Thailand

How much does treatment in Thailand cost without insurance

GThey say that treatment in Thailand for tourists costs a lot of money. And they say that the high cost of treatment is associated not only with exceptional situations requiring long hospital stays, but mainly with basic care, for example, with common viral diseases. Perhaps so, but the fact is that standard insurance usually covers all costs in most cases. But what to do if the insurance is over, how much does treatment in Thailand really cost without insurance, and is it so expensive?

How I got sick in Thailand on Koh Samui

Less than a month had passed since our arrival in Thailandand I ended up at the hospital. A few days after arriving in Koh Samui, we decided to rent a scooter and visit one of the non-touristic Hin Lad waterfalls, located in the middle of the jungle on the Lipa Yai River.

So, we went to climb the "top" of Hin Lad, admire the beautiful views and swim under the waterfall. So, in general, it all worked out. The sun and a cloudless sky accompanied us all the time, but then suddenly clouds swooped in and heavy and unexpectedly cold rain began to fall.

While we went down to the upper level of the waterfall and walked through the forest about 2 kilometers to our bike, I got soaked through and started to sneeze. The next morning I realized that I was sick.

At first I thought it was just a reaction of the body to hypothermia, but by the evening I felt even worse. Having bought a thermometer and measured the temperature, we realized that I could not do without a doctor - the thermometer showed 38.9 °.

According to the law of meanness, at that moment our old insurance issued for three months had just ended, and we had not yet issued a new one.

What I read before I found myself in a difficult situation:

Medical care in Thailand is expensive. A complete lack of insurance can lead to significant debt in the event of a serious accident and, at best, get rid of a significant part of the savings. To visualize the scale of these costs, it should be noted that the most common consultation in a hospital starts from 3 thousand rubles. The cost of admission, taking into account the prescription of medicines in a small amount, will reduce the tourist budget by 8-10 thousand rubles. Every day of hospitalization in case of a more serious illness or a broken limb costs from 5 to 30 thousand rubles. Hospitalization, laboratory tests and medication due to food poisoning is about 40-60 thousand rubles. Therefore, travel insurance for a trip to Thailand is the only guarantee against such huge costs ...

I didn’t think I didn’t guess that I would personally have to check the correctness of such statements seen on the website of one of the well-known insurance companies.

Samui Hospital in Nathon - Samui Government Hospital

They decided to go to the state clinic in Nathon - Samui Government Hospital he is (Koh Samui hospital, Nathon Hospital. Even when we were just preparing for a trip to Thailand, and I read various blogs and forums, I came across stories about treatment without a policy or when the insurance company refused to return the money.


People wrote that in private clinics count a round sum for quite standard procedures, one doctor's appointment can cost two thousand baht, they do tests, whether they are needed or not, plus the services of an interpreter.

Maybe such bills are rolled up only for insurance, although, in essence, what's the difference. Of course, the situations may be different. If someone has a similar experience and in general the experience of treatment in Thailand, please unsubscribe.

Samui Clinic Information Desk
In the clinic, right at the entrance, to the right, there is a help desk for all questions

About Koh Samui hospital, we first looked for information on the Internet. We found that the doctors there are good and everything, in general, everything is normal, but you have to wait a very long time for your turn - there are a lot of people.

Moreover, they write that only Thais visit it and the staff does not speak English at all. This turned out not to be the case. And now I will tell you and show you what is happening inside the hospital and how the work of doctors and medical staff is organized.

Arrival at the clinic and initial examination

Well, you have to go to the hospital. In order not to blow even more, I put on a jacket with a hood, on top of the hood - a helmet. We drove very slowly and for a long time, and when we arrived, I realized that I no longer had any strength left: to find the nearest bench, sit down and sit, and even better, lie down.

The husband went to look for the registry, then returned to me with a nurse. She put the thermometer in, waited a bit, pulled it out, looked at it and asked if I could go on my own.

As I later saw on the sheet, she wrote my temperature as 39. In Russia, with such a temperature, an ambulance is already being called to the house. But surprisingly, in the Thai climate, it is easier to tolerate, apparently because there is not such a big difference between body and air temperature.

How to book an appointment with a doctor

It was very noisy in the hospital: everyone was talking, walking back and forth, there were a lot of people. I immediately remembered our Russian polyclinics, where everyone sits quietly and speaks almost in a whisper.

Later I understood why there is so much noise and voices here. At first, the whole organization of the process was for me some kind of quest with an unknown result: come here, sit here, sit there. But when we got to the doctor's office, the system for registering patients in this clinic fit in my head. So, I'm telling.

First thing you need to come with documents in window labeled "Registration unit"located opposite the main entrance on the right. They enter data for a new patient, and also issue a card.

Reception Koh Samui Hospital
Registration window, there was no queue here

In the same half of the hall there are several tables with signs #30 and #40. In zone 30, nurses measure temperature and blood pressure, ask for symptoms, record all this and transmit information to zone 40, where they already determine which doctor to go to.

Hall of Koh Samui Hospital
These tables are in the hall to the right of the entrance ...

Everything does not happen quickly: first, the line to the first table, then you wait for the girl from the second table to call your name into the microphone. I approached, they gave me a card and showed me to the doctor's office, in the second half of the hall, on the contrary. There was also a line, however, quite small, only three people.

That is why there is such a buzz in the hall: the primary information about the patient is collected in one common room, they also periodically speak into the microphone.

In the same place at each table there is a device - you can measure your weight and height. An unusual system for Russia, where everyone decides for himself which doctor he needs to go to and registers with a specific doctor at the registry.

About the knowledge of the clinic staff of English

We were very happy when we learned that even junior staff speaks English language. And the doctor says just fine! By analogy with Russia, imagine that in a clinic with a visiting foreigner, someone immediately began to speak English like this.

When we heard a speech that was understandable to us, it immediately became twice as easy. Now I knew that there would be no problems with the diagnosis due to misunderstandings. But the bonuses didn't end there.

At the doctor's appointment at Koh Samui Hospital

The doctor was a pleasant young woman. She again listened to my symptoms, looked at my ear, said that I had a viral inflammation and otitis, and prescribed a large pile of drugs. I know that Thais like to play it safe in such cases. For example, at home, among all this mass, we found allergy pills and painkillers.

In fact, we were sure that I would immediately be sent for a blood test. At such a high temperature on the islands, it is done immediately to understand that it is not malaria, or vice versa, to determine the presence of this virus in the blood.

Reception of analyzes
They take tests here...

But apparently, according to my symptoms, it was already clear that I did not have malaria. However, the doctor warned that if the temperature remains at the same level tomorrow, it will be necessary to immediately go to the hospital and do a blood test.

Prescribed drug dispensing system

She immediately entered all the data about my symptoms and prescribed medications into her computer program in front of me. And again we were pleased with the organization.

It's good that the drugs no need to buy in some city pharmacy, they are issued right there, in the hospital. Moreover, strictly under the order, how many tablets of this and that medicine are needed, so much will be put. Thus, the patient does not overpay, and after the treatment there are no different half-empty boxes with pills left at home. In addition, medicines in the hospital are bought in bulk, and the price of drugs is lower for the patient. Why have we not thought of this before in Russia?

First you need to go to the cashier (cashier), which is located to the right of the reception and pay the bill issued by the doctor. After that you need to come to the dispensing window (OPD pharmacy). There are several people who work very quickly collect the order. They receive information from the general system of the clinic, and by the time we arrived, everything had already been packaged and signed.

Medications
They prescribed a lot of drugs. Everything seems to work, but how much does it cost?

It is convenient that each medicine was placed in a separate bag, and stickers were pasted on top, where it was printed in English what kind of drug it was and how it should be used. They do this especially for foreign patients.

This is what I mean by service. And attention! Probably the point of interest to everyone: how much does such treatment cost in Thailand?

So, we paid only 350 baht for a doctor’s appointment and medication, which is a “tidy” amount of around 700 rubles ...

I want to say right away that, of course, I understand that situations are completely different both in the nature of the disease and in its severity, and in no way diminish the importance of full-fledged travel insurance. I'm just stating the fact that everything is not so catastrophically scary as insurers paint.

Re-admission

You can make an appointment for a second appointment right away, I was appointed to it in a week. That is, you do not need to go through the entire recording procedure again.

I repeat once again that even though the treatment turned out to be quite inexpensive, I by no means urge you to live in Thailand without insurance. Insurance is important, necessary and mandatory. Learn from the mistakes of others, friends, and be healthy!

Food court at Nathon hospital
Food court in the clinic - without it, no way ...

And this is a mini-market right in the hospital and you can eat right there. This is Thailand, here the food court is an obligatory component of every institution that is more or less self-respecting.

My conclusion and advice: if you feel that you are sick and have something serious to do with it, then go to the nearest state clinic - it is convenient, inexpensive, and of high quality.

Well, better, do not get sick, but visit the Dipabhavan meditation center - an unforgettable experience! Read about my retreat experience on koh samui and decide...

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2 Comments

  1. I read such information (the one below) on one of the insurance sites. I understand that this is only so that everyone must buy insurance policies. I am convinced that a policy is needed, but why scare the people like that, or are these prices taken not from state, but from private clinics?
    Fever, nausea The policy covered the cost of internal medicine and one day's hospitalization. 7 100 baht
    Sudden illness: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain. The policy covered the cost of visiting a therapist, laboratory tests and medications. 3 600 baht
    Scooter accident: common injuries. The policy covered the cost of hospitalization and return to the country. 102,000 baht
    Symptoms: shortness of breath, chest tightness, weakness. The policy covered the costs of internal medicine, laboratory diagnostics and medicines. 12,000 baht
    Appendic attack. The policy covered the cost of surgery, hospitalization, follow-up visits, and clothing changes. 25,000 baht
    Accident - during the trip, the monkey bit the tourist in the finger. The policy covered the cost of dressing the wound and a series of rabies vaccines. 4 200 baht
    Ankle sprain while walking. The policy covered the costs of an orthopedist and radiologist and diagnostic imaging. 2 500 baht

  2. Completely agree with the content of the article. The fact is that any treatment in Thailand in the absence of a policy can cost a pretty penny, especially if we talk about expensive private hospitals, which are already accustomed to receiving good amounts from rich farangs. But in order to get absolutely high-quality care at a relatively low price, you need to contact a state hospital. The price can be less than 10 times!

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