Thai Social Security

[AyJ]

I applied to a Thai Government University to work as an English teacher and was accepted, which I was very happy about. However, when I was ironing out the finer details, I asked about the social security fund. They said that they did not have that at their university and they would give me a Bagan Sukapaap (ประกันสุขภาพ) not Bagan Sangkom (ประกันสังคม).

Is this the same thing, are we misunderstanding each other or is something going on here? I am entitled to be covered by the social security fund, right? I have checked their website and the Social security Act and it seems I should get it. I have previously taught English at another Thai government university, where I had 750 baht deducted each month and was covered. Just looking for some confirmation really or if anyone has had similar experiences.

Edited May 23, 2009 by AyJ

[bazmlb]

As far as i know, if they are paying tax for you and you have a work permit then they need to put you in the social fund, only exemption i know of is when you are listed as a manager or director on the company documents you are now no longer entitled to join the social fund.

[Tywais]

The first one, ประกันสุขภาพ, is medical insurance only. The 2nd, ประกันสังคม, is the social security (retirement) fund. I have both at the university I work at. I would say the medical insurance is the most important one unless you plan on working for a very long time. Having the retirement fund has an advantage and that the employer has to pay equal amount to your contribution. This means when you decide to stop working you can get a lump sum of the contributions which will be twice the amount that you alone contributed.

[thaicbr]

Twais. Dont you have to wait until you are 60 to access the fund?

[Jungian]

If you are paying the 750฿ per month and are a full time teacher yes, you are entitled to Social Security which includes the majority of medical expenses and medication. Also you are entitled to a 50% refund for the birth of a child and 350฿ per month per child under the age of 10 direct deposited into you bank account monthly. If your wife (supposing you have one) has Social Security then you get 100% back from the birth of a child. The Social Security rate is going to be cut by a few hundred ฿ in the next month or so just to help out in the current economy.

[TerryLH]

You can contact the soc sec office and they will tell you if you should be included in the system. If you are, they can contact your school and let them know what they are required to do.

I had to do this at a school I was working at. A call from soc sec to the school was all it took to get them legal.

If you were in the system before, you can sign up to pay on your own if you want to stay in the system but don't qualify through employment. The cost to you in that case is 432 baht a month. You must sign up for this within 6 months from the time you stop paying through employment.

[Flatouthruthefog]

You can contact the soc sec office and they will tell you if you should be included in the system. If you are, they can contact your school and let them know what they are required to do.

I had to do this at a school I was working at. A call from soc sec to the school was all it took to get them legal.

If you were in the system before, you can sign up to pay on your own if you want to stay in the system but don't qualify through employment. The cost to you in that case is 432 baht a month. You must sign up for this within 6 months from the time you stop paying through employment.

I am sure this is perfectly correct, but let me add another warning here. A hoop I went through this week!

I am employed full time by a govt university and was over 60 when I joined them. Just. I was very keen to continue my contribs, begun many years earlier when I ran a small company here.

After several months I realised that no deductions were being made from my salary, and queried this with the admin dept. Given 20-20 hindsight I now know that they didn't (a) understand a thing about this or ( give a dam_n. I received a formal notice at my home address that I was OUT of the scheme.

It has taken me several weeks of meetings to get to the stage of (effectively) writing a begging letter to Social Welfare to be re-admitted, willingly paying all my back dues of course.

The top lady legal beagle at Social Welfare has been terrific. In the last meeting she had to tell all concerned that at my age the uni could NOT deduct payments, and I should have been advised to pay myself. The 432b per month you mention. My employers were totally ignorant of all this and have never lifted a finger until challenged by this senior Social Welfare exec.

On the (happily) rare occasions I have used this service it has been great, apart from long waiting periods in over-crowded hospitals and clinics. But the standards are good and as I don't have any western style health insurance - and get older - it's essential.

Do NOT leave such vital matters to your employers. Deal direct with Social Welfare (with an interpreter if you need one), get into the programme and STAY with the programme!

.

[TerryLH]

"On the (happily) rare occasions I have used this service it has been great, apart from long waiting periods in over-crowded hospitals and clinics."

Depending on where you live, there might be private hospitals in the soc sec system. They are generally less crowded than the government hospitals.

Your local soc sec office should be able to tell you what hospitals are available, and how to change, if you want to.

I chose a private hospital because of the long waiting times at the government ones, even though the 2 govt hospitals are better (IMO).

When I've needed something that my hosp dosen't provide, I get a letter of referral from my hospital to one of the govt hospitals. For regular stuff, my hosp is more than adequate, and I don't have to wait for hours to get seen.

[ivowatson]

If you were in the system before, you can sign up to pay on your own if you want to stay in the system but don't qualify through employment. The cost to you in that case is 432 baht a month. You must sign up for this within 6 months from the time you stop paying through employment.

Great information!

Could you please tell me if there is an age limit to this. I mean, if you are 'retired' or just don't work anymore, can you benefit (as a foreigner) from this scheme as long as you want to.

Thanks.

[TerryLH]

I was 60++ when I changed to paying for myself. That was over a year ago.

Nobody has told me there is an upper age limit. BUT, I think if you take their retirement package, either monthly payments or a lump sum, you might no longer be eligible.

Remember, you need to sign up to pay on your own within 6 months of stopping payments through an employer.

[WholeHearted]

Is it necessary to work full-time to get into the Thai Social Security medical system, or might part-time employment be enough to help me qualify?  I'd be very willing to pay the 432 baht per month forever, after I quit working, to be able to keep some basic health insurance coverage.  (I recall someone said you have to work for at least three months; is that right?)

What's a good on-line source for a clear explanation of the Social Security rules?

Thanks to all.

[ThaivisaInsurance]

Is it necessary to work full-time to get into the Thai Social Security medical system, or might part-time employment be enough to help me qualify? I'd be very willing to pay the 432 baht per month forever, after I quit working, to be able to keep some basic health insurance coverage. (I recall someone said you have to work for at least three months; is that right?)

What's a good on-line source for a clear explanation of the Social Security rules?

Thanks to all.

May we suggest you look here : http://www.sso.go.th/en/node/164

Thai Visa Insurance

[WholeHearted]

Thanks to Thai Visa Insurance for the recent response.  Unfortunately the node 164 link doesn't function on the Social Security website.  I did look at the website, which was helpful, but I'm wondering if there was something specific iat node 164 that someone was referring me to.

I still would enjoy knowing if part-time work could be enough to qualify one to enter the Soc Sec system. 

[beano2274]

I applied to pay voluntarily into the Social Security fund, I pay 432baht per month, but as the Government announced cuts in contributions I only have to pay 240 baht until the end of the current year.

I went to the social security office with wife and a few documents and hey presto on the same day I received a card, then another a couple of weeks later in the post.

[bapak]

It would appear that teachers at a private school are not covered (not sure of what is defined as a "private school")...

Exempt: (4) teachers or headmasters of private schools under the law on private school;

Bapak

[beano2274]

It would appear that teachers at a private school are not covered (not sure of what is defined as a "private school")...

Exempt: (4) teachers or headmasters of private schools under the law on private school;

Bapak

Well since there are only two types of schools here, Government or Private then that is easy to follow. Plus all Language centres are classed as Private Schools.

The Op just needs to go to the Social Security office and he can get everything done by himself, cost of 432 baht per month.

[WholeHearted]

I applied to pay voluntarily into the Social Security fund, I pay 432baht per month, but as the Government announced cuts in contributions I only have to pay 240 baht until the end of the current year.

I went to the social security office with wife and a few documents and hey presto on the same day I received a card, then another a couple of weeks later in the post.

Are you saying that you didn't have to have a job in order to get a Social Security card?  Are you an expat or a Thai citizen?  Can any expat get a card "voluntarily" without workiing, just by paying the monthly contribution?  It sounds too good to be true.  Is this rule viewable anywhere in writing?

[TerryLH]

My understanding is that you have to be employed, at least initially.

After 3 months in the system you can drop out and pay yourself.

Once you stop working or being eligible for soc sec you have six months of benefits without any payment. During those six months you need to sign up to pay yourself.

[beano2274]

You have to have been previously employed in Thailand, then you can after retiring join the plan voluntarily.

[toptuan]

My understanding is that you have to be employed, at least initially.

After 3 months in the system you can drop out and pay yourself.

Once you stop working or being eligible for soc sec you have six months of benefits without any payment. During those six months you need to sign up to pay yourself.

Are you talking about

Bagan Sukapaap (ประกันสุขภาพ) medical insurance?

or

Bagan Sangkom (ประกันสังคม) the social security (retirement) fund?

[TerryLH]

I'm not sure if you're still paying into the retirement portion, or not.

I'm only concerned with the health benefits. In my opinion, a great benefit!

[beano2274]

am paying health, the hospital was chosen by my previous employer and I cannot change it.

[TerryLH]

You should be able to change hospitals, assuming there is more than one in the system in the area you live in.

There may only be certain times of the year that they'll make allow you to make a change.changes.

One reason they don't like changes is that they apparently pay hospitals in advance. If you change in the middle of the year (or??), it might be hard to get money back from hospitals that have been pre-paid.

--------------------------------------------

"...then you can after retiring join the plan voluntarily"

You don't have to retire to join up and pay on your own. You can join if working in a job, such as at a private school, that isn't in the system.

Details are just details. It's easy to sign up and well worth it.

[walterego]

ok, thanks I am clearly missing out on benefits here. I am sadly unsure as to exactly what ones and how I would go about initiating entitlment.

I have a work permit, non b visa and work ing in the kingdom for nearly two years ( iwll probably retire here). My employer already provides a basic medical insurance and I pay tax.

What am I entitled to?

Any help would be greatfully apreciated!

[bapak]

ok, thanks I am clearly missing out on benefits here. I am sadly unsure as to exactly what ones and how I would go about initiating entitlment.

I have a work permit, non b visa and work ing in the kingdom for nearly two years ( iwll probably retire here). My employer already provides a basic medical insurance and I pay tax.

What am I entitled to?

Any help would be greatfully apreciated!

I am really confused... The situation which I am inquiring about is for somebody who teaches for a private school, has B Visa and Work Permit, and pays tax.

The local Social Security Office says does not cover private school teachers (so why pay tax?)..

Or am I confusing ประกันสุขภาพ, medical insurance only and ประกันสังคม, the social security (retirement) fund. Am really interested in the medical insurance. Can understand that social security (retirement) fund may not be available.

Bapak

[skippyhandelman]

I know this thread concerns entering the system, but I'm curious about leaving it. In short:

I'm not close to 60 years old, but next year I'm planning to relocate from Thailand. It's "rumoured" that, just prior to departure, I can attend the Social Security Office and have mine and my employers' contributions refunded to me, i.e. 2 x 750 baht x no. of months "in country".

Anybody have any knowledge or experience of this? Documentation, etc.? I'm here on a Non-Immigrant B visa, have a work permit, pay Thai taxes...

[sanchobkk]

hello guys,

I see this social insurance thread still open, and I would have my question too :

Would anyone have a document which summarize the cover that we get from the social insurance,

the same as below for instance (from kasikorn) :

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[TerryLH]

"I'm not close to 60 years old, but next year I'm planning to relocate from Thailand. It's "rumoured" that, just prior to departure, I can attend the Social Security Office and have mine and my employers' contributions refunded to me, i.e. 2 x 750 baht x no. of months "in country"."

No and yes.

You have to be either 50 or 55 to do this. If not that old yet i think you can defer it until you are old enough.

BUT, it would probably be at least several weeks before you'd get a check.

And it would only be for the number of months you payed into the system, not the number of months you were "in country".

And, not all is refunded. Only the parts that went towards retirement, not the parts that went towards health coverage.

Soc sec used to have a brochure in English explaining their benefits. You might want to check with them to see if they still have them for you.

If you do this, give us an update on how it worked.

Good luck.

Try this and see if you can find what you want. I think it's the right site.

http://www.sso.go.th/english/content.php?m...p;content_id=83

[WholeHearted]

"...then you can after retiring join the plan voluntarily"

You don't have to retire to join up and pay on your own. You can join if working in a job, such as at a private school, that isn't in the system.

Details are just details. It's easy to sign up and well worth it.

I know this was an old post, but do you still say this is true?

[TerryLH]

"I know this was an old post, but do you still say this is true?"

Yes, still true.

You have 6 months from the time you stop paying through your employment to sign up to pay on your own.

It's 432 baht. It covers health benefits, but not the retirement part.

If you wait longer than 6 months to sign up, I believe you'll have to start over through employment.

During the 6 months after you lose coverage through employment, you can continue getting health benefits without paying.