Foreigners can claim medical expenses from state for virus treatment in Thailand

[webfact]

Foreigners can claim medical expenses from state for virus treatment in Thailand

 

The arrival area of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)

 

Foreign visitors, who are treated for COVID-19 in Thailand, and those who are placed under investigation pending COVID-19 test results, will have the right to claim back the medical expenses they actually paid from the state, according to Mr. Poomisak Aranyakasemsook, director-general of the Comptroller Department.

 

Thais and foreigners, including expatriates, who are covered by the state welfare scheme, can claim medical expenses for the amount that exceeds the limit of the welfare scheme. The Ministry of Public Health will work out the details of who, among non-Thais, are eligible to claim medical expenses and how much.

 

Mr. Poomisak said that the Comptroller Department has given the green light to the Public Health Ministry to pay a 1,500 baht risk allowance for each working shift of eight hours and a 1,000 baht meeting allowance to officials tasked with monitoring, investigating, preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 dating back to January.

 

Public officials, including nurses, medical scientists and technicians, will be eligible for a risk allowance of 1,000 baht per working shift of eight hours.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/foreigners-can-claim-medical-expenses-from-state-for-virus-treatment-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-03-19

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[petermik]

I,ll believe that when I see it conclusively.......

[bangkokbonecollector]

The whole world needs to offer free healthcare for anyone who is infected with the Chinese virus. If anyone is to foot that bill it is China...the creators of this virus. Yes, they created this virus through their complete and utter disregard for sanitised market environments. This isn't even the first time this has happened either!

[spinner2020]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

who are covered by the state welfare scheme

Misleading headline, non-story. Implication that any old farang can claim, but in fact - and quite reasonably - only the small number who qualify for the Thai state system.

[CraigInBangkok]

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thais and foreigners, including expatriates, who are covered by the state welfare scheme, can claim medical expenses for the amount that exceeds the limit of the welfare scheme. The Ministry of Public Health will work out the details of who, among non-Thais, are eligible to claim medical expenses and how much.

not much of an artical without this  piece of information

[CraigInBangkok]

5 minutes ago, spinner2020 said:

Misleading headline, non-story. Implication that any old farang can claim, but in fact - and quite reasonably - only the small number who qualify for the Thai state system.

Pretty sure I miss out even though I paid national insurance for 15 years ... left my job and swapped to a marriage visa and did'nt realise you could opt to continue to pay national insurance ... oh well you live and learn

[Matzzon]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

Foreign visitors, who are treated for COVID-19 in Thailand, and those who are placed under investigation pending COVID-19 test results, will have the right to claim back the medical expenses they actually paid from the state, according to Mr. Poomisak Aranyakasemsook, director-general of the Comptroller Department.

 

Thais and foreigners, including expatriates, who are covered by the state welfare scheme, can claim medical expenses for the amount that exceeds the limit of the welfare scheme.

So how many foreign visitors are covered by the state welfare scheme. Another piece of BS from the sharp authorities that think all of us are dumb nuts.

[holy cow cm]

So what exactly is the State Welfare Scheme? Expat workers and Expats married to Thai State officials who can only qualify?

[sapson]

38 minutes ago, spinner2020 said:

Misleading headline, non-story. Implication that any old farang can claim, but in fact - and quite reasonably - only the small number who qualify for the Thai state system.

I concur totally,very misleading only if you have a work permit, pay tax, have a Thai medical social security card can you claim...... or are lucky enough to be married to a thai woman who wears a tight fitting civil service uniform to work.

 

However if you do have the thai medical card treatment should be free as it should be for Thai ID card holders.

Just dont get it how the government deem fit to charge everyone to be tested........and allow the private hospital profiteering and extreme price gouging for the test in these emergency times?

Edited March 19, 2020 by sapson

[paulbrow]

14 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

So how many foreign visitors are covered by the state welfare scheme. Another piece of BS from the sharp authorities that think all of us are dumb nuts.

Actually I believe there are quite a few of us!

[CraigInBangkok]

2 minutes ago, paulbrow said:

Actually I believe there are quite a few of us!

we'll see just how covered you are if it hits the fan 

[smedly]

8 minutes ago, paulbrow said:

Actually I believe there are quite a few of us!

and quite a few who are not but are willing to pay an annual  fee to join

[4MyEgo]

Someone on another post told me to stop spreading misleading information, i.e. that private health cover covers the Covid-19, misleading I said, to which I asked, send me the link that you read this from, no reply, what are we paying private health cover for if it doesn't cover the Covid-19.

 

I believe he might be talking about travel insurance, but hasn't replied because he knows he's WRONG !

Edited March 19, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[sapson]

Claiming the money back you have as much chance as getting a refund at a soapy massage because it didnt end happily.......

[CraigInBangkok]

21 minutes ago, sapson said:

.......and allow the private hospital profiteering and extreme price gouging for the test in these emergency times?

also allowing banks/brokers to sell pretty useless covid insurance policies should'nt be allowed either ... if you really need hospital treatment, pretty sure these 100k policies will get you a test and 3 or 4 days in ICU

 

EDIT : not that there'll be any beds left

Edited March 19, 2020 by CraigInBangkok

[Isaanbiker]

36 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

So what exactly is the State Welfare Scheme? Expat workers and Expats married to Thai State officials who can only qualify?

The Thai Social Security? Once you've paid in for more than a year you can continue paying in privately.

 

    One of the best offers for foreigners. 

[CraigInBangkok]

4 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

The Thai Social Security? Once you've paid in for more than a year you can continue paying in privately.

yeah but only if you know about that and don't take a break for more than 6 months

[bbi1]

What a load of BS for the title. What about foreigners WHO ARE NOT COVERED BY STATE WELFARE SCEME???? Says foreigners can claim then it says:

 

"Thais and foreigners, including expatriates, who are covered by the state welfare scheme, can claim medical expenses for the amount that exceeds the limit of the welfare scheme."

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, paulbrow said:

Actually I believe there are quite a few of us!

You missed the point in my quote. That was the word "visitors". Usually a name used for tourists. To be in the welfare scheme, you have to work or have been working in Thailand. If you still work here, you shall be considered as a person living in the country. If you stopped work and are an expat, then you are probably still living in the country. 

[xtof2]

Me think that Mr. Poomisak is going to be transferred to an inactive post very soon.

[malibukid]

Medicare should pay for it and the U.S. gov. should pick up the tab for expats as well.  i believe everyone in the States will treated free of charge and this is part of the bill now being proposed in Congress

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, sapson said:

Claiming the money back you have as much chance as getting a refund at a soapy massage because it didnt end happily.......

soapy  massage  would be good  as the soap  kills  the virus, they should  make it  compulsory!!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Khaosod EN had a somewhat different take on this exact topic the other day, and it was a beaut of Thai style contradiction:

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2020/03/18/govt-oks-free-covid-19-treatment-for-foreigners-but-the-money-never-arrived/

 

Quote

 

BANGKOK — Foreigners suspected of having the coronavirus or diagnosed with it are supposed to be eligible for free treatment. But no one knows what happened to the funds.

 

An internal document obtained by Khaosod English shows a comprehensive free medical treatment for foreigners in cases related to the virus was approved by the Comptroller General’s Department as late as seven days ago, yet inquiries to the health ministry on Wednesday revealed the agency has yet to receive the money.

 

 

[sapson]

According to this article yesterday, the government have already signed off on free treatment for all farangs with testing and treatment for covid 19 with or without insurance etc.............. 

 

But the money has yet to appear!!

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2020/03/18/govt-oks-free-covid-19-treatment-for-foreigners-but-the-money-never-arrived/

 

So much is lost in translation in this country.....

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Foreign visitors, who are treated for COVID-19 in Thailand, and those who are placed under investigation pending COVID-19 test results, will have the right to claim back the medical expenses they actually paid from the state, according to Mr. Poomisak Aranyakasemsook, director-general of the Comptroller Department

How man foreign visitors qualify for Thai state health care I wonder??

[sapson]

Sorry posted this at the same time as above.no 16 whoops.

[Isaanbiker]

3 hours ago, CraigInBangkok said:

yeah but only if you know about that and don't take a break for more than 6 months

It's easy to talk to your bank to send 438 baht/month to them. Or let somebody pay for you, no problem.

     

     Unfortunately, too many people didn't know that they could have continued after their job was done. 

 

   It covers all medical expenses and I'm more than happy to have such a card. 

[CraigInBangkok]

11 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

It's easy to talk to your bank to send 438 baht/month to them. Or let somebody pay for you, no problem.

     

     Unfortunately, too many people didn't know that they could have continued after their job was done. 

 

   It covers all medical expenses and I'm more than happy to have such a card. 

I was so happy to give up my job that I did'nt even think about it until a few weeks ago. Of course far too late by that time. I should be starting a "partnership" soon with the wife, so hopefully once I have a work permit I can start paying into it again. Should be alright through this corona BS (hopefully not famous last words)

Edited March 19, 2020 by CraigInBangkok

[NightSky]

This is for show only not to help people.

 

I have no access to the welfare system even after paying taxes in Thailand for 5 years since I was a director of a company.

 

Its a con, trickery, manipulation, whatever you want to call it - its a lie.

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, spinner2020 said:

Misleading headline, non-story. Implication that any old farang can claim, but in fact - and quite reasonably - only the small number who qualify for the Thai state system.

And yesterday there was another misleading headline that ALL foreigners needed this and that to enter the country. Maybe they've sent all their responsible writers into quarantine. For what wants to be taken as a serious and responsible site, with a group of people ready and able to punish those they consider break their rules, it might be a good idea if they put their own house in order and at least write accurate, responsible headlines instead of a phrase I'd be banned by our unseen masters for using. Or maybe they just employ people with poor writing skills. If they want responsible postings from their members, it would be nice if they did the same for us. It isn't a one-way street. Or shouldn't be.