Thailand HEALTHCARE - Costs, Quality, Risks and Getting Sick 🇹🇭
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.พ. 2024
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After 10 days of being sick, I am finally back! This week I talk about the different ways you can get sick in Thailand, ways to prevent it, how insurance and pharmacies work here and discuss the actual quality and costs of healthcare in Thailand.
Two days after publishing this video, I realized I never listed the healthcare prices I wanted to list. I will add them to this description this week. My brain is not 100% back I guess.
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I've been living in Pattaya for about 3 years. Never had any serious illness yet. I don't carry insurance as a doctor's visit is so cheap here. I stay away from crowded restaurants, clubs, and bars and keep contact with the general public at a bare minimum. If I'm not feeling well I just tell the pharmacist my symptoms and they can usually give me meds for it. It's worked pretty well for me. With the visa I have I'm not required to carry insurance or a bank balance. I did however got all of the necessary inoculations and a check up b4 coming here. Also had all of my dental work done prior to also. I make it a point to always wash my hands after going out and before eating.
You’re not worried about getting in a bike or car accident?
@@peteonretreat2023 I sold my brand new motorbike because it was just too dangerous and I really don't need it here in the city. You can take a Bolt taxi just about anywhere for 40 baht or i just take a baht bus if im traveling local. I am however, VERY careful about crossing the street. That's the biggest danger that I worry about. 😉
Hi Pete, we here in Oz must be very fortunate on most occasions a visit like you described to the Dr would be free and the medication ranges between $6-$15 each. We have a very good health care system if you are a citizen. Cheers Heath
Cheers… coming from America I’ve got low expectations 😂 cheers
Great summary. I hope you’re back to full strength soon.
Day by day, thanks for the well wishes Stash’
Another great episode Pete. Glad you are feeling better. Health care is good to excellent here in Thailand compared to the USA for me. And about 1/3 to 1/5 the cost... Had a Colonoscopy with polyp removal and biopsy testing for 20k baht. Dermatologist, had several treatments of skin pre-cancer and biopsy testing. Several other ailments and treatments done here in Pattaya as well. I am 65 smoke and drink and had a damn hard life ...Hahaha Muscle aches and pains I take care of myself, with massages, stretching, also went twice to the acupuncture guy on 3rd road Have had several bouts with Gastrointestinal problems..GI cleansing I call it. Never went to doctor as staying hydrated and eating right is all you can do to heal from those IMO. Yes I have 5 million baht health insurance, but with a 40k deductible... Keep up the good work Pete.
Thanks for sharing your healthcare experiences here. Yeah, not much else I can about my back but get massages and take care of it myself.
Are you willing to say what company you use and what your monthly cost is for "... I have 5 million baht health insurance, but with a 40k deductible.." Just trying to plan a budget..
Informative pete, hope you get well soon!
Thank you 🙏🏼
Thumbs up 👍 Pete
My pleasure 👨⚕️ MSR
Interesting. Thanks for sharing, Pete. I got hit HARD by Covid when I was in Spain about 6 months ago. You said you tested negative, but physical pains do still crop up here and there, and I've otherwise always been in very good health. As for Thailand .. I've been three times (mostly Bangkok, but also Chiang Mai and Railay Beach), on extended stays, and never once got sick. And despite being an RN in America, I never pre-medicated or took precautions before leaving. Only precautions (multi-vit boosts) before getting on a long flight with other westerners. And I ate almost entirely street food or at the mom and pop small restaurants .. but never western food. I think one of the factors for not getting sick .. could be .. that I never stayed in the touristy areas. Just a guess, but I'd think we westerners bring a lot of sickness with us. But is it the overturn of food? .. The less sanitary measures? (Thai street vendors probably don't care as much about tourists they will never see again, as opposed to locals or their neighborhood food stalls). But the rural, back market places that I ate at .. not once did I get an achy belly, diarrhea, nothing. I didn't ever drink the water, but I did shower x2 daily, brush my teeth often, etc. Also, use your brain, people .. lol. For example, if you see sushi that looks like it's been sitting out all day .. no matter how tempting, maybe pass on that. Any meat that is not actively on some slow heating grill or something, and it's late in the day .. pass. Etc. Also, the local pharmacists are very helpful, knowledgable and available. A big help, and as you say, Pete .. cheap! Thanks for the great vid. Glad you're feeling better.
I have a couple Thai friends that seem to get a stomach bug (diarrhea) every month or two after eating late night Thai barbecue (mookatah) so it does depend on what and where you eat. Some of us I think are just generally healthier and more resistant to these things I think. I’m glad you seem to be one of them.
I like the apartment vibe video!
Thanks. It’s came out darker than I thought it would be. I’ll do this format occasionally… like when I’ve been sick 😂
Excellent video, Pete! Good to know that once insured in Thailand, you cannot be dropped. Best wishes for you being 100% very soon. Take care, Mark O.
Yes, very good news indeed. Thank you for your well wishes 🙏🏼
Thanks Pete
My pleasure 🙏🏼
Very good video!
Thank you 🙏🏼
I use genki insurance and at 53, it’s about $85/ month.
Good to know, thank you 🙏🏼
I’ll check them out.
@@peteonretreat2023 Pete, also includes so many weeks of coverage in USA every 90 days outside. I believe it’s 5 weeks every 90 days or 180 days? Haven’t had to use it yet so hopefully it’s ok? Any suggestions for a dentist in pattaya? I will be in Thailand for march.
It’s 6 weeks every 6 months of coverage for USA
@@jameshall2299 wow, that’s impressive. I’ll be heading to the US to visit next year so this may be perfect for me.
I don’t have a dentist yet. I’m such a horrible procrastinator… it’s on my list for this month.
Glad to know you are doing better. Very good info. Diphteria you are probably vaccinated. It is included in DTaP. Good idea to get Typhoid vaccine if you are traveling rural areas in SEA. As everybody knows the other diseases that are common with expats and tourist alike are STDs but that's a whole other topic. It would be great when you research and get the local insurance you make a video on the different options, costs and what you found out. Also, what do you do for regular check ups and dentist?
I got a typhoid vax before I left the states but still need to do the Japanese encephalitis (it’s not very common but can be very dangerous). I haven’t been doing any regular checkups out here and finally going to the dentist is on my list for this month. I plan on talking about all of that stuff as I get it done. 🙏🏼
Great point about budgeting for health care over the years. It gets more and more difficult as you get older to even get much less pay for health care insurance. I seem to remember there were companies that won't give you coverage if you were over 70.
As for coverage outside Thailand- I looked into Cigna last year and they had worldwide coverage that even included short term trips to the US. Their Asia only coverage excluded SG, HK and China so something to be aware of (as Pete mentioned about his coverage not covering SG). The one that covered everywhere was fairly expensive, however. I mean, not as expensive as US health insurance but nearly 50% of that cost.
One last thing to consider- which hospitals does your insurance pay for? Perhaps you want to go to one of the higher end private hospitals (Bumrungrad Hospital or Bangkok Hospital) for any surgeries. Which ones have direct pay to the hospital so you don't have to pay first then get the insurance to pay the hospital back?
I’ve heard that about being over 70 too. I read it’s best to try to pick a company as early as possible to stick with if you’re in your 60s and this is why.
Yup, checking out what hospitals a company does direct pay to can save you a lot of hassle. It’s something that I mentioned when I filmed but cut for time. My original video was almost 30 minutes long! 😅
My Safetywing is only $45/month. Perks of being younger I guess 😅
Lol yup. That was the rate I was kind of expecting when I first signed up.
I wouldn't be 100% sure your getting the real stuff in those pharmacies either
That is very true. I think the best practice is to buy entire boxes at a time so you can see the literature inside. Counterfeit literature is likely to have bad grammar and misspelled words.
I am thinking of moving to Thailand, but moving costs (Moving my dog will be about $9,000 USD) and illnesses are giving me cold feet. Yet nothing really but me from taking the plunge. Did you ever get scared before you moved? What helped allay these fears?
Somehow I didn’t get cold feet at all. I was so over working in the states and my attitude was if I’m not happy in Thailand then I’ll just keep trying other places. Luckily, I’m happier here than I ever imagined I would’ve been.
Hi Pete hope you are doing well. I have copd and wear oxygen, do you see any people wearing oxygen in Thailand?
I've seen people wearing oxygen in Thailand.
Hi Pete I love the content. Have you used or do you know of anyone who uses Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Thailand?
I have seen just a couple people here with oxygen tanks that I can remember so I’m sure you can get tanks out here. My grandmother had COPD… it can be real challenging.
Ineert ??? 🤔
See ya soon...kinda
🤘😘🌬🌬➡️😘
I see you coming!
@@peteonretreat2023 Hey Pete, at timestamp 10:36 or so you are talking about a random sample of medical costs, and the video says, "medical cost ineert" which seems to mean "insert medical costs" since you did not list or provide those costs. Anyway, just letting you know. Feel free to delete this message if you like. Cheers!