Being told that you need to be admitted to hospital in Bali
has traditionally struck fear into the hearts of both expats
and locals alike. It can be a daunting experience, but things
can go a lot more smoothly if you know your options and level
of care. Every week I get several calls from people wanting
to know which hospital they should use, how much it will cost
them and what facilities are available. First and foremost
you MUST be insured. It can make a hospital admission so much
easier on the wallet and your stress levels. This is not only
for you, but for your family, staff etc. Most people will
ensure that they are covered themselves, but neglect to consider
their employees. Another thing that most people don’t
realize is that if a staff member does need hospital treatment
or surgery you will be expected to chip in for the cost as
most people on a local wage cannot afford it (surgery for
a broken leg for example can cost between 6 – 15 million
even for locals). There are several companies that offer insurance
for staff / employees. ASKES is the government run organization,
and costs no more than about $10 - $20 a month depending on
level of cover. As for international cover there are plenty
of international plans on the market and I would be happy
to give you information on any of these.
So which hospital should you use in case you need to be admitted?
It depends a lot on your budget. Accommodation prices alone
can range from Rp200,000 a day to USD $720.00 a day so be
very careful when you are admitted to any medical facility,
and check the price before you get the bill. (An average price
to pay for a private air con room would be between Rp 500,000
to Rp 1,000,000 per day). If the situation is an emergency,
go to the nearest facility and think about your budget later.
You can always transfer to another facility when your condition
is stable. Be aware that you may be billed according to your
resident status. Some hospitals will double the price for
non-Indonesian citizens. Others will give you the local price
if you have a KITAS (resident’s visa). You can argue
with this all you like but you won’t get anywhere. It’s
quite accepted to “up the price” for non-residents,
although it hardly seems fair sometimes. Yes, in most cases
tourists or expats do have a bigger income, but it’s
not always the case. Also be aware that the hospital may base
your bill on the nationality of your partner if it falls in
their favor (e.g. Indonesian woman with Western man may get
billed Western prices for her treatment). Whatever the hospitals
ruling, get it in black and white so there are no surprises
later. Remember that you are not covered by government schemes
such as Medicare (Australia) in Indonesia, and your consulate
can be of little assistance for financing medical care or
evacuations overseas if you do not have international medical
cover.
If you do opt for care in a cheaper public ward or hospital
you may have to pay for medication / equipment before any
treatment can be done. In private centers you are often given
a daily account. Public hospitals also expect that the family
/ friends will assist in the care of the patient (washing
/ feeding etc) although most private centers now provide this
service. Most of the larger private hospitals have at least
some English and Japanese speaking staff. Sanglah International
intensive care now has two Australian specialty nurses. Sanglah
hospital also has the most complete intensive care /coronary
care / burns facility on the Island, so in the case of severe
illness or injury it would be the best option. Other smaller
private hospitals such as Prima Medika Hospital not far from
Sanglah is a very comfortable center offering private room
accommodation, X Ray department, CT Scan, operating theatre,
intensive care and new maternity wing. Prima Medika offers
several accommodation options and you will be billed according
to your level of accommodation (Standard, VIP, VVIP, Executive
etc). Kitas holders will be given residents prices, although
tourists will pay more. Other hospitals worth a mention are
Surya Husada, and Kasih Ibu. Both have undergone major renovations
recently, but do check their billing system.
“Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife
that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty
years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral
service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any
health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail
at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000”.
