I want to take the opportunity to share my experiences after getting involved in an accident in Phnom Penh.
Who am I ? An expat in his fifties, living here in Phnom Penh for more than 11 years, mainly working in Vietnam in the tourist industry. I prefer living in Cambodia, as I found the people nicer, the country more inviting to foreigners than Vietnam (where I lived before for 5 years).
Last week I and my friend got involved in a stupid accident. We were waiting opposite a motorbike repair shop on street 19 (in the shade, 2 pm afternoon), when we were hit by a motorbike.
A rickshaw (the ones that Passapp uses) made a sudden maneuver to the right, not paying attention to the motorbike riding next to him. The motorbike hit us. My friend was lucky, only some small cuts and bruises, I got the bike right on my kneecap of my left leg.
Fortunately they both stopped (rare in Cambodia, I know), maybe because there were too many witnesses. Pretty soon I knew my leg was broken, although I never had any broken bones in my life before, the pain was cruel.
Minor mistake was going to Naga Clinic. Guess the place is OK for minor injuries, but all they could tell me that it was probably broken, but to be sure I had to take an X-ray at a hospital somewhere else in town. The friendly doctors confirmed my kneecap was broken and told me there was nothing they could do for me. Options were Calmette hospital or Royal Phnom Penh hospital.
Since living here for 16 years I never had insurance. Never had serious illnesses, so basically I saved a lot of money (and I consider myself in relative good health). They estimated that the cost for the operation in Calmette would be 1500-2000$, in RPP hospital it would be 6000-7000$.
In the meanwhile the police arrived and confiscated the motorbike and the rickshaw until things were settled.
Bill at Naga Clinic 60$, X-ray was 20$. We decided to go to Calmette. It was 5.30 pm. Monday afternoon.
On arrival there I was put in the waiting room/alley for about 2 hours. Finally they moved us to another waiting room for the night. Luckily my friend was able to get us some food as we were in for a long wait.
Tuesday morning 9.30 am I got the news they were going to operate me. After 2,5 hours I was released to a room. Choices are rooms with 4 beds (actually 12 beds as it are big rooms divided in 3) that are 25$ a night, a VIP room with 2 beds that are 50$, a VIP room with a single bed is about 170$ a night.
Service in all the rooms is the same : NONE !
Medical staff will give you the drips, injections, change the sheets on your bed (if you ask them very friendly) and that’s it.
So you get no food, no drinks, no help if you want to go to the bathroom (which is at the end of the alley, difficult if you don’t have crutches – fortunately there is a wheelchair available).
Basically, if you’re on your own… you’re fucked.
I was lucky to have a friend who took care of me, who brought me food, helped me to the toilet etc.
The doctors give you clear information in basic English, I was happy with their service, medical staff (nurses) was OK. Waking up at 5.30 am by a nurse who taps on your leg, before putting a needle in it… I prefer other wake up calls.
After spending 6 nights in the hospital (5 days in the shared room) I was released on Sunday. Not too soon, the mattresses on the beds are those who give you bedsore wounds after a couple of days.
Bought some crutches on the way back (near Olympic stadium, 24$). Now at home for 2 months recovery, but with WiFi and TV at home, painkillers and sleeping pills. I am fortunate to live in a friendly neighborhood where my neighbors (Khmer ones) care about me.
The persons who caused the accident told me they were poor, and one party was able to give me 500$, the other one (rickshaw) maybe 200$. My total bill at the hospital was about 1500$, all in all reasonable (including operation, x-rays, medication, room). How big the share for the police will be has to be seen. Both parties and the police came over on Sunday afternoon to discuss payment. When I asked them if they would be satisfied with partly payment of the costs if it had been the other way around, the answer was no. So I guess it’s better to pretend to be poor, then they have to settle with a small amount of money.
Sharing this information is just to let you know what you’re into when you decide, like me, not to take insurance. It was my decision, something I still don’t regret till today. The way things are handled here in Cambodia (compensation, police etc)… well everyone knows it. But now you’ve heard it first hand from somebody recently involved.

I'm in support of your choices but I wonder what the operation might have cost in Thailad?
I understand there is some fairly good medical shit there that may not be too expensive?

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After 11 years of not paying money to the insurance companies, you have saved yourself ??? $ . My guess is over $10,000 . Hopefully you would have put some of that money aside for when something like this happens. If this is so, you are still on the winning side.

I hope all goes well with the healing and recovery.

I have made a choice to help students from poor families get an education. By not having insurance, I have money to help more students. There is a possibility that I may be in a difficult situation one day, and then maybe nothing like this will happen to me. You never know.

Why not just stop drinking beer to pay for their education and you could be able to help more people?

If you have Moto/car insurance doesn’t that cover your injuries?

Barang chgout wrote: ↑Tue Oct 23, 2018 4:56 pm I'm in support of your choices but I wonder what the operation might have cost in Thailad?
I understand there is some fairly good medical shit there that may not be too expensive?

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In 2010 I shattered my ulna which found me at SOS Phnom Penh attended to by a great American doctor who said nothing could be done for me at SOS and it would be ill-advised to seek treatment in Cambodia. He put my arm in a slab to keep it stable and gave me three hospital names in Bangkok which I called. Ballpark figures for surgery as I remember ranged between $6000-$8000 which I couldn't afford.I booked a flight back to Perth for the next day, went straight from the airport to the hospital where I was admitted immediately and my arm was put back together with plate and screws the following morning, for nothing. (other than the $800 airfare)

In 2013 I also broke my hand in Singapore in an alcohol related incident at a nightclub which saw me quoted $2000 for surgery to fix a busted knuckle. I chose to let it heal naturally which wasn't the smartest as I now have a bit of a deformed mitt.

I was in a motorbike accident. I was hit by 2 bikes, one was a Jao and the other was a police officer so essentially 2 Jaos. The officer was chasing the guy at a high rate of speed i'm told, as I didn't remember the accident but I made the news.

Woke up in Calmette, saw some people die next to me and lots of crying and screaming going on from families of the deceased. I was scared wondering how fucked I was, just saw my hands were busted and felt numb on my face and body.

Eventually transported out of the death room, I was left by Calmette nurse outside somewhere in a common area which was dark and had no other people around. Mosquitoes started coming so I was yelling "help" repeatedly until eventually someone came and moved me into a room.

I woke up again and gingerly made it to a mirror. My face was massively swollen, I needed help. I wait for a nurse to come and I am able to borrow her phone and call a friend to come.

My friend got me out of Calmette to Royal PP, organized ambulance to come and dealt with the hospitals administration. Royal PP had me airlifted to Bangkok Intl hospital in a medi-plane.
Surgeries:
-> Titanium in face as I broke both of my cheeks (Back of head by helmet was not injured)
-> Oral surgery as my teeth were still in but all pointing different directions now, soup only for months
-> Pins put in both hands as broken bones in each, freaky that the pins were meant to stick out of my hand after surgery until removed weeks later

Total cost $80,000-$100,000
Insurance - Forte Medi+

It is not apparent to anybody that I have had surgery, they went through my eyebrow so scar is not visible. The service level was incredible at Bangkok International, and the room for recovery was excellent like a hotel.

Why would you not even get an "oh shit" insurance policy with a high deductible, in the event you had an accident as I did or worse?

We know my story. I couldn't piss and after arrangement of a specialist whom refused to see me for no reason
It was time to book a flight.
I would not be deluded here! They do not always help and let people die.

GMJS-CEO wrote: ↑Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:12 pm Why would you not even get an "oh shit" insurance policy with a high deductible, in the event you had an accident as I did or worse?

When I retired and moved to Vietnam, I bought an "Oh shit!" expat Health Insurance policy with a high ($2000) deductible that's good worldwide (except U.S.A.). I can choose any hospital and it includes emergency evacuation.

I'm paying $1300/year to insure against something catastrophic... one second I'm fine, the next I could have my entire life savings (and more) 'wiped out'... the thing is, you don't see it coming. What are the chances? I don't know. I do know it gives me some 'peace of mind' and that in itself has some value.