Dutch man with cancer says: Hua Hin Hospital fleeced me because I'm a foreigner

[freebyrd]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

If he were American, he'd be marveling at how cheap his treatment was in Hua Hin.  We're accustomed to seeing line after line of obscure charges that only a forensic accountant can decipher.

 

It isn't free. Contributions were deducted from my salary every month from age 16 for 20 years until I left the UK. In that time I was hospitalised just once for 3 days.

[Anthony5]

1 minute ago, Navalator said:

This fool has lived here for 10 years and finds it surprising that the Thai hospital fleeced him?  All hospitals in Thailand fleece foreigners.   In fact, it is in the very fiber of every Thai to fleece foreigners especially white foreigners. That's all part of the charm of living in Thailand.  I recently received a bill from a Pattaya hospital listing a 190 baht item.  The cashier told me that was for using the toilet.  Another 800 baht item was for "..being seen by a doctor". Immediately next was a 1,200 baht item for  a medical consultation by the same doctor.   All that for less than 3 minutes in his office.

 

So and because it happens everyone should just accept it?

 

NEXT

[irwinfc]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This guy is out of his mind. Why should be be treated like a Thai person? He has to expect if he goes to a hospital here, he is going to pay more than a Thai person, who is at least partially covered by the national health care system. The hospitals here cost a fraction of what they do in the US, and probably in Europe. What is his problem?

 

he didn't ask to be treated like a Thai person. he said he expected to be treated like as anybody else. so, he probably meant he expected to be treated like anybody else. he is obviously not complaining about the cost itself. his problem is the idea of being (inexplicably) charged because he is not Thai. we shouldn't assume as well that the guy has millions in savings and that 1,200 baht is spare change to him. hospitals are not like restaurants where you can look at menus and judge what to have based on the price.

[Anthony5]

13 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

Mr.Dutchman you have stayed here for 10 years but have you ever paid income tax here ? Because this is where the money comes from to pay for your treatment or do you think the treatment cost what you were charged ? Yes I know the old farang excuses of paying so much VAT and spending so much money here supporting their wives/gf. How much will I pay as a non-Dutch citizen if I go for treatment in the Netherlands ? Will it be less than €40? What will the Dutch peoples reaction be if I complain about this cost? Then my last question is why do you not return to your hkme country to get treatment if you feel you are getting ripped off here ?

 

In those 10 years he probably never paid income tax...........because he didn't have an income.

 

But he definitely has paid a lot of taxes, most probable more than the average Thai will pay in the whole of lifetime, as well as visa and other fees required to stay in this country.

[chrisinth]

The way I'm reading this is that he is complaining about the 300 baht charge for each visit. What is unclear with the OP is whether the charge of 858 baht is just a one-off or if it happens alongside the 300 baht for each visit.

 

If it happens every visit, then he may well have a case. Prostate cancer is not cured within a couple of days.......................

[Ulic]

Ridiculous, cheap as chips. Probably wants the Thai 30 baht charge. Head back to the

Netherlands and get treatment there.  

[DLang]

Lucky he isn't on Koh Chang and going to the medical clinic there. Is it 3000 baht cash before you get seen?

[alfalfa19]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

If he were American, he'd be marveling at how cheap his treatment was in Hua Hin.  We're accustomed to seeing line after line of obscure charges that only a forensic accountant can decipher.

Indeed.   I spent a day in the hospital in San Diego w/o medical  insurance with no operations or medications, just some tests.   When I was discharged, I was presented with a bill for 25,000 dollars.  When I protested, they reduced it to 17,000, and called it "charity".   I just finished paying it off.  They can take your savings, your home, attach your paycheck.   That is a first class fleecing, in my opinion.  The American medical industry is the biggest scam in the history of the world.  And they are merciless.  Since my experience, I've done some research, and discovered many people who lost their homes and their life savings to these heartless bastards. 

[nontabury]

39 minutes ago, useronthenet said:

Foreigners still don't get it   .....

 

Doesn't matter if you have been here 10 years or 1 day,  you will always get treated the same, as a foreigner you have big money compared to Thais, hence the farang price. This goes right across the board.

 

As for the media attention for naming the hospital ... I don't they will be too pleased if they read this forum. Defamation charges come to mind, aswell as the computer crime act.

 

 

 

 

What you should have said " many Thais Think that All foreigners have big money compared to Thais" this would be true for the vast majority of Thais,though it has to be pointed out that approximately 10% of Thais are very well off, with many of this group being exceedingly rich.

 

[nontabury]

39 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This guy is out of his mind. Why should be be treated like a Thai person? He has to expect if he goes to a hospital here, he is going to pay more than a Thai person, who is at least partially covered by the national health care system. The hospitals here cost a fraction of what they do in the US, and probably in Europe. What is his problem?

 

Probably because he knows that if Holland is the same as the U.K. And the roles were reversed the foreigner, would have paid nothing,certainly after 10yrs residency.

[Yann55]

37 minutes ago, zoza said:

am I missing something? ok no explanation for the 858 or that but his bin was 1200+

after ten years I call that a result their charging 2500 + 1000 fee to get an income letter

from the British embassy......900 baht for a bit of lamb.....  

OK, if no one says it then I will.

You are missing the fact that he's Dutch.

I hate to generalize, I hate clichés, but Dutch people's reputation about money is not a legend, it's a fact. I don't know why (although I do have a few ideas about it) but the majority are stingy, tightfisted, kiniao, call it what you may. Other than that, very nice people for sure.

[captspectre]

2 hours ago, shirtless said:

This is why Thailand is doomed we all know they rip us off , Thais are good at shooting themselves in the foot.

always check EVERY charge on your statement, and if they do not provide a good response, talk to the head man! and your Thai wife should know that! and don't pay until you get a satisfactory answer. I speak from experience.

[worgeordie]

Seems cheap treatment for Cancer to me,what does he expect

free treatment.he will have to be looking for another hospital

now.

regards worgeordie

[Kerryd]

That bill is from May of last year (15 months ago).

 

The BS over the  858 x 1 baht is obviously an "entry error" that should have read "Administration Fee - 1 x 858 baht".

 

He thinks because he has been married to a Thai woman for 10 years that he is no longer a "foreigner" and therefore shouldn't have to pay the "foreigner" rate. No problem, just show the hospital your PR card (or Thai passport) and everything should be fine.

What's that ? You don't have either of those ? Because you are a Dutch citizen and living here on (presumably) a Non-O(A) visa with Marriage Extension ? Meaning you are still a foreigner !?!!?! OMG !! The horror, the HORROR !!

 

 

[Time Traveller]

1 hour ago, chrissables said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

Your lack of knowledge is laughable. There is no "free" health care. Just percieved free health care.

 

From your first day of work, a percentage of your wage is taken to cover these costs. You have no say at all about this. In addition the employee pays an even larger percentage of your salary towards your health care.

 

Today in UK, that comes to 28.8% of income. Free it is not.

Are you saying only Uk workers get healthcare and others don't? 

your immense "knowledge" is laughable also

[PremiumLane]

14 minutes ago, nontabury said:

 

Probably because he knows that if Holland is the same as the U.K. And the roles were reversed the foreigner, would have paid nothing,certainly after 10yrs residency.

 

What a load of rubbish, the foreigner would have paid after 10 years, like everyone else through tax contributions.

[lemonjelly]

I think he's doing it out of principle. Erwin's a nice guy, met him many many moons ago, total machine on a bicycle. If he went back to NL, it'd cost him a fortune in treatment costs, there is no "free healthcare" in NL, everyone has to have a paid health insurance by law, it's down to each person/family to make those monthly payments, ain't cheap. Anyway, Erwin, get well soon old chap.

[gk10002000]

The article doesn't unambiguously state how many 300 per visit for foreigners fee he was charged.  Was he charged 300 baht every time some foreigner visited him?  Was he charged 300 baht every time he, the foreigner visited the hospital?  That could be a lot of visits and fees over two years.  But wouldn't you get a bill each visit and check on things then?   

[mercman24]

i  had to go to Sukhumvit hospital recently .(had a scab that wouldnt heal) just walk in, saw a skin cancer specialist, straight away, could have had a biopsy (3000 baht) doc decide to try cream first, it seems to do the job, go back in 2 months,(her fee 600 baht. £12) crazy cheap price, when a uk specialist it would have been huge,( when i saw a doc about a knee op in the UK with BUPA his fee was £90 for 15 minutes.) just had word from my mate in UK, his shoulder op, (after waiting 6 months) has been put back for the second time now.no i cant fault this hospital one bit, and it is new as well.the bill is easy to read, all costs broken down. brilliant service.

[nontabury]

5 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

 

What a load of rubbish, the foreigner would have paid after 10 years, like everyone else through tax contributions.

 

You are assuming the foreigner in Holland/UK would have paid tax. While incorrectly  

thinking that the Dutchman has not paid any tax here in Thailand.

 

[robblok]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Why he doesn't get treated in his home country where presumably it's for free

and no one will reap him off? I know I would not risk my health being treated

here by fake doctors and charlatans,

 

And why he can't understand the charges on the bill? how hard it can be? again,

if it was me, I don't pay until someone explain to me what am I paying for,

Gee, you can't be a pussy and let "doctors"  walk all over you, and with all due

respect to the doctors, I have my rights as well......

 

No it would not be free for him.. he left Netherlands so he is no longer entitled to care. Kinda like the Brits that leave the UK are not entitled for care even though they will say they are. (Read loads of discussions here about it)

 

Question should be why no health insurance. 

 

Anyway if he has lived here so long he should have known the score.. its more expensive for a foreigner to get treated here.. its not fair .. but its how it is.

[kennw]

Bangkok hospitals also add an additional charge B300, when asked "its for service" but they cannot tell you what "service" this is. 

[hobobo]

1 hour ago, Agent Sumo said:

 

I've been hearing people say that for a decade. It was bullshit then as it is now

 

 

I use Samitivej in Bangkok. Never been ripped off. Thais pay exactly the same as farangs

I agree. My Thai gf uses the same hospital as I do and we both pay cash for outpatient appointments. Her bills are in Thai, mine in English. We compare them and apparently I don't pay any more than she does...

[impulse]

1 minute ago, kennw said:

Bangkok hospitals also add an additional charge B300, when asked "its for service" but they cannot tell you what "service" this is. 

 

Mine does.  It's for weighing you, taking your blood pressure and your temperature.  

 

I suspect it also helps defray the cost of those comfy chairs and the A/C and elevators, too.

[spidermike007]

47 minutes ago, irwinfc said:

 

he didn't ask to be treated like a Thai person. he said he expected to be treated like as anybody else. so, he probably meant he expected to be treated like anybody else. he is obviously not complaining about the cost itself. his problem is the idea of being (inexplicably) charged because he is not Thai. we shouldn't assume as well that the guy has millions in savings and that 1,200 baht is spare change to him. hospitals are not like restaurants where you can look at menus and judge what to have based on the price.

 

He is completely missing the point. The Thai people are covered by a national plan, that reduces their hospital costs substantially, and I applaud them for this. It does not cover us, nor should it. You can make an argument that if you make the effort to become a permanent resident, or citizen, then it should and it might. Not sure. But, the costs he is referring to are very reasonable by international standards. I just do not care whether or not he is rich or poor. That is completely besides the point.

 

The last time I used an emergency room in the US without insurance, it cost me $1850. For a 45 minute visit. And that was 18 years ago! That is about 65,000 baht. This guy needs to get a life. 

[TKDfella]

2 hours ago, chrissables said:

Only the Europeans.  Free health care apparently spoils you.

 

Your lack of knowledge is laughable. There is no "free" health care. Just percieved free health care.

 

From your first day of work, a percentage of your wage is taken to cover these costs. You have no say at all about this. In addition the employee pays an even larger percentage of your salary towards your health care.

 

Today in UK, that comes to 28.8% of income. Free it is not.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but hasn't the UK recently got a new health law saying that if one lives abroad for more than 5 years as an expat (can't be sure of that figure) there is no free health when going back to UK?

[PremiumLane]

8 minutes ago, nontabury said:

 

You are assuming the foreigner in Holland/UK would have paid tax. While incorrectly  

thinking that the Dutchman has not paid any tax here in Thailand.

 

 

Well after 10 years of residency the foreigner would have been paying taxes... and there is a ton of evidence that shows foreigners in the UK put more into the economy than take out. 

 

I didn't think the Dutch guy had not paid taxes here, don't know where you got that from? I was pointing out the stupidity of the statement about foreigners not paying into the UK system. 

[JimHuaHin]

Dear Mr Scrooge,

 

I have been using Hua Hin Hospital for several years, and I have no complaints at all about the quality of health care I have received nor the cost of the medical services I have been required to undertake.  Yes, I generally use the "express service", which Thai nationals and foreigners can use at a cost of Baht 200.  And yes, I am charged a few hundred Baht extra for "Nursing Services"; which I do not mind paying as it helps the hospital provide services to others who do not have my financial security.

 

Mr Scrooge, if you do not like Hua Hin Hospital, then please feel free to try one of the private hospitals in Hua Hin, or elsewhere.  I undestand the Netherlands has an excellent public health care system.

[Oxx]

"He has questioned why he should pay a charge of 300 per visit for foreigners".

 

That to me sounds like the standard charge that everybody pays per visit (not just foreigners).  It covers the hospital's costs (doctor's fees going to the doctor, not the hospital).

 

He sounds like yet another of the paranoid farang living here who assume that everybody is trying to rip them off, and he sounds ridiculous.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Anthony5 said:

 

In those 10 years he probably never paid income tax...........because he didn't have an income.

 

But he definitely has paid a lot of taxes, most probable more than the average Thai will pay in the whole of lifetime, as well as visa and other fees required to stay in this country.

 

You spent decades of your peak earning years back home paying more into a system than you take out because you were young and healthy and working. 

 

Then when you retire, you drag your old, worn out body to Thailand and pay a few baht in VAT.  Maybe a lot of baht.  But not for decades and decades.

You don’t even pay taxes on your pension here in Thailand.  

 

Yet, you expect to be covered somehow because you’re “paying taxes”?

 

(BTW, not aimed at you specifically- just the sense of entitlement of many who come here to live on the cheap, virtually tax free.  Then expect the same benefits they paid so dearly for back home)

 

Edited September 13, 2016 by impulse