Removal of COVID-19 from Thailand’s universal health coverage list may be postponed

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said today (Sunday) that he will discuss with Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Public Health, the possibility of postponing, from March 1st to April 1st, the removal of COVID-19 from Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) list.

 

As Omicron variant infections have surged to over 10,000 a day in the past week, he said that time must be provided to communicate any changes to the public’s right of access to medical care and that the Medical Services Department must he consulted regarding COVID-19 patients who have underlying diseases which also require medical treatment.

 

Despite the prospective removal of COVID-19 from UCEP list, he assured that COVID-19 patients, who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and are being treated at home, are still covered by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) health security program or other schemes.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/removal-of-covid-19-from-thailands-universal-health-coverage-list-may-be-postponed/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-14

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

[cliobkk]

In my opinion, any government of any nation should strive to guarantee a minimum of medical care....
I did insure myself 2years ago.
I tried to renew my covid 19 insurance that i subscribed 2 years ago, had all my shots, 3rd as a matter of fact. Was told from the insurer that they do not provide any more coverage , no renewal is possible because such a insurance policy is not provided.... Insurance expiring end of Feb 22...
Quite confused and worried  about my "what if" options.... not many options available

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by cliobkk

[hotchilli]

A government that cares about it's people?

 

[FriendlyFarang]

If it's no longer seen as an emergency, people would have to travel to their registered hospital instead of to the nearest to get free treatment. Thus they will think twice before undergoing a test, clever way to reduce the official covid numbers.

[brucegoniners]

So the country isn't treating its own citizens for Covid who use the national health plan because they're too poor to buy private insurance? Gee, that's really nice.

 

There are some very rich people in Thailand who could contribute to the fund if it's running out of money. Maybe they should do just that.

[connda]

So they are going to privatize Covid-19 care. 
I wonder how many Thai families will be completely bankrupted after one member (or a whole family) contracts a serious case of Covid?

These public-private partnerships that forcefully funnels public wealth to private corporate interests boggles the mind.

Smart Thais will no longer travel domestically.  If they contract Covid while on 'vacation' they will have the same experience as "rich foreign tourists":  tossed into a private hospital and handed a 100,000+ THB bill when before they are allowed to walk out the door.  ????

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by connda

[ikke1959]

2 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

So the country isn't treating its own citizens for Covid who use the national health plan because they're too poor to buy private insurance? Gee, that's really nice.

 

There are some very rich people in Thailand who could contribute to the fund if it's running out of money. Maybe they should do just that.

Rich people ony want to be richer, don't expect something from them.. They give with one hand but want to receive more back.. All over the world it is the same... Look to Africa.. In the 60ties already there was Biafra and later One for Africa and still today people starve to death and the wealthier countries got wealthier and the wealthy people got wealthier too... In Thailand it is the same only the poor are getting poorer every year while the rich..........

[internationalism]

17 hours ago, cliobkk said:

In my opinion, any government of any nation should strive to guarantee a minimum of medical care....
I did insure myself 2years ago.
I tried to renew my covid 19 insurance that i subscribed 2 years ago, had all my shots, 3rd as a matter of fact. Was told from the insurer that they do not provide any more coverage , no renewal is possible because such a insurance policy is not provided.... Insurance expiring end of Feb 22...
Quite confused and worried  about my "what if" options.... not many options available

 

there are still covid policies for 750b and 1.5k, but pay only 5 i 10k on hospitalisation.

Get the proper health insurance, even the cheap one, for some 300-400k cover will be good for ICU at the government hospital.

Premium is 15-20k and covers all medical conditions, including worldwide.

If you would need for international travel you can cancel that basic one and upgrade to minimum $50k, but that is in the region 30-40k bht