Phrae is a quiet province where many families live several generations under one roof. Looking after the health of the children, the working adults and the older members of the household starts with the most basic thing of all: knowing how to contact the province's main hospital, and where each person's entitlement can be used.
Main hospitals in Phrae
Phrae Hospital — public
- Address: 141 Cho Hae Rd, Nai Mueang, Mueang Phrae 54000
- Phone: 054-533-500
- Map: Open in Google Maps
Why calling ahead matters more than you'd think
Calling in advance helps with several things people tend to overlook: checking the opening days and hours of the specialist clinic you need, since some departments do not open every day; checking the appointment process so you are not queuing unnecessarily on arrival; and checking which documents to bring, particularly when taking an older relative. One trip that completes the task beats two or three because something was missing.
Notes for policyholders
- If you hold private health insurance, call your insurer first to find out how the hospital you are going to handles claims. For a planned admission, notifying them or arranging a fax claim in advance is better still.
- Public hospitals generally accept universal coverage and social security entitlements under each scheme's conditions. Check whether your entitlement is registered in the right area — it is far easier to use that way.
- If the hospital is not in your insurer's network, pay first and keep the original receipts and the medical certificate in full to claim afterwards.
Note: addresses and phone numbers can change. Please call the hospital to confirm before travelling, and contact them by phone or through their Facebook page directly, as public hospitals often do not reply by email.
Getting the whole family ready
Three things worth finishing this week. One: save Phrae Hospital's number and 1669 on every family member's phone. Two: check what healthcare entitlement each person in the house has and where it can be used. Three: if there are insurance policies, gather the policy numbers and the agent's phone number somewhere everyone knows. And in a critical emergency, you can always go to the nearest hospital under the UCEP policy.