When I first began visiting Udon in 2005, a friend suggested that I register with AEK Udon hospital, where he had experienced good care. It was a good tip. Doing this ahead of time prevented me from having to fill out all kinds of paperwork and answer questions if I was there at another time in an emergency situation. All I needed was my passport and my medical insurance card from the US if I intended to use that insurance at the hospital.
In the last week, I decided to do the same at two of the other hospitals in Udon -- Wattana General (on the north side of Nong Prajak) and Panyavejinter Hospital (behind the Night Market).
Wattana has two employees who speak excellent English who assist international patients. I filled out a very short form with just basic information in less than five minutes and had my registration card 15 minutes later.
Panyavejinter was even easier. They asked for a passport, which I didn't have on me, but provided my Thai driver's license. The clerk asked for my phone number, and I waited for about 10 minutes to receive my registration card.
As with anything else in Thailand, previous and future experiences by others may be different than mine. The point of the post is that it's a good idea to register with hospitals ahead of time before you need them. It doesn't take long.
Hospital Registration is a good idea ahead of time
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Hospital Registration is a good idea ahead of time
Hello
May I ask why you did not register (maybe not possible) at the Military Hospital on Route 2 near University. I have read of good experiences there and the prices are reasonable. However, as you say, it is a matter of opinion.
May I ask why you did not register (maybe not possible) at the Military Hospital on Route 2 near University. I have read of good experiences there and the prices are reasonable. However, as you say, it is a matter of opinion.
Hospital Registration is a good idea ahead of time
Hi,
Had to use Military Hosp. a few years ago. Had a fall and hurt my back and broke my wrist. Wife just called a ambulance and they took me there. Never registered there.
Treatment was very good. Had x-rays on my back and wrist. Had to have a plaster put on my arm. I did not want to stay overnight, so in at 0800Hrs and home by midday. The cost for this, including ongoing treatment and med. etc. plus ambulance, was 160 GBP's, claimed back from my insurance.
I called in to AEK to get my driving lic. medical. They wanted 200B for this and said about one hour waiting. When i sat down a bloke said go to Panyave it is cheaper and faster. I did this. Cost was 100B, in and out in less than 30mins. The form i got for the med., from the D.Lic. center, had to be signed by a doctor and the results had to be entered on the form.
Also i have been to the Dentist in Panyave every year for check ups. Found the service to be very good, Longest i have had to wait to see dentist was 15mins, never made an appointment.
Was talking to the wife's brother in law. He had a op. on his back a few years ago. AEK wanted about 60,000B for the op. The military hospital did the same op. and it went O.K., at a cost of just under 30,000B. He could not claim on his insurance as it was a previous condition, before he got his Med. Insurance.
If you can it pays to shop around.
Had to use Military Hosp. a few years ago. Had a fall and hurt my back and broke my wrist. Wife just called a ambulance and they took me there. Never registered there.
Treatment was very good. Had x-rays on my back and wrist. Had to have a plaster put on my arm. I did not want to stay overnight, so in at 0800Hrs and home by midday. The cost for this, including ongoing treatment and med. etc. plus ambulance, was 160 GBP's, claimed back from my insurance.
I called in to AEK to get my driving lic. medical. They wanted 200B for this and said about one hour waiting. When i sat down a bloke said go to Panyave it is cheaper and faster. I did this. Cost was 100B, in and out in less than 30mins. The form i got for the med., from the D.Lic. center, had to be signed by a doctor and the results had to be entered on the form.
Also i have been to the Dentist in Panyave every year for check ups. Found the service to be very good, Longest i have had to wait to see dentist was 15mins, never made an appointment.
Was talking to the wife's brother in law. He had a op. on his back a few years ago. AEK wanted about 60,000B for the op. The military hospital did the same op. and it went O.K., at a cost of just under 30,000B. He could not claim on his insurance as it was a previous condition, before he got his Med. Insurance.
If you can it pays to shop around.
Hospital Registration is a good idea ahead of time
I am already registered through my wife's government employee status. I didn't go through the process, she did, and I wasn't there.LoneTraveler wrote:Hello
May I ask why you did not register (maybe not possible) at the Military Hospital on Route 2 near University. I have read of good experiences there and the prices are reasonable. However, as you say, it is a matter of opinion.
Hospital Registration is a good idea ahead of time
All good advice and good info, douglas.douglas wrote:Hi,
Had to use Military Hosp. a few years ago. Had a fall and hurt my back and broke my wrist. Wife just called a ambulance and they took me there. Never registered there.
Treatment was very good. Had x-rays on my back and wrist. Had to have a plaster put on my arm. I did not want to stay overnight, so in at 0800Hrs and home by midday. The cost for this, including ongoing treatment and med. etc. plus ambulance, was 160 GBP's, claimed back from my insurance.
I called in to AEK to get my driving lic. medical. They wanted 200B for this and said about one hour waiting. When i sat down a bloke said go to Panyave it is cheaper and faster. I did this. Cost was 100B, in and out in less than 30mins. The form i got for the med., from the D.Lic. center, had to be signed by a doctor and the results had to be entered on the form.
Also i have been to the Dentist in Panyave every year for check ups. Found the service to be very good, Longest i have had to wait to see dentist was 15mins, never made an appointment.
Was talking to the wife's brother in law. He had a op. on his back a few years ago. AEK wanted about 60,000B for the op. The military hospital did the same op. and it went O.K., at a cost of just under 30,000B. He could not claim on his insurance as it was a previous condition, before he got his Med. Insurance.
If you can it pays to shop around.
It's been my experience that emergencies and surgeries are handled excellently at the Tahan Military Hospital, and that's where I would go for those procedures. However, I've been there for just regular clinic visits, and it takes almost all day to see anyone, and then you might not even get what you need. I sat around for two days and got nothing accomplished, but I paid almost nothing, too. Wasted a lot of time there.
Went to private hospitals for a clinic visit, got treated right away, got done what I wanted done, and still paid a very reasonable amount of money for it.
Point being, it's my opinion that if you have something that isn't an emergency or a surgery, you're better off paying a little more and getting it handled tout suite at one of the private hospitals. Friends have gotten the same quick service at some of the clinics in town.
Hospital Registration is a good idea ahead of time
Hi,
Yes Rico, I agree with you, at the time i didn't know where i was going, and could not care, but the treatment was very good, and fast.
Since i turned 70, Med. insurance became very expensive, So now i put 20,000B a year aside for treatment, what i would pay for insurance, so far never had to touch. I got a good accident insurance from AIA last year. They were doing a promotion at Tesco's, near airport. Only costs 2,000B a year. Only covers accident. When i had a accident, no problem at Paolo Hospital, with this insurance.
Yes Rico, I agree with you, at the time i didn't know where i was going, and could not care, but the treatment was very good, and fast.
Since i turned 70, Med. insurance became very expensive, So now i put 20,000B a year aside for treatment, what i would pay for insurance, so far never had to touch. I got a good accident insurance from AIA last year. They were doing a promotion at Tesco's, near airport. Only costs 2,000B a year. Only covers accident. When i had a accident, no problem at Paolo Hospital, with this insurance.