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Retirees
The cost of medical treatment in Thailand
Thailand is ranked as the 3rd most popular country in the world for medical tourism with cost savings of 50 to 75 per cent compared to the US. There are over 1,000 hospitals in Thailand, of which over 470 are private. Thailand’s advantage is its low cost and the high quality of medical treatment provided by Thai private hospitals. To date, 42 hospitals in Thailand have been accredited by the JCI which is considered the gold standard in health care. See table below.
| Major surgeries Cost comparison of major surgeries between US, Singapore and Thailand (in US$)From data provided by medicaltourism.com | |||
| Procedure | US | Singapore | Thailand |
| Heart bypass | 123,000 | 17,200 | 15,000 |
| Heart valve replacement | 170,000 | 16,900 | 17,200 |
| Angioplasty | 28,200 | 13,400 | 4,200 |
| Hip replacement | 40,364 | 13,900 | 17,000 |
| Knee replacement | 35,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 |
While it may be true that Thailand is significantly lower in terms of the cost of medical treatment compared with the United States and Singapore treatment options and procedures can still be expensive. Whether or not you are living in Thailand as an expat, visiting Thailand as a tourist or coming here specifically for medical treatment it is vitally important that you have insurance coverage to ensure you are protected in the case of unforeseen illness or accident.
For example, many tourists coming here suffer an unexpected motorcycle accident which can run anywhere from 200,000 THB to 2 million THB (US$6,000 to US$60,000).
Please see the following table for more recent costs of other common illnesses, accidents and medical services at different hospitals in Bangkok.
| Illness / Accident / Service | Treatment | Average Cost / Range (in US$) |
| Dengue fever | The seriousness of Dengue and length of stay can vary from case to case – Average 3-day admission | Average: $1,200 Range: $650 to $2,500 |
| Motor cycle accident | Admission after an accident involving fractured shoulder/upper arm/ broken femur to a serious accident involving head trauma, ICU or cranial surgery | Average: $6,000 Range: $6,000 to $60,000 |
| Normal birth | Vaginal delivery including prenatal care | Average: $2,000 Range: $1,300 to $2,300 |
| Caesarean Birth | Including surgery, 2-3 days admission and prenatal care | Average: $3,000 Range: $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Hospice and palliative care cost | Monthly Care | Average: $1,750 Range: $1,500 to $2,000 |
| Medivac | Domestic transport from somewhere inside Thailand to a hospital in Bangkok | Average: $11,000 Range: $8,500 to $12,000 |
| General Health Screening | The price can vary depending on what’s included in the actual package. | Average: $500 Range: $400 – $800 |
| Organ transplant | There are some restrictions in place in Thailand for organ transplants, e.g. organ needs to come from a relative. | Average: $30,000 + |
Without adequate health insurance, it is clear that the cost of any illness, accident or associated medical service has the potential to wipe out your savings and leave you with few options in terms of care and quality of treatment. Having adequate insurance not only provides great peace of mind but also ensures access to quality treatment for you and your family.
Thai Expat Club offers access to affordable health and medical insurance for foreigners living, visiting, working or retiring in Thailand. We deal almost exclusively with APRIL, AETNA, BUPA, LMG, MSH, William Russell and NZI for a higher range of benefits at affordable prices. We help clients avoid the confusion which comes from not being able to speak the language or communicate satisfactorily with staff in Thai Insurance Companies.
Our service is FREE and we often save you money by offering a plan which is more closely matched to your lifestyle and budget.
Contact Thai Expat Club today and let us help you with your health insurance requirements.
Tel. 089-897-9437 or visit our website:
Useful Links
www.health-tourism.com/thailand-medical-tourism
www.health-tourism.com/hospitals-thailand
www.keyvisathailand.com/top-10-hospitals-in-thailand
medicaltourism.com/Forms/price-comparison.aspx
www.frankit.in/blog/5-best-countries-for-medical-tourism
www.worldatlas.com/articles/leading-causes-of-death-in-thailand.html
Also check out this useful guide for medical tourists on the best ways to save money, how to prepare for the trip, and the cost of major procedures in various countries.
Health insurance for retirees in Thailand
So you’ve made the decision to retire in Thailand and want to know your options regarding medical insurance. You’ll be pleased to know that Thailand offers extremely high standards of medical care and is equipped to deliver even the most complex procedures. However, in order to access these quality health care services, you’ll need private health insurance.
The good news is the costs are about half the amount you might pay for equivalent medical insurance in America, Australia or the UK. There is also a range of options for health insurance plans starting with accident insurance for a mere $100 a year up to medical insurance with a full range of benefits at around $6,000 per year. Most of these health insurance policies are also international, meaning that your cover extends to overseas travel or travel back to your home country one to two months a year when you feel the need to return to catch up with family or friends.
Whilst health insurance for retirees is relatively affordable in Thailand it’s important to understand the restrictions insurance companies place on the starting age. For example, people enrolling with Bupa before 60 or younger are guaranteed renewal for life and those enrolling between the ages 61 and 64 will be renewed to age 70. If you are 65 yrs and miss the cut-off age for Bupa we offer options with our other insurance providers (MSH and NZI). You can choose to include a deductible (meaning you pay any medical bills up to an agreed amount) which helps to offset the cost of the premium. There are also discounts each year should you remain claim free in the previous 12 months which also helps offset your annual premium considerably. However, it’s best to start your insurance before 70 years of age to keep premiums down. It’s even better if you can start before 60 years of age to ensure any treatment or conditions you encounter in your 60s (while you are insured) continue to be covered by insurance as you enter your 70s, 80s and 90s.
While none of our providers require a medical examination in order to take insurance they may sometimes require a medical history in cases of people applying over 65 yrs of age. Conditions such as Diabetes and Hypertension that can be controlled, but not cured are considered “pre-existing conditions” and will not be covered, just as they would not be covered by a private insurance provider in your home country. However, cases of acute medical treatment which occurred more than 5 years ago will generally be okay.
Thai Expat Club offers access to affordable health and medical insurance for foreigners living, visiting, working or retiring in Thailand. We deal almost exclusively with AXA, BUPA, LMG, MSH and NZI for a higher range of benefits at affordable prices. We help clients avoid the confusion which comes from not being able to speak the language or communicate satisfactorily with staff in Thai Insurance Companies. Our service is FREE and we often save people money by offering a plan which is more closely matched to their lifestyle and budget.
Contact Thai Expat Club today and let us help you with your health insurance requirements.
Tel. 089-897-9437 or visit our website:
Useful Links
http://www.thailandretirementhelpers.com/medical-insurance-in-thailand/
http://www.thailand-retirement.net/health-insurance-in-thailand.html