Private hospitals instructed not to charge medical fees for Covid-19

[webfact 79,126]

Private hospitals instructed not to charge medical fees for Covid-19

By THE NATION

 

 

The Public Health Ministry has prohibited private hospitals from charging Covid-19 patients medical fees, with the Department of Health Service Support already informing hospitals and medical centres nationwide, department director-general Tares Krassanairawiwong said.

 

“We asked all medical facilities to treat patients within their total capacity, and use evidence of medical expenses to reimburse fees in line with the ministry’s criteria,” he said. “However, patients with life or health insurance need to exercise their insurance right first.”

 

Tares said his department has dispatched staff to check on hospitals which charged Covid-19 patients – cases which netizens have brought to light – and has already discussed the issue of fee exemption with them.

 

Covid-19 patients or relatives living in Bangkok, who are charged medical fees, can inform the department via phone number 021937057, or any provincial public health office in which the patient or relatives live.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30385483

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-04-06

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[Polaky 177]

Step in the right direction

[SantiSuk 3,393]

Wow - a touch of socialism being exercised by the regime? Could anyone see Trump going down this route?

 

Speaking as one who thought he would be able to buy his way into decent treatment if the worst befell me (with my co-morbidities), I should be disappointed.

 

My moral compass tells me otherwise and I applaud it.

[4MyEgo 14,917]

I read something earlier saying it is for Thai's only, e.g. they said if you have private cover as a farang, you should use it and then the government will reimburse you, or the insurer, hopefully the insurer, because I don't have faith in 3rd parties such as the Thai government.

Edited April 6, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[kevin612 1,258]

I doubt it, hospitals will still provide you a private bill. Even Thai people are still 50/50. Stay safe, folks.

[time2093 615]

29 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I read something earlier saying it is for Thai's only, e.g. they said if you have private cover as a farang, you should use it and then the government will reimburse you, or the insurer, hopefully the insurer, because I don't have faith in 3rd parties such as the Thai government.

Why would it be any difference?, of course a falang would not be covered.

[4MyEgo 14,917]

4 minutes ago, time2093 said:

Why would it be any difference?, of course a falang would not be covered.

Because some farangs think that the public hospitals will cover them for their costs.

[The Stranger 142]

Something tells me that this won't be applied to foreigners... 

[Enzian 822]

If you go back and read the English translation of the PM's speech to the nation last week he says clearly that this disease is part of a national emergency which will be treated free of charge at all hospitals, with no exceptions mentioned. Clearly the way this will play out in practice remains to be seen, but the policy I think has been the official position for quite some time now. I posted about it after his speech, and I'm surprised there has not been more discussion of his statement.

[grumbleweed 4,272]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Private hospitals instructed not to charge medical fees for Covid-19

Which the hospitals will interpret as "Don't treat Covid patients

[from the home of CC 9,265]

called this a month ago - no choice really..

[FritsSikkink 12,707]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I read something earlier saying it is for Thai's only, e.g. they said if you have private cover as a farang, you should use it and then the government will reimburse you, or the insurer, hopefully the insurer, because I don't have faith in 3rd parties such as the Thai government.

It is for everybody who has social security, so Thais and foreigners with a work permit. If you have private coverage, you should use that first. 

[FritsSikkink 12,707]

29 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Because some farangs think that the public hospitals will cover them for their costs.

If you have a work permit and pay your taxes, your social security will cover you.

[ChrisY1 11,880]

The elite owners won't like this.....but then again, there'll likely be funding somewhere for them to feed on.

[RichardColeman 26,530]

I imagine farang may get free covid cover, but the treatment of the urgent long toe nails being clipped is half million