Hospital charges on retirement visa

[lopburi3]

47 minutes ago, Si Thea01 said:

I've got insurance but a private hospital will charge well and truly above what the insurer reimburses.  B150k plus.  had three 3 operations in a large government teaching hospital, the cost, with a private room and good food, around B70K all up.  Will never go to a private hospital again, especially when you can get better treatment and operated on by the head of the department.  

Perhaps in your eye - not in mine.  Private hospital always allows choice of doctor and treatment in a good facility will be good.  A teaching hospital will have most actual hands on done by less experienced student doctors under supervision of head of the department and facilities may be less than ideal.  If you have good insurance it will reimburse for good care - but agree many people do not have and it can be difficult to obtain when in older age brackets so use of paid government facilities is a great help to many or us. 

[louse1953]

9 hours ago, KMartinHandyman said:

I'm not sure as of today but in early 2016 I went to a government hospital in Issan for a mc license check up (b100) and they issued me a hospital system card.

That card gives you nothing.Just a number to find you with next time.

[lopburi3]

Just now, louse1953 said:

That card gives you nothing.Just a number to find you with next time.

But registration is often the hardest part of a government hospital visit so if he needs to go there again he may be able to do it with less help if not fluent in Thai.  

[louse1953]

13 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

But registration is often the hardest part of a government hospital visit so if he needs to go there again he may be able to do it with less help if not fluent in Thai.  

Don't know how hard it can be.First time just handed over my passport and they gave me a laminated card a couple of minutes later.Hey presto i'm a number in the system.Problem is they can never get my name right over the PA when they call me.They send other patients over to get my head out my book. By my name they know who i am and where i am sitting.

[4MyEgo]

4 hours ago, possum1931 said:

Very true, but what about something really serious, heart attack etc?

 

I would assume if someone was having a heart attack that would be treated as a medical emergency and the hospital would have to act upon it straight away ?

[lopburi3]

1 minute ago, louse1953 said:

Don't know how hard it can be.First time just handed over my passport and they gave me a laminated card a couple of minutes later.Hey presto i'm a number in the system.Problem is they can never get my name right over the PA when they call me.They send other patients over to get my head out my book. By my name they know who i am and where i am sitting.

Most places want a lot more information than what is in your passport.  But as with most things are never twice the same.

[4MyEgo]

7 hours ago, glegolo said:

I do not know generally about that program. But I can tell you what happened in my case. background was, operation in BKK hospital in Khorat, a stent-operation, good job, no complaints.

 

Did go for check up 2 weeks later at general hospital in Chaiyaphum which was approved by the doctor at BKK hospital saying Chaiyaphum had a "good" heart doctor.

 

Came there, waited while my wife registrered me, took a while, much people, waited something like 30 minutes. We were then shown 4th floor, where the heart doctor had his reception. He and 3 nurses were working very good, and after a 3 minutes wait, they started to process me...

 

Doctor assured me that I from now on can do all check ups, and no need to go back to BKK hospital more. Tests were done and all good. Doctor issued recepies for 7 medicines which we bought on the hospital.

 

Prices for medicin were REALLY cheap and just as an exemple... Plavix that the pharmacy originaly offered be with 90 baht a pill, went down to 46 baht a pill. The general Hospital charged me the astonishing cheap price of 15.68 baht/pill...  And the rest of the 6 different medicines were REALLY REALLY much much cheaper.....

 

I did pay for the medicines, but didn´t pay for the doctor. I do not know why, or if this was a mistake of som kind. But this was done for 3 weeks ago..... And all good....

 

Glegolo

 

 

Glad to hear your still with us, assuming you had a clot which was swiftly taken care of, and that feeling of some chick digging in her stiletto into your chest has gone for good, as was the feeling of not being able to breath, assuming you had the same symptoms as me.

 

Can one enquire as to the cost of the procedure for the stent and if BKK hospital is a government hospital.

 

I don't have insurance as I have a pre-existing condition, same as you, (2008), suffice to say I self insure because I don't believe the health insurance sector is just, and cannot see why I should fork out say 70,000 baht for health insurance if they don't wish to cover my pre-existing condition, I know I am at risk, but its a numbers game to me, so I take on the risk, and at 56 and feeling healthy with regular sexersize, and healthy eating, it should pan out to be a break even event, not to mention health insurers only insuring up to a certain age and keep increasing the policy amount as you get older, to one day cancel you and leave you for dead, while they have taken your $ all the way to that age of no more insurance for you chump.

 

7 medicines seems like a lot, but I'm no doctor, I only take 3 , 1 Cartier aspirin per day, which is coated, as aspirin can be hard on the stomach over time, 1 Lipitor tablet for cholesterol, although they provide me with generic brands, and 1 other tablet for hypertension, although every time I go for a test, everything is normal, and I don't believe its from the tablets, but they say I have to have them just in case, ok, lollies for the rest of my life then.

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2016 by 4MyEgo

[4MyEgo]

3 hours ago, nongsangcity said:

 

The 30 baht scheme is alive and kicking in Sakon Nakhon.....i dont work and neither do my friends...i am on my 5th year on the 30 baht scheme....one of my friend had a fall and broke his ankle badly he had 3 operations had pins in his leg and ankle......when leaving the hospital he received a bill for 60000 baht...he showed his 30 baht card and his bill was reduced to 30 baht.....i have hospital check ups and tablets every 2 months for a on going problem...and my bill is always 30 baht........for the scheme you must have the yellow house book...a yearly full medical..x ray..blood test etc etc....and a payment of 2700 baht per year...

 

I think you must have gotten it before they stopped it for anymore farangs, but as you had it prior to when it was stopped for anymore farangs, that is why you can renew it ?

[Si Thea01]

29 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Perhaps in your eye - not in mine.  Private hospital always allows choice of doctor and treatment in a good facility will be good.  A teaching hospital will have most actual hands on done by less experienced student doctors under supervision of head of the department and facilities may be less than ideal.  If you have good insurance it will reimburse for good care - but agree many people do not have and it can be difficult to obtain when in older age brackets so use of paid government facilities is a great help to many or us. 

 

And how do you know what this hospital offers, you have no idea because I have not identified it so away you go and generalise after assuming what occurs. The doctor who operated on me was the head of the department, a professor, who gained her qualifications in both Germany nd America and travels overseas regularly to gain further experience.  She teachers those who go out into the field after their internship so I'd say she was a pretty good choice and it is not the students doctors involved as you state.  Each person involved was fully qualified, the doctor, the anaesthetist, who is also a specialist and the nursing staff. Maybe interns get involved in minor surgery but when it's major, the head specialist takes over.

 

The facilities there are as good as anywhere else, but it is the person that one has to rely on for their experience and expertise in using those facilities.  So unless you know the hospital that I am referring please stop with the assumptions as you really do not have any idea of what is provided there.  I've already stated that I have insurance but like all policies, they have limits on what they pay out but with private hospitals I have yet to find one that stays within the confines of what the insurers reimburse.  And sure, if people cannot afford insurance or cannot obtain cover owing to their age or pre-existing conditions, then the best avenue is to head of to one of these government institutions where they will still get the best treatment available.

 

Even if I didn't have insurance I have the funds to meet any emergency so I do not fall into the poorer person category and the reasons I will continue to use the service of this particular University Hospital is because of the care, compassion, service and facilities that they offer.  Just because it is a government complex it does not mean they can't provide as good a service, if not better than your highly praised  private hospitals.  And given it is a teaching hospital it has all the facilities that one may need as they get older without having go outside the confines of this particular organisation.

[glegolo]

6 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Glad to hear your still with us, assuming you had a clot which was swiftly taken care of, and that feeling of some chick digging in her stiletto into your chest has gone for good, as was the feeling of not being able to breath, assuming you had the same symptoms as me.

 

Can one enquire as to the cost of the procedure for the stent and if BKK hospital is a government hospital.

 

I don't have insurance as I have a pre-existing condition, same as you, (2008), suffice to say I self insure because I don't believe the health insurance sector is just, and cannot see why I should fork out say 70,000 baht for health insurance if they don't wish to cover my pre-existing condition, I know I am at risk, but its a numbers game to me, so I take on the risk, and at 56 and feeling healthy with regular sexersize, and healthy eating, it should pan out to be a break even event, not to mention health insurers only insuring up to a certain age and keep increasing the policy amount as you get older, to one day cancel you and leave you for dead, while they have taken your $ all the way to that age of no more insurance for you chump.

 

7 medicines seems like a lot, but I'm no doctor, I only take 3 , 1 Cartier aspirin per day, which is coated, as aspirin can be hard on the stomach over time, 1 Lipitor tablet for cholesterol, although they provide me with generic brands, and 1 other tablet for hypertension, although every time I go for a test, everything is normal, and I don't believe its from the tablets, but they say I have to have them just in case, ok, lollies for the rest of my life then.

 

 

 

Yes first of all BKK Hospital is a privat hospital in Thailand, situated all over Thailand. Mine was in Khorat. The cost for open up this narrow bloodvessel inb my heart ( I have totally 2 of these bastards). They took care of one of them, the one in worst condition I hope, and the cost was;

a) they go in via my groin sniff around with a cord or hose of somekind and check up exactly where the problem is. That thing costed 60.000 baht.

b - and when they bwere in they took care of business and fixed 1 bloodvessel and put in a stent for me....  cost for that was expensive i might say, inb my case 198.000 baht, but could in case of more difficulties go up to 248.000 baht.

 

They were hoiwever VERY open with costs, and they had a great translator (a girl) who was with me all the time, so I was never in the dark......

 

My medicines, they were not seven they were in fact totally for my whole condion 8 medicines whereof; 5 is for the bloodvessel-thing;, 

hypertension 2 different,  Diabetes Metformin, Aspiroin, Plavyx, Atovastatin, Omoprazole, Wharfarin,

 

Glegolo

[akentryan]

19 hours ago, Eff1n2ret said:

If you're getting old, it's "when", not "if", trust me.

 

I don't know government hospital charges, but non-surgical intensive care in a good private hospital runs at ~15,000Baht per night. If you don't have or are unable to arrange insurance I hope you have made a substantial financial provision for when you do fall ill, even if you seek treatment in a government hospital.

Actual experience last year in Pattaya. ICU non-surgery ran 45,000 per night with all the BS tests they repeated every day.

[soalbundy]

4 minutes ago, akentryan said:

Actual experience last year in Pattaya. ICU non-surgery ran 45,000 per night with all the BS tests they repeated every day.

I wonder what happens if you cant pay and you have had the treatment

[SaintLouisBlues]

25 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

I wonder what happens if you cant pay and you have had the treatment

I understood most hospitals demand a credit card up front

[soalbundy]

11 minutes ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

I understood most hospitals demand a credit card up front

Never had that happen. The private hospital that i use (the patients appear to be 95% Thai) is very friendly and competent,old building but nice staff. When my missus  caught TB she first went to the village clinic who gave her injections every two days, after three months and no improvement we went to the private hospital in Surin. The doctor examined her blood then rang up the doctor at the clinic to ask what he was injecting her with,afterwards he said we can do better than that we have some new medicine from the West, it is very expensive but after three months you are cured. We are covered by insurance but as we have to pay up front this was a problem, the doc said he would manage it, he rang up the insurance company and arranged that he would have the medicine sent to the village clinic so she could have her injections there and the insurance would cover the cost directly with the doc in Surin, no up front charges, worked a treat.

[SaintLouisBlues]

6 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Never had that happen. The private hospital that i use (the patients appear to be 95% Thai) is very friendly and competent,old building but nice staff. When my missus  caught TB she first went to the village clinic who gave her injections every two days, after three months and no improvement we went to the private hospital in Surin. The doctor examined her blood then rang up the doctor at the clinic to ask what he was injecting her with,afterwards he said we can do better than that we have some new medicine from the West, it is very expensive but after three months you are cured. We are covered by insurance but as we have to pay up front this was a problem, the doc said he would manage it, he rang up the insurance company and arranged that he would have the medicine sent to the village clinic so she could have her injections there and the insurance would cover the cost directly with the doc in Surin, no up front charges, worked a treat.

I should have said "A credit card or evidence of an insurance policy"

[lopburi3]

9 hours ago, Si Thea01 said:

 

And how do you know what this hospital offers, you have no idea because I have not identified it so away you go and generalise after assuming what occurs. The doctor who operated on me was the head of the department, a professor, who gained her qualifications in both Germany nd America and travels overseas regularly to gain further experience.  She teachers those who go out into the field after their internship so I'd say she was a pretty good choice and it is not the students doctors involved as you state.  Each person involved was fully qualified, the doctor, the anaesthetist, who is also a specialist and the nursing staff. Maybe interns get involved in minor surgery but when it's major, the head specialist takes over.

 

The facilities there are as good as anywhere else, but it is the person that one has to rely on for their experience and expertise in using those facilities.  So unless you know the hospital that I am referring please stop with the assumptions as you really do not have any idea of what is provided there.  I've already stated that I have insurance but like all policies, they have limits on what they pay out but with private hospitals I have yet to find one that stays within the confines of what the insurers reimburse.  And sure, if people cannot afford insurance or cannot obtain cover owing to their age or pre-existing conditions, then the best avenue is to head of to one of these government institutions where they will still get the best treatment available.

 

Even if I didn't have insurance I have the funds to meet any emergency so I do not fall into the poorer person category and the reasons I will continue to use the service of this particular University Hospital is because of the care, compassion, service and facilities that they offer.  Just because it is a government complex it does not mean they can't provide as good a service, if not better than your highly praised  private hospitals.  And given it is a teaching hospital it has all the facilities that one may need as they get older without having go outside the confines of this particular organisation.

Actually was not addressing your recent experience which seems to have been good but trying to let readers know that there can be a great deal of difference and being a teaching hospital does not mean all will be well.  Nor was I singing praise on any special private hospital (experience can be good or bad anywhere and to a large extent that is the specific doctor - and some of the best work in government hospitals).  I and Thai wife have both had experience in government hospitals and have made the choice to avoid if able in the future.  But when cost is a factor they become much more attractive.  FYI two SIL were senior nurses in major government hospitals so have a bit of background data.  

 

As for insurance mine is unlimited so cost not a factor and I recently tried to use a government hospital due to recommendation of the doctor/team - it did not work out as operation was canceled as I lie on the OR table due to shortage of required ICU room and next chance would have involved another 3 month wait with stage 2 cancer.  I consider my initial wait (and other doctors confirm) a mistake and would not do again.  Unfortunately long waits can be a major disadvantage of the government hospital system. 

[worrab]

12 hours ago, soalbundy said:

I paid the same but at a private hospital in Surin, i don't know what a stoma hernia is, mine was in the groin.

I had a stoma bag for 10 months after 2 major life saving ops in Chiang Mai then the bag removed in UK. It is normal, unfortunately, to get a hernia where the bag was situated. I won't go into details!  555

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, glegolo said:

Yes first of all BKK Hospital is a privat hospital in Thailand, situated all over Thailand. Mine was in Khorat. The cost for open up this narrow bloodvessel inb my heart ( I have totally 2 of these bastards). They took care of one of them, the one in worst condition I hope, and the cost was;

a) they go in via my groin sniff around with a cord or hose of somekind and check up exactly where the problem is. That thing costed 60.000 baht.

b - and when they bwere in they took care of business and fixed 1 bloodvessel and put in a stent for me....  cost for that was expensive i might say, inb my case 198.000 baht, but could in case of more difficulties go up to 248.000 baht.

 

They were hoiwever VERY open with costs, and they had a great translator (a girl) who was with me all the time, so I was never in the dark......

 

My medicines, they were not seven they were in fact totally for my whole condion 8 medicines whereof; 5 is for the bloodvessel-thing;, 

hypertension 2 different,  Diabetes Metformin, Aspiroin, Plavyx, Atovastatin, Omoprazole, Wharfarin,

 

Glegolo

 

I suspect this was some years ago. Costs have gone up substantially in private hospitals in Thailand in the last few years, so be very wary of taking past costs as an indication for current ones. In some places the increase is more than two fold.

 

Some other points (related to other posts):

Registration at a government hospital can indeed be very difficult and time consuming (I have known it to take a full day and possible only with a Thai speaker), but it can also be a snap, depends entirely on how large and crowded the hospital is. It definitely saves time for future visits so well worth doing, just needs to be understood that it does not confer any financial entitlements.

 

I have never known it to be necessary to have a yellow book to get a hospital registration card, Thais need to show a tabian baan to prove they "belong" to that hospital under the 30 baht scheme but this is irrelevant for anyone who is full pay.  It is quite possible to register with only a tourist visa and no proof of address, I have done it and helped many others do it, at multiple hospitals in many parts of the country. That said, it is of course possible to run into a staff member who doesn't know what they are doing and asks for it because they have only ever registered Thais, If so I would suggest being very firm (but polite), explaining you  will be paying full price in cash and thus do not need proof of address. If you can induce them to ask a more senior person, it will get resolved. With Thais they do need to see proof of place of residence, in order to determine billing status, with foreigners they do not. They need only proof of identity i.e. passport.

 

Anyone cared for in a government hospital with all care provided directly by a senior doctor, likely went in through a private channel such as after hours clinic, rather than the public channel. (and a good reason to use the after hours clinic),  Either that, or the supervising doctor for some reason chose to do it that way, a most unusual event. People coming through the public channel are normally seen and treated by students in training - these may be medical students, or interns/residents who already have a basic medical degree but are pursuing specialization. They will often be required to present their findings and planned treatment to a more senior doctor at some point (though this too may be a resident rather than attending/consultant) for review and approval, so it is not like there is no double-check in place. The degree of oversight on students, interns and residents in my experience varies greatly and is related to caseload among other things. When it comes to things like surgery, how much is delegated to the students/interns/residents depends also very much on the individual supervising surgeon.

 

The 30 baht scheme for resident expats was stopped and those already issued a card where in almost all places either immediately cancelled or allowed to last out the year and then not renewed. Apparently there is one province where they have continued to renew it. It will stop sooner or later, sooner if attention is drawn to it.

[4MyEgo]

14 hours ago, nongsangcity said:

 

The 30 baht scheme is alive and kicking in Sakon Nakhon.....i dont work and neither do my friends...i am on my 5th year on the 30 baht scheme....one of my friend had a fall and broke his ankle badly he had 3 operations had pins in his leg and ankle......when leaving the hospital he received a bill for 60000 baht...he showed his 30 baht card and his bill was reduced to 30 baht.....i have hospital check ups and tablets every 2 months for a on going problem...and my bill is always 30 baht........for the scheme you must have the yellow house book...a yearly full medical..x ray..blood test etc etc....and a payment of 2700 baht per year...

 

Just spoke to my wife in detail about your version of the 30 baht scheme still being in existence in Sakon Nakhon i.e. alive and kicking, with her reply to me being, honey if it was up and running, "trust me" you would be on it, and I do, as this girl can extract blood out of a stone, bucket loads....555

 

She says irregardless of they Tabian Ban (yellow book), farrangs are not entitled to the 30 baht scheme unless they are Thai citizens, and have a 13 digit serial number, suffice to say she believes that you have a health insurance policy with the hospital in Sakon Nakhon, hence the reason you pay 2,700 baht per year, and this is why Thai's do not pay the 2,700 baht per year, that or as Sheryl has posted above, haven't woken up to the fact, if that's the case, wouldn't be flaunting it from here on as they may wake up to it sooner or later.

 

As for your friend not paying 60,000 baht for his operation, we need to clarify something, i.e. is he a Thai citizen or did he pay a similar amount to the hospital for health insurance, and was also provided his health insurance card, (as you were according to my wife's interpretation), to the hospital to get his bill reduced to, as you say to 30 baht ?

 

I would appreciate clarification of this just to correct the record if in fact it is incorrect, further to this I haven't seen anyone else on this post stating that they have such cover under the Thai 30 baht scheme.

 

If your not wanting to post your reply here, PM is fine.

Edited November 27, 2016 by 4MyEgo

[Si Thea01]

13 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Actually was not addressing your recent experience which seems to have been good but trying to let readers know that there can be a great deal of difference and being a teaching hospital does not mean all will be well.  Nor was I singing praise on any special private hospital (experience can be good or bad anywhere and to a large extent that is the specific doctor - and some of the best work in government hospitals).  I and Thai wife have both had experience in government hospitals and have made the choice to avoid if able in the future.  But when cost is a factor they become much more attractive.  FYI two SIL were senior nurses in major government hospitals so have a bit of background data.  

 

As for insurance mine is unlimited so cost not a factor and I recently tried to use a government hospital due to recommendation of the doctor/team - it did not work out as operation was canceled as I lie on the OR table due to shortage of required ICU room and next chance would have involved another 3 month wait with stage 2 cancer.  I consider my initial wait (and other doctors confirm) a mistake and would not do again.  Unfortunately long waits can be a major disadvantage of the government hospital system. 

 

Sorry to see you have had some bad experiences in a government establishment but as I said, that has not my been my experience.  However, I will tell you of my experience in a so called highly rated international private hospital, no names, no pack drill but it is an going saga now in the courts.

 

Went in just under three years ago for nasal polyp removals, the doctor, an ENT specialist, removed them alright but in the process damaged the intraocular  muscles in one eye, so badly, that they actually retreated back behind the eye and could not be retrieved. The latter was not discovered until just over a month after the event.

 

In there for 4 days, discharged and within one day, after falling foul of post op complications, I was rushed to the emergency section of a large regional government hospital, however, after three days, and being unable to establish the full extent of my medical condition, I was rushed to the University hospital that I previously mentioned.

 

I was admitted within an hour an remained there for two weeks, no wait, a private room, the full service.  At the time of my initial discharge I looked as it I had gone 20 rounds with Mohammed Ali, I could not open my eyes at first but then only one and my head was swollen to the size of a soccer ball and it was black and blue all over and there was bleeding in one eye.

 

After many, many tests, it was established that I had double vision, the damaged eye was 65 degrees off centre and although being able to see out of it, it was only to the right so the good eye compensated for this and actually took over and the other eye became non-functional. After one month and an MRI, which discovered the extent of the damage, it was arranged that I wait 6 months, just in case the eye rectified itself, but when this did not occur, what followed was three separate operations in an attempt tp restore my sight to normal

 

Unfortunately, this did not occur and now almost 3 years down the track, I have to wear an eye patch to be able to get around safely, my quality of life has been seriously curtailed, as has my driving, and I remain at home, like a bloody hermit, because of this monumental stuff up.  The doctor who performed the initial operation was advised, however, did little to help but when I later spoke with him he said he would request the hospital pay me compensation and despite both of us speaking with the board they tried to squib and not do anything, hoping the time of 12 months would expire so as to prevent me claiming through the courts.

 

I got in one week before this happened and now they are playing silly buggers, offering crap amounts, then withdrawing, then coming back with lower offers, knowing that I will not accept.  I have a very strong case and believe I will be successful, however, whatever the court awards, they can appeal, and it the appeal is dismissed, then they can appeal this to the Supreme Court.  Could take anything up to ten years and maybe I will have fallen of the perch by then, at least that's what I think they are hoping.

 

And the best part of it is, when I obtained copies of the original hospital's records, I discovered that they had known about there being possible eye muscle damage after one day, when the eye specialist examined me, and yet never disclosed this to me.

 

So, so much for private hospitals or at least this particular one, one monumental case of medical negligence, clearly an attempt to cover up the doctor' actions,  which tells me that they do not care one iota, all it is with them is a money making scheme where they charge like wounded bulls and really have little, if any, compassion and want to get out of paying any type of reasonable compensation.

[4MyEgo]

4 hours ago, glegolo said:

Yes first of all BKK Hospital is a privat hospital in Thailand, situated all over Thailand. Mine was in Khorat. The cost for open up this narrow bloodvessel inb my heart ( I have totally 2 of these bastards). They took care of one of them, the one in worst condition I hope, and the cost was;

a) they go in via my groin sniff around with a cord or hose of somekind and check up exactly where the problem is. That thing costed 60.000 baht.

b - and when they bwere in they took care of business and fixed 1 bloodvessel and put in a stent for me....  cost for that was expensive i might say, inb my case 198.000 baht, but could in case of more difficulties go up to 248.000 baht.

 

They were hoiwever VERY open with costs, and they had a great translator (a girl) who was with me all the time, so I was never in the dark......

 

My medicines, they were not seven they were in fact totally for my whole condion 8 medicines whereof; 5 is for the bloodvessel-thing;, 

hypertension 2 different,  Diabetes Metformin, Aspiroin, Plavyx, Atovastatin, Omoprazole, Wharfarin,

 

Glegolo

 

Same process for me, wire up through the groan, stent inserted when blockage found, 2 days in ICU or a room in front of the nurses desk, then transferred to a shared room with 3 others for 2 days, this was back in 2008 in Sydney, Australia, no health insurance, public hospital, Cardiologist and team who were on stand by/roster and called in as it was after midnight.

 

Cardiologist well known and has his office is in the adjoining private hospital, fortunately for me the 2% levy surcharge which is taken from my taxes annually paid for all of my hospital, specialist costs under the Medicare health system, however now as a non resident residing in Sakon Nakhon Thailand, zero cover from Australia i.e. Medicare is supposed to be cancelled after 6 months absence from Australia, although I have heard of others still claiming years after leaving and then returning for treatment, but time will tell, zero taxes means zero health cover from Australia, here health insures won't cover my per-existing condition so I self cover and hope that the numbers game pays off, and if I ever calm down, I might just pay the fukrs and accept the fact, but I don't calm down easily, as the principal thing will more than likely take me to my grave, no doubt 555. 

Edited November 27, 2016 by 4MyEgo

[glegolo]

48 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

I suspect this was some years ago. Costs have gone up substantially in private hospitals in Thailand in the last few years, so be very wary of taking past costs as an indication for current ones. In some places the increase is more than two fold.

 

Sheryl, sorry to say, but my operation was made on saturday 29 october 2016, so the prices I mentioned is fresh and up to date.

 

Glegolo

[glegolo]

10 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Same process for me, wire up through the groan, stent inserted when blockage found, 2 days in ICU or a room in front of the nurses desk, then transferred to a shared room with 3 others for 2 days, this was back in 2008 in Sydney, Australia, no health insurance, public hospital, Cardiologist and team who were on stand by/roster were called in, Cardiologist well known and has his own suite in the adjoining private hospital, fortunately 2% levy surcharge taken from taxes annually paid for all of my hospital, specialist costs, however now as a non resident residing in Sakon Nakhon Thailand, zero cover from Australia i.e. Medicare cancelled after 6 months absence from Australia, although I have heard of others still claiming, but time will tell, zero taxes, zero health cover here as health insures won't cover per-existing conditions so I self cover and hope that the numbers game pays off, and if I ever calm down, might just pay the fukrs and accept the fact, but I don't calm down often as the principal thing will take me to my death no doubt 555. 

Just like to add to you about the aftercare. In Sweden, reg. a stent-operation,, you walk home after about 2 hours relaxing at the hospital.

 

For me 29th october 2016 at the BKK Hospital, operation took 40 minutes in total, I ended up in a nice room overnight, and the day after,,, I was released at lunchtime, and walked home happy,...

 

Glegolo

[4MyEgo]

7 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Sheryl, sorry to say, but my operation was made on saturday 29 october 2016, so the prices I mentioned is fresh and up to date.

 

Glegolo

 

The low cost Sheryl could be attributed to not being opened up (operation) as the stent is usually put into a wire via the main artery through the groan and pushed up into the blocked area in the heart, no need to be put under, usually an assistant working with the Cardiologist, all up it took about an hour for my procedure, therefore I am assuming that higher costs are associated with being opened up ?

 

Edited November 27, 2016 by 4MyEgo

[joskeshake]

I'm retired also and just went to Pattaya International Hospital,being registred for many years there, fee doktor 600 baht, nursing charge 100 baht, other professional fee 100 baht,these prices are reasonable, but the medicins are always very expensive, no matter what they give you.20 tablets and one small creme, 1290 baht.

[glegolo]

17 minutes ago, joskeshake said:

I'm retired also and just went to Pattaya International Hospital,being registred for many years there, fee doktor 600 baht, nursing charge 100 baht, other professional fee 100 baht,these prices are reasonable, but the medicins are always very expensive, no matter what they give you.20 tablets and one small creme, 1290 baht.

You should ALWAYS try to stay away from buying the medicin at the private hospitals. The order of expensive medicin in general, for me here in Chaiyaphum, starting with expensive down to dirt cheap, my list is;

1. private hospitals extremely expensive

2. clinics - somewhat expensive

3. pharmacies - somewhat cheap

4. public hospitals - really cheap..

 

So take the recepy or list from your doctor and do purchase elsewhere when you are in that rivate hospital. That is my recommendation at least.

 

Glegolo

[Si Thea01]

1 minute ago, glegolo said:

You should ALWAYS try to stay away from buying the medicin at the private hospitals. The order of expensive medicin in general, for me here in Chaiyaphum, starting with expensive down to dirt cheap, my list is;

1. private hospitals extremely expensive

2. clinics - somewhat expensive

3. pharmacies - somewhat cheap

4. public hospitals - really cheap..

 

So take the recepy or list from your doctor and do purchase elsewhere when you are in that rivate hospital. That is my recommendation at least.

 

Glegolo

 

 

Agreed there. I have a certain blood pressure tablet, private hospital cost for one month's supply, B2500, a local drug store, B1400, big difference.  I haven't tried to obtain it from a government hospital, will ask next time but I do know that what I require is restricted and not obtainable by most drugstores.  Took inquiries at around 15 stores before I found one that was willing and able to acquire the product for me. 

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

The low cost Sheryl could be attributed to not being opened up (operation) as the stent is usually put into a wire via the main artery through the groan and pushed up into the blocked area in the heart, no need to be put under, usually an assistant working with the Cardiologist, all up it took about an hour for my procedure, therefore I am assuming that higher costs are associated with being opened up ?

 

Actually for this procedure in Thailand it is common to enter via wrist (although they will shave groin area in case have to use).  The major cost is normally the stent itself.  And for me and expect most an overnight in ICU can be expected (it takes some hours for pressure bandage to be lowered and removed and they want to make sure vitals/BP remain good before discharge).

[glegolo]

1 hour ago, Si Thea01 said:

 

 

Agreed there. I have a certain blood pressure tablet, private hospital cost for one month's supply, B2500, a local drug store, B1400, big difference.  I haven't tried to obtain it from a government hospital, will ask next time but I do know that what I require is restricted and not obtainable by most drugstores.  Took inquiries at around 15 stores before I found one that was willing and able to acquire the product for me. 

I think that in order to be able to buy medicin at the public hospital, you need to be treated by their own doctor, who then can prescribe medicin to your liking hopefully..

 

So go there, sign up for the doctor, and you are good I guess, that is at least how it worked for me when I now have transferred myself FROM treatment and medicin at BKK hospital in Khorat, to the public hospital in Chaiyaphum.

 

My total savings for my medicines is about 40.000 baht if compared between the pharmacies and the public hospital here....

 

Glegolo

[nongsangcity]

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It is a government, but military. Not part of the network in the 30 baht scheme. The military hospitals are free only for military and their dependents. Civilians can use them, but have to pay the full price.

 

For which reason they are usually less crowded than the regular govt hospitals (I think Queen S. in Sattahip may be an exception to that) and fir us farang who have to pay full price regardless, makes sense to use them over say a provinical hospital, which is where all the Thais will go as it is where they can get free care.

 

Nonsangcity, I suggest you keep quite re the 30 baht scheme and foreigners in your province, It is not supposed to be going on, directives were sent to the provinces to that effect, and it will continue only as long as it goes unnoticed by the powers that be.

thank you for that...according to my local hospital they checked with current government and they got the all clear to carry on..well thats what they told me ??????....and ive been informed the yearly fee is going down next year as there was an increas this year..all my info is put on to a nationl data base which my hospital show me...every year i hear the scheme has stopped and every year for the past 5 years iam accepted....nothing last for ever...so hopefully i will last  a little longer....