How Much I Paid For My Hospital Visit in Bangkok Thailand 🇹🇭 

You are 100% about the health care experience in both countries. I got COVID when I was in Thailand, and they were amazing! They helped me out and told me they wanted to make me better, and they did right away with the good medicine. If I were in America, the answer would have been, go home and see what happens. Amazingly great health care in Thailand.

I’ve been living in the US for 5 years now, I just found out that you need to a referral to see a specialist…when in Thailand, I can just walk in and ask them to see a dermatologist. Healthcare system in the US sucks so much. They won’t give you a treatment unless you’re about to die…

About 10 years ago when I used to live in Bangkok, I went to Ladprao hospital because it was near my condo. I had no insurance and it cost me around 100$ for my check up and meds. The hospital was so clean and the staff spoke very good English. When I went back home like 3 months later I went to see my niece who got birth and the hospital was so crap that I was stunt that a so called developed country (France) was so out of date. Needless to say that now, the whole medical sector in France is collapsing and it's worth than 10 years ago. Time to move back to Thailand ;)

We are in Bangkok and fell in love with this city❤ Great video! Super informative and you’re doing great work to show Thailand to the world 🌎

Totally agree with you about the quality of private hospitals here in Bangkok. I lived in LA for 20 years, came back here 3 years ago, and will move back to LA again soon. Samitivej Hospital Sukhumvit will be one of the places that our family misses most because of their services. The good thing about not so great service for the hospitals in the US is that you'll try to be as healthy as possible so that you don't have to use their service. 😊

The fact that you can have blood drawn, go to lunch and get your blood test results right away is amazing. In the West, you would wait days.

I did a complete health check at Bumrungrad International Hospital in December. The service and quality of care is second to none. A complete check up cost a grand total of $500. Great value.

Most Americans feel negative about their home country once they lived somewhere else and found out that not all is great in good old USA;-)

I live in Thailand near Pattaya I'm from Texas. I had a huge kidney stone apparently killing me for couple of years. Found a doctor here to remove. Hospital stay 4 days. Total costs $1000

The only time I ever had to spend time in a hospital was in Hua Hin at Bangkok Hospital. I agree with you. The facility and people were exceptional. Far exceeds the care that I see in the US. Thanks for the video.

I’ve done this twice at Sukhumvit hospital. It is a great experience. Thorough and professional. Nothing like this, especially at this price, was available to me in the US.

Totally agreed with you 100%. I'm Thai but live in Canada where health care is depressing & take for ever to see a doctor especially a specialist doctor.

I am in Pattaya, went to Bangkok Hospital last July, with Chest pain, luckily it was just acid reflux. I had the same thing in USA 15 Years ago. In USA I paid $35,000 USD for the same test and time at the Hospital with more interaction with my Doctor in Hospital here was $159 USD, I was a little nerviest because at the time I did not have health care here. PS: Even though I was lucky I will never again not have Health Insurance while living in Thailand. Thank for your video.

Thailand actually has universal healthcare for their citizens

This is the window into being an expat in Bangkok that I didn't know I needed. 🙏🏿

Thanks for making this video. I know it was probably a PITA to film, and I appreciate the depth you went into. Using Japan as a metric for choosing a hospital is a great idea too. I learned a lot watching this, and added it to my "resource list" for when I go to Thailand myself. I'm also interested in getting stem cells while I'm there.

Can't wait to retire in Thailand.. still got a ways to go, but not enough people think outside the box. America is all about disease management, not healh care. I can live like a King on social security in Thailand whereas I'd be homeless in America. No brainer.

Definitely find places here to be quick and efficient. I went to the Dentist a few days ago. Walked in, filled out a registration card, just after I sat down the dentist came and got me. She checked my problem area, gave me a diagnosis and then got onto the cleaning I so desperately needed. Afterwards we discussed options to come back for a needed filling and that was it. Including the short exam, cleaning and one x-ray, it took probably just over an hour I think and costs 1500 thb/$44.10 (1200 for the cleaning, 150 thb for a single bit-wing xray of one tooth and 150thb for cleaning fees). Shout-out to MOS Dental at the Exchange Tower. Next stop is a hospital check-up...

Thanks for sharing your experience & information with us Forrest! This is definitely something my husband and I will be dealing with when moving there in a couple of years 😊

No need to apologize when comparing the hospitality and service between the states and Asia. I had lived in Asia for years and its so true.

Start doing IF my friend.. I do 16:8 and has helped all my #'s. Also LDL/HDL ratio is below 3, you're fine. for further piece of mind get Advanced Lipoprotein Testing done. Even though that may not change your doc's recommendation, it'll help you understand what type of LDL and HDL size you have.

Very interesting video! Sometimes it is just crazy. I live in Switzerland, probably the richest and best developt countries worldwide… It is almost impossible to get such a complete checkup here! Even to have the bloodwork… they don‘t do it without a reason… even if you pay for it. Very complicated sometimes… the hospitals are OK here, just understaffed. Especially after and during covid.

An excellent video to be sure. This facility looked like a luxury hotel, the piano was not lost upon me. The total cost of your exam was incredibly reasonable.

yeah! So, I've been waiting to see a VID like this in TH (annual exam check up). Very informative. If your f/u is 90 days from now, def look into plant based. For me, and after lessons learned: Fried foods is a huge no-no, especially when fried in veg oil. I keep Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the kitchen at all times. I eat of alot of whole foods, nuts, veggies, and fruits. For me red meat is a no go. Go for super lean chicken and have that once a week and/or white fish. Lastly, being in BKK, try and hit up some whole food stores, organic options. Watch out for some the of Vegan options as sometimes they are packed with saturated fat, sodium, and sugar.

Wow that’s just amazing! Especially for that price. I leave for Bangkok in 2 weeks, sounds like a heaven. Rah

I've been to Thailand several times when I was in my early forties (2001-2003.) It was on one of those trips that I found out that I had gout because I had a severe gout attack. The tour group I was with arranged for me to be treated at Phaya Thai hospital. It was a pleasant experience overall and the cost which I paid out of pocket was very low compared to what I would have paid back in the U.S. with insurance. As a veteran with a service connected disability, I get my healthcare from the VA. I moved from Hawaii to Pennsylvania in 2019. As an Asian American, the thing that really sucks about the U.S. is the racist people I have to deal with from time to time especially when I go for a medical procedure even in the VA. Racism is alive and well here in the U.S. and I always never know when I'm going to run into someone racist here even when I'm going for a medical procedure. As a retiree, if it wasn't for the fact that I have 2 young children to raise and support, I would rather go back and live in Thailand or someplace where there is less chance of having to deal with rude and racist people.

yo this is such a cool vid for someone looking into moving there! i might not be one of them but this video makes Thailand hella compelling.

Yeah, you know it. I'm a Kaiser card carrying member in Northern CA. That is one thing not to stress about, if you have medical insurance in Thailand. I was with my cousin who had allergy attack in Bangkok. We pulled up to emergency entrance at Bangkok Hospital and thought l was in a four or five star hotel. Thailand sure has come a long way.

You tell a country by its high quality but also affordable health care. From what I have seen so far, Thailand covers all critaria!

That's so funny how you can buy it off of Lazada ;) I got a buddy that works with the hospitals. I'll probably speak to him, but I believe all the private hospitals will run around the same depending on the package picked. And $200 USD sans insurance for a complete check-up is a pretty good deal, I think!

When you eat fatty food you have to take lots of fruits such as lemon 🍋, strawberries 🍓, and antioxidants types of fruits, that helps the fat to dissolve

Thank you for sharing! That is amazing the detail of your physical. I wish it would be the same in the US. Our system sucks when it comes to healthcare and prevention. Costs for what you had done in the US would have been astronomical. Thank you again for sharing your experiences. Cheers!

Medical care in the US is a mess! Way too unaffordable! I definitely agree with you. Sometimes you can get your insurance to cover the physical if it is called something different, like a "wellness check up. I had heard that is how some people get Tricare to pay for it.

don't worry about your cholesterol. the latest, most accurate marker regarding heart disease is Trigs/HDL-C which should be below 2. in your case 88/66 = 1.33, which means you are more than fine!

yes the international hospitals in Bangkok is amazing.

Yes for general health check up here is you actually get everything is about 600$ but if you actually get really sick and stay at this hospital it can cost you easily 3,000$ USD a night just for a flu 😷

my cholesterol was 213, hdl 90, ldl 109. chol/hdl ratio 2.37 last October. but it was high in 2021. cut out meats and increased leafy greens and steamed vegetables worked for me and i also dropped 20 pounds

Thank you Forrest, this is a very helpful video!

There are some interesting new studies out saying that the LDL is fine if it's high as long as your triglycerides are low. Healthy animal fats have been demonized by the seed oil industry.

I try my best to avoid visiting hospitals abroad since they can be either expensive or time consuming. I just return back home to get my checkup and medical attention at the VA

This is first class hospital, way more expensive than 2nd tier hospitals. Anyway, many public hospitals have special clinic, you pay more to avoid the crowds but still less than private hospitals. Don't worry too much about cholesterol, slightly over 200 is normal. It depends on chemical inside you, my friend works out like hell, very lean, eat lean but his cholesterol is still at 240-260!

I've had several health exams done in Bangkok since 2015. My Blue Cross insurance reimbursed up to 90% of the cost.

It's not the fat,it's sugar and carbs that raise your ldl.

good for you, traveling and taking care of your body. I respect your discipline forest lee!

Chuckle when I hear you pronounce Samitivej - but it's all good. I found that self-pay at hospitals work the best for me. The prices are very affordable; however, if someone has chronic issues than insurance would be the best route. The health screening "specials" are great. For example, I got a complete heart workup at Samitivej including CT scans for under $400 - which is unheard of in the States. Keep an eye on your cholesterol, you may need statins.

Great video Forrest. Re your Colesterol score - I've been in the same situation and the more i looked into it, it's not black and white re good v's bad cholesterol. After my research I found that what is considered the most important marker re cholesterol/ blood lipids by the latest science / research is your ApoB level. I would def recommend getting tested for ApoB before starting any medication etc. Full disclosure - I'm no doctor.. All the best.

Informative vid Forest, gonna get mine done this weekend hospital in ekemai area. My 4th month living in BKK.

read up on: Udo's Oil.He studied in Switzerland. and is one of the best on Cholesterol.He wrote a book.I read it in 70's.Scientific yet plain in comprehension.Wish you best health,my friend

Private chain of hospitals like MAX, Fortis etc are great in India too. The medical insurance policy in India is advisable. There are private chain of good diagnosis centres like Vijaya, Lal PathLab etc for this kind of checkups that cost much less than hospitals. Vijaya diagnosis chain has MRI, CT Scan and a whole lot of other machinery too. Most of the private hospitals in India have large number of highly specialised doctors who have worked in US etc for many years earlier. So, medical facilities in India are great for much less cost than in US.

There is no way you can get multiple checkups in the morning and on top of that get the results in the afternoon in USA!! Except in ER (emergency room)!

thank you for sharing incredibly intimate health details with the public, tmi

This video is very useful. Thank you. If you have an opportunity, please consider create a video showcasing the surrounding area near Samitivej Hospital and the available houses/apartments for rent?

Forrest. I lowered my blood pressure and bad cholesterol by eating a lot less carbs, especially the refined ones and eliminating sugar from my diet. Fat is not necessarily the culprit. A little hard to do in Thailand but that’s the way.

Have you tried to use your Veterans' health care benefits in Thailand?

I agree hospitals and dr office in USA are terrible not to mention may take 3 months to see anyone to make the appointment and even with insurance here still have to pay a deductible even higher for all that stuff you did. I remember paying 800 bux deductible with insurance just for the ultrasound was absurd. Also your LDL is prob due to the oils that everyone in Thai cooks with its all highly processed seed oil and every place even the healthier restaurants use it cause it’s cheap. Best way is to have it cooked in avocado oil, EV olive oil or ghee but that seed oil everything in Thailand is cooked with it and is the major problem there and it’s hard to find restaurants or stalls using the healthier oils or none at all to cook all that tasty food. If they made that switch it would be alot more healthy and that’s prob what’s a big contributor to your elevated LDL.

Without insurance what did all of it cost? Thanks Ben

Thanks you very much for sharing this. You are amazing. ❤❤❤❤❤

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but my LDLs plummeted, along with my blood sugars, when I went on a Carnivore diet. My testosterone went up, my metabolism overall stabilized (I have a thyroid condition) and I lost 21Kg. Maybe check it out. Inflammation just disappears and there is less need for cholesterol to handle inflammation from sugars. Get ready for long-burning energy. I even look younger.

Forrest…that was fcuking great. I’m here in Chiang Mai for next 5 weeks, retiring here end of year. Which hospital does anyone recommend here? Thanks again for the great info.

Great stuff Forrest. Keep up the great work at the gym. Cutting back on the animal fats will help your LDL. I'm curious how you feel about the air quality in Bangkok this time of year with the burning. Do you wear a mask when outside? Do you notice it?

Hey man! 1) Can I just walk in for a check up? Or I should have an appointment? 2) Can I do all of that on a tourist visa or I have to be a resident ?

Hey I just watch your clip I have a tip for lowing your LDL its just you need to eat more HDL rich food and low carb in take you can't get rid of LDL by just not eating fatty food only HDL is a importance for bring LDL to be destroy by your liver.

If you OK "Private Hospital" so much expensive but super-service. Sometime you meet something like saleman staff. Don't annoy them just stay away. I suggest Government Hospital name "Ramathibordi" (Near​ Vitory monument) not expensive + world class service.

It's not an anti-American channel at all. Many Americans would agree with you 200.001% on the mediocre medical services in the US. The same is true for some other developed countries.

high ldl always being bad is a misconception. Research into doctors who have opposing views. I.e. Dr. Benjamin bikman, Dr. Anthony Chaffee, Dr. Peter Attia, etc.

Hey Forrest I got my bloodwork done at Samitivej recently and everything looks great except LDL is 230 which I am still in disbelief about because I eat healthy (rice chicken veggies), don’t drink and don’t eat junk or processed foods. Starting to wonder if there’s a problem with their blood testing equipment although I doubt it. Doc couldn’t figure out what’s causing this.

Is 200 dollars check up include what you did on that day? Also is it with the insurance or without insurance? If you can share the price without insurance, that will be great.

Very informative

So 200$ for blood, urine, chest, xray( all the tersts in your video) even no insurance?

Thanks mate for another informative video. About to retire and head that way. Still trying to decide between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Have you ever been to the hospitals in Chiang Mai? Also, you seem to like Chiang Mai....was it just business opportunities or are their other reasons you chose Bangkok over Chiang Mai?

Total Chol is important but not that important unless your ratio b/w your LDL= Total -HDL- (Triglycerides ) divide by 5 with result of 5 or below. Plus blood pressure

Hey, about your high LDL or bad fat. All you need to do is to buy rice bran oil, which contains good fat, from the supermarket, cost about 70 baht (not even 2 dollars) a liter, and take a table spoon a day or half a spoon twice a day like you would a medicine. In about a week or two your LDL will be replaced by good fat or HDL. Also, you should buy a blood pressure monitor if you can (it's cheaper nowadays and you should anyway as you grow older) to measure your blood pressure once or twice a day. Keep taking the oil until the lower number of the blood pressure returns to be within normal range. For me, it took me not even a third of the oil bottle gone to show good result as my blood pressure returns to within normal range and my body's inflammation reduced and I sleep better and feel better. This method is way cheaper than going to be fixed in any hospital for sure. I think the whole world should know this so I share so it becomes common knowledge.

Doing this amount of tests in Germany and getting follow-up consultations with specialists could easily take you multiple months, if not a year here in Germany... And yet, somehow we think we're the first world...🤣

I do this every year. It costs me $5 in Sweden, and then to see the doctor cost $10. We don't do X-rays here or the stool sample. Just urine. X-rays .. well because it hurts more than it helps unless you got symptoms .

Great video. Divid HDL by Total Cholesterol for more meaningful/predictive number. Go Bay Area!

Hi Forrest, I wouldn’t necessarily worry about the high LDL. I follow Dr. Berg on RU-vid and there are some additional tests to measure particle size. sdLDL-C. Small dense low density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

They could easily devote a whole section of the pattaya cemetery to guys over 50 who reckon testosterone is really good and you don’t have to worry about cholesterol because they saw a RU-vid video where a guy said not to worry about it

will the insurance pay for medicines of pre existing conditions such as high blood pressure? Thank you

How does shabu have fat? Isn’t it just beef slices boiled in water?

Yes, but ur willing to pay and have insurance. I've heard from thais and other ex-pats there is discrimination in public hospitals, those who can pay/not pay, scheduling surgeries, etc. In these cases they make you wait and wait for weeks, months even. Go thru a ton of BS just like america.

Thank You For Making this useful video Please Let US know How Much do you pay monthly or yearly for your Health insurance Thanks

Hi Forrest, it's me again, four months later after my last comment down below. My three kids are currently in BKK and my youngest suffered a seizure for the first time in her life, during an outing in Pratunam. Nice taxi driver brought her to the nearest hospital Phyathai Hospital and she got immed. attention, they did bloodtests & an MRI and she had to stay overnight, whilst waiting for all the results. She was discharged the next morning and the bill came to 55,515 Baht. I think it depends if you need special services like an MRI, then it adds up, but still cheaper than in US, right? What's your opinion on this?

Great info. Can you please talk more about insurance if you spend a lot of time abroad. BTW, is $200 for those with insurance or is that the general cost for anyone even those who pay cash? Thanks.

You should read up on cholesterol. For the last 30 years I have been between 205-221. Went on meds and 6 months later 150.....felt like crap! 2 forms of LDL, regular and oxidized. The later is bad which I don't have so I'm back to feeling good and eating Thai fried chicken🥰🥳😎

I agree 100%

Samitivej is one of the top private hospitals in Thailand.

Hello dear. What was the total costs for the whole test. ??

Tanks nice information and vlog

Dude, that's one of the most premium overpriced hospital in Bangkok. Yeah, you're going to get charged over the top. You might as well go to Siriraj and go to the premium building.

Nice video Forest

Private hospitals in Thailand is the best if one can afford it.

some families have high cholesterol levels but they don't suffer from any health problems because of it. Are there other tests for plaque buildup in the arteries? if you don't have any big buildup by age 37 then wouldn't it be safe to say your body can deal with high levels of cholesterol? cutting out all the good food really takes away from the quality of life in my opinion

Heheh I told you on your last video "be careful long term of what your eating. Ease off the deep fried stuff" But no worries your cholesterol is an easy fix & yeah you can still eat pizza but low amount of mozzarella & parmesian & make that the only cheese you eat That aside cut the dairy, (milk,cheese.etc) On coffee black Americano 😉Cut all deep fried & if possible all oil except Olive oil. Drop red meat too, ...skinless chicken breast, lean pork & fish ok. Do that & In the next three month I bet you will drop your LDL to under 100 EASY 😉

I'm currently needing a discectomy on my L5 S1, which is a fairly major spinal surgery, but I also don't want to delay moving to Bangkok. If you were in my position, would you stay behind in the states to get that done first or take the plunge and trust the surgeons/hospitals there to do it?

The cost of health care is what's scary in the US. It's getting out of control.

Greetings from Ont. Canada, we've just discovered you and subscribed and would like to know if you've visited a dentist yet, if so, how much would he charge for cleaning

What about your HDL? You can eat high-HDL food to offset your high LDL.

The best international hospital in Bangkok is Bumrungrad.

Hey bro I wann check up for gastric ulcers pain so which is good & fair price hospital in Thiland? Tnxs

Thanks!