Health Insurance 432 baht or the 30 baht scheme?

[Neeranam]

I'm thinking if paying 432 baht a month for the rest of my life to the Thai social security. Just turned 55 so have the option to pay, after getting my pension cheque. However, I should be a naturalized Thai citizen in the next few months.

Is the social security much better, or the same as the 30 baht scheme?

[opporna]

In my experience, it's not possible to get * both * the pension and the 432 baht/month health insurance. They made me choose one or the other, and I went with the insurance option. Pain in the neck as my friends who worked less than 15 years also got a nice big check, but that wasn't an option for me. I checked at two different offices and got the same story.

 

I've been happy with SS health insurance, but I've never experienced the 30-baht scheme so I can't help there.

[lopburi3]

AFAIK 30 baht "gold card" is for treatment only at your registered government hospital unless that facility can not do and authorizes a transfer.  SS allows treatment at any hospital accepting that system, which includes many private facilities.

 

But as said I do not have any expert knowledge so could be wrong.  

[Isaanbiker]

43 minutes ago, opporna said:

In my experience, it's not possible to get * both * the pension and the 432 baht/month health insurance. They made me choose one or the other, and I went with the insurance option. Pain in the neck as my friends who worked less than 15 years also got a nice big check, but that wasn't an option for me. I checked at two different offices and got the same story.

 

I've been happy with SS health insurance, but I've never experienced the 30-baht scheme so I can't help there.

I'm turning 60 next May and currently pay 438 baht/month for my SS. Am I right that I could now get my "lump sum" and continue paying in this amount before I turn 60? 

 

     I understand that I'd perhaps receive 600 baht per month pension, which doesn't make much sense. Thanks in advance for any advice. 

 

 

OP, the SS has a few goodies, for example 900 baht per year dental costs, monthly cash for kids and a few others.

 

  It's only 438 baht/month, if I were you, just continue. You never know what will change in the near future. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by Isaanbiker

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, Isaanbiker said:

I'm turning 60 next May and currently pay 438 baht/month for my SS. Am I right that I could now get my "lump sum" and continue paying in this amount before I turn 60? 

 

     I understand that I'd perhaps receive 600 baht per month pension, which doesn't make much sense. Thanks in advance for any advice. 

 

 

OP, the SS has a few goodies, for example 900 baht per year dental costs, monthly cash for kids and a few others.

 

  It's only 438 baht/month, if I were you, just continue. You never know what will change in the near future. 

Yes, many are unaware of the SS benefits. I knew one guy with 3 kids who didn't  apply for the monthly 300 or so baht for each one.

 

You get 1500 for dentures ! 

I was told I could get about 3000 a month or 190,000 cheque. I was told I could continue with the payments for insurance.

 

3000 baht a month would take just 7 years to be more rhan the lump sum, but I'd rather gamble it on cryptocurrencies.

 

I also paid back 10 years of class 2 NI contributions to the UK pension. Cost just 150 pounds a year.

 

 

 

[blackcab]

15 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

...300 or so baht

 

It's 600 baht per month now.

[Neeranam]

56 minutes ago, blackcab said:

 

It's 600 baht per month now.

Yes, I know. It used to be 300. I had a separate bank account for my kids' money and actually forgot about until I needed it.

[opporna]

I wasn't aware of the dental option

4 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

I'm turning 60 next May and currently pay 438 baht/month for my SS. Am I right that I could now get my "lump sum" and continue paying in this amount before I turn 60? 

 

     I understand that I'd perhaps receive 600 baht per month pension, which doesn't make much sense. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I went in with a colleague after I retired. He had worked less than 15 years, I had worked more. They gave him a lump sum, plus he was able to continue on the 432 baht/month health insurance.

 

I, on the other hand, was given the option of a 3xxx baht per month pension * or * the health insurance option. I chose the health insurance.

 

  

I wasn't aware of the dental option

4 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

OP, the SS has a few goodies, for example 900 baht per year dental costs, monthly cash for kids and a few others.

How does the dental work exactly? Do you need to enroll?

[Sheryl]

SS has somewhat better benefits and there is often a choice of hospital (though you do then have to get all care at only that hospital). The hospital choice factor matters more in some locations rhan others.

 

I'd advise keeping the SS.

 

No connection between pension/lump sum option and health insurance.

[Isaanbiker]

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Yes, many are unaware of the SS benefits. I knew one guy with 3 kids who didn't  apply for the monthly 300 or so baht for each one.

 

You get 1500 for dentures ! 

I was told I could get about 3000 a month or 190,000 cheque. I was told I could continue with the payments for insurance.

 

3000 baht a month would take just 7 years to be more rhan the lump sum, but I'd rather gamble it on cryptocurrencies.

 

I also paid back 10 years of class 2 NI contributions to the UK pension. Cost just 150 pounds a year.

 

 

 

Yes, many are unaware of the SS benefits. I knew one guy with 3 kids who didn't  apply for the monthly 300 or so baht for each one.

 

I know a few guys who didn’t know it and they had no idea that they could have continued by paying in privately. Unfortunately, are they now without any insurance. I think it's more than 300 baht now, depending on the kid's age. 

 

You get 1500 for dentures ! 

I was told I could get about 3000 a month or 190,000 cheque. I was told I could continue with the payments for insurance.

 

Then my dentist ripped me off which wouldn’t surprise me! It was 500 baht before and was told it’s 900 baht now per anno.

 

The last time I’ve checked I was on about 100 K and I truly hope that I can get the amount out and continue paying in 438 baht. I’d look at only 500 baht/month which doesn’t make any sense to me.

 

3000 baht a month would take just 7 years to be more rhan the lump sum, but I'd rather gamble it on cryptocurrencies.

 

If you receive 3K/month, then go for it! Well, we never know when we have to go…..I hope you'll live forever!!!

 

I also paid back 10 years of class 2 NI contributions to the UK pension. Cost just 150 pounds a year.

 

I wish I had paid into my retirement fund, but somehow wasn’t thinking about getting older.

 

Thinking about the magic 6 before my age makes me feel a sort of uncomfortable, to be honest.

 

Thank you very much for your answer, will try that next week, our school’s closed for two days. Kind regards. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by Isaanbiker

[Isaanbiker]

1 hour ago, opporna said:

I wasn't aware of the dental option

I went in with a colleague after I retired. He had worked less than 15 years, I had worked more. They gave him a lump sum, plus he was able to continue on the 432 baht/month health insurance.

 

I, on the other hand, was given the option of a 3xxx baht per month pension * or * the health insurance option. I chose the health insurance.

 

  

I wasn't aware of the dental option

How does the dental work exactly? Do you need to enroll?

No, you don't have to do anything. Let's say you're visiting a dentist.

Just show your card and they'll deduct the amount of 900, ( another member just mentioned 1,500 baht) and they'll get the cash right from the SS office. 

 

P.S. That's not working for a crown, or similar. 

Edited December 7, 2019 by Isaanbiker
Adding something...

[Neeranam]

The 1500 for falcers is onky once every 4 years. Didnt make much fifference for me, getting 10 crowns, a bridge and a few other things.

 

If you are from UK   you can pay back 10 years in one go. 

[Sheryl]

16 hours ago, opporna said:

....

 

I, on the other hand, was given the option of a 3xxx baht per month pension * or * the health insurance option. I chose the health insurance.

 

 

That was completely inaccurate on the part of the SS office. Unfortunately inaccurate info is given out rather often in rural SS offices. Some people have even been told that the health insurance benefit is only for Thai citizens, or that there is no way to continue it after you return (both utterly false).

 

Sometimes it is incompetence plus unwillingness to ask or look something up; sometimes it is intentionally trying to avoid extra work (on par with the shop staff saying "mai mee" when the item is right there on the shelves); sometimes they just don't want to deal with a foreigner.

 

Anyone covered by SS here needs to read the SS Act in detail. It can be downloaded in English. Then armed with knowledge of what actual benefits they ate entitled to, stand their ground and ask to talk to a supervisor, or if necessary call/ visit the head office.

 

In your case since you were done out of your pension entitlement I'd check now to see if it is still possible to claim it.