A question for retirees

Dodgers philosophy is Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die?

[Dodger]

BrisbaneGuy wrote:

Dodgers philosophy is Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die?

More correctly stated: "Eat, drink and be merry because you haven't died yet."

[latintopxxx]

sounds like a lot of people are making excuses why they cannot retire in Thailand and enjoy life. If by the time you reach 60 you havent got a monthly income of a least EURO 4000.00 then you most definitely did not plan for retirement and only have yourself to blame. International medical insurance is widely available and as rightly pointed out there is excellent medical facilities available in Bangkok; and in a pinch Singapore is only 2 hours away. Personally my intentuion is not to retire full time in Thailand but to spend up to four months a year here. There are too many places I still need to experience and far too many men I still need to sample before I limit myself. Life is short...dont procastinate.

There are hugely expensive medical facilities in Thailand and as most hospitals are for-profit they will endeavour to squeeze every last baht out of you before you are discharged or die. White face = plenty of money in their eyes. Four thousand Euro a month won't last very long if you're not paying exhorbitant health insurance premiums, far in excess of what you would pay in your home country. And there is no subsidised pharmaceutical scheme either.

In my experience Thailand's doctors even at the best facilities are woefully out of touch with the most recent advances in medicine. A friend of mine who is a diabetic and sees the UK's leading specialists annually for a review of his condition was told when in Bangkok by (allegedly) Thailand's leading diabetes specialist that his medication was wrong and that in particular he shouldn't be taking two drugs (which the Thai specialist named) in combination. On his return to the UK he saw his specialist here and was told that the most recent research had reversed the view expressed in Bangkok as long ago as six or seven years and that all indications are that using the two drugs in combination is extremely beneficial. Another friend living in Bangkok was determinedly steered away from the standard treatment for his particular condition as it involved a course of injections. His doctor told him many Thai medical staff don't like giving injections; pills are by far the preferred method even when less effective. A third friend is being treated periodically for arthritis by having steroid injections; he was told by the (Thai) intern in his English hospital not to be treated in Bangkok but to go to Singapore if he needed a "top up" while he was away. That is for a simple, routine procedure.

Certainly the Thais tout their medical facilities as being world class but that doesn't necessarily make them so.

[firecat69]

I could list just as many people who have had great care at Bumrungrad and at very reasonable rates even if not insured .. I can also list plenty of people who have had bad care in the best hospitals in the USA and with revered Doctors.

There are no guarantees anywhere. The biggest problem in Thailand is even if you can afford insurance it will not be available at all when you reach a certain age. So you better have plenty of cash in the bank!!

[latintopxxx]

I refuse to live my life ruled by fear and limit my experiences to within a 100km radius of a western standard hospital (what ever that means), a heart attack of a bad accidebt can happen anywhere and at any time. Best is to ensure that you have adequate insurance to stabalise you and eventually get you to the nearest western standard medical facility like Singapore!!

[Yraen]

I have read this whole thread with great interest. I also agree that one cannot suspend oneself in a cocoon of fearful anticipation --- but one can plan in advance. The accidents you might experience in Thailand could happen anywhere - a slip and fall in the shower and you may have a busted hip. Not a good look wherever it happens.

Many here seem to be concerned about costs. Me too. Some examples.

Since the early 2000s, I have regularly had dental work done at Bumrungrad at what was (IMO) good value for money. Until 18 or so months ago, when all the fees more than doubled.
I have since been getting treatment at BKK Christian Hospital (BCH) in Silom Rd or Nakornthon H on Rama II.

These last few months, I have been researching cataract surgery and lens implants. I asked for quotes from BKK Hospital and Bumrungrad. Both suggested amounts in Baht where the figures should only appear on the odometer of an older car. Both worked out at a little more than double the Sydney price which, in itself, causes a sudden intake of breath. (I feel this may be another demo of "when business is slow, double the price".) I am in the process of getting data from Queen Sirikit Satahip and other places. Does any board member have any experience with eye surgery in LOS? I would appreciate your advice.

[bobsaigon2]

http://www.fvhospital.com/en/medical-se ... e-surgery/
Interested in a trip to Ho Chi Minh City? You'd have to contact them to see what the fees are compared to Bangkok.

[Up2U]

I have read this whole thread with great interest. I also agree that one cannot suspend oneself in a cocoon of fearful anticipation --- but one can plan in advance. The accidents you might experience in Thailand could happen anywhere - a slip and fall in the shower and you may have a busted hip. Not a good look wherever it happens.

Many here seem to be concerned about costs. Me too. Some examples.

Since the early 2000s, I have regularly had dental work done at Bumrungrad at what was (IMO) good value for money. Until 18 or so months ago, when all the fees more than doubled.
I have since been getting treatment at BKK Christian Hospital (BCH) in Silom Rd or Nakornthon H on Rama II.

These last few months, I have been researching cataract surgery and lens implants. I asked for quotes from BKK Hospital and Bumrungrad. Both suggested amounts in Baht where the figures should only appear on the odometer of an older car. Both worked out at a little more than double the Sydney price which, in itself, causes a sudden intake of breath. (I feel this may be another demo of "when business is slow, double the price".) I am in the process of getting data from Queen Sirikit Satahip and other places. Does any board member have any experience with eye surgery in LOS? I would appreciate your advice.

You may wish to ask this question or research the Thaivisa medical forum. In America where I had my cataract surgery performed they do one eye at a time on an outpatient basis. Second operation had major complications so take cataract surgery very seriously. The primary driver is the costs of the lens which are typically imported. The multifocals (which I don't recommend) are considerably more expensive. Get a quotation from Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok (on Asoke), they're the best.

[Nirish guy]

Believe it or not a quick ( and cheap ) flight to Europe for treatment (Poland and other places and even just over border to me here to the Republic of Ireland for example) may not be just as crazy an option as you might first think as prices there can are low enough to start with and then ( from my point of view at least) when converting to the Euro there's a benefit to be had there too - but even without that Euro conversion for our US brethren etc I'm told that prices still offer a reasonable alternative for them to going to SE Asia these days for some treatments.....even after the airfare and standards are as you would imagine quite high I'm told, just a thought in case it's of interest to anyone.