

Also, I have had two occasions for follow up consultations after contracting a skin allergy. On both occasions, no charge.

BPH should take a bow, as I know the other hospital in Pattaya would not have done this.

[chiang mai]

A Tabien Bahn is a book that shows ownership of property, a blue one is for locals whilst a yellow one is for farangs.

Yellow book just shows where you live,as we all know you can't own land.

I don't know what it shows for other people but in my case it shows that I have an interest in a property, my name is on the back of the chanotte as being in control of an usufruct. I would not have been able to get a yellow book with out it, according to Land Office in Mae Rim and also the village headman where I live.

The blue Tabien Bahn doesn't necessarly show ownership of the property, it's only proof of the registered adress. For example; my wife is the "Chau Bahn" in the Tabien Bahn where we are living right now, in the Tabien Bahn of our second property in the deep south there are some relatives registered, but not my wife, tough she is the owner. Reason: you can't register at two places simultaneously. Never heard that ownership of a yellow Tabien Bahn qualifies for a Bat Thong (30-Baht-scheme), normally it needs a registration in a blue Tabien Bahn and a Thai-ID.

Point taken of the tabien bahn. The point I was trying to make was that I would not have been able to get my yellow book if I had been renting a room over Somchai's noodle shop, the only reason I got it was because I have an ownership interest in a property. And I do accept that blue books do not necessarily imply ownership.

[Goanna]

Our local hospital charge me nothing. Once for a fishbone in the throat, and another for food poisoning. I only had to pay 150 baht for medication, including needle.

[johnhw]

Sorry I didn't specify.

Just want to check for parasites and Giardia...

Local clinic as I am in the middle of nowhere. I live in a village pretty much.

I lived here for 12 years. First time I got sick; I went to Bangkok Medical Hospital. 3-4,000 bt. After that I met a girl, bought a house; and she told me to use local small Thai hospitals. I did that for 10 years. Now divorced, lost half the house ( 1/2 of 8 million ). Wish I had kept going to Bangkok Medical Hospital. I would have saved about 4 million baht. Good luck !

Odd, except for some details, the same thing happened to me back home. New plan is to find a gal I hate, buy her a house and take a hike. Saves a lot of wasted time.

[SantiSuk]

200 baht for a walk-up (and sit down 'long time') local clinic doctor and 500-1000 baht for a regional private hospital with Bangkok at the top end and Isaan at the bottom of that range. All-up price (ie including silly invented add-ons at some hospital clinics) for a 15 minute or less consultation but not including meds or procedures/tests (X-Rays, bloods etc) if those are necessary. Even quite experienced specialists are not going to be much outside this. Even top-of-the-range Bumrumgrad. Sometimes if you or your affliction catch the consultants' imagination you might even get an hour for that price - I did with a Bumrun pulmonologist recently

Just a general guide - I have been paying here for the last 10 years and have been treated in Ubon, Sisaket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya for a range of minor and emerging chronic stuff at several levels of treatment. Funny thing is I regard myself as much fitter than the average falang or Thai at my age!

You can usually get the full range of naughty-boy treatments/tests for 500 -750 baht by the way if it is of interest

[captainhornblower]

Pattaya memorial hospital for treatment associated with Dyshydrotic eczema

Consultant Dermatologist

Plus 2 weeks prednisalone

1 course of antibiotic

1 weeks antihistamine

1 intravenous injection of prednisalone

2 small tubes of Fucicort antibiotic cream

Total medicine 19750 Baht

Doctor 800 Baht

grand cost 2750 Baht

Local clinic with Skin Doctor (well known and established) just below Big C (Carrefoure) on Pattaya Klang

2 weeks course Prednisalone

Doctor fee

1 tub of ? Cream

1 week course of antihistamine

Total cost 800 Baht

Love your maths - cannot make head nor tail of it...

[Acharn]

Sorry I didn't specify.

Just want to check for parasites and Giardia...

Local clinic as I am in the middle of nowhere. I live in a village pretty much.

You might try going to the local Annamai (Health Station, usually staffed by a nurse or "sanitarian"). Probably cost less than ฿100. A doctor in a clinic will usually charge around ฿200 plus cost of medicine. Chances are a doctor in a private clinic won't speak (much) English, but if you live in a village I guess you speak Thai well enough for day-to-day business. A hospital might be a little more expensive. I have a regular monthly appointment at a private hospital here in Nakhon Sawan for my emphysema, and the cost is mostly for the medicine. Hmmm. Charge for outpatient care, ฿310. You might want to use Google Translate to look up words you might need and don't already know. They have a vocal rendition of the words in case you can't read Thai. Little picture of a speaker at the bottom.

[bazza40]

Govt hospital 50 baht.

Where are you?

I use the Srinakarin hospital in Khon Kaen. Went yesterday saw heart specialist and got 12 weeks med,plus blood checked all for less then 900 baht Heart specialist was 50 baht charge on bill.

Sorry saw Surat second time i read post. If you mean Suat thani they have a very good government hospital give it a try.

Government hospital is the way to go.

There are clinics around, but with limited equipment, so they may well refer you to the hospital.

Once you have registered for the first time at the Government hospital, should you need to go there again for another reason, all your records will be on file, saving the hassle of giving all your details over again.

While government hospitals are cheap, wait times can be anywhere between 2 and 6 hours. A private hospital is 300 - 400 baht per consult; however, the wait time is usually 10 - 20 minutes. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

[bazza40]

You can usually get the full range of naughty-boy treatments/tests for 500 -750 baht by the way if it is of interest

And how have you acquired this knowledge? Have you been a naughty boy?

[bazza40]

You can usually get the full range of naughty-boy treatments/tests for 500 -750 baht by the way if it is of interest

And how have you acquired this knowledge? Have you been a naughty boy?

[bazza40]

I lived here for 12 years. First time I got sick; I went to Bangkok Medical Hospital. 3-4,000 bt. After that I met a girl, bought a house; and she told me to use local small Thai hospitals. I did that for 10 years. Now divorced, lost half the house ( 1/2 of 8 million ). Wish I had kept going to Bangkok Medical Hospital. I would have saved about 4 million baht. Good luck !

8 million baht on a house in Thailand? You don't need a medical hospital; I'd suggest a psychiatric clinic.

[thaiduncankk]

Govt hospital 50 baht.

Where are you?

I use the Srinakarin hospital in Khon Kaen. Went yesterday saw heart specialist and got 12 weeks med,plus blood checked all for less then 900 baht Heart specialist was 50 baht charge on bill.

Sorry saw Surat second time i read post. If you mean Suat thani they have a very good government hospital give it a try.

Government hospital is the way to go.

There are clinics around, but with limited equipment, so they may well refer you to the hospital.

Once you have registered for the first time at the Government hospital, should you need to go there again for another reason, all your records will be on file, saving the hassle of giving all your details over again.

While government hospitals are cheap, wait times can be anywhere between 2 and 6 hours. A private hospital is 300 - 400 baht per consult; however, the wait time is usually 10 - 20 minutes. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

I have time on my hands, so a bit of a wait is no problem for me. If they see it is quite serious, you will be seen to, sooner rather than later.

Every doctor I have seen at Government hospitals advised me that they also consult in the private hospitals in the area, so actual doctor wise, you do not get any preferential treatment.

Medication, biggest rip off ever. Same medication used, but some nearly ten times the price.

I had a full week in a Government hospital for a foot infection following an ankle sprain. The service I got was impeccable, and I doubt it would have been any better if I had gone private. They even provided food as similar as possible to Western food, and it was edible. I was discharged after the week, and my bill for everything, including home medication (and believe it or not, a zimmer frame !), was 7,400 baht !

With my experiences with RAM, Bangkok and the likes, I would probably got no change from a six figure sum.

Now, same doctors, same medication, I cannot see any justification for the extortionate difference in price. Because you pay more does not mean you get treated any better.

The language barrier can be a bit difficult, but I was able to get by.

As for the wait, I usually find it quite amusing, especially at 8.00am, when the 'sick' patients all stand up and do a 10 minute aerobics class with the nurses !

[Shiver]

I spent 2 hours in Bangkok Int'l Phuket as an outpatient and that was just shy of 15K (blood tests scans etc). Back in Udon in a clinic (not hospital) it was 1200 baht with Ultrasound and medication for 2 weeks (double that for one month) but everything else was considered incidentals and not separate on the bill.

You can pay next to nothing, or as much as you want - it depends where you go and what you want. I tell everyone I know that if they see me in deep trouble then get me to the nearest place whatever the price, and if I'm still alive in the morning then take me to the military hospital that has the same doctors (depending on the day), but the price is very reasonable, compared to the 'holiday' hospitals, which are very nice and all that, but can eat your bank account in seconds.

Number one: health, number two, be effective with your choices.

[Muhendis]

compared to the 'holiday' hospitals, which are very nice and all that, but can eat your bank account in seconds.

I read somewhere, on this forum I think, that all the posh, private hospitals are really hotels with a hospital attached.

[gemguy]

Sorry I didn't specify.

Just want to check for parasites and Giardia...

Local clinic as I am in the middle of nowhere. I live in a village pretty much.

You could always phone first and ask for a general price relative to you explaining what you want checked up...and then maybe add 50% more to maybe 100 % more than what they tell you because they seldom actually know exactly what the price is for various items other than say, the doctors fee, for what ever services and fees and medicine charged to you that they charge for a private hospital and doctor cost to you verses a public hospital and doctor costs to you.

The public hospitals can be cheap...but you may not like all the confusion on your part and the confusion on their part and the long waits all too often in non air-conditioned waiting areas and lack of seating while looking around at all the other people waiting long periods of time and also looking uncomfortable and tired with many sick people just lying there in their hospital gurneys for hours on end and no one taking care of them.

Been there ...done that...so you tend to gravitate towards the private hospitals ......only to be shocked at the price differences ...3 ...4 ... 5 times more and sometimes / something's even much more than the price at the public hospitals.

Cheers

Edited December 14, 2015 by gemguy

[Muhendis]

Just thought I would mention that if you need to stay overnight in any hospital then it can make a significant difference to the bill if your Thai wife stays there with you. There is usually a sleeping couch in the room and it's quite normal for this to happen.

[Dumbastheycome]

Sorry I didn't specify.

Just want to check for parasites and Giardia...

Local clinic as I am in the middle of nowhere. I live in a village pretty much.

Just go to the chemist and get some pills and examine your poo with a magnifying glass.Take again a week later.

That's super bad advice, protozoa can only be seen with a microscope!

Ok, the technical advice on presence may be suspect but for concerns about gut parasites is accurate. Over counter meds for worms are cheap. Giardia? Only if you have a problem...otherwise most develop a resistance over time to increased exposure. Giarda is present in most peoples gut. Only a sudden increase due to contaminated water will have an uncomfortable effect until a new resistance level is gained.

lab tests for both are prolonged and not really necessary unless symptoms are unrelenting and/or severe.

[thaiduncankk]

Just thought I would mention that if you need to stay overnight in any hospital then it can make a significant difference to the bill if your Thai wife stays there with you. There is usually a sleeping couch in the room and it's quite normal for this to happen.

I do not think it makes any difference cost wise whether anyone stays with you.

In Government hospitals, whoever stays must vacate a ward by 8.00pm until 6.00am the next morning, and it is enforced by security. Privates may be different, but why should it be cheaper ?

[chiang mai]

Just thought I would mention that if you need to stay overnight in any hospital then it can make a significant difference to the bill if your Thai wife stays there with you. There is usually a sleeping couch in the room and it's quite normal for this to happen.

It doesn't change the price if a wife stays, it may make some things easier but the cost remains the same. And in a private room in a government hospital, the additional cost (in the Provincial Hospital) is just over 1,000 baht per night which includes 24 hour sleeping access for a relative.

[Muhendis]

Just thought I would mention that if you need to stay overnight in any hospital then it can make a significant difference to the bill if your Thai wife stays there with you. There is usually a sleeping couch in the room and it's quite normal for this to happen.

I do not think it makes any difference cost wise whether anyone stays with you.

In Government hospitals, whoever stays must vacate a ward by 8.00pm until 6.00am the next morning, and it is enforced by security. Privates may be different, but why should it be cheaper ?

Just for clarification. I'm talking about private room occupancy. I couldn't even begin to imagine what confusion that would cause in a communal ward. As you say, communal wards have a kicking out time.

Q: Why should it be cheaper?

A: For the same reason that Thais can get into national parks etc. for considerably less cost than a farang (dual pricing).

[Muhendis]

Just thought I would mention that if you need to stay overnight in any hospital then it can make a significant difference to the bill if your Thai wife stays there with you. There is usually a sleeping couch in the room and it's quite normal for this to happen.

It doesn't change the price if a wife stays, it may make some things easier but the cost remains the same. And in a private room in a government hospital, the additional cost (in the Provincial Hospital) is just over 1,000 baht per night which includes 24 hour sleeping access for a relative.

Last year I stayed for in Ramathibodi hospital in Bangkok which is a university teaching hospital. My stay was three nights and because my wife stayed with me the total price was reduced by 20%. This information was given to us unsolicited by the admin. staff at the hospital. So Mr. chiang mai, next time you need hospitalization make sure you get the Thai price for your stay by having your Thai wife with you.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

silly post - a fraction of what a western doctor costs....

you are not going to go b/c it's 250-300B to see the doctor?

If you have a medical problem then you will pay for lab tests, treatments medicine but still ridiculously cheap in relative terms to the west...

Don't sweat it....

CB

It costs me 0 baht for doctor visit and tests in the west.

[thaiduncankk]

Having experience of both Government and Private hospitals since I came to live here, I find it very similar to the education system over here.

When you pay privately, the main beneficiary is the hospital director who gets a better return on his (her) original investment. Does it make the quality of nursing (teaching) any better ? In my opinion, no.

I actually find the Government hospitals better, as the service seems to be more genuine than the money orientated alternative.

As said previously, my only gripe is the poor level of English spoken, but this is by no means a slur on the medical industry itself. If a country wants to give a 'pass' certificate to everyone who studied a subject in school to a certain level, even though they did not achieve an acceptable level, nothing can be done.

You will probably find that nurses from both hospitals were trained at the same academy, but where they end up nursing is down purely to the level of English spoken, rather than their Nursing abilities.

[Shiver]

One thing that works in our favour is that medical terms are spoken in international English (or Latin derivative of course), a bit like with aircraft (local language then English also). I have upset a couple of docs by being a 'google doctor' and been told not to think too much or ask too many questions. My current one won't even tell me what is in those ziplock bag of pills. They're working though so I don't want to rock the boat.

Had a friend in the 30 baht hospital (4000 baht to him as a mouthy grumpy old ... farang), and really I couldn't wait to leave the place. I know you'll find this outrageous but... it was full of sick people. It was infectious and wanted to run for the door, though I couldn't since I was there to take care of my friend. He checked himself out of there and went to a clinic and all good now - at a fraction of the price I might add.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Shiver

[Michael8511]

It's usually very cheap if you don't have any serious issues. I always take insurance incase something would happen. We're surprised when I found out that US Medicare supplement insurance thru AARP cover emergency room treatment in Thailand