The Bali Minefield

mugwump

Ever since years ago my maid first suggested she make my household purchases including beer at the local toko I have tried to take precautions to take advantage of the "Bali price". And, yes my maid took a small commission, but it was less than what I would otherwise have paid had I made the purchases personally.It is a bit like walking through a minefield to avoid always being the sucker and paying more than the locals. The super markets work this deal by consistently charging more for products destined for purchase for foreigners, and I am not just alluding to imported items. Just take your shopping list and check it out. Recently I stepped on my latest mine by innocently completing an application for a routine medical procedure at a Denpasar Hospital. Without going into great detail, I learned that there is a distinction made in the charges paid by foreigners holding different types of visas. The tip is always be a Kitas holder to get a lower charge. No document need be produced. This is a hospital conspicuously advertising their services to the expat community. I will happily be more specific in personal email.It is often damned hard to not become a cynic despite loving this place so.

BKT

Yea a lot of Hospitals are like that. Kasih Ibu I know is cheeper for locals and people with a Kitas. Many hotels and villas do that as well like Puri Bagus in Lovina, Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort. etc etc etc. You would be surprised how many places do that.

bunny

Speaking a (basic) conversational level of Bahasa makes a world of difference with everyday purchases and life in general. I could not contemplate spending time here with out at least a basic understanding of the language. Even without Kitas, with basic language skills local prices will be the norm in most circumstances.

no.idea

I have had various hospitals come to me with a printed sheet showing my commission if I take a sick tourist to their hospital.These are on a sliding scale with locals being the lowest "reward". Next up the ladder is local tourists, this heads up the scale with Japanese tourists at the head. A bus or a hotel full of ailing Japanese tourists returns damn good money.:icon_evil:

mugwump

Markit

Bring the bus to eat at my house - the wife does a nice Salmonella special - I'll split it with you 50/50.

bunny

A sack over ones head ? maybe cosmetic surgery to remove the letters ATM that I have tattooed on my forehead might be a better option, The letters ATM must be in invisible tattoo ink that only people living in Bali can see.......?

Tamispecial

no.idea

Bring the bus to eat at my house - the wife does a nice Salmonella special - I'll split it with you 50/50.[/QUOTE]Does this come with a side dish of staphylococcus?:icon_rolleyes:

mugwump

How true all of the above!My experience of a medical rip off was seeing the ambulance driver hand over 100.000 for my x-ray which i had to pay 350.000 for.I have since become very wise to all of this and on my recent visit for my annual blood tests I went to Quantum medical centre in Denpasar...showed them my Kitas....paid a very fair price of 450.000...very nice place very nice people....same blood tests last year without kitas at my local medical centre and not as thorough?...820.000....I know where i shall be going for any medical attention![/QUOTE] I was quoted 190.000 for a cholesterol blood test by Kasih Ibu.over the phone with no questions about my visa. At the payment counter the charge was 420.000 due to my admitting to a business visa on the application rather than a kitas. And the games go on!

freetofly

[b]hospitals[/b]I was quoted 190.000 for a cholesterol blood test by Kasih Ibu.over the phone with no questions about my visa. At the payment counter the charge was 420.000 due to my admitting to a business visa on the application rather than a kitas. And the games go on![/QUOTE] I recently attended puri bunda hospital for an antinatal visit. quoted 90 000rp for appointment and 120 000rp for an ultrasound. thats pretty cheap I think - hmmmmet the OB- good english, but when I went to pay the bill was more like 450 000rp plus drugs (drugs prescribed that are known to cause birth defects i might add)moral to the story - stand your ground, I said tidak I no pay, I got told this price and I pay no more. numerous phone call to doctor and he say sorry, my mistake - I ended up only paying the 120 000rp!! husband mortified, teenage daughter no longer talking to me - but I will not be ripped off cause this ATM is overdrawn!!!!

BKT

matsaleh

In Australia, it's the same BKT. When my partner joined me for a holiday in Australia, I had to guarantee to pay all medical expenses, if he became ill or had an accident. Medicare in Australia does not cover non-residents.

mugwump

I'm fine with hospitals here charging extra for foreigners. I'm not sure about other countries but in NZ if you're not a citizen you're not entitled to any health care subsidiaries. I'm pretty sure its the same in Australia and most other countries as well. Hotels on the other hand...[/QUOTE] At issue here is not the ability of a foreigner to pay. It is making the distinction AMONG foreigners based upon their type of visa. Hospitals in the U.S. certainly subsidize hospital charges for those without health care insurance as opposed to those that do, although it is not a formally stated policy. This practice has existed for many years there and probably exists with other nations that don't have socialized medicine as well.

BKT

Again I have no problem with that, where I'm from foreigners with working visas and student visas pay full price, here at least you can get subsidiaries with a Kitas. And thats fair, Kitas holders pay taxes in this country (or so they should), they should be entitled to some subsidiaries.

justinbali

Or better yet speaking Bahasa with a sack over your head.[/QUOTE]What language is Bahasa ?The word "bahasa" means "language", whereas Bahasa Inggris means English and Bahasa Indonesia means Indonesian.Isn't it normal that one speaks the local language fluently when one decides to live in a country ?

hinakos

From what im undestanding most to be saying here - its that hospital charges paid by "locals" and kitas holders are subsided by the govt and therefore cheaper than what non Kitas holders pay.Can anyone confirm thats actually correct? I never heard that one before.I know the fuel here is subsidised....but the hospitals also? I thought that was only for the extremely poverty stricken and only in cases of near death.

justinbali

Yes, hospitals in Indonesia are subsidized.Google : indonesian hospitals subsidized

Barekarma

Hi Hinakos,I can confirm that KITAS holders pay less than non-KITAS holders for medical services, but the KITAS holder still pays more than a Indonesian local. For example, my Indonesian friend and I both saw the same doctor, he paid Rp. 25,000 for the consultation, I paid Rp. 50,000. A European visitor (tourist Visa) was before us, spend only a few minutes in the consultation, and was asked for Rp. 100,000. This was a Klina Farma clinic. However, this is Bali, so I would not be surprised to discover that charges are set according to what the clinics think they can get away with.I would be very interest to hear about other experiences in using Bali hosiptals.... I may have to use one very soon for a operation. Any comments?Barekarma