Does Getting A Work Permit Get You Health Insurance?

[BruceMangosteen]

Some folks don't seem to know if they have health coverage or not. The Government kind I refer to. If you get a WP do you automatically get national health? (the fee being 1500.baht a month full coverage in the ward and drugs etc.)

[Spoonman]

If the 1500b per month social security that's being paid (750b me/750b my employer) includes medical coverage then yes, actually I recall vaguely being given a thai medical "card", <deleted> noes what it covers though.

[Boater]

If the 1500b per month social security that's being paid (750b me/750b my employer) includes medical coverage then yes, actually I recall vaguely being given a thai medical "card", <deleted> noes what it covers though.

", <deleted> noes what it covers though.

it covers everything should you need hospital care, but only covers you in a goverment hosptial , not a private one

[RupertIII]

You need to register with a hospital and that is the one you would go to for treatment. Not sure if it has to be Gov't though, we are registered with Camillian Hosp in Thonglor, didn't think it was Gov't but could be wrong. In any event you won't be able to use Bumrangrad etc. In the event of an emergency outside of your area you are covered in a different hospital for up to, I think, 24 hrs.

[givenall]

You need to register with a hospital and that is the one you would go to for treatment. Not sure if it has to be Gov't though, we are registered with Camillian Hosp in Thonglor, didn't think it was Gov't but could be wrong. In any event you won't be able to use Bumrangrad etc. In the event of an emergency outside of your area you are covered in a different hospital for up to, I think, 24 hrs.

I am told that you are eligible if you are over 55

[Mario2008]

http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/index.html

Thai Social Security Office

[tonydabbs]

No! A Work Permit doesn't automatically qualify you. You have to work for an employer participating in the Social Security program. Your employer will tell you, because you will have to participate.. You pay half your cost and the employer pays the other half, based on your salary. The maximum cost 1,500 baht per month. Most expats earn a salary high enough to pay the maximum, 750 baht per month. They have no choice, they have to pay it, even if they have other coverage. The coverage is very good, though. The participating hospitals can be private or government You are assigned a particular hospital.

[Tatsujin]

Worth noting that if you have a Work Permit, but are a "Director" of a company, you no longer qualify for the health scheme.

[keestha]

To my knowledge the obligatory health insurance for employees only entitles you to treatment at government hospitals. When registering for the insurance, 3 hospitals have to be listed. The quality of government hospitals greatly varies. Good government hospitals tend to be very crowded. They might have many types of specialized physicians, but they will mostly be just recently graduated, doing their obligatory stint at a government hospital, before moving on to a better paid job at a private hospital.

[keestha]

Worth noting that if you have a Work Permit, but are a "Director" of a company, you no longer qualify for the health scheme.

Not completely right. I am the managing director of a company, but I am still in the health scheme, paying 1500 Baht a month for it. For a director participation is not obligatory anymore though.

[Tywais]

To my knowledge the obligatory health insurance for employees only entitles you to treatment at government hospitals.

Each year when the 'open' period comes up to choose a hospital we are given a list to choose from. Some are private hospitals on this list.

[beano2274]

You can also pay yourselves when you are not employed as long as you have previously paid, it costs 432baht per month.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Worth noting that if you have a Work Permit, but are a "Director" of a company, you no longer qualify for the health scheme.

Not completely right. I am the managing director of a company, but I am still in the health scheme, paying 1500 Baht a month for it. For a director participation is not obligatory anymore though.

That is good to know. My wife is co-director and she still pays this. She has been paying it for years and did not know the law changed 2 years ago.

However, if you have private health insurance, you can use it as a deduction on your taxable income.

[jumbo]

That is good to know. My wife is co-director and she still pays this. She has been paying it for years and did not know the law changed 2 years ago.

However, if you have private health insurance, you can use it as a deduction on your taxable income.

Actually it depends on how many shares the director holds

If it is a main majority they are not eligible for SS

As for the remainder all employees of any company are to pay for and receive SS, it is the law! Farang, Thai, Alien or resident...

Evil; can you show me where it is stated that you can deduct private health insurance

http://www.rd.go.th/publish/6045.0.html

[TerryLH]

"However, if you have private health insurance, you can use it as a deduction on your taxable income."

Check out P.N.D. form 91 for a list of items you can deduct.

Social Security is also deductible.

[Tatsujin]

Worth noting that if you have a Work Permit, but are a "Director" of a company, you no longer qualify for the health scheme.

Not completely right. I am the managing director of a company, but I am still in the health scheme, paying 1500 Baht a month for it. For a director participation is not obligatory anymore though.

You are correct provided you have less than a 49% ownership in the company as I understand it, if you have more, you are no longer eligible.

[jumbo]

Worth noting that if you have a Work Permit, but are a "Director" of a company, you no longer qualify for the health scheme.

Not completely right. I am the managing director of a company, but I am still in the health scheme, paying 1500 Baht a month for it. For a director participation is not obligatory anymore though.

You are correct provided you have less than a 49% ownership in the company as I understand it, if you have more, you are no longer eligible.

Nominees is the magic word here not actually the percentage...with nominees they just think the person in question is running the company by her/himself, which is usually the case...

[Tatsujin]

Nominees is the magic word here not actually the percentage...with nominees they just think the person in question is running the company by her/himself, which is usually the case...

I've just spoken to my partner about this to remind myself of what happened in my instance. Apparently it's whether you are the "owner" of the company that is he key part here. As an "owner", you are NOT eligible. As an "employee" you are eligible, as an "owner" you are not.

[jumbo]

Nominees is the magic word here not actually the percentage...with nominees they just think the person in question is running the company by her/himself, which is usually the case...

I've just spoken to my partner about this to remind myself of what happened in my instance. Apparently it's whether you are the "owner" of the company that is he key part here. As an "owner", you are NOT eligible. As an "employee" you are eligible, as an "owner" you are not.

And the owner always has 51% or more... or how else can they identify anyone as owner??

Which makes foreigners that have 49% of the shares with the remaining nominees with 51% eligible....??...

[citizen33]

To my knowledge the obligatory health insurance for employees only entitles you to treatment at government hospitals. When registering for the insurance, 3 hospitals have to be listed. The quality of government hospitals greatly varies. Good government hospitals tend to be very crowded. They might have many types of specialized physicians, but they will mostly be just recently graduated, doing their obligatory stint at a government hospital, before moving on to a better paid job at a private hospital.

Not correct. Public and some private hospitals participate in the SSS. On registration you choose from the options offered in your area. The quality of both private and government hospitals varies across the Kingdom. Many of the specialists working in private hospitals also hold an appointment in a public or university hospital. Of the other two public schemes, the UCS (gold card) scheme covers care in public and participating private hospitals (to which your local CUP must refer you) and the CSMBS (civil servants) only covers care in public hospitals.

[Tatsujin]

And the owner always has 51% or more... or how else can they identify anyone as owner??

Which makes foreigners that have 49% of the shares with the remaining nominees with 51% eligible....??...

As I understand it, as soon as you become a "Director" you then automatically become an "owner" regardless of the % shareholding.

[EvilDrSomkid]

That is good to know. My wife is co-director and she still pays this. She has been paying it for years and did not know the law changed 2 years ago.

However, if you have private health insurance, you can use it as a deduction on your taxable income.

Actually it depends on how many shares the director holds

If it is a main majority they are not eligible for SS

As for the remainder all employees of any company are to pay for and receive SS, it is the law! Farang, Thai, Alien or resident...

Evil; can you show me where it is stated that you can deduct private health insurance

http://www.rd.go.th/publish/6045.0.html

It was something that our accountant said. edit: I do believe there is a maximum though. How much it is, I don't know.

I do know I do not get close to it.

My wife still contributes to this fund, but does not use it for health care. She has private health insurance.

She now contributes to the SS fund so she can get a pension when she retires. That is what the SS dept told her.

edit2: Max deduction of health insurance is 90,000. If you have life insurance here, you can deduct that, too.

Add health insurance premium and life insurance premium: max 90k. This can be found on any of the health insurance companies websites, apparently.

[WholeHearted]

You can also pay yourselves when you are not employed as long as you have previously paid, it costs 432baht per month.

Careful here! I was just told you have to have paid into the SS system for at least 12 months, in order to qualify to continue to pay for yourself after you leave the job. If you worked for less than 12 months, forget it. (Though they do give you 6 months after you stop working, when you can continue to use your card for health care.)

Has anyone else had experience with that rule? Are there any exceptions to it?