Convalesce here or at home? You decide!

[Guest shebavon]

A week ago, I had a motorbike accident. Here in Pattaya of all places. LOL

 

2 good friends took me to Bangkok Pattaya. Really good friends who turned on a dime, gave up the dinner they were on the way to, and accompanied me, since I was unable to walk.

 

Doogie Howser the Orthopedist quickly diagnosed fractured knee. It seems as I age, the Doctors get younger. Not to mention that I do not bounce like I used to.

 

This situation made me think, would I have been better off if the accident had occurred in the USA?

 

Let's see: Hospital, I will pick Bangkok Pattaya any day. They were so apologetic that I had to wait for a whole hour for the Orthopedist to see me. It took just minutes to be set up in the ER. Less than a half hour for X-ray and interpretation. And cost, less than 8000 baht. Including drugs.

 

Care: Again Pattaya. For a small sum of money, I have had round the clock attention in my condo including cooking all meals, and putting up with my insufferable ways.

 

Handicap access: I've got to give that one to the US.

 

Overall, on the whole I'd rather be here.

 

What say you? Any similar experiences?

[Gaybutton]

2 good friends took me to Bangkok Pattaya. Really good friends who turned on a dime, gave up the dinner they were on the way to, and accompanied me, since I was unable to walk.

I'm not modest. The two good friends were RichLB and myself. First, we're sorry you had the accident, but we were both happy we were able to help you. You bring up several important points:

 

One is that it is nice, as well as important, to have friends upon whom you can rely, especially here. A bad situation can only become worse if you find yourself alone and in trouble given the language difficulties that can arise. It provides tremendous peace of mind to know that you can depend on friends coming to the rescue when something happens. This time it happened to you, but we are all aware that something can go terribly wrong in anyone's life at any moment, especially since we aren't getting any younger.

 

Another important point is the quality of care available here. The hospitals here are excellent, with competent, caring staff. Sometimes I hear about people who return to their home countries for treatment. The only reason I can think of to avoid health care in Thailand would be if insurance won't cover you any other way. When I have had to be in hospitals, or take friends to hospitals, the care given is far better than anything I ever received in the USA, that's for sure!

 

Granted, Pattaya is not exactly noted for being 'handicapped friendly,' but it's slowly, but surely, improving. At least you can get around at all. If I have to be confined, I'd much rather be confined here than where I came from.

 

Here in Pattaya, whenever you need help from your friends we're only a phone call away. I wouldn't bet the farm on being able to depend on the same thing in the USA.

 

Regarding the age of the orthopedic doctor, yes he was young and good looking, but I wouldn't let that throw you:

 

In the film, "Flight of the Phoenix" (the 1965 original with James Stewart - not that lousy remake) during one argument Dorfmann is reminded that Captain Towns is a highly experienced pilot with many years under his belt. Dorfmann responds by saying, "That is precisely the problem. He has remembered everything and learned nothing."

 

[Guest fountainhall]

What say you?

 

No similar experience - yet! But I'd far rather be treated here than at a National Health Service hospital in the UK.

[PattayaMale]

I am fortunate to have really good health insurance which pays here in Thailand or in the US. During 2008 I had to have a few major health problems taken care of. I feel the care I would have received in Los Angeles would have been as good as here. But the nursing care is more personal and caring here.

 

I am also very fortunate to have a Thai friend that looked after me after my discharge. He was absolutely fantastic and that is something I would not have had in the US.

 

Insurance is automatic in the US and here I have to call and make sure they will guarantee the costs and then fax outpatient bills for payment.

 

So my choice would be to have care here in Thailand.

 

By the way that was nice of GB and RichLB to be of help.

[Guest laurence]

One is that it is nice, as well as important, to have friends upon whom you can rely, especially here..

 

I believe I could count more on my friends in Thailand then I could ever do in the USA in case of an emergency.

 

Regarding medical care, my insurance is unlikely to cover expenses in Thailand, so for major procedures, I would have to do this in the US.

[mahjongguy]

I have lived here for a few years. Had one very major surgery and lots of lesser stuff. My answer is unequivocal: getting the medical care here, and recovering here, is the only way to go.

 

But these treatments were elective and this is a good time to point out that major medical care here requires payment in advance regardless of your insurance coverage. Bangkok Pattaya does its best to work with you but if you fall out of your zimmer and break your hip they will ask for 200,000 to 300,000 baht up front. I keep that much in the bank, of course, but on weekends I can only pull 50,000 a day from the ATM. Just mentioning.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

After being in the health care industry in the US for nearly 40 years, I can that I much prefer the care given here in Thailand. They have enough staff to provide the care people need when they are ill. I remember my job as an RN, 2 days in a row I was given an assignment of caring for 28 patients with one nursing assistant to help me. Over the years staffing got better, but RN's are still overloaded with responsibility in the US.

[Guest MonkeySee]

What say you? Any similar experiences?

I have been lucky enough to avoid having to use the hospital system for any surgery or accidents. I have had dental work done and check-ups. The doctors and nurses seem very good and knowledgable. In an emergency, I would feel comfortable with the care at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. For elective surgery, as anywhere else, I would obtain a second opinion.

 

[Guest RichLB]

My experience with medical care here convinces me that Thailand is far superior than what I could expect sorting through the insurance and hospital games in the US. 3 years ago I had to have major surgery. I was told by my doctor in the US that it would take up to a year to get the authorizations from my HMO (yuck, a terrible health care option, I know) and by that time I would have been dead. In addition the cost in the US would have been in excess of $300,000. As I was leaving for Thailand the day after I got my diagnosis I hightailed it to Bumrungrad the day after arrival. I saw a specialist that day, had a cat scan, MRI, Bone scan, Blood scan, heart check, and a myriad of other tests the next day. The day after that I went under the knife and was in the hospital for 10 days. During that time I saw the surgeon, heart doctor, pulmonologist, physical therapist, and god knows who else every day. All the nurses were registered nurses (no candy stripers) and I could not have been more impressed with the quality of care. The total cost here in Thailand was $13,000.

 

I don't have a similar experience back in the states, but from friends who do (and have survived the nightmare of medical care at home) I think Thailand is a far better option. The only exception might be if your problem required some exotic equipment not available outside more developed countries.

[2lz2p]

I have had minor surgery at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital (BPH) and have been well satisfied with the care. (inserting pins into a broken wrist, still required general anesthesia as well as an angiogram and andgioplasty). Similarly, I am well satisfied with my regular physicians at BPH (cardiologist, urologist, internal medicine, and dermatologist). My US health insurance covers my treatment here, but so far I have always been able to pay the bill and then file a claim for reimbursement.

 

However, if I should need major surgery/treatment that I can't cover in advance, my insurance company has a 24/7 telephone number for obtaining a "guarantee" when being treated outside the USA. I have placed this insurance information on file with BPH in case I might be unconscious or otherwise incapable of communication on admission. I also keep that number in my wallet along with my US insurance card and Bangkok Hospital Card.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I also keep that number in my wallet along with my US insurance card and Bangkok Hospital Card.

WOW!!! What US insurance company is that?

[Guest shebavon]

Per 2lz2p "I have placed this insurance information on file with BPH in case I might be unconscious or otherwise incapable of communication on admission. I also keep that number in my wallet along with my US insurance card and Bangkok Hospital Card."

 

Thank you for that excellent suggestion. I will most certainly do that.

[Guest Astrrro]

First off glad you're well enough to post Shevabon.

 

Friends are important but perhaps even more crucial in Thailand. So you are blessed to have such good friends.

 

Everyone knows the health care system in America is a mess. But even more difficult for those of us who spend lots of time in Thailand but some time at home. Given that health care is so inexpensive in Thailand it's strange that it's often problematic to collect from USA insurance companies for medical treatment in Thailand. You would think insurance companies would encourage people to get their medical treatment in Thailand.

 

And how do you travel home with peace of mind if you only have coverage in Thailand?

 

What's needed is an insurance product that only covers emergencies in the USA and the premium is prorated based on the amount of days one's in America.

 

And an insurance card which requires no upfront payment except for the deductible.

 

Jumping through hoops to get pre-authorization or collect payment is not a pet peeve but a national disgrace.

[Guest shebavon]

"What's needed is an insurance product that only covers emergencies in the USA and the premium is prorated based on the amount of days one's in America."

 

I have heard that BUPA has a product that will cover the insured anywhere in the world but the USA.

 

Fortunately for me, my insurance covers out of the country as "out of network", albeit at a lower rate of remuneration.

 

You are right, as cheap as medical care is here and in some other countries, you would think that US insurers would be offering "medical holidays" to cut their costs.

 

[PattayaMale]

Another thing I like here are the rooms and the fact that someone can spend the night in the room on a sofa. I think the only exception is when you are in ccu.

 

I have Blue Cross insurance. So far there has been no co-pay for doctor visits. Which is a surprise because when in the USA I must pay $10. I do have to send in a medical form for reimbursement but since Blue Cross lets me FAX it in it is easy. Anytime I need to stay in the hospital I call Blue Cross collect and they give me a case number which is used by the hospital to collect a direct payment.

 

But with the economic downturn, my insurance which has been a retirement benefit may change....which would not be good news

[Guest jimnbkk]

My experience at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital was also very good. I have a few comments to what has preceeded me:

 

The recovery from gall-bladder removal operation I had was uneventful, thank goodness. The doctor was excellent, the response immediate, the nurses sweet, the room palatial. I believe the techniques used in modern USA hospitals maybe would not have left the 7-inch scar i now sport on my tummy, but I'm not complaining (too much).

 

My Medicare Supplemental insurance covers me for a maximum of 60 days out of the country, so I have to be careful how long I stay. Because of my age I cannot get insurance in Thailand. (65 max, right?). BP was willing to charge my care to my credit card, and my credit card company, bless their heart, was very cooperative. (I get 80% of my cost back from the insurance when I apply for reimbursement. This time I actually got about 88% because of currency fluctuations).

 

Bottom line: I'm comfortable with my health care when I'm in Thailand. I had the good fortune at the time to be with a Thai boy who made sure that I was not alone at any time when I was in the hospital. His mom, or he, or a friend of his mom was always with me. If I even took too deep a breath somebody was immediately standing next to me. Very comforting. Only problem, the beds at BP are really uncomfortable. Maybe they've improved by now. Hope I don't have to find out.

 

 

[Guest lester1]

The posts here pretty much agree about the quality and price of care here in Pattaya. However, perhaps this is the place to repeat one of the possible nightmares that could occur to an unwary visitor or resident.

You are travelling home alone, perhaps returning from the beach or bar. Through no fault of your own, you are involved in a traffic accident or mugging resulting in you lying unconscious in the road. If you are lucky, police or concerned civilians come to your aid. A quick pocket search reveals a small amount of money, a single credit card, some keys and not much else. You then might be dumped into the back of a baht bus or again if you are lucky and because you are a farang into an ambulance and be taken to a hospital. I do not know how they decide which one. Hopefully. your injuries will get priority treatment but in the back of a hospital's mind will be the thought about whether you are medically insured. So far, none of your friends know what has happened to you or where you are. The hospital also doesnt know who you are, where you live, what nationality you are, and what to do with you once primary care has been administered.

Know one is there to fight your corner, find out about medical insurance details, tell who needs to be told, all in the crucial hours immediately after the incident that caused all this.

So remember that 'it wont happen to me' is a nonsense. Just sit there now, imagine its you in hospital, and calculate how long it would be before the people who you would want to know about your predicament are finally made aware. I can imagine being in a bar a day later and someone might say 'anybody seen Fred tonight'

Always carry ID, address and a copy of your passport details, even if its a pain.

[Guest laurence]

Good advice lester1. I do carry the essentials plus the name/number of an emergency contact in Thailand and, of course, American Express card. Also on your cell phone include an ICE (in case of emergency) Number. The cell phone is the first thing many first responders will check. Of course if it is a pricey one, then maybe someone will pocket it as you lie crushed in the middle of the road.

[Guest shebavon]

Lester, that is good advice.

 

Truth is, that scenario could happen anywhere in the world.

[Guest fountainhall]

Always carry ID, address and a copy of your passport details, even if its a pain.

 

Yes, excellent advice. But what happens if these documents are in a bag or your walllet which is stolen by the attackers? You're back to square one, alas.

[Gaybutton]

Yes, excellent advice. But what happens if these documents are in a bag or your wallet which is stolen by the attackers? You're back to square one, alas.

Well, you could always have your name, address, and passport information tattooed onto yourself . . .

[Guest Geezer]

I have always assumed my wallet and credit cards would disappear in an emergency.

 

In addition to the afore mentioned measures one can put emergency contact information on items of no value. I carry a small pocket notebook and a card case. Taped conspicuously on them is emergency contact information.

 

I have considered obtaining army dog tags with the information on them. While they don’t confer the “status” (???) of gold I don’t think they would be noticeable when worn under a shirt.

 

In fact, if someone from the US is coming over in a couple of months and wants to contact me, I will order and pay for a set of tags for both of us and have them delivered to his residence.

 

And yes, I do wear a belt and suspenders.