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The cost of medical treatment in Thailand

5 November 2017 by Alan Sutherland


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
ProcedureUSSingaporeThailand
Heart bypass123,00017,20015,000
Heart valve replacement170,00016,90017,200
Angioplasty28,20013,4004,200
Hip replacement40,36413,90017,000
Knee replacement35,00016,00014,000
Source: http://medicaltourism.com/Forms/price-comparison.aspx (Prices as of 2016)

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 / ServiceTreatmentAverage Cost / Range (in US$)
Dengue feverThe seriousness of Dengue and length of stay can vary from case to case – Average 3-day admissionAverage: $1,200
Range: $650 to $2,500
Motor cycle accidentAdmission after an accident involving fractured shoulder/upper arm/ broken femur to a serious accident involving head trauma, ICU or cranial surgeryAverage: $6,000
Range: $6,000 to $60,000
Normal birthVaginal delivery including prenatal careAverage: $2,000
Range: $1,300 to $2,300
Caesarean BirthIncluding surgery, 2-3 days admission and prenatal careAverage: $3,000
Range: $2,000 – $4,000
Hospice and palliative care costMonthly CareAverage: $1,750
Range: $1,500 to $2,000
MedivacDomestic transport from somewhere inside Thailand to a hospital in BangkokAverage: $11,000
Range: $8,500 to $12,000
General Health ScreeningThe price can vary depending on what’s included in the actual package.Average: $500
Range: $400 – $800
Organ transplantThere are some restrictions in place in Thailand for organ transplants, e.g. organ needs to come from a relative.Average: $30,000 +
Source: Information provided by Euro-Center Bangkok 2017

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:

https://thaiexpathealth.com/

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.

Making Healthcare More Affordable: Traveling Overseas for Medical Procedures

Filed Under: Insurance, Retirees Tagged With: Health, Insurance, Thailand

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