Thai Social Security

[WholeHearted]

"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.

I see what you're saying. If you've already paid into the SS health system for 12 months or more by teaching at a government school (or doing other qualifying work, if there is any), then you can continue to pay on your own later (432B per month), even if you take a new job with an employer who doesn't belong to the system.

The part that you left out was the minimum 12 month pay-in requirement. Your government school or other qualifying employer has to have made 12 payments for you. If they didn't, for any reason (such as, they dawdled about getting your work permit done and hence they didn't pay SS for a month or two, and you only worked for one year), you're screwed. This is important for people to know. It's advisable to get them to pay in promptly when you start a new job. And you may need to educate them about the laws.

[TerryLH]

"The part that you left out was the minimum 12 month pay-in requirement."

Sorry about that. I was a bit confused and said earlier that you only needed 3 months. Thanks for clarifying this.

The 3 months is the amount of time it takes to start using benefits after you first get into the system.

[jcowle]

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.

I am a manager/Director and pay Social Insurance, how do go about getting into the scheme, any pointers please.

JOHN

[TerryLH]

"I am a manager/Director and pay Social Insurance, how do go about getting into the scheme, any pointers please."

After three months payments the Social Security Office normally issues a soc sec card. They will also tell you which hospital you are assigned to.

If you've been paying and haven't received a card, contact the Soc Sec Office. In my experience they're pretty helpful.

[jcowle]

"I am a manager/Director and pay Social Insurance, how do go about getting into the scheme, any pointers please."

After three months payments the Social Security Office normally issues a soc sec card. They will also tell you which hospital you are assigned to.

If you've been paying and haven't received a card, contact the Soc Sec Office. In my experience they're pretty helpful.

Many thanks, I will get on the case.

JOHN

[pauleddy]

Only now (Feb 2012) has my contribution dropped to 240b FROM 432b. Yet, some people (older posts) have been paying 240b since 2009.

Initially, I was worried. Do I get half-benefits? Something changing?

I worked at a Gvment school for 5 years but I now pay the SS myself, from my bank.

Eddy

[TerryLH]

The government dropped the amount you pay on your own several years ago. Then they raised it back up, I suppose when they thought the economy was better.

Now they've reduced the fee again. They sent me a letter that explained the new fee schedule - a couple of different amounts over the next year.

The benefits remain the same, even with a lower cost.

Still a very good deal in my estimation.

There was recently a story about changes that are being proposed, discussion in mid March I think, that would bring the three government health plans closer to being the same.

From info in the article, I don't think there is much of a chance of that happening soon, but you never know what will happen here.

[citizen33]

I don’t think anything special is happening in March. The Aphisit government set up a new body in 2010 - the National Health Care Financing Development Office - to make proposals regarding the three public schemes. This will exist for three years and is tasked with developing a roadmap for harmonization. However, it is not clear how much support this body will get from the current government.

The story of the three public schemes is quite a complicated one. The original plan when the universal coverage scheme (UCS) was introduced was to move to one merged public scheme but this was opposed by SSS and CSMBS beneficiaries, as well as the Social Security Organisation and the Comptroller General Department. The compromise solution, which found its way into the National Health Security Act 2002, was to have a single administrative body (a public purchasing agency) looking after all three schemes, but even this has proved impossible to implement.

There have been some incremental steps to ‘harmonize’ the three schemes in recent years, such as introducing DRGs for inpatient reimbursement under the CSMBS in 2007 (same as UCS). An earlier coordination committee set up in 2004 also forced through some technical changes, such as co-operation between scheme telephone call centres, sharing of beneficiary databases and a joint audit system. However, officials administering the SSS and the CSMBS, as well as beneficiaries, are worried about erosion of benefits and cost cutting, and there is going to be very significant opposition to further change. There are recent press rumours that expenditure reduction and a bigger role for the private sector are high on the current government’s agenda. On the other hand, there are certain political groups close to Pheu Thai that would strongly oppose any attack on the public schemes.

Edited March 4, 2012 by citizen33

[TerryLH]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/537837-emergency-rooms-to-be-open-to-all-regardless-of-health-scheme-thailand/

Not exactly as I remembered it.

It looks like the mid march thing was just a small piece of the puzzle.

I think that as long as there are three bureaucracies running these programs, nobody will be willing to share what they have with anyone else.

Left as is, there are problems, no doubt. But I think everyone is covered one way or the other within the three schemes.

The person who wrote this article didn't seem to understand all the points they commented on.

[hereforgood]

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.

This is correct I spent 2 hours in the SSO today as I converted my work permit and B Visa of 6 years to a retirement Visa I regestered with the SSO and it went very smooth I will continue getting my Medical 100% for life and they will Debit the cost 432 Baht from my Thai bank account Monthly. I was told by a friend that it would end at 60 yrs old but they assured me it will continue for life.

I am very happy with the care provided by the Hospital My Ex employer registered the staff with. They did a double hip replacement on me 2 years ago and no issues at all and cost me Zero.

[TerryLH]

"I am very happy with the care provided by the Hospital My Ex employer registered the staff with."

In the case of someone not being happy with the hospital they've been assigned to, there is a small window each year when you can change hospitals, assuming that there are other choices in your area.

You'd have to contact SS for the time frame for that.

Terry

[RHCP]

One for you experts.

For the state old-age benefit pension I note that 180 months (15 years) contribution must be made to qualify, however there is an upper age limit of 60. If by 60 a person has less than 180 months contribution does that mean not being able to ever qualify or is there an option to make voluntary contributions after 60 in order to meet the minimum 180 months contribution and get the pension? I think I heard recently that the government is mulling an increase to 65 years.

For the actual pension am I correct in saying that it is paid monthly at the rate of 15 percent of last 60 months of average wage before ceasing employment so for example an average monthly salary of say 100,000 baht would translate into an old-age benefit of 15,000 baht per month?

Edited December 22, 2012 by RHCP

[CWMcMurray]

Understand that that max monthly benefit is currently at 3,000 thb per month

[poooket]

What is the rules if you own your business and/or are a director in your own company can you get Social
security?

[cmsally]

Sorry to resurrect this thread. Does anyone know if it is possible for company owners/directors to get on Govt Social Insurance.

Somebody also told me that family members could not be included especially if same surname and on same house registration.

Does anyone have experience of this.

[TerryLH]

You should contact your local SS Office to see if you are eligible. They've always been helpful when I've contacted them.

Family members are not included with Social Security. You only become eligible through employment.

[cmsally]

We did contact the local office and the reply there was that any family members with same surname and on same house reg. not eligible. I realise the "employee" factor. That was what we were enquiring about ie employing family member.

On the website it says you can employ family members but need extra docs such as pay slips, job application forms etc.

So it seems under their regulations you can't employ family members. On the website there seemed to be poss. but in office it was a flat no.