Yes chest pains are a bummer. I explained to everyone who would listen that I was suffering from chest pains.Hospitalised one year ago aek udon heart attack.Even walked over to the nurses station.But I guess if you are upright your ok. Jurawan is a great doc. But only works on Saturday.

While here, the dental department, imo, has priced itself out of the market. along w/Paolo, seems they want way too much for general cleaning and basic services, let alone extras.

good and bad, had a crown (basic porcellin) done by non Aek/Paolo, a didn't want to pay 7 or 8000 baht. so opted for work to be done where i get my cleaning done. cost 4000. skeptical on his technique when taking mold, then again when installing. bottom line, price good, but would not use again. point of post, he is the resident, his day job, at AEK Udon. hmm. same service, i would guess, at half the price, but still wouldn't use again. this service actually better than highly rated dental dept of BumFcuk hosp in BKK, as this new crown replace their sh*t crown of only a couple years. 1st crown that ever had problem with (broke in 2). and i have a couple that are 15 yrs old. oh well.

BKKSTAN wrote:I would like to reinterate that chest pains are a problem that should take you to emergency,not the international desk or the reception desk!

Yes, I fully agree Stan.
However, it won't hurt to telephone the Int'l Dept while you are en route to the ER or once you arrive at the ER and inform them. That's what they are there for and get paid for, to assist us Int'l patients in getting prompt and proper care.

Polehawk, thank you for your concern. I asked some staff member friends of mine at Aek and was discreetly told tests are ok but heart operation at Aek is not recomended. Good Luck. Your medicare Part A and B should cover 100 %. Not sure about after care prescriptions.

Medicare from the USA does not cover you out side the USA & it Commonwealths
meaning part A & B is useless inside Thailand

Sparky was referring to Medicare in the US. Part A covers hospital 100% and Part B covers up to 80%, actually. Thanks for sticking your 2 cents in anyway, aznyron.

pole medicare does not cover you outside the USA and if you don't believe me call the US Embassy
I went through it in BKK Christian Hosp. when I first got here I fell and fractured my hip in two places I had to pay the bill and I was covered under part A & B

Thanks but I'm already well aware of that, aznyron, so don't need to call anybody. I will become eligible for Medicare in June so THEN will have the option of going back to US for major medical issues. Haven't been able to find health insurance since moving here 18 months ago because I'm over 60 and got some "pre-existing conditions". Do have a travel health insurance but only good for up to $15,000 for "acute onset of a pre-existing condition".

Wonder if anyone else on the forum is paying the $96 month for Medicare Part B and taking their chances while living here?

I went to AEK at 7.30am when my dyspepsia was just too damn painful. I was in a wheelchair from the kerbside and in the ER within 5 minutes having filled in the minimal paperwork (I am not registered there) just before being given the initial examination. Twenty minutes later, I was watching my own insides in living colour while the doctor did a gastroscopy; even burned it to DVD for posterity. I was back in my hotel room with medications by 9:30.

Top marks!

yikes, $78 in 2003. had it for a while, then dumped at as totally useless for myself.

did a gastroscopy

must be a new purchase for them, or the only do the one direction. if don't mind asking, what was the gstroscopy charge, as next month or so, i'm having endoscopy also, but opposite direction at gov't hosp. pm or here is fine, thanks for post.













478 in 2003

polehawk wrote:Thanks but I'm already well aware of that, aznyron, so don't need to call anybody. I will become eligible for Medicare in June so THEN will have the option of going back to US for major medical issues. Haven't been able to find health insurance since moving here 18 months ago because I'm over 60 and got some "pre-existing conditions". Do have a travel health insurance but only good for up to $15,000 for "acute onset of a pre-existing condition".

Wonder if anyone else on the forum is paying the $96 month for Medicare Part B and taking their chances while living here?

Your retired Military are you not? If so you might want to speak to the VFW service Officer.

I haven't gotten there yet but when I do I will pay the $96.00 you never know what is going to happen here and there are no guarentees.

Not retired military, Bump. I only did a four year hitch in USMC but will always be a Marine, of course.

With my family history, I guess you're right. Pay the $96 month and fly back for any major overhaul/bypasses that come along. It's automatic enrollment, btw. They already sent me the Medicare card.

$78 in 2003? Well, the 23% increase over 5 years is probably higher than the rate of inflation for that period but still a bargain, just my opinion.

Well your in the same boat as me. I have been paying fo BUPA for the past five years, but it was the only one that wouldn't cancel you at 60, that I found. It's expensive but not much choice. But not nearly a expensive as coverage in the states. It does have an emergency transport clause so between the two I think I am going to be OK.

My understanding is you can activate it at a later date but you have to make up all the back payments, that could be a lot of money all at once.

So I think I will just pay the Devil his dues up-front.

From what I have read, there is open enrollment for Medicare Part B from Jan-Mar but also a 10% penalty for each year after age of 65, or whenever you became eligible, that you declined to sign up. So, you're right, they would take a large chunk out of your checks for awhile.

Getting enrolled in BUPA before you turned 60 was a good move. Once you're past 60 and have a few pre-existing conditions then it's fuhgeddaboudit, as our Newyorker friends say.

tamada wrote:I went to AEK at 7.30am when my dyspepsia was just too damn painful. I was in a wheelchair from the kerbside and in the ER within 5 minutes having filled in the minimal paperwork (I am not registered there) just before being given the initial examination. Twenty minutes later, I was watching my own insides in living colour while the doctor did a gastroscopy; even burned it to DVD for posterity. I was back in my hotel room with medications by 9:30.

Top marks!

In the UK, you would have see your GP who would tell you to join a waiting list, give you some pills, then wait 18 weeks for a gatroscopy.
The equipment would be 1965 vintage, and no DVD to peruse at your leisure.