30 Bht Health Scheme

[citizen33]

According to my friend there is no health coverage after leaving unless you do the 25 years, just a cash payment after 10 years plus to compensate the ex-member for the lost fringe benefit. I think there may be the possibility of a cash sum at retirement as well as the pension and health coverage, but did not ask about that.

Edited May 22, 2013 by citizen33

[TerryLH]

Many people work here legally and are not in the Social Security system. To continue on your own requires that you are actually paying into the system for those 12-13 months.

You'd probably be having 750 baht deducted for it, so you should know if you are in the system, or not.

If you are working and aren't in the system, but think you should be, call social Security. If you are supposed to be in it, my experience is that they will help you.

You could arrange to have the monthly payment deducted from your Thai bank, so you wouldn't always have to be here.

They apparently want to do it by bank deduction. I got a letter about that last week. It seems like a lot of people paying over the counter keep forgetting to pay them.

I think once you've missed three months in a row, they kick you out of the system and you have to start over.

[Satcommlee]

Some great info and advice here, thanks... My employer did ask what hospital I want to be registered with, I said "Why do I need to be registered with a hospital, I pay 25K a month for BUPA international coverage".. anyway they said I must chose one in Prathum Thani and they suggested one.

So I am registered there, but I find it great to know that I can continue that coverage should life take a turn for the worse, ie: cant afford BUPA.

However, does anyone know whether this coverage extends beyond a work place accident? All I Know is that I pay into social security fund and something called workers compensation..

I'm only 37, but when BUPA becomes too expensive in later years due to age, as long as I stay in Thailand (I am married to a Thai with kid etc..) can I really continue to pay into this scheme and have social security coverage even when I am perhaps 70 years old and long finished work?

I may be looking 20-30 years in advance, but maybe health care will be up to western standards by then.

If I was in UK now, I'd be paying about 400 GBP (20000 THB a month) for national insurance, and by comparison 600 baht a month here in Thailand seems an absolute bargain.

Am I one of the lucky ones cos I am here paying taxes, have work permit etc? Can I really continue to pay in after 13 months?

[Sheryl]

Some great info and advice here, thanks... My employer did ask what hospital I want to be registered with, I said "Why do I need to be registered with a hospital, I pay 25K a month for BUPA international coverage".. anyway they said I must chose one in Prathum Thani and they suggested one.

So I am registered there, but I find it great to know that I can continue that coverage should life take a turn for the worse, ie: cant afford BUPA.

However, does anyone know whether this coverage extends beyond a work place accident? All I Know is that I pay into social security fund and something called workers compensation..

I'm only 37, but when BUPA becomes too expensive in later years due to age, as long as I stay in Thailand (I am married to a Thai with kid etc..) can I really continue to pay into this scheme and have social security coverage even when I am perhaps 70 years old and long finished work?

I may be looking 20-30 years in advance, but maybe health care will be up to western standards by then.

If I was in UK now, I'd be paying about 400 GBP (20000 THB a month) for national insurance, and by comparison 600 baht a month here in Thailand seems an absolute bargain.

Am I one of the lucky ones cos I am here paying taxes, have work permit etc? Can I really continue to pay in after 13 months?

Yes, you really can continue to pay in and you can be covered for life. The coverage includes comprehensive health care, not just work related accidents.

It is indeed an excellent deal, the best available. Well worth keeping up the payments even if you leave Thailand for a while,.

The only down side is that your choice of hospitals is limited. You have some choice, but only among hospitals registered with the scheme, and if you are ill and can't find a suitable doctor at the hospital you are regsitered (or would prefer one not regsitered there) you're stuck.

For which reason should choose carefully.

Generally speaking the small private hospitals which accept people under the scheme are best avoided and you should go for a large government hospital or military hosp. Some exceptions, of course, but this is usually the case.

The larger the hospital and an affiliation with a medical school are both pluses.