Government health insurance scheme - please explain

[simon43]

This topic has been mentioned in several previous threads. I'd like a clarification about the government health cover scheme for foreigners who have been legally employed and contributing to this scheme.

 

As I understand things, if I were to be employed for at least six months, I would then be eligible to continuing paying into that health cover, even after I no longer was employed, and as long as I continued to contribute, I'd be covered with no age ceiling etc.  Is my understanding correct?

 

I ask more as a 'plan B' scenario.  I already pay for expat private health cover, and that's all fine.  But I'm thinking of a worse-case scenario where my annual insurance premiums increased significantly as I got old, and where a change in my financial circumstances might mean that I were unable to afford the premiums any longer.  At least if I had the government scheme as a back-up, it would provide me with some modest cover.

 

This question has arisen because I currently teach online (and that income is all fine and good).  But I've been offered a STEM teaching position at a very respected school in Thailand, with a reasonable employment package.  It might be sensible for me to accept this offer, pay into the government scheme and then decide if I want to return to freelance teaching at a later date.

[Sheryl]

Not 6 months. A full year. I think 13 months to be exact. At which poiny yes, you can continue it for life if you keep up the payments and it is strongly recommended that you do.

 

To clarify this is the Social Security system you refer to.

 

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[TerryLH]

Unless there's been a change, teachers at private schools are not eligible to be in the Social Security system.

 

Terry

[Sheryl]

Private schools are exempt from the mandatory requirement but I think they can opt to be in if they so choose.

 

Most however do not.

 

OP should clarify this with the prospective employer.

 

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[simon43]

I'm not sure the school in question is a private school.  It's Rajini Foundation School (Royally-founded).

[Sheryl]

Thai teachers at government schools would usually be covered under the Civil Service SS scheme. I am nto sure what the situation would be for contract hires. Better ask.