Do Health and Insurance Concerns Reduce Your Enjoyment of Retirement in Thailand?

[brewsterbudgen]

If you return to the UK for free NHS treatment, you have to be able to show that you have returned permanently in order to qualify.

Despite the scare stories, I doubt treatment would be witheld to a pensioner holding a UK passport who says he has returned to the UK for good. There could be issues with charges being made or threatened, but he wouldn't be turned away.

[teddog]

48 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Despite the scare stories, I doubt treatment would be witheld to a pensioner holding a UK passport who says he has returned to the UK for good. There could be issues with charges being made or threatened, but he wouldn't be turned away.

 

1

Tell them you have no passport, its all a load of rubbish anyway,over65 free health care in UK wherever you came from

 

 But like Topsy here in Thailand 'it grow'd and grow'd 'the inflated figures of health insurance and private hospitals require, modern day banditry, one puts more on the bill through sheer trickery, the other one catches up, again getting shut at a moment's notice when  profitability looks none too good , farang not lining the pockets , the markups are breathtaking, full of billing fakeries and all because of a captive market   Need to free up the thinking behind these Dick Turpins of the modern era,the scare stories that abound, yes dumped unconscious at private hospital at 500 baht a time stories ,they just do not get paid if outrageous billing,and it will be

  What was a good markup a while ago £2000 for minor op, £10 a short journey away,  the list is endless, all because of captive conditions, not enough hospitals or quality doctors for competition

Edited June 3, 2017 by teddog

[Kenerick]

This is an interesting post by the OP and certainly applicable to us 70 yr olds.

I am planning on retiring to Chiang Mai on age pension + super in very near future. Have been scouring these pages for a while getting ideas and opinions. I will obtain retirement visa with multi entry here in Oz before the move.

My idea to cover my medical + accident insurance is simply by purchasing a return ticket on my credit card it entitles me to free travel insurance for 6 months from first date of travel.

Then all being well after six months, return to Oz, sponge off friends or the kids for a month(s), stock up on usual supplements etc, have a check up and few tests if needed with my GP (under free Medicare) and then return to Chiang Mai for another six month stretch.

There are many other benefits with this insurance; such as that travelling to other countries within that six months and repatriation in the event of something nasty happening are covered as well. Also covered is flying a relative here if you are hospitalised for any length of time.

This is good up to age 75yrs when the free insurance is no longer available, obviously then it’s a different ball park and other options would need to be considered.

Also keeping in mind as Suradit69 has posted always have some in reserve just in case and the kids here in Oz knowing where that is so they can also readily access those funds for me if need be .

I would be curious if anyone else has used this method of covering their insurance needs.  

[alfieconn]

On 6/1/2017 at 7:10 PM, retarius said:

An interesting question. I self-insure. It's easier, no confusing forms to fill out and no exclusions for pre-exisiting conditions etc

You mean you have access to a lump of money, that's nothing to do with insurance, why do people keep calling it self-insure ? 

 

[RBOP]

On ‎6‎/‎1‎/‎2017 at 11:04 PM, Ulic said:

My health care in Canada is much cheaper than Thailand. As a matter of fact it is free or more accurately included

in my taxes.

Yes that's sort of retirement plan, return to Canada in summer (6months + 1 day) to qualify for gov health coverage then spend winters here.

[music065]

This is an interesting post by the OP and certainly applicable to us 70 yr olds.

I am planning on retiring to Chiang Mai on age pension + super in very near future. Have been scouring these pages for a while getting ideas and opinions. I will obtain retirement visa with multi entry here in Oz before the move.

My idea to cover my medical + accident insurance is simply by purchasing a return ticket on my credit card it entitles me to free travel insurance for 6 months from first date of travel.

Then all being well after six months, return to Oz, sponge off friends or the kids for a month(s), stock up on usual supplements etc, have a check up and few tests if needed with my GP (under free Medicare) and then return to Chiang Mai for another six month stretch.

There are many other benefits with this insurance; such as that travelling to other countries within that six months and repatriation in the event of something nasty happening are covered as well. Also covered is flying a relative here if you are hospitalised for any length of time.

This is good up to age 75yrs when the free insurance is no longer available, obviously then it’s a different ball park and other options would need to be considered.

Also keeping in mind as Suradit69 has posted always have some in reserve just in case and the kids here in Oz knowing where that is so they can also readily access those funds for me if need be .

I would be curious if anyone else has used this method of covering their insurance needs.  

Kendrick, interesting strategy, I have wondered whether this would work. Could one simply get travel insurance, stay in Thailand 6 months, then fly out of the country and then return with a new 6 month travel insurance? Rinse & repeat for several years? It would certainly be cheaper than the outrageous premiums after a certain age. A problem might be if the travel insurance company voided the policy because they deemed you "permanently live" here. It almost seems too easy. I think I've read that at least some companies have rules that would preclude this. But one might be able to do it if they time it right. Has anyone heard of someone using this method successfully?


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[Kenerick]

Hi Music065

Yes I thought it would be a good idea.

 

I have looked at my credit card terms and conditions and cannot see any reference to "living overseas".  For all intents and purposes one could just be having the time of your life travelling on holiday for 10 months or so of the year.

 

In fact I have a couple of credit cards with this facility and the one I just looked up has an eligibility up to 90 Years old . You cannot beat that !!!!! See the extract below

 

I have started a new thread because as you mention there must be someone out there that has used this method. Health insurance topics appear here quite regularly.

 

Cheers

 

Period of cover

Unless stated otherwise under a particular section,

the period of cover commences once you have left

your home in Australia and ceases:

(a) when you complete your trip; or

(b) when you return to your home in Australia; or

(c) 6 months after the date of departure from your

home in Australia to go on your trip

whichever occurs first.

If something happens for which you can claim under

any of the sections of the overseas travel and medical

cover, which causes you to extend your trip, your access

to the benefit of cover will continue until you can

reasonably complete your trip.

Eligibility criteria

1. You were ninety (90) years of age or under before

the date of departure for your trip;

[music065]

Kenerick, I'll follow that thread with an interest. Good luck!


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[al007]

Replying to the original poster

 

I am here until I die, I am not wealthy but comfortable

 

I do not know if I can fund all tomorrows medical bills

 

As a mere 72 yr old with a couple of cancers, and at the moment 3 mthly check ups next one end of August  30,000baht  maybe never ever been more content or happy

 

Life is for living

 

Stay happy

 

Driving 1200 kms to Kho Lak for four days relaxation tomorrow 

 

Live 3mths at a time ( the intervals between my check ups)

 

DOOM and gloom merchants can die in misery not me

 

I do a gratitude list if a I am down

 

it goes as follows

 

Loving wife

Four loving Alsatians

Two caring stepsons

reasonable financial security

Two helpers in the house

nice car paid for

No debts

plenty of food

Good affordable healthcare in BKK only 500 kms away

very beautiful house 

2nd very beautiful house on same land empty

Inlaws who do not demand too much

A beautiful climate

I generally make money on the world financial markets

 

and many many more, yes many more

 

I am a very lucky man

 

God looks after those who help themselves

 

I am not obsessed with God but I do say thank you, A VERY BIG THANK YOU

 

 

[bbi1]

On 2017-6-1 at 5:12 PM, masuk said:

Medical insurance is not a worry for me - I simply can't afford it from my pension.  Even the airlines won't insure a customer after a certain age.

 

So I've opted for the next best thing and that is to return to my home country for what appears to be major concerns.   The problem with this is that the National Health Service is painfully slow, and renting a room while overseas becomes expensive, while also maintaining one's condo in Thailand.

 

Wow really, airlines insure customers? What do the airlines insure customers against & which airlines are they?

[bbi1]

On 2017-6-1 at 10:01 PM, music065 said:

Does this bother you much on a daily basis? What are some strategies you use to deal with this on a daily basis?

As an expat retiree in my early 30's, yes it bother's me that I have to pay a crapload of money for health insurance here when back home it was all free to see a GP or go to a hospital, get tests done or ever need surgery. Paying about US$1,200 for health insurance that only covers inpatient treatment but if you want to get outpatient cover also being an extra 200% is quite a lot to stomach. But in the end of the day better get inpatient cover and pay for the outpatient yourself but make sure you get an itemised bill and query any items on the bill and negotiate some things down if the fees seem higher than previously, which I've previously done a few times. Are there many people here negotiating down their outpatient bills here?

[bbi1]

On 2017-6-1 at 4:46 PM, gamini said:

If you have good Thai friends they can always inform you about which government hospitals have the best doctors and who they are. I am elderly and have a lot of different medical problems.  I go to 3 different government hospitals where I get first class treatment at a very reasonable price. The best doctor I've ever experienced in my life is a radiologist at a government hospital with all the latest equipment. I sea a marvellous orthopaedic doctor at an army hospital. I see two different doctors at a small provincial hospital.I see a very good cardiologist at his clinic. My medical expenses including a heart operation and many other smaller operations have costed far less in total than medical insurance.  It is just a question of doing a bit of research. Also I am friendly with all my doctors and I told them that I have no insurance and very limited funds and they are very sympathetic.

Whenever you enter the specialist department of a private hospital they always ask you if you have insurance and I always say "no" as it's outpatient. Doesn't seem to make their bill any less than someone with insurance. This is with one of the big names in BKK.

[bbi1]

On 2017-6-2 at 1:32 AM, ableguy said:

This sounds just like me, I use the public hospital here in Korat but I visit at night where they charge me 150 baht plus fifty baht to see my doctor, the drugs cost no more than any pharmacy,  and I never wait more than twenty minutes.you want to use a private hospital they all insist on taking your blood pressure, weighing you and measurinlng how tall you are for every single visit cost 300 baht, refuse this they will not deal with you.

They will still deal wih you. You can refuse it but you will still get charged that 300 baht. I know, I've refused it before as I checked the blood pressure at home before going to the hospital but they still wack you for it, even if you query it at the counter when paying your bill.

[bbi1]

On 2017-6-2 at 3:33 AM, khunPer said:

The problem is, as also being pointed out when the subject has been discussed earlier in this forum, the problem is that some major incident where all, or just a major part of emergency account is used – what do you do if one more serious incident appears..?

 

What is enough emergency cash? What can I afford to set aside What is the risk? What shall I give up to afford a better, or the best health insurance – change my life-style, so life is not worth to live; or reduce the cost of my child's school and education? Yes, it's a challenge...

Enough emergency cash - you'd probably need close to $1mil. A heart attack or stroke and staying in ICU after that will cost you an absolute fortune.

[khunPer]

3 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Enough emergency cash - you'd probably need close to $1mil. A heart attack or stroke and staying in ICU after that will cost you an absolute fortune.

$1mil is about 34 million baht – are you serious about that figur for Thailand..?

 

Often an amount of up to 3 million baht has been mentioned, others talks about 800,000 to 1 million baht; which might also be depending of choice of private or public hospital.

 

What is a reasonable amount to set aside, if one is self-insured..?

[music065]

2 minutes ago, khunPer said:

$1mil is about 34 million baht – are you serious about that figur for Thailand..?

 

Often an amount of up to 3 million baht has been mentioned, others talks about 800,000 to 1 million baht; which might also be depending of choice of private or public hospital.

 

What is a reasonable amount to set aside, if one is self-insured..?

 

I've been reading through all the threads in the TV Health & Insurance forums for weeks now and there are a number of cases where the person needed 3-4 million baht to cover a medical situation. There were a couple of cases where the figure was around 10 million baht. Now these cases aren't extremely common, but they aren't rare either. There are many discussed in these threads. I was in the self insure camp before reading these threads thoroughly. The big problem I see with self insuring: say you do have a 3 million baht case and it wipes out your savings. Then what? What if you have another 1 million baht case soon after? And another?  Which isn't out of the realm of possibility, many times when it rains it pours with personal medical issues. 

 

Also, how is one going to really feel as they're trying to recover from a devastating medical issue while at the same time just having spent all their money on it and now perhaps being in a precarious financial situation?

 

Personally if I was going to self insure I'd want 4 million+ baht reserve and additionally some kind of plan to make it home to free care.

 

Alternatively, there's always the option of joining the balcony flying club. People say that, yeah, but when it comes time how many will actually take that option. 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

$1mil is about 34 million baht – are you serious about that figur for Thailand..?

 

Often an amount of up to 3 million baht has been mentioned, others talks about 800,000 to 1 million baht; which might also be depending of choice of private or public hospital.

 

What is a reasonable amount to set aside, if one is self-insured..?

 

My bypass cost the insurance company 2 million baht.  (Edit:  could have gotten it done much cheaper had I not had insurance, or had I gone to a government hospital- but in an emergency, you often end up where the ambulance takes you.)

 

More worrying than that is what it will cost over the next few decades 'till they plant me.  Heart meds running 10,000 - 15,000 baht a month.  Quarterly followups running 5,000+ baht with a big one annually for special tests.  My arteries are clogged, so that means increased risk of more heart surgeries or a stroke or...or...  (Edit:  even with insurance, I'm now experimenting with cheaper generics that may have increased side effects- or maybe not)

 

Keep in mind you're not setting it aside for "the big one".  You're setting it aside for all the big ones, and follow up care.  Which generally gets more and more frequent and costly as you get older.  

 

Unless your backup plan is to give up on retiring in Thailand and head back to the national health care system when you run out of funds. (Which is a better option than some guys who cling to the warm weather and cheap sex instead of prioritizing their health- they often end up in the news).

 

Edited June 4, 2017 by impulse

[alfieconn]

1 hour ago, music065 said:

 

I've been reading through all the threads in the TV Health & Insurance forums for weeks now and there are a number of cases where the person needed 3-4 million baht to cover a medical situation. There were a couple of cases where the figure was around 10 million baht. Now these cases aren't extremely common, but they aren't rare either. There are many discussed in these threads. I was in the self insure camp before reading these threads thoroughly. The big problem I see with self insuring: say you do have a 3 million baht case and it wipes out your savings. Then what? What if you have another 1 million baht case soon after? And another?  Which isn't out of the realm of possibility, many times when it rains it pours with personal medical issues. 

 

Also, how is one going to really feel as they're trying to recover from a devastating medical issue while at the same time just having spent all their money on it and now perhaps being in a precarious financial situation?

 

Personally if I was going to self insure I'd want 4 million+ baht reserve and additionally some kind of plan to make it home to free care.

 

Alternatively, there's always the option of joining the balcony flying club. People say that, yeah, but when it comes time how many will actually take that option. 

Stop calling it self-insure, look up the definition of Insurance 

[music065]

There are many definitions of insure. Here's one of many:

 

Insure (verb): secure or protect someone against a possible contingency. 

Edited June 4, 2017 by music065

[teddog]

4 minutes ago, music065 said:

There are many definitions of insure. Here's one of many I found:

 

Insure (verb): secure or protect someone against a possible contingency. 

 

Fits. 

 

 

you have questions about your bill, please contact Billing Department at: 91-80-2297-7232 Sl.No Name Of the Procedure General Category (In Rs.) Special Category (In Rs.) Deluxe Category (In Rs.) 1) 2-D Echo Cardiogram 550.00 650.00 750.00 2) TEE 800.00 800.00 950.00 3) Doppler Study 750.00 900.00 950.00 4) Carotid Doppler Study 750.00 900.00 950.00 5) Treadmill Test (T.M.T) 550.00 650.00 750.00 6) Myocardial Perfusion Scan 4500.00 6,000.00 8,000.00 7) Myocardial P S With Adenosine 6500.00 8,000.00 10,000.00 8) Coronary Angiogram 6500.00 9,000.00 10,000.00 9) CATH With Angio/ CATH Study 5500.00 7,000.00 9,000.00 10) Coronary Angioplasty(PTCA) 45,000.00 + Cost of Stent 60,000.00 + Cost of Stent 70,000.00 + Cost of Stent 11) Percutaneous Trans Mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) 20,000.00 35,000.00 40,000.00 12) Peripheral Angiogram 4500.00 6,500.00 7,500.00 13) Peripheral Angioplasty 40,000.00 + Cost of Stent 60,000.00 + Cost of Stent 70,000.00 + Cost of Stent 14) Balloon Pulmonary / Aortic Valvuloplasty 20,000.00 35,000.00 45,000.00 15) Permanent Pacemaker Implantations 15,000.00 + Cost of Pacemaker 30,000.00 + Cost of Pacemaker 35,000.00 + Cost of Pacemaker 16) ASD/PDA/VSD Device Closure 30,000.00 + Cost of Device 45,000.00 + Cost of Device 55,000.00 + Cost of Device 17) Electrophysiology Study 10,000.00 15,000.00 25,000.00 18) Electrophysiology Study & Radio Frequency ablation 20,000.00 40,000.00 45,000.00 19) 3D Mapping &Ablation 75,000.00 90,000.00 95,000.00 20) Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG) 70,000.00 1,20,000.00 1,35,000.00 21) IABP 34,000.00 34,000.00 34,000.00 22) Open Heart Procedures 70,000.00 1,20,000.00 1,35,000.00 23) Heart Valve Replacement (AVR/MVR/DVR) 70,000.00 + Cost of Valve 1,20,000.00 + Cost of Valve 1,35,000.00 + Cost of Valve 24) Closed Heart Surgery (PDA,CMV) 25,000.00 31,250.00 40,000.00 ROOM RENT AND HOSPITAL STOPPAGE CHARGES WILL BE ADDITIONAL. Patient with Yellow Card (BPL) or Low Income Certificate & Patients covered under Yeshasvini scheme are charged at subsidized rates Any additional consumables used are charged extra (IABP.ect). Additional investigation charges vary between Rs. 2,000/- to Rs.10, 000/- depending on period of stay and procedures. CGHS & State Government Employees will be charged as per CGHS Notification. MASTER HEALTH CHECKUP FOR Rs 2,500/- AT NEW OPD

64 slice cardiac - C.T. Scan Sl No Specialized procedure Approved charges for BPL Patients Rs Approved charges for SJIC&R general patients Rs Outside Patients Rs. 1 C.T.Coronary Angiogram 4,800-00 7,250-00 6,000-00 ( for Yeshaswini patients 8,500-00 (for Deluxe ward patients 9,900-00 2 C.T.Carotid Angiogram 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 3 C.T.Brain 2,400-00 3,600-00 3,850-00 4 C.T.Brain + four vessel angiography 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 5 C.T.Aorotogram 4,800-00 6,600-00 7,700-00 6 C.T.Peripheral 4,800-00 6,000-00 6,600-00 7 C.T.Renal 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 8 C.T.Chest (Thorax) with contrast (Pulmonary angio) 4,500-00 5,700-00 7,150-00 9 C.T.Abdomen & Pelvis with contract 4,500-00 6,000-00 3,300-00 10 C.T.LS Spine 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 11 C.T.C Spine 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 12 C.T.Any Joints 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 13 C.T.Extremities 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 14 C.T.PNS 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 15 C.T.PNS with coronary section 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 16 C.T.Neck (Plain & Contrast) 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 17 C.T.Orbits 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 18 C.T.Ear 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 19 C.T.CT guided biopsy (lab charges extra) 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 20 C.T.Calcium Scoring 1,200-00 1,800-00 2,200-00 21 C.T.CSF Rhinnhorhea 4,800-00 7,200-00 7,700-00 22 C.T.Dorsal spine 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00

With prices likened to this (and cheaper) ill take my chances anywhere     Heart by-pass surgery 70,000 baht   just for the hell of it,go and get it freshened up

Edited June 4, 2017 by teddog

[music065]

lolz

[KarenBravo]

25 minutes ago, teddog said:

you have questions about your bill, please contact Billing Department at: 91-80-2297-7232 Sl.No Name Of the Procedure General Category (In Rs.) Special Category (In Rs.) Deluxe Category (In Rs.) 1) 2-D Echo Cardiogram 550.00 650.00 750.00 2) TEE 800.00 800.00 950.00 3) Doppler Study 750.00 900.00 950.00 4) Carotid Doppler Study 750.00 900.00 950.00 5) Treadmill Test (T.M.T) 550.00 650.00 750.00 6) Myocardial Perfusion Scan 4500.00 6,000.00 8,000.00 7) Myocardial P S With Adenosine 6500.00 8,000.00 10,000.00 8) Coronary Angiogram 6500.00 9,000.00 10,000.00 9) CATH With Angio/ CATH Study 5500.00 7,000.00 9,000.00 10) Coronary Angioplasty(PTCA) 45,000.00 + Cost of Stent 60,000.00 + Cost of Stent 70,000.00 + Cost of Stent 11) Percutaneous Trans Mitral Commissurotomy (PTMC) 20,000.00 35,000.00 40,000.00 12) Peripheral Angiogram 4500.00 6,500.00 7,500.00 13) Peripheral Angioplasty 40,000.00 + Cost of Stent 60,000.00 + Cost of Stent 70,000.00 + Cost of Stent 14) Balloon Pulmonary / Aortic Valvuloplasty 20,000.00 35,000.00 45,000.00 15) Permanent Pacemaker Implantations 15,000.00 + Cost of Pacemaker 30,000.00 + Cost of Pacemaker 35,000.00 + Cost of Pacemaker 16) ASD/PDA/VSD Device Closure 30,000.00 + Cost of Device 45,000.00 + Cost of Device 55,000.00 + Cost of Device 17) Electrophysiology Study 10,000.00 15,000.00 25,000.00 18) Electrophysiology Study & Radio Frequency ablation 20,000.00 40,000.00 45,000.00 19) 3D Mapping &Ablation 75,000.00 90,000.00 95,000.00 20) Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG) 70,000.00 1,20,000.00 1,35,000.00 21) IABP 34,000.00 34,000.00 34,000.00 22) Open Heart Procedures 70,000.00 1,20,000.00 1,35,000.00 23) Heart Valve Replacement (AVR/MVR/DVR) 70,000.00 + Cost of Valve 1,20,000.00 + Cost of Valve 1,35,000.00 + Cost of Valve 24) Closed Heart Surgery (PDA,CMV) 25,000.00 31,250.00 40,000.00 ROOM RENT AND HOSPITAL STOPPAGE CHARGES WILL BE ADDITIONAL. Patient with Yellow Card (BPL) or Low Income Certificate & Patients covered under Yeshasvini scheme are charged at subsidized rates Any additional consumables used are charged extra (IABP.ect). Additional investigation charges vary between Rs. 2,000/- to Rs.10, 000/- depending on period of stay and procedures. CGHS & State Government Employees will be charged as per CGHS Notification. MASTER HEALTH CHECKUP FOR Rs 2,500/- AT NEW OPD

64 slice cardiac - C.T. Scan Sl No Specialized procedure Approved charges for BPL Patients Rs Approved charges for SJIC&R general patients Rs Outside Patients Rs. 1 C.T.Coronary Angiogram 4,800-00 7,250-00 6,000-00 ( for Yeshaswini patients 8,500-00 (for Deluxe ward patients 9,900-00 2 C.T.Carotid Angiogram 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 3 C.T.Brain 2,400-00 3,600-00 3,850-00 4 C.T.Brain + four vessel angiography 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 5 C.T.Aorotogram 4,800-00 6,600-00 7,700-00 6 C.T.Peripheral 4,800-00 6,000-00 6,600-00 7 C.T.Renal 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 8 C.T.Chest (Thorax) with contrast (Pulmonary angio) 4,500-00 5,700-00 7,150-00 9 C.T.Abdomen & Pelvis with contract 4,500-00 6,000-00 3,300-00 10 C.T.LS Spine 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 11 C.T.C Spine 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 12 C.T.Any Joints 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 13 C.T.Extremities 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 14 C.T.PNS 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 15 C.T.PNS with coronary section 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 16 C.T.Neck (Plain & Contrast) 3,600-00 4,800-00 5,500-00 17 C.T.Orbits 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 18 C.T.Ear 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 19 C.T.CT guided biopsy (lab charges extra) 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00 20 C.T.Calcium Scoring 1,200-00 1,800-00 2,200-00 21 C.T.CSF Rhinnhorhea 4,800-00 7,200-00 7,700-00 22 C.T.Dorsal spine 1,800-00 3,000-00 3,300-00

With prices likened to this (and cheaper) ill take my chances anywhere     Heart by-pass surgery 70,000 baht   just for the hell of it,go and get it freshened up

Indian prices.

Better hope that you are well enough to get on a plane, or, that the airline allows you on.

[teddog]

16 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Indian prices.

Better hope that you are well enough to get on a plane, or, that the airline allows you on.

 

 

 

I'm damned sure they will    a body bag with a straw sticking out of it will guarantee that

 

...and if I may add  you may well have that'peace of mind' feeling, you know the one, paying a fortune in health insurance premiums hoping it's enough to keep the robbing private Thai doctors at bay........anyway 3 million ,10 million,they ain't getting it,they can keep me in bed for years feeding me,that's OK

Edited June 4, 2017 by teddog

[al007]

9 hours ago, bbi1 said:

As an expat retiree in my early 30's, yes it bother's me that I have to pay a crapload of money for health insurance here when back home it was all free to see a GP or go to a hospital, get tests done or ever need surgery. Paying about US$1,200 for health insurance that only covers inpatient treatment but if you want to get outpatient cover also being an extra 200% is quite a lot to stomach. But in the end of the day better get inpatient cover and pay for the outpatient yourself but make sure you get an itemised bill and query any items on the bill and negotiate some things down if the fees seem higher than previously, which I've previously done a few times. Are there many people here negotiating down their outpatient bills here?

So some observations  

 

You are early thirties and already retired very well done, SO YOUNG start living and enjoy

 

Your post makes little sense, if you have already retired obviously you have enough money for the rest of your life and are happy with that or you would not be retired

 

Maybe go back to work and make another bundle and pay for insurance, or self insure

 

Just for the record I am nearly into 400,000 of outpatient care, with the meter still running quite fast and may need the same again, if surgery then a third lot could be 1.2 M plus

 

But then living in itself is terminal

 

Can anyone forecast how much I can make on the stock markets, so far I do very well; am I prepared to loose yes, again if not happy get out

 

So if you opt for only inpatient make sure you can still fund this sort of out patient costs

 

If I am going to run out of money I will either die or return to the UK, with the former being my first choice

 

I am having the best years of my life, (72 with a couple of cancers, taking another trip 5 star deluxe maybe I should keep the money for more medical costs for me NO) 

 

I am not going to be scared by medical costs, IF YOU ARE MAKE A HASTY RETREAT AND GO HOME

 

Apologies if I am unsympathetic , we can all look at the glass being half full, or being negative half empty, a glass of wine a day, but then what size glass, mines a bucket one !!  but only one a day doctor!, yes I promise !

 

I have no wish to arrive at the Pearly Gates in mint condition, hopefully with an exhausted body over indulged for many years in everything I enjoy and lust over I hope I can  get there on my hands and knees crawling, hanging on by my fingernails

 

Currently trying to donate my body for medical research, save funeral cost as well

 

Today when driving south I made it to the filling station when the car computer said I km range, risk  taking also make the adrenaline flow, and exercises the heart and brain, not for the feint hearted

 

Keep smiling

 

PS have not negotiated out patients fees down but did get one hospital to pay me very substantial compensation, spent the money on a new car for the wife!!!

 

I do love living

[fatdrunkandstupid]

On 6/1/2017 at 2:55 PM, Pilotman said:

Its an interesting question. I am moving to LOS to retire in the next 3 weeks, at the age of 69. It has been in my thoughts certainly. I will no doubt grow older and probably die in Thailand, but I refuse point blank to worry about it, allow it to impact my thought in my new life, or make me pay the stupid insurance rates on offer for health cover. I am fit, probably very fit for my age, I look after myself and I will continue to do that as my part in the game of life. I do have sufficient funds for major health issues, but whether I use them or not is an issue for me. I guess I accepted that living in Thailand just means I never will have the medical cover that I had/have in the UK and I guess that's fine for me. Better that than live in a cold inhospitable climate with miserable people around me, just on the off chance that I will need the NHS sometime. 

Don't place too much faith in your health or level of personal fitness.  Most expats end up in hospital here because of a road accident caused by substandard Thai driving and road safety.

 

Being the fittest 69 year old on the planet will do little to help you when you are blindsided by a drunk, unlicensed, and uninsured Somchai.

Edited June 4, 2017 by fatdrunkandstupid

[fatdrunkandstupid]

6 hours ago, impulse said:

Unless your backup plan is to give up on retiring in Thailand and head back to the national health care system when you run out of funds. 

That strategy has just worked swimmingly for Mobi.

[Gary A]

Of course medical financial problems are a major concern. If that is not a concern, it should be. I was priced out of my Thai health insurance. I cashed out my retirement plan and that money is enough to cover the limit of the health insurance that I had. It is in an insured money market and the yield is nearly nothing but it is there if I ever need it. Fortunately I don't need that money and I sleep well knowing that I can cover nearly any medical emergency that I could possibly have. If the problem is likely terminal, I have Medicare in the US.

[teddog]

Expats in Thailand should be extremely happy, here we are 2 hours away from the finest and cheapest health care in the world ..bar none.No need for the blood sucking locusts at private hospitals,  overrated and damned liars.   Yes, stories to frighten abound, broken arm? broken leg? other injuries, just hop on that 'plane to India, finest care in the world inc the UK, stretchers onto 'planes handled supremely well.

 

  All these years without health insurance sure give me a shot of confidence, God I would feel a total dumbo all that money wasted, tons of it, in ever increasing amounts too ,..no way BUPA  sod you Thailand private hospitals must be the last bastion of thieving in all of SEA

[impulse]

19 minutes ago, teddog said:

Expats in Thailand should be extremely happy, here we are 2 hours away from the finest and cheapest health care in the world ..bar none.No need for the blood sucking locusts at private hospitals,  overrated and damned liars.   Yes, stories to frighten abound, broken arm? broken leg? other injuries, just hop on that 'plane to India, finest care in the world inc the UK, stretchers onto 'planes handled supremely well.

 

  All these years without health insurance sure give me a shot of confidence, God I would feel a total dumbo all that money wasted, tons of it, in ever increasing amounts too ,..no way BUPA  sod you Thailand private hospitals must be the last bastion of thieving in all of SEA

 

I'd suggest learning to use GoFundMe if that's your plan.

 

Last time I checked Thai ambulances can't drop you at one of those great Indian hospitals.  So you'll be 2 hours away from that great cheap care, and one hour away from bleeding out, and in no condition to hop on an airplane.  And be honest, even a 2 hour flight requires a few days of lining up a seat, getting to the airport, and getting settled in to your posh new hospital room.  By that time, even a simple fracture could go gangrenous on ya.

 

Will you change your UserID to "Stumpy"?

 

Edited June 4, 2017 by impulse

[teddog]

7 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I'd suggest learning to use GoFundMe if that's your plan.

 

Last time I checked Thai ambulances can't drop you at one of those great Indian hospitals.  So you'll be 2 hours away from that great cheap care, and one hour away from bleeding out, and in no condition to hop on an airplane.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a thought! what gave you the idea of Thai ambulance delivering me to India  Duh.  '2 hours away from bleeding away'  so here I am not bleeding unlike yourself bled dry by health insurance  (and it shows)  LOL.  got the ackers all sorted  and it ain't being spent here

  Nothing like a bit of sarcasm, cheers , keep up the payments

 

  oh!  you're the one had the 2 million baht heart op,  what you think of the Indian figures, look quite good, don't they  !!!

Edited June 4, 2017 by teddog