Hi, I was out on my usual early morning cycle ride and called into the local shop for a pepsi on the way home.

The owner, a friend of my wife handed me a new health card. I can't read Thai and assumed it was a new one for my Thai wife.

It is not unusual for the owner to hand us stuff as things are often left there for us if we are out somewhere.

When I got home I found out that it was a card for me! All my details were on it and it appears I am now enrolled in the Governments 30 bht scheme.

This seems to have come about from the recently completed census when my wife was asked for my details as well as her own.

I should point out that I do not work in Thailand and am here on a multi entry non-o.

Anyone else been given one of these cards out of the blue like this?

Ah, a nice surprise pressie from taksin ! As the spouse of a Thai national you are entitled to the 30 bt front-line

health-system, but it's more usually obtained by an application to the appropriate govt. office/hospital. Bearing

in mind Thailand's passion for paperwork and public records, i'm only half-surprised the card has come your way -

it's in the rule-book after all !

"As the spouse of a Thai national you are entitled to the 30 bt front-line

health-system, but it's more usually obtained by an application to the appropriate govt. office/hospital."

I think you are mistaken about that.

A lot of people here wish it were so, but I don't think it is.

Where is this 'rule book' you're referring to?

I must admit I was very surprised to be given one as I thought you had to be in the Thai tax/national insurance hoop but the local 'poo yai' insists I'm entitled to one and the local health office were happy to issue as they were satisfied to my entitlement.

Now all I have to do is get sick and make my way to the local hospital and find out

I must admit I was very surprised to be given one as I thought you had to be in the Thai tax/national insurance hoop but the local 'poo yai' insists I'm entitled to one and the local health office were happy to issue as they were satisfied to my entitlement.

Now all I have to do is get sick and make my way to the local hospital and find out

Yes, "treating" even cancer with paracetamol - you'll find out soon enough!

I must admit I was very surprised to be given one as I thought you had to be in the Thai tax/national insurance hoop but the local 'poo yai' insists I'm entitled to one and the local health office were happy to issue as they were satisfied to my entitlement.

Now all I have to do is get sick and make my way to the local hospital and find out

Yes, "treating" even cancer with paracetamol - you'll find out soon enough!

That is bull. My wife had major surgery followed by radiotherapy on one of those yellow cards. While the service was not up to private hospital standards, the actual treatment differed very little and cost nothing.

"As the spouse of a Thai national you are entitled to the 30 bt front-line

health-system, but it's more usually obtained by an application to the appropriate govt. office/hospital."

I think you are mistaken about that.

A lot of people here wish it were so, but I don't think it is.

Where is this 'rule book' you're referring to?

Mmmm - i was using 'rule book' as a simple metaphor for the Thai affection for bureaucracy.

With regard to the main point - a spouse of a Thai being entitled to the health-card - well, i might

be right and wrong - wrong to imply it's a general right....but right where the Thai is a Civil Servant

like a teacher etc. Sorry for forgetting this detail - my Thai connections are all civil-servants ! If

anyone is married to a Thai civil-servant could they confirm the 30-bt entitlement ?

"...but right where the Thai is a Civil Servant"

That isn't the 30 baht/Gold Card scheme.

There are (at least) 3 major health systems in place here.

1. For civil servants, which includes all family members, including foreign spouses.

2. The 30 baht/Gold Card program that is only for Thai's - usually those without other coverage.

3. Social Security for qualified workers. Not all jobs/workers are eligible. Foreigners in eligible jobs are covered under this plan.

OP, is your wife a civil servant?

Terry

"...but right where the Thai is a Civil Servant"

That isn't the 30 baht/Gold Card scheme.

There are (at least) 3 major health systems in place here.

1. For civil servants, which includes all family members, including foreign spouses.

2. The 30 baht/Gold Card program that is only for Thai's - usually those without other coverage.

3. Social Security for qualified workers. Not all jobs/workers are eligible. Foreigners in eligible jobs are covered under this plan.

OP, is your wife a civil servant?

Terry

HI Terry, no wifey is not a civil servant although she did use to work for the local Tessaban, was covered under some special scheme there into which she still pays although she is now self employed.

Maybe your wifes continuance in the system from her old job is what's happening.

What ever it is, good for you.

You can continue coverage in social security after employment, but unfortunately it doesn't cover dependents, only the worker.

Terry