Claim centres to track down tourists who skip hospital bills

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, jonclark said:

This idea can be rectified for those on retirement visas - Simply add in the cost of healthcare to the visa. Say 15'000 baht for the first visa and then 5'000 baht for all subsequent visas. Retirees are then free to use government hospital the same as the locals do and for the same cost.  The UK runs a similar concept for those on Tier 4 visas (students) as part of the visa application process student need to make a one off 500 (ish) GBP contribution to the NHS after which they can use it during their studies. 

 

I would also like to know the break-down of those nationalities who as tourists have come here and not paid hospital bills. Perhaps when Thailand marketed itself as a destination for 'as a medical hub for medical tourism' the meaning was poorly translated in the marketing literature! 

Agree, well said. 

[mania]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“We’re also thinking about making insurance mandatory for elderly foreigners who retire to Thailand. Otherwise the state hospitals will again be carrying the burden.”

 

Because health naturally declines as people age and seniors require more medical help. 

 

“So we need to address the fact there are many foreign retirees in Chiang Mai. We have to prepare proper measures to ensure they do not become a burden on the public healthcare system,” Nattawuth said. 

This is coming like a freight train

 

Any expats that cannot now afford med insurance (even if existing conditions driving prices thru the roof)

are well advised to start planning yesterday, Forget all the silly notions that they will just add a 5-15k baht fee to visas.

Your dreaming as insurance costs even in Thailand is well beyond that & you know it.

 

Anyone who later says they did not see this new required med insurance for expat retirees were just plain not watching.

This has been building & is coming to a boil

[randy723]

why buy Thai medical insurance when 99% of the time the company fine away not to pay. If they made in mandatory for expat to have medical insurance  they had better made it mandatory that the insurance companies pay the claim or if not then you are going to see just about all expats leave this beautiful country

[evadgib]

6 minutes ago, randy723 said:

why buy Thai medical insurance when 99% of the time the company fine away not to pay. If they made in mandatory for expat to have medical insurance  they had better made it mandatory that the insurance companies pay the claim or if not then you are going to see just about all expats leave this beautiful country

...and that billing is based upon nature of injury & not ethnicity of patient????

[DLock]

35 minutes ago, raccos21 said:

I think it is time to leave this country what I see they are finding many ways to rip off the foreigners. We all should go back to our country and write about this, enforce very strict immigration rules for these country people to travel to our country and advise others not to come to this country for tourism and watch what will happen. This country did not realize that the main source of income is from tourists where they survived for many years. What shame they treat the tourists who spend their hard work income in this country very badly.

Newbies...just figuring stuff out...

 

They be funny.

[NightSky]

3 hours ago, moonseeker said:

Seems it is mostly travellers from third world countries and/or countries with some kind of gov. healthcare who have no concept of taking out proper insurance while traveling or retiring abroad  and expect a foreign country to pick up their medical bills. Bit shortsighted or even dumb IMO. Good medical care here often runs more expensive than back home. Come prepared.... MS>

The article doesn’t mention specific countries. 

[randy723]

7 years ago I was in a government hospital for 7 days and they would not even give me my clothes until my wife went and paid the bill which we were going to pay in full anyways 

[Bill Miller]

32 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

I spent a couple of nights in a government hospital after suffering a TIA. They insisited on my Thai wife staying by the bed in the ward where I had lain until I came back with a receipt showing I had paid for my treatment and medication in full. My wife tells me this is quite normal practice.

My lady spent the four nights in a bed they supplied in my private room.
Pretty sure it was for compassionate reasons. ???? Her sister had retired as a nurse from the same hospital, and two nieces had worked there before assignment to a larger hospital, so I may have been treated better than average.

[JackThompson]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

FOREIGN TOURISTS failed to pay a combined Bt300 million in medical bills after receiving treatment in state hospitals last year, prompting the government to set up “claim centres” to collect what’s due.

 

"Tourists" or longer-stay foreigners?  A breakdown of that figure would be helpful.  Injuries by short-term tourists would likely be a big part of that figure.  As well, those coming from poorer countries would be less likely to be able to pay, so a breakdown by nation-of-origin is also needed to see the full-picture.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

They and other foreigners planning to stay in Thailand for one year would be able to buy up to Bt40,000 worth of outpatient coverage and Bt400,000 of inpatient coverage. 

The "out-patient" coverage is just upsell-profits for the insurance companies - completely unnecessary, as "no money" = "no services rendered." 

 

A type of "insurance" to cover visitors who fall ill, are jailed for crimes, or simply "run out of money" would be prudent - but should be required of every non-Thai, based on the "permitted-stay" being sought (at entry-points or immigration-offices).  

 

Rates should be based on nationality - those from nations with more claims paying higher rates. 

 

Lower monthly fees could be made available to longer-stayers who choose to put money in a locked account - used to pre-fund a higher deductible.

[DLock]

2 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

"Tourists" or longer-stay foreigners?  A breakdown of that figure would be helpful.  Injuries by short-term tourists would likely be a big part of that figure.  As well, those coming from poorer countries would be less likely to be able to pay, so a breakdown by nation-of-origin is also needed to see the full-picture.

 

The "out-patient" coverage is just upsell-profits for the insurance companies - completely unnecessary, as "no money" = "no services rendered." 

 

A type of "insurance" to cover visitors who fall ill, are jailed for crimes, or simply "run out of money" would be prudent - but should be required of every non-Thai, based on the "permitted-stay" being sought (at entry-points or immigration-offices).  

 

Rates should be based on nationality - those from nations with more claims paying higher rates. 

 

Lower monthly fees could be made available to longer-stayers who choose to put money in a locked account - used to pre-fund a higher deductible.

 

Nope.

 

I can afford and happy to pay for myself, and expect everyone else to pay for themselves.

 

I am not in favor of socialism or me supporting deadbeats.

 

If you can't afford to live here, just go home. 

[simon43]

ex

... and simply have them convince these people how it would be in their best interest in paying what they owe pronto

 

LoL, off-topic but reminds me of my ex and her useless family when the loan sharks came each week to collect, gun in hand.  I made it very clear to these guys from the start that she was my ex and not to come after me for payment!  They used to pistol-whip my ex-BIL right there in the street.....  (interesting times in my life...)

[brokenbone]

1 minute ago, DLock said:

 

If you can't afford to live here, just go home. 

many a retiree, whether by disability or age,

are not fit to leave, unfortunately.

if i could, i'd be outa here already

[JackThompson]

9 minutes ago, DLock said:

 

Nope.

 

I can afford and happy to pay for myself, and expect everyone else to pay for themselves.

 

I am not in favor of socialism or me supporting deadbeats.

 

If you can't afford to live here, just go home. 

I am not a fan of socialism either - quite the opposite.  But what is being proposed in this article would likely remove your ability to buy your current insurance, and force you to buy a crappy plan instead.  See what is needed for the Non-O-X visas, as a preview - select offers from Thai companies including out-patient (which anyone with even a bit of money can pay out-of-pocket).

 

What I suggest would be an inexpensive way to prevent Farang-bashers from claiming we "cost Thailand money" - removing that stick to beat us with.  It would also ensure that short-term tourists have coverage (how else to know if they can afford care?).  It would also allow you to keep your existing coverage - whatever plan and company in the world you prefer.

 

Of course, the first thing we need to know, is what classes of visitors (type of visa/extension) and from what countries, are these deadbeats?  Without that info, it's hard to target the problem.

[shackleton]

Most of the retirees here on Thai Visa chose to retire in Thailand

we accept paying the yearly Non O visa  costs whether deposited in the bank or the monthly transfer

plus I am sure most will have  private Medical insurance cover or access to local hospitals if wife involved in working for the government ect

If you don't have medical cover and you know  there is change in the wind coming 

its a matter of choice if you want to stay here 

 

[moe666]

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

Find me a country in the world, if you can, where this does not happen. Even within the British NHS this question is asked unless you're resident there.

 

True first word in the US how will you be paying your bill. Many of the posters are unrealistic in their out look. There is defiantly a undercurrent of Thai hate in many of the responses. Yes 300 million isa lot of money for government hospitals no matter who runs up the bill. As usual the dead beats who run up the bill and do not pay and those who pay get to pay again by having some insurance plan forced on them. 

[johnarth]

4 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

They wheeled me to the ATM with an IV still in my arm.

me too, why the lies? it is not going to help anything

[tingtong]

wondering,

"many" claim centers with staff and salaries, and infrastructure and buildings.....willl it cost more or less than the alleged 300 million per year?

 

[roobaa01]

instead of perpetually bringing up this idiotic topic in the news without results, which makes people insecure, politician should give expats clear guidelines to plan for their thai families and themselves. expats supporting kids, wives want to know clearly what is required as they deserve it coz of their family support. hence i address the thaivisa moderation to seek counsel with big joke to get transperancy on the mandatory health insurance issue.

 

wbr

roobaa01

[Sealbash]

Since you missed it. Visit to the same doctor in private hospital by foreigner is 1000 baht , for Thai 500 baht.
 
and no hospitals do not give you price unless it’s a surgery and even then it usually goes over an estimate unless insurance is paying . 
 
When end you ask price to see doctor you get told a price , but never any mention of nursing fee or equipment use and that’s easily 300 on top

So.....no proof then?


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[fforest1]

31 minutes ago, mania said:

This is coming like a freight train

 

Any expats that cannot now afford med insurance (even if existing conditions driving prices thru the roof)

are well advised to start planning yesterday, Forget all the silly notions that they will just add a 5-15k baht fee to visas.

Your dreaming as insurance costs even in Thailand is well beyond that & you know it.

 

Anyone who later says they did not see this new required med insurance for expat retirees were just plain not watching.

This has been building & is coming to a boil

And what about visa exempt and tourist visas what about METVs what about ED visas ?........Do only farangs on one year extensions need medical care......Dont be so sure.....This is a highly complex subject....A good chance it will never happen...

[stanleycoin]

1 hour ago, DLock said:

 

You know you can leave any time and go to <insert country here>, right?

 

If you are not happy and can't afford to live here, feel free to leave and enjoy quality free healthcare in <insert country here>.

The go home post,  The ace in the hole, trump card.  So original. 

 

I got plenty of money and reasonably happy here.

 

But i don't feel wanted by the powers that be or a guest in Thailand. 

and i removed the colored glasses and stopped believing bar girls 18 years a go. good day. 

 

[rwill]

Let's say they get real lucky and recover half of the money.  They will still spend more on all the new bureaucracy.  And the government will lose even more money.

[Sealbash]

During a recent routine appointment my wife was told that the cost of dialysis is double for ferangs.

A nurse at Bangkok Pattaya hospital told me it is the same price.


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[watcharacters]

4 hours ago, rodney earl said:

After being ripped off by a hospital in Khon Kaen over a long period for 3 operations for the same thing and finally going home and getting the problem fixed in 2 weeks and no operation was needed. I have had enough and I am going home for good where medical care is soo much better and soo much cheaper.!!!

 

 

Wonderin' where you call "home".

 

In which hospital were you treated in Khon Kaen?

[fforest1]

3 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Retirees are only temporary here and are not immigrants so let's forget hare-brained schemes of universal healthcare eligibility or charging everyone a fixed fee to support them. 

 

Retirees should be made to provide evidence of mandatory health insurance given their age and the fact that their health is in decline as they get older both on visa application and annual renewal. 

 

If they cannot afford to pay or don't have the insurance their right to stay is revoked / denied.

 

I don't see a problem here and as others have stated if you are here on retirement then you should be planning for this eventuality going forward. 

There is already a mandatory health care system for retirees......Is called if you dont pay you dont get treated...

[Rally123]

5 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

After being charged two-tier Farang prices in Thai hospitals,  "Som Nam Nah" comes to mind.  

Government/State hospitals do NOT charge 'two-tier Farang prices'. Fact.

[evadgib]

7 minutes ago, Sealbash said:

A nurse at Bangkok Pattaya hospital told me it is the same price.

Mine was a Govt Hospital which all the more explains the surprise.

[robblok]

Oh dear all the foreigners insulted. I don't see the problem here about going after people who don't pay their bills. Why should they escape and not pay their bills if a service has been provided. 

 

Just more anti Thai sentiment for something that is perfectly normal, use a service.. pay the price don't skip out on your bill.

[Letseng]

4 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

300 million baht is a drop in the ocean compared to what comes in. 

Most of the injuries were probably caused by Thais in the first place anyway . 

Try making the place safer for tourists !

"Make the place safer for tourists..."

Yes, Stop selling alcohol. Then hear the tourists' outcry.

[Letseng]

24 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Retirees are only temporary here and are not immigrants so let's forget hare-brained schemes of universal healthcare eligibility or charging everyone a fixed fee to support them. 

 

Retirees should be made to provide evidence of mandatory health insurance given their age and the fact that their health is in decline as they get older both on visa application and annual renewal. 

 

If they cannot afford to pay or don't have the insurance their right to stay is revoked / denied.

 

I don't see a problem here and as others have stated if you are here on retirement then you should be planning for this eventuality going forward. 

"Retirees should be made to provide evidence of mandatory health insurance given their age and the fact that their health is in decline as they get older both on visa application and annual renewal. "

 

Not all folks over 60 are old and decrepit spending time in a wheelchair. Just remember, use your muscles or you loose them and with it goes your general health. Live a healthy life style.