With A Retirement Visa, Does One Receive Free Access To The Thai Health System? As One Does With A Work Permit?

[chubby]

with a retirement visa, does one receive free access to the thai health system? as one does with a work permit?

[Jingthing]

No!

[InterestedObserver]

Absolutely not, you are on your own for heathcare.

[Jingthing]

The last I heard, expats can buy into the Mexican health care system for not much money and it's fairly OK. France is rated the top health care system in the world and I have also heard expats are included, but France is obviously an expensive retirement destination. My understanding is that France doesn't offer any retirement visa, but people can apply to move there as retirees on a case by case basis (with no published criteria). However, as a general rule retired expats aren't included in the national health care systems of the countries they move to.

[jombom]

Citizens of other EU countries would have free medical care in France, Non EU citizens would have to pay.

[Jingthing]

Citizens of other EU countries would have free medical care in France, Non EU citizens would have to pay.

Right, but I am talking about non EU people who are formally accepted for residence in France. I think they would be included also. Could be wrong. It's academic here, anyway, just mentioned some other countries in relation to the issue of national health care for retirees.

[TerryLH]

A work permit does not guarantee you eligibility to Social Security health coverage. And, it's not free.

There are some jobs, teachers at private schools, for example, that are not covered.

The cost is 5% of your salary, up to a maximum of 750฿ per month. The employer pays a like amount for you.

If you lose eligibility because you lose your job, quit, retire or change to a non-covered job, you can continue in the system by paying for yourself. The cost for that is 432฿ per month.

[Soutpeel]

One would hope, someone who is planning retirement to country where they have no "legal rights" so to speak other than the visa would make provision for their own health care.

A WP and retirement visa are not the same thing, people with WP's are paying taxes and in most cases paying into the system Social security system

why would an OAP in their twilight years even think they could get free medical care in a country they are not a citizen of , granted "citizens" of EU countries may qualify if the different countries in the EU, but not the same thing in Thailand.

[Jingthing]

Actually, one would hope that retirees COULD buy into the Thai national health care system as it's better than nothing. But, the answer is still no.

[TerryLH]

"Actually, one would hope that retirees COULD buy into the Thai national health care system as it's better than nothing."

One can always hope.

I assume we're all talking about the same system, social security health coverage.

Your 'hope' is that foreign retirees could buy into the system even though they aren't qualified by the rules?

Even Thai's can't do that.

If they did open the coverage up, how much should we have to pay for it?

By your words, "...it's better than nothing.", can I take it you don't know much about it, and fall into the "If it's Thai it can't be good." crowd?

The Social Security Office used to have brochures in English detailing all of the benefits available.

[Jingthing]

Yeah you're right, I don't know much about it as I can't get it, so why should I really care? (I don't.) Like I said before it is NOT unheard of in the world for expat retirees to be able to buy into national health care systems, such as in Mexico. So anything is possible if a government wants to be gracious about it.

[nontabury]

UK citizens residing in Thailand do not qualify for treatment by the National Health Service back in the UK,even thou they may have contributed throughout their working life,so why should the Thai

authorities take care of us,when our own government will not.

[hereforgood]

A work permit does not guarantee you eligibility to Social Security health coverage. And, it's not free.

There are some jobs, teachers at private schools, for example, that are not covered.

The cost is 5% of your salary, up to a maximum of 750฿ per month. The employer pays a like amount for you.

If you lose eligibility because you lose your job, quit, retire or change to a non-covered job, you can continue in the system by paying for yourself. The cost for that is 432฿ per month.

This goes for Falangs also ??

[TerryLH]

"This goes for Falangs also ??"

Yes, it does. You have to sign up for it at the Social Security Office within 6 months of stopping paying through employment.

During that 6 month period, you're covered, whether you sign up for continuing coverage, or not.

[Lamsaliboy]

Pity nobody told me that when I left my last job. I tried to find out info about it but nobody would give me any until my card was cancelled. By then it was too late to sign up.

[hereforgood]

Well had the Hip Done and doubt the care would have been any better at a Non Government hospital. I would say to all that have this insurance here in Thailand do not think twice about using it.

[Artisi]

One important point to note is, if you withdraw from the insurance system for any reason there is a pay-out available based on ther amount you have contributed over the period you were in the scheme. From memory it is something like 50% on what you have paid in.

[TerryLH]

"...there is a pay-out available based on ther amount you have contributed over the period you were in the scheme."

I can't find my soc sec benefits booklet right now, but I think you have to be 50 or 55 to get it back.

I believe you can defer your 'pension' until then.

Anyone interested should contact their Social Security office for details for their specific case.

I've always found them to be very helpful, but take someone who is fluent in Thai.