72-hour emergency treatment for free at any hospital

[darksidedog]

It will be interesting to see the behaviour of the Ambulance drivers.

Many are allegedly given a tip for delivering wealthy looking injured farang to Bangkok Hospital, whose bills look like those from Halliburton.

Can you now get the best treatment straight off the bat, and subsequently slide off to a Government hospital after 3 days, without losing the house?

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

31 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

Not quite on topic but sometime ago I seem to recall talk of a government insurance scheme for long stay Farangs. Did anything come of that or was I dreaming?

Yes, the Thai government a while back seemingly started down that road, and then changed their mind -- after some farangs had actually paid for and been issued government health insurance cards -- and pulled the plug, saying the whole thing had been a misunderstanding. As I recall, the government claimed that plan was only intended to offer coverage for migrant workers from adjoining countries (like Laos and Cambodia), but some hospitals interpreted it more broadly to include westerners, until their coverage was shut down.

 

[Negita43]

Based no doubt on the fact that all Farangs are rich!

[hobobo]

10 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I''m half tempted to think this is The Nation's version of TVF's April Fool's Day celebration.  But in this case, I THINK it's a legitimate news report.

 

I'm presuming from the report above, though, that this won't apply to a lot of farangs. Since we are not, as a general rule, except perhaps for those covered by Thai Social Security, covered by the Thai government's medical coverage system. Nor do most of us have a Thai government hospital where we're registered under the Thai government scheme.

April 1. Enough said

[TerryLH]

"Under the Thai government health insurance, each Thai resident has to register with one specific hospital that's part of the Thai government insurance scheme, meaning all government hospitals and a few participating private ones. Normally, that's the hospital they're required to use first, and only from there can potentially be referred elsewhere as needed."

 

That's true for the 30 baht and SS schemes.  For Civil Service coverage, they can use any government hospital, or even private hospitals under very limited conditions.

 

 

"So, the reason it's clear from this article that the free emergency care plan they're talking about would NOT apply to foreign tourists or to farangs who aren't part of Thai Social Security is, those groups aren't registered with any Thai government hospital, because they're not part of the Thai health insurance system."

 

Nitpicky, I know, but you don't have to have insurance to be registered at any hospital.  The number they give you when you register is used to find your file when you go there for services.

 

Terry

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 minutes ago, hobobo said:

April 1. Enough said

No, this one is actually for real. It just doesn't apply to most folks here, unless they're part of the Thai Social Security system by being employed in a legit, work permit type job.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 minutes ago, TerryLH said:

 

"So, the reason it's clear from this article that the free emergency care plan they're talking about would NOT apply to foreign tourists or to farangs who aren't part of Thai Social Security is, those groups aren't registered with any Thai government hospital, because they're not part of the Thai health insurance system."

 

Nitpicky, I know, but you don't have to have insurance to be registered at any hospital.  The number they give you when you register is used to find your file when you go there for services.

 

 

I think we're talking about two kinds of "registered" here.

 

I'm not talking about simply walking into a hospital and getting a card with your name and a hospital number on it. Which anyone can do anytime, AFAIK.

 

I'm talking about Thais being required to register with a particular hospital as part of their Social Security coverage, meaning that that's the only hospital they're supposed to go to first, if they expect Social Security to cover their medical expenses. That registration is part of their record in the Social Security system -- not just a tracking number used by the local hospital.

 

My Thai wife is covered by Social Security at her work, and each year, her HR department requires her to select from a list of available hospitals the one she wants to be registered for in the Thai SS system for the year ahead.  And that's totally unrelated to just going into a hospital and getting a patient ID card from that hospital.

 

I have a wallet-full of private hospital patient ID cards, but I'm not part of the Thai Social Security system.

 

 

[hobobo]

20 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

No, this one is actually for real. It just doesn't apply to most folks here, unless they're part of the Thai Social Security system by being employed in a legit, work permit type job.

 

Thanks for enlightening me, I really didn't know. And the date fuzzled me up  55555

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

12 minutes ago, hobobo said:

Thanks for enlightening me, I really didn't know. And the date fuzzled me up  55555

A lot of fake news on the boards today, as befitting the day of the year it is.

 

But inbetween all that, there still was some actual REAL stuff to report.

 

[oldcarguy]

is this also in the Thai newspapers ? 

 

There are so many Thais living away from their registered hospital upcountry , 

 

This is great for those Thais but the wait for treatment will be even longer

[TerryLH]

"I'm not talking about simply walking into a hospital and getting a card with your name and a hospital number on it. Which anyone can do anytime, AFAIK."

 

I told you it was nitpicky.

Yes, you are right about that.  I've seen many posts over the years where people don't understand that, and think because they have a card, and because routine stuff is so cheap, that they have some kind of special deal.

 

And you are correct about being assigned (registered at) one hospital for services for SS.  That is also true for the 30 baht plan, but not for the Civil Service scheme.

When your wife stops working, or otherwise becomes ineligible for SS through employment, she can continue paying on her own and stay in the system.  A really good deal that not everyone is aware of.

 

Terry

[pattayahenry]

15 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

interested in seeing the list of medical conditions

what is a medical emergency? my own short list
coma, sepsis (blood poisoning), serious loss of blood, internal bleeding, heart attack, stroke, heat stroke, pulmonary embolism, lung edema, brain edema, hypertension crisis, burning, drowning, poisoning, electric shock, carbon monoxid poisoning, drug overdose, alcohol delirium, diabetic coma, difficulty in breathing, lung infarction,  head and spine injuries, meningitis, status epilepticus, and many more.

 

[bbbbooboo]

hmmmm......I'm not holding my breath(I don't want to avail myself of this"free" medical care... because someone might jump out and yell "April fool"

[kannot]

19 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That's what I would tend to think also... But in the article, we do have the following individual being quoted:

 

 

Be interesting to see how long this policy lasts, if it really is implemented in the real world, and just how broad or narrow the list of covered emergency conditions ends up being.

 

What do you wanna bet, if you wait a few weeks and then stop by your local private hospital emergency room and inquire, that the staff there tell you they have no idea what you're talking about.

 

im  betting  a  lot will say "full"

[Sphere]

21 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thailand still did not have enough emergency physicians

 

Pagers aren't allowed on the golf course?

[Sphere]

21 hours ago, rooster59 said:

72-hour emergency treatment

How much is that in aspirins?

[taiping]

14 hours ago, TerryLH said:

"please explain why a foreigner holding a gov med card is not going to get it"

 

What do you mean by a 'gov med card'?  30 baht gold card scheme, SS, or civil service coverage?

(For general info:  Under my CS coverage, they didn't give me a card.  When I asked about it, they told me I'm on the computer and don't need a card.  Apparently that info is accessible for all government hospitals.  I forget what they told me about using private hospitals.)  

 

 

 

"The article doesn't say anything about having to be covered by government medical plans to be covered for this emergency care. Do you have some special knowledge of this to be able to say foreigners are definitely not covered?"

 

But they do say; "...emergency patients can receive free medical service for the first 72 hours at any hospital before they are transferred to their registered hospital on their medical scheme."  in the sub title, repeated in the story.

 

That seems to say that if you do have a 'medical scheme', you'd be covered.  Whether that would include private insurance, which might not be hospital specific to begin with, is anybody's guess.  If you are covered by a Thai government scheme, it implies you'd be covered.

 

Just my thoughts...

Terry

 

PS

"I'm a retired farang with a yellow Tabian Bahn book with my name it it.

A few years ago I used the TB book to register with a designated government hospital under the 30 baht scheme."

 

Those registering for that were done by mistake.  There was confusion who it applied to.  Turns out it was intended as a program for workers from the countries surrounding Thailand.  Many had to pay 2800 for some tests and registering.  Most of those had the money returned when the mistakes were corrected.  Some were not.  There is at least one who to this day claims he's still able to access free services.

For the most part, the registration was intended for one year at a time, so would be long past the expire by date.

 

Some people think they must be getting special deals because of how cheap routine services are at government hospitals.  

 

Ref the PS, the designated government hospital at first refused to register me because they said it only applies to workers from surrounding countries. This was not what the government health hot line told me. In fact with the registered address in the yellow Tabian Bahn book, using their computer system, they allocated a particular gov hospital. The gov hospital did register me after talking directly to the health hot line. The card I received in my name was from the hospital, not any special 30 baht health scheme card, but the hospital staff were very clear that I am now covered under the 30 baht scheme the same as a Thai. The hospital card has my Thai ID number from the yellow TB. At no time did anyone mention a time limit using the hospital card.

Of course, since I have not used the service I agree the rules might have changed since I got the card. I should really try to use the card and see what happens.

[the guest]

22 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

please explain why a foreigner holding a gov med card is not going to get it

 

Because it applies to Thai citizens, and foreigners do not have the same rights.

[dentonian]

This is just an extension to the existing Universal Coverage scheme, which is purely for Thais, not foreigners.

 

Foreign teachers paying into the SS system will be covered under those conditions.

Foreigners married to certain Government workers are similarly covered as family members of the private Government scheme.

 

For the rest, you either have a private medical Insurance policy, or pay as you go.

Government hospitals are far more affordable than private ones though and offer good services.

[spidermike007]

I am told that to check into a private hospital here, without medical insurance, in the case of an accident or serious illness, you are required to have a credit card account with a 500,000 baht limit available, for a pre-authorization. One would have to presume this new law does not cover foreigners?

[dentonian]

24 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I am told that to check into a private hospital here, without medical insurance, in the case of an accident or serious illness, you are required to have a credit card account with a 500,000 baht limit available, for a pre-authorization. One would have to presume this new law does not cover foreigners?

Bar stool banter.

 

You may be asked if you have sufficient funds available to cover the costs before they start any treatment, but that's about it.

I paid with my BKK debit card.

[dentonian]

14 hours ago, Negita43 said:

Not quite on topic but sometime ago I seem to recall talk of a government insurance scheme for long stay Farangs. Did anything come of that or was I dreaming?

The Health Card for Foreigners scheme, which was only meant for workers of Lao, Cambodia and Myanmar was wrongly offered to all foreigners. That mistake was corrected over 2 years.

Following that Yinglucks government talked of a health scheme for all foreigners, but the coup took place before it ever got off the ground.

[geriatrickid]

On 31 March, 2017 at 10:49 PM, AGareth2 said:

interested in seeing the list of medical conditions

There is no mystery. It is already defined by way of an existing law, the Emergency Medical Act of 2008.  The law defines an emergency patient as one requiring acute care, particularly affecting vital organs to prevent a further worsening of condition or death.  Acute care typically includes  heart attack, strokes, and other trauma care.

Common Thai Visa member  complaints such as erectile dysfunction, bloating/gas, hemmharoids , diarrhoea, constipation etc. are not considered critical acute care  triggers.

[Bluespunk]

On 01/04/2017 at 5:45 AM, rooster59 said:

He added that any private hospital that refuses to take care of emergency patients for free in the first 72 hours will be punished by law.

What like the monk who holed up in his temple?

 

Or

 

Like the red bull piece of faeces/

 

Face the law like them?

[Bluespunk]

14 hours ago, Negita43 said:

Based no doubt on the fact that all Farangs are rich!

Everything else is.

[starky]

19 hours ago, fittobethaied said:

"Air Vice Marshal Chalermporn Boonsiri, head of Thai College of Emergency Physicians, said that information will be placed in front of the emergency section of each hospital to clarify the definition of an emergency illness".

 

Therein is the "get out of jail free card" for the private hospitals. I just checked with one of the local private hospitals here in Udon, and they define an emergency illness as any "life or death emergency". According to my very reliable source, they have always had this policy, so this is nothing new! 

And really should be the imperative of any hospital anywhere in the world. First do no harm and then you would assume any doctor worth his salt would take on a life or death emergency. Sadly this isnt the case and not only in Thailand.

[KenKadz]

"information will be placed in front of the emergency section of each hospital to clarify the definition of an emergency illness."

 

I would like to know what qualifies as an emergency illness before I need it.

Once again, very good reporting of the facts.

 

Isn't it the law in developed countries that a hospital can not turn away an emergency patient? And must "stabilize" the patient's condition before the patient can be transferred or released?

[mrfaroukh]

On 4/1/2017 at 9:49 AM, AGareth2 said:

interested in seeing the list of medical conditions

I hope this is not an April Fool. If not will it cover Farang too?

[IMA_FARANG]

That is funny.

Last month I fell and broke my arm and the operation  cost me 200K Baht.

I am still recuperating  and each roughly 2 weekly visits costs me 5K Ba.ht for the doctor to look at my arm and tell me it is improving

[geriatrickid]

3 hours ago, KenKadz said:

"information will be placed in front of the emergency section of each hospital to clarify the definition of an emergency illness."

 

I would like to know what qualifies as an emergency illness before I need it.

Once again, very good reporting of the facts.

 

Isn't it the law in developed countries that a hospital can not turn away an emergency patient? And must "stabilize" the patient's condition before the patient can be transferred or released?

An emergency care event is no different in Thailand than in the UK or Australia. As per above , the Act of 2008 set it out.