This isn't really a comparison because I don't actually know what Thailands healthcare system is but.....

I was paying about $400 a month with a $2500 deductable for my health insurance. I stopped doing that.

I go to Bumrungrad hospital here in Bangkok. Check out how this works. I tell them I am coming to see the doctor on a given date. Now in my case I have a tiny little skin cancer spot behind my ear on my head. No big deal. But what happens is they book me an appointment to see the Dr. in the morning and surgery in the afternoon. It will cost me a few hundred dollars for everything. These are all top western trained doctors in fact most of them have lived and practice in the states. It is like a five star resort and you are greeted with people putting their hands together and bowing. See if you see that in the U.S.. Very nice people with smiling faces and a very nice experience.

Before I came over here I thought I would check to see about having this done in the U.S. and here is what they said I could see the docter in about 3 weeks. His counseltation would be $300 and if he decides to do surgery it will have to be scheduled a few weeks later. The fee for the surgery was $1500 for the first two layers of flesh (I guess) and up to (around) $5000 if he had to go any deeper.

Isn't that amazing. So I am in Bangkok now.

I found this place watching 60 Minutes on TV. People were coming here to avoid the high cost of American medicine. And their results are better. They interviewed a guy who had to have heart surgery. Something like $250,000 in the states versus $20,000. Another no brainer.

A follow up on my doctors visit today in Bangkok. You won't believe it.

First thing I did was show up this morning for my appointment with the surgeon. We talked about the surgery and we scheduled it at 1p.m.. I had time to kill so this is what I did. See if you could do this in the U.S..

Since I was already there and had the time to kill I decided to have some other things checked. I have had a scratchy throat for a few weeks now. I also thought a had a broken foot. Lastly I have a lower back issue. Sometimes it gives me hell.

So I went to the front desk and asked what the chances were to see a general physician. She said "sure follow me" She took me into a room where I sat down. Within 3 minutes they called me in to see the doctor. She ordered xray's for my foot and medicine for my cough. I got the xray went back to her office. She looked it over and concluded it wasn't broke but a tedon situation. She gave me drugs for it.
Then, I still had time to kill so I thought to myself I wonder if I have time to have my back checked by an expert before I have to show up for surgery at 11:30 a.m.. Again I went to the from=nt desk. Again, she said follow me. We went to the spinal cord clinic. The doctor saw me and then ordered xrays. Within 10 minutes of getting the xrays I was looking them over with the doctor. All good and he gave me some medications. I was done in time to have a bit before my surgey.

At 11:30 I showed up for the surgery. I was treated like a king and as the doctor cut away on me he was singing beatle songs. When we finished he said two things. We got all the cancer out and how do you like my songs. Ha ha.

I did all of this before noon and all I had an appointment for was the surgery. All the rest cost me less then $300.....That is what I said $300.

I am stoked. Anyone ever need treatment for something believe me there is nothing better then doing medical treatment in Bangkok.


Oh and the cancer surgery was $750. The reason it was so high is because I wanted immidiate results. If I had been willing to wait for the biopsy 4-5 days I could have done it for half that. But I asked to pay for immidiate results.

All I want to say is can yopu imagine this in the U.S.?

That's amazing.

Glad you got those things taken care of.

Thanks for posting this, Mikeyy.

A 'hands-on' experience in a foreign hospital gives a whole new perspective on how badly the system here is trashed.

And I'm glad things worked out well for you on the skin cancer. Thats stuff can be frightening.

__________________
Your life is the sum total of the choices you make.
If you don't laugh at yourself, a whole bunch of people will volunteer to do it for you
I never lose. I either win, or I learn....

Thanks gang. There were other Americans there using their insurance. BTW when you do this your travel is deductable. I would come here for any tratment. I wouldn't think twice,

They couldn't insert a spell checker in my head though so ya'll will still have to deal with my grammer issues.

Glad all went well for you Mikeyy..

I appreciate hearing about how other nations handle healthcare issues.