Child Birth

[JohnLeech]

the maternity allowance from the social security is about 35,000

you are entitled to this amount if you are employed by a company before and after the birth. Just go with the birth certificate to the social security office, show your card and collect the cheque.

I will pass that on to the four in-laws and ex in-laws who have had babies over the past six months (the latest last month), as well as others I know who have had babies recently: all employed as described, all paying social security, etc, and all paid 10,000 baht (as were those who were not employed themseves, but whose husbands were).

[torrenova]

you are entitled to this amount if you are employed by a company before and after the birth. Just go with the birth certificate to the social security office, show your card and collect the cheque.

Don't think it is as straightforward as that. 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after would hardly qualify you for 35,000. I know that my missus went on the books (and it is the social fund payment which is the trigger, not just working for someone) some time into the pregnancy and it was too late. She might have been 3 or 4 months gone at the time but as I said, we didn't know anything about it.

Just found the website

http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/marternity-benefit.html

http://www.sso.go.th/

The relevant article seem to be as follows:

Verification of the making of contributions to full 7 months prior to childbirth; if short of 7 months, the decision will be a case of non-entitlement.

and

Childbirth was given on 1 January 2007 at 00.00 hours onward.

1. Childbirth can be given anywhere; the conclusion for paying medical service cost shall be on a lump sum basis, for instance, in child delivery, at the rate of 12,000 Baht per childbirth.

2. In the case of being admitted for child delivery in the hospital according to the Certified Entitlements Card before 1 January 2007; but the childbirth was delivered on 1 January 2007 from 00.00 hours onward, the hospital according to the Certified Entitlements Card shall be responsible until the end of the child delivery process; and the insured shall not be required to pay for the hospitalization expense and the insured can further present a birth certificate for collection of the entitlement benefit in case of childbirth. The conclusion to pay for medical service cost is made on a lump sum basis to the insured at the rate of 12,000 Baht per childbirth.

So if she has paid contributions into the social fund for 7 months before giving birth, she can collect Bt12,000. That is as I recall and would explain why we did not qualify as she was more than 3 months pregnant when we put her on the company's books.

[raro]

and it is the social fund payment which is the trigger, not just working for someone

if you're working for someone, you have to pay social funds contributions

[torrenova]

and it is the social fund payment which is the trigger, not just working for someone

if you're working for someone, you have to pay social funds contributions

Of course you don't, otherwise the whole country who are not self employed would be on the scheme and they most certainly are not. Do you think someone who works in the fields for Bt100 a day is on the scheme ? or someone who rents a baht bus ? or the girls who work in the small mom and pop shops ? Is your local masseuse paying tax and social contributions ? doubt it.

[wonder6281]

Well that clears that up. My lady is now 5 months pregnant and hasn't worked for 12 months. No payment! At least I know. Thank you for this info.

[Boo]

Thanks torrenova for posting your experiences.

When having my son (born in UK at teaching hospital) my pregnancy was text book diabetic, 4 insulin injections daily, weekly visits to diabetic consultant & specialist obstetrician & controlled diet (normal diabetic crap). My pregnancy went without a hitch & I was induced at 38 weeks. 4 loooonnggg days later I was on the verge of checking myself out when they decided I was dilated enough (2cms) to have my waters broken & I was hooked up to insulin & glucose IV's rendering me bedbound for the 16hrs it took. (not what I wanted & had been through this all with the consultant before hand but procedure is king so I found out) Add to that a lovely catheter (will you can't get up & go to the loo can you - from the midwife!!) & a failed epidural (oh I had a lovely time I can tell you ) & my son was finally born with dangerously low bloody sugar & spent 2 nights in the NICU & I had a total 7 night stay in hospital from start to end.

He is now a very healthy & robust 3 year old so no harm but I have no interest in going through the trauma again & will insist this time round on an elective c section.

Now all of this was on NHS so it cost me not a penny but after reading up it looks like with all the pre-natal care I need plus the labour & birth risks to a child from a diabetic mother (I had no issues after the birth & came off insulin as soon as he was born) then doing it in Thailand might turn out to be a very expensive option, especially if the new baby needed any kind of NICU care. Hmm things to think about for sure. Thanks again

[JohnLeech]

the maternity allowance from the social security is about 35,000

you are entitled to this amount if you are employed by a company before and after the birth. Just go with the birth certificate to the social security office, show your card and collect the cheque.

I will pass that on to the four in-laws and ex in-laws who have had babies over the past six months (the latest last month), as well as others I know who have had babies recently: all employed as described, all paying social security, etc, and all paid 10,000 baht (as were those who were not employed themseves, but whose husbands were).

Well, I re-checked and in practice it seems that its anything but simple or even a set amount, so I apologise if I misled anyone with the "10,000 baht" amount. The amounts seem to vary not only depending on how long one or both parents have been paying their social fund contributions, but also on how long it is since one or other stopped making them if they stopped working, if they are not working but are still making voluntary payments (similar to voluntary NICs for Brits), if one or other are/were holders of the 30 baht card, in which case the mother can use the card to cover hospital costs, if eligible, while the father makes a claim, if they are given other allowances, such as one for 200 baht a month for what seems to vary between 6 and 12 months, if they are given a full allowance (apparently raro's 35,000 baht) in which case they are liable to pay all the hospital expenses (variable, minimum apparently 10,000 baht), or quite possibly if there is an "r" in the month, its raining, what mood the social security office staff are in, etc, etc.

All I can suggest is to check and see, on an individual basis. Sorry if that doesn't seem too much help.

[torrenova]

Thanks torrenova for posting your experiences.

When having my son (born in UK at teaching hospital) my pregnancy was text book diabetic, 4 insulin injections daily, weekly visits to diabetic consultant & specialist obstetrician & controlled diet (normal diabetic crap). My pregnancy went without a hitch & I was induced at 38 weeks. 4 loooonnggg days later I was on the verge of checking myself out when they decided I was dilated enough (2cms) to have my waters broken & I was hooked up to insulin & glucose IV's rendering me bedbound for the 16hrs it took. (not what I wanted & had been through this all with the consultant before hand but procedure is king so I found out) Add to that a lovely catheter (will you can't get up & go to the loo can you - from the midwife!!) & a failed epidural (oh I had a lovely time I can tell you ) & my son was finally born with dangerously low bloody sugar & spent 2 nights in the NICU & I had a total 7 night stay in hospital from start to end.

He is now a very healthy & robust 3 year old so no harm but I have no interest in going through the trauma again & will insist this time round on an elective c section.

Now all of this was on NHS so it cost me not a penny but after reading up it looks like with all the pre-natal care I need plus the labour & birth risks to a child from a diabetic mother (I had no issues after the birth & came off insulin as soon as he was born) then doing it in Thailand might turn out to be a very expensive option, especially if the new baby needed any kind of NICU care. Hmm things to think about for sure. Thanks again

I think you already have your answer and I would not leave myself open to life ruining expenses or quite seriously having to choose between the poor house or death or just not having that choice and having to face death or injury or permanent disablement.

I asked a number of hospitals about contingencies and I read up about pregnancy and childbirth as I had no real knowledge. They cannot advise. The more worrying thing, which I came across in PIH with their attempt to defraud me, is that they do not have any set charges. In fact, at my first meeting with the "invisible man" at PIH, I had him categorically explain the charging structure (I guessed but he did clarify). The hospital itself has a base charge which it effectively charges the doctor. The doctor is then at liberty to add on whatever amount they choose, though he admitted a simple 5 minute examination could not be charged at one million dollars, so there is a top limit or at least a suggested one. This doctor charge is absolutely variable and is why you can visit the same doctor for the same complain and receive the same treatment and yet receive vastly different bills. There exists the potential that if his wife has been withholding conjugal rights, then you could well find yourself surcharged.

It is often stated that the main reason why medical care in the USA is so expensive is because of massive staff costs. Well, in Thailand, the staff costs are minuscule in comparison and yet the charges for some services are massive in their own right. They certainly bare no relation to anything other than the desired profit of the hospital owners.

I'm not saying that the UK is better and I could not fault the treatment my partner or baby received at PIH but we did not have any complications. The experience and accounts of others since that date have seriously worried me and if we were to consider having another child, I would likely have a plan to evacuate if there were any alarms during pregnancy because the system in place, even at the very top end, is money orientated and if you cannot pay, then you do not receive. That price may be just too high to pay.

[raro]

and it is the social fund payment which is the trigger, not just working for someone

if you're working for someone, you have to pay social funds contributions

Of course you don't, otherwise the whole country who are not self employed would be on the scheme and they most certainly are not. Do you think someone who works in the fields for Bt100 a day is on the scheme ? or someone who rents a baht bus ? or the girls who work in the small mom and pop shops ? Is your local masseuse paying tax and social contributions ? doubt it.

check with the labour law

Reality might be different, though.

[wonder6281]

Some of you might recall my post where BPH quoted mevia email 50,000 baht for normal delivery. Due to the replies from Thailaw (Thank you) I got my girl to call BPH for a price on normal delivery. Shock horror 30,000 baht! I told her to confirm it at her next pre-natal visit. Will do as another poster did and pay 50% deposit to secure it.

[torrenova]

Some of you might recall my post where BPH quoted mevia email 50,000 baht for normal delivery. Due to the replies from Thailaw (Thank you) I got my girl to call BPH for a price on normal delivery. Shock horror 30,000 baht! I told her to confirm it at her next pre-natal visit. Will do as another poster did and pay 50% deposit to secure it.

I have advised since 2007 for prospective mothers to set up a Thai email address and to write in Thai and they may well get a different response to someone writing in English from a western email account.

When you try to get it confirmed, make sure you know what is included in the package and more importantly, what is not.

Here is exactly what BPH give you, in English.

I. Natural Vaginal Delivery 30,000 baht

2 Nights, 3 Days in the hospital (private room: 5B)

II. Painless Vaginal Delivery37,000 baht

2 Nights, 3 Days in the hospital (private room: 5B)

III. Caesarean Section 53,000 baht

3 Nights, 4 Days in the hospital (private room: 5B)

These price does not include doctor fee for Obstetrician.

Services include:

Care in waiting/labour room

Normal/Instrumental delivery with or without episiotomy, conducted by

the attendingspecialistObstetrician

Operation Theatre charges( in case of CaesareanSection)

Doctor fee for Anesthesiologist and Paediatrician

Baby attended to at birth by specialist Paediatrician

Inpatient accommodations( Including food, nursing fee and room service)

Daily visits by the specialist in charge

Baby care and visit by the attending Paediatrician

BCG and Hepatitis B vaccination

Service for Birth Certification

Home Medication

Please note the highlighted comment. This is what they go on to say.

I have consulted with our Obstetrician regarding your query.

For the Obstetrician Delivery fee, the approximate cost is 15,000-20,000

baht.

You have to make sure that the 30k is all in and it is not going to be a package for 30k and then another 15k+ for the doctor.

[wonder6281]

Thank you. I have told my girl to get it in writing if she can at her next visit. Then we will know exactly what is included for the 30K. I will also mention to her the doctors costs is probably not included and to check. Again thank you.

[torrenova]

Thank you. I have told my girl to get it in writing if she can at her next visit. Then we will know exactly what is included for the 30K. I will also mention to her the doctors costs is probably not included and to check. Again thank you.

You will note the Bt7000 difference for an epidural ! quoted as "painless" vaginal birth.

What you may wish to do, depending upon how far gone she is, is to check on the anti natal packages. These can offer good value but on the other hand they can be total rip offs. Post natal care is offered at some places but you have to weigh up how likely you are to use it.

As your GF is going to ask, get her to ask what their procedure is for registering the birth as she is not married to the father. Do not mention that you are not Thai but judge their reaction if they say they will take care of it as you will have to step in there and make sure they do not and that you personally are the one who registers the birth.

[wonder6281]

Thank you. I have told my girl to get it in writing if she can at her next visit. Then we will know exactly what is included for the 30K. I will also mention to her the doctors costs is probably not included and to check. Again thank you.

You will note the Bt7000 difference for an epidural ! quoted as "painless" vaginal birth.

What you may wish to do, depending upon how far gone she is, is to check on the anti natal packages. These can offer good value but on the other hand they can be total rip offs. Post natal care is offered at some places but you have to weigh up how likely you are to use it.

As your GF is going to ask, get her to ask what their procedure is for registering the birth as she is not married to the father. Do not mention that you are not Thai but judge their reaction if they say they will take care of it as you will have to step in there and make sure they do not and that you personally are the one who registers the birth.

I will get to her ask for sure. I remember reading about the problems with registering the birth. I will make sure that we do it and not BPH.

[wonder6281]

Well the girl went to BPH yesterday to confirm the price and other details. 30000 Baht for normal, epidural 35000 and operation 40000. It is all in the brochure she bought home.. It has what is included and the doctor is. Birth Certificate etc. I told her that we will be doing th registration at the Amphur and she agrees. Becasue after that we need to get 'Wombat' his passport etc.

So as far as the email quote of 50000, obviously a Farang quote, or they do not want my custom. Unless it is the standard response and test the waters to see if I will pay.

Anyway have saved 20000 looks like, so I can now invest this into getting her a decent mattress for her bed. All is good so far.

And her check-up was good, so both of them are doing well. Only 3 months to go.