Hospital care for tourists without (travel) insurance
People constantly hear or read stories about foreigners, expats and tourists who have insufficient means for treatment in a Thai hospital and who do not have (travel) insurance. Sometimes it seems that government hospitals provide free medical care and then you hear that the costs are indeed charged.
Contact
The Phuket News investigated and submitted the following question from a reader to Dr. Bancha Kakong, Director of the Phuket Provincial Health Office:
"During a tour through Thailand, my travel companion came down with a high fever attack, which seemed to get worse and worse. He has neither travel insurance nor much money, but it is necessary to consult a doctor. Can I call a doctor at the hospital to come to the hotel? If not, if I take him to a state hospital, will he still receive medical attention or will they send him to an expensive private hospital?”
Reply from dr. Kakong:
Any tourist who falls ill or is seriously injured, but does not have adequate travel insurance, should simply go to the nearest state hospital. It is the policy of every state hospital to take care of any patients who need medical care – not only Thai people, but also tourists, expats, migrant workers or anyone else who needs medical treatment.
State hospitals do not provide home visit services, but in case of emergency, you can call 1669 for an ambulance to take you to the hospital. This service is free. Callers should provide as much basic information about the patient as possible so that the medical staff at the hospital can prepare for the upcoming patient.
The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in Phuket is one of the best in the country due to the vast experience the staff have gained in the past. The EMS is delivered by well-trained personnel and well-equipped ambulances.
At present, all tourists without travel insurance can receive medical treatment at a state hospital in Thailand, regardless of whether or not they can afford the cost.
Not always free
However, keep in mind that not all medical care is provided free of charge. If payment is required, hospital staff will advise the patient of the charges in advance and discuss how to settle the bill.
For example, if an ambulance is called and on arrival at the hospital it turns out that the call for an ambulance was not made for an emergency, the costs for that ambulance will have to be paid.
Growing problem
The issue of uninsured or indigent patients is a growing concern for the Thai government. Last year it cost the Thai government 240 million Baht to cover the medical costs of this category of patients.
Last year, about 25.000 tourists and the like used the Patong Hospital. The number of these patients whose medical costs were covered by medical insurance is estimated at less than 1.000.
The government in Thailand, supported by the Thai medical community, is making adequate travel insurance compulsory for foreigners. Very soon, the tourist will have to take this obligation into account upon arrival in Thailand.
Finally,
This story was about the situation in Phuket province. Whether that free medical treatment can also be obtained elsewhere (one could deduce from the above that it must indeed be the case) I cannot say.
There is also nothing to say about the mandatory travel insurance. Everyone may have to take out compulsory Thai insurance, but a statement from their own insurance in the home country may be sufficient. The latter is a problem for the Dutch, who can no longer claim under the Health Insurance Act. After all, the costs for medical care outside Europe will no longer be covered by the basic insurance from 2017.
My extensive experience: everyone will be helped in acute cases in a state hospital, even if there is no immediate financial contribution in return. Everyone will be presented with an invoice afterwards (or in between).
If the patient cannot or cannot pay immediately, every large state hospital has a social service (called sangkhomsongkhroh) that can draw up a payment arrangement afterwards, also for Thais.
Thanks for posting!
Last week I read a story in which a Russian woman had to leave her passport at the hospital until she had paid. During a police check where the passport had to be shown and that this eventually happened in the hospital, it turned out that she also had an "overstay" of more than 7 years.
Just make sure you take out good travel insurance and don't blame others for the problem!!!
There will be people who disagree with me.
The following: When traveling to Thailand, take out mandatory travel insurance, otherwise you will not be able to enter the country.
Personally, I travel to Thailand 2 to 3 times a year.
I have a travel insurance annual global cost about 120 euros per year
Dear people, if you can't cough up that amount, stay home.
Then the expats living in Thailand.
Yes, sorry, no insurance, no visa out of the country, you know the problems you can get.
There are still expats living in Thailand without medical insurance.
Yes sorry, nice and cheap life there and don't spend money on insurance.
It needs to get off my mind.
If I let my girlfriend come over to the Netherlands, I must also take out travel insurance for her, otherwise she will NOT enter the Netherlands.
This was my reaction
Yes, in a nutshell, with your travel insurance for expads, if you read the policy carefully you will notice that there is a maximum length of stay, which is usually 6 months. So a continuous travel insurance covers a maximum of the first 6 months.
Taking out health insurance as an expad quickly costs 60 to 5 euros per month for an over-600s, for example unive universal.
This is not possible and that is why many expads opt for DIY, or pay from your piggy bank.
Self 2 x in the hospital 1 x for heart attack and 1 x for heart surgery in bangkok hospital bkk, cost THB 280.000 but then you also have something.
so my premium over the past 5 years has been used up, but we continue to save.
For smaller defects to the state hospital and the care is also good there, only you have to be patient because of the long queues, the most I paid is thb 3000. So that's doable. Also my medication for my heart problems (beta blockers, etc.) ) through the state hospital costs a turd.
Not all expats can take out insurance. Someone like me with an existing illness (pituitary failure) cannot claim medical intervention.
I have a Thai wife and a child who are studying at the university in Bangkok. Should I just leave them behind and return to Belgium alone.
It would be better if the government concludes an agreement regarding illness between expats. I myself have already invested more than 10 million baht in Thailand. So don't say that I live well here.
kind regards
marine
Best
If you are deregistered from your home country, you cannot obtain travel insurance IN BELGIUM
and in Thailand it is very expensive, which explains why there are many uninsured people walking around in Thailand'
if you find a cheap insurance pay z 100 000 to 200 000 baht from the rest you can cough up yourself.
fons khon kaen
I had a thrombosis in my leg for about 7 weeks and also had no travel insurance. Had me taken to a hospital by a taxi and was helped like a prince, they even came with a menu for what I wanted to eat. In the evening I called a friend of mine who also lives in Thailand and he told me to ask what it would cost. Did that immediately in the morning and the price was more than 21000 bhat for a day and night with the medical care. i immediately said i wanted to go to another hospital and they took me there too, stayed 2 days and nights and had to pay 3100 bhat with medic care included, have to have my blood checked there every 6 weeks what then 430 bhat costs the medicines included. The care was not the same as in the first and you actually need someone who can take care of you from outside the hospital. The tuk tuk that takes me to that hospital is more expensive than the hospital. The care in the state hospital is very good
corriole ::a bit blunt about what you write about the expats living in Thailand.
If an expat chooses not to insure himself, he must decide this himself if he is prepared to pay any hospital costs in cash. If your girlfriend comes to the Netherlands, you are indeed obliged to take out insurance, but this is equal to the amount of a Dutchman and not, as in Thailand, 30 times as much for a farang.
In the Netherlands, the costs for a foreigner are the same as for a Dutch person, but in Thailand a foreigner must immediately pay the multiple of a Thai.
I am currently in a state hospital and the treatment is excellent. It is indeed true that you simply have to pay in cash and that you are expected to be able to do so. every item such as medication, scans, x-rays, lab tests, are all paid for once a week or upon discharge. they often have the most modern resources and are not looking for profit. The private hospitals do and there is a big difference that you have to take into account
Hello Hank
Don't agree with you though.
Calculate if you live in the Netherlands what you pay for your health insurance.
1) health insurance.
2) Your ZVW, which is automatically deducted from your wages.
3) You pay your payroll tax and premiums.
If you are deregistered, you only pay wage tax.
Have calculated between registered and deregistered. the net wage.
Important to me
If you are deregistered, you will have just as much net left as a registered person, despite the expensive ZKV.
Do you want to keep more than deregistering and no ZKV.
Hans van Mourik
I find it unlikely and incomprehensible that tourists go on holiday without travel insurance and that some apparently do not have health insurance here in NL, but apparently have money for a ticket and accommodation. As far as I'm concerned, the Thai government is lucky to treat these people for free. Spend this government money on the Thai who really have nothing. The story makes no sense to me. If you don't have money for travel insurance and/or health insurance, don't go on holiday, but pay your health insurance instead of bothering governments abroad with your lack of money.
When I talk to Dutch people who live in Thailand, health care and insurance is one of the biggest obstacles they encounter on their path. That's why it's good that this article and the articles about the pluses and minuses of insurance are on Thailandblog. For a holidaymaker it is indeed a different story. If you can also afford a holiday to Thailand, they can close the case relatively easily for a relatively low amount. Currently, I even have double insurance for cost-price health insurance anywhere in the world. That's because my additional health insurance for 1 now also covers this. Naturally, the travel insurance also covers other matters that are important. Unfortunately I know all about that after an accident in Vietnam.
Moderator: The article is about tourists not expats.
Moderator: It is not the intention to start an off-topic discussion about hospital costs.
Interesting article with pros and cons, but would it not be appropriate to mention a few well-regarded hospitals, possibly with address, this could help tourists with illness or accidents.
I already know a good hospital there, namely the military hospital in Sattahip (Queen Sirikhit Hospital) where even some doctors also work part time in the expensive commercial hospital a la Pattaya Bangkok Hospital.
As Belgians, we are all (compulsorily) affiliated with a “mutuality” (which exist in various political ideologies). Abroad you are insured with all these mutualities by “Mutas”.
Indeed, there are restrictions on length of stay (3 months) and sometimes a deductible (500€) is applied (figures subject to change).
Is this sufficient if you meet the conditions or do you think that additional insurance is still necessary?
We read various amounts here, is it not advisable to also report the type of insurance?
Keep in mind that for Thailand you have to advance everything first, and later reclaim documents with the account, this is different than in the EU. countries where you would be the tourist,
Please inform Mutas emergency center at the start of hospitalization....!!
I am already more than 10 years
insured with the AIA.
Be a regular as well
been included in it
state hospital.
It is the rule there that one
at the time of dismissal there the total
will pay the bill.
I will discuss this rejening with my
thai insurance AIA.,
And after approx 4 weeks I get a check
of the AIA showing the total
implied costs in the hospital.
I can then return this check
hand in to my thai bank.
The amount is within three days
credited to my account.
I also have AIA insurance for my girlfriend and her children. Now it turns out that this is not really the most suitable insurance in the event of hospitalization. I took out this insurance with the intention that my girlfriend would never have to pay for the hospital bill, but after a claim last month, I know that she will indeed have to pay all the costs herself first. Moreover, the hospital doctor does not automatically provide proof for the insurance. I am now looking for real hospitalization insurance that arranges the costs directly with the hospital, including pre- and aftercare and medication. I regularly go to Thailand and am always provided with decent assistance insurance + the mandatory health insurance in Belgium + the assistance insurance that is offered with my credit card. Admittedly, I pay a bit more for this card than for the average credit card, but the extra insurance benefits are certainly worth the supplement. I have no sympathy at all for tourists who travel without proper insurance and then become difficult if a claim occurs.
The tourist who leaves for Asia without travel insurance is not worth all that talk, because there is something wrong with it before he leaves and can therefore not be held responsible for his stupidity.