Why is travel insurance important for expats in Thailand, particularly after a medical emergency?

@Mark ********

absolutely we are 52 and 60 with a heart attack

It’s not cheap, but for me, it’s a no brainer

i also used to get a full check up for less than 3000 baht at thonburi hospital and siriraj for less than that.. everything has now changed..

Hi Larry, a long time ago those were the prices and certainly not at this particular hospital. Public hospitals are still reasonable, the private ones are expensive now without insurance. also its relative to where you are from US hospitals are out of control..

@Nika *******

I'm curious where you're sourcing your information. To my knowledge the management team is made up of administrators from multiple countries of which the US is one. That would not be unusual for any institution seeking international credentials, investors and staff. That there is a McDonald's on the premises indicates nothing. That restaurant is a locally-owned franchise as are all McDonald's in Thailand. I hope you wouldn't suggest that by their presence in the county that Thailand is "owned" by the US.

@Rich ****

true! Hospital car park fees in UK are astronomical!!

@Justin *******

son in law went to see a consultant about his k er ,£ 650

My point was Thailand very affordable and quick

@Dennis **********

@Jody ******

Not at all. You are paying for talent, trying, education and training as well as the hospital infrastructure and administration.

@John ********

pointless droning on about alternative hospitals after the event. Anyway most don’t have luxury of planning where to be treated after an accident as just grateful for someone doing something

@Jody ******

that's not an answer

I had a bad motorcycle accident on the USA in 2006. I was ambulanced to Intensive Care with 6 fractured ribs, damaged legs and a concussion. I was there 3 nights and then ambulanced back to Canada. In Canada I was a week in Emergency and 3 months in Rehab (1 month of that at the facility and 2 months as an outpatient), and a year at a gymn and physio-with all that back to 99.44% pre-accident. My bill to my Canadian insurer for the US stay was just over $50,000 US. The insurer told me that they would negotiate it down. My Canadian doctors said that the care I received in the US was outstanding and they did everything that they could havevand should have (no expense spared!). The point is that yes, medical care is expensive and you are not just paying for the procedure, simple as it may be. You are paying for all the professionals' training and knowledge to get them there as well as the hospital and infrastructure. I read farangs complaining all the time about hospital costs here, but the costs in most cases are less than they would be in peoples' home countries. Not only that, but the service here is quick and efficient. Countries like mine (Canada) and England as well as others (perhaps the US or your country?) are struggling with an overloaded and under funded system with horrendous waiting times. I believe that anyone who travels should have medical insurance or the resources to pay the bills in case an emergency should arise. And if the emergency should arise and you have to pay, don't complain about being ripped off.

@John **********

Yes, but when you need it you need it!

@Boglárka *******

even with insurance, the companies will find a way not to pay out. It's a no win situation.

@John ********

not easy if you are involved in a serious accident or illness & the medical rescue pick up takes you straight to the nearest private hospital. Not happened to me yet thankfully.

@Chris *****************

i have lived here long enough to know that it does not cost 325,000b to fix 2 broken bones in an ankle. You don't need to stay that long there. Probably 4-5 hrs max. After xrays & fixing plaster on the ankle. Standatd procedure. So yes they were scammed

@Shannon *******

i case you walk and fall or any like that.. you can also get more expensive once what cover more.

@Bob *******

If you're okay with it, I guess...

It's just that some of the government hospitals are excellent, I use the army hospital in Korat (fort suranaree). Clean, cheap and offers most services.

@Bob *******

325,000b is certainly not a risk you can manage. You been totally screwed over. Do ur home work. Don't go private hospitals if no insurance. Go Government ones.

@Shannon *******

Cigna healthcare.. expensive and high deductible but they did pay right away.

@Chris *****************

heard thaksin is ok, but I would choose sirikit

@Robert ******

I had visited a physio in my own country for back pain related to lifting and caring for my elderly mother at home in the period before she died. This was 3 years before I took out insurance in Thailand, I had no lasting back injury, no lingering pain, was not taking any medication for back pain, had not required any surgery or ongoing physio in the preceding 3 years. Yet the insurance company excluded my entire spine from coverage

@Robert ******

i have high chlolestrol and hypertension, the insurance excluded all heart issues from the cover.

@John ********

What’s a gammon mush

@Ivan ***********

England is lost... I think everyone gets that by now...

@Ivan ***********

a 2014 article but never actually happened (or at least enforced).

Mind you, not sure anymore as I have been away from the UK for 15 years now.

@Patrick ****

Thanks for your answer. I think AXA bill hospital if you stay at least one night, otherwise pay alone and wait to take back.......

@Chris *****************

Thanks for answer. Looks nice but you know what cover or how pay.Monday I'll call my bank in Thailand to ask

@Chris *****************

took a few weeks, but, yes. Reimbursed. And think the insurance was approx 2500b pr year

@Ivan ***********

surprised it cost that much, my uncle had a stroke and was in ICU for 2 days and it still cost way less than that. At a private hospital.

@Robert *****

In a government hospital, u do not pay for the doctors! I always used Thamasat hospital. They may do more tests, but I was never charged for doctors. 2 glands removed for only baht. I chose general ward and saved about baht.

@Robert *****

because obviously you weren't insured

@Robert *****

maybe, but not 325k, I know that for a fact

@Rob***

it's still very cheap, even double is still cheap. It's much cheaper than private. 325k for a broken ankle is crazy money.

@Bob *******

I speak Thai no issues there.

@Jody ******

her husband said don't you think he could see it? what a strange question

@Bob *******

if she had surgery and had a few days overnight at the hospital, I would say it is about what it cost here as I had a similar experience last year. The care I got was amazing and it would have cost a lot more in my country. Wishing your wife a speedy and total recovery. Tell her to not undestimate the importance of doing physio therapy to keep her injured leg strong while she is in the non weight bearing phase. She will recover much faster when she can start putting weight again on her foot.

@Bob *******

My son recently got a bout of man flu but days later started losing the feeling in his hands and feet. After several hospital visits he went to Ram hospital where hevwas quickly diagnosed with Guillain-barre-syndrome and put in Immunoglobulin treatment which is the only cure. He started to have erratic heartbeat and crazy high blood pressure and intense pain in his spine. 10 days and 1 million baht later he was in a much better place but as he had no insurance it was the bank of Dad. I couldn't believe how expensive the Immunoglobulin was si checked on the Internet and it was still much cheaper than in the UK. Insurance can be a financial life saver (no pun intended). I'd never even heard of Guillain-barre-syndrome but its getting more common.

And I thought the USA was expensive. Still that is a rip off.

@Brent ******

I live here but have never contributed to Thai National Health Service. I don’t believe it’s correct that Thai taxpayers should subsidize my treatment in Government hospitals.

@Brent ******

the courts upheld hospitals double pricing in a lawsuit. TIT I choose to stay as overall I'm happy here and take the good with the bad.

@Brent ******

why would it be annoying if you were properly insured?