Phuket Thailand

senor123 · #1 11-09-2006, 16:41

A while ago LIL issued some advice about getting medical insurance for your Thai g/f if you are in a long term relationship.

Due to a sad event in LIL's life he was up for considerable hospital expenses.
I thought, "I can't believe that that could happen to me".

Well, it didn't happen to me but these are the hospitalisation events that have happened to my g/f over the past 2 years.

Motorbike accident .... 1 day in hospital.
Deep cut to wrist whilst preparing meal ... 3 days in hospital plus micro surgery.
Motorbike accident again..... 1 day in hospital.
Serious car accident ... 5 days in intensive care.
Urgent operation..... 2 days in Phuket Hospital then 5 days in Bangkok hospital after complications.

Don't worry, it's not a scam as I have been presented with the photos and bills to prove it.

The hospitals have been at the upper end of the scale.

I still haven't taken out hospital cover for her but I'm going to do it soon. It would have been a fraction of the cost of the bills I have paid!!!!

I don't know why I don't listen.

Steve

shark1963 · #2 11-09-2006, 16:59

Thats something i was also thinking about. But what are the costs of such an insurance for a thai person. Lets say my gf + one kid? Any ideas?

LivinLOS · #3 11-09-2006, 17:07

@Steve, Sorry to hear about her misfortunes and your expenses..

Thai person medical can be as low as a couple of 1000 but limits them to wachira and other low end hospitals..

For about 8 - 10k per annum they get access to the lower end of the good hospitals.. This is enough to have peace of mind, they get a private room, access to good docs, about as good as NHS in UK, maybe a little under on the access to equipment like MRI etc but probably a little better / more attentive nursing care (labours cheap)..

For 15 up to 20 you have first class medical cover, access to Phuket Bangkok International Hospital, air medivac to BKK / Bruminggrad should it be needed, specialists, the works..

You can spend up to maybe 40k but good policies exist at those prices.

I recently saw another way of cheaply doing it which was to take a low end policy with limits and a seperate insurance to pay 90% of everything over those limits.. It worked out in the 5 - 8k from memory and would have been pretty good value as you only paid 10% of anything over 500k per injury.. So if its a major drama your still only paying 10% of the top end.

steve@thaib · #4 11-09-2006, 18:27

Is there not a '20 baht a visit' scheme (or something like that) been set up now? I'm not sure about the details, but I'm pretty sure that they came up with a scheme where they all pay a little bit each month and then have access to medical care free of charge?

LivinLOS · #5 11-09-2006, 19:57

The scheme exists... But unless you want her to see the back of a passing apprentice doctor once a week then forget it.. Its not medical care unless your options are lieing in the gutter or that !!

I have seen some people caught in the 20 baht system.. Basic consult with an apprentice, no real emergency and the cheapest generic meds if they are allowed.. It truly is one of those systems where cost decides and people die even though they could be saved.

steve@thaib · #6 11-09-2006, 20:28

Didn't realise it was quite so basic.