"gold Card" Medical Scheme In Thailand

[Telecom66]

"Gold Card" medical scheme in Thailand.

Hello Everyone,

Does anyone have "First Hand Knowledge" of the "Gold Card" scheme? It is mention in a post on another forum regarding hearing aids, and in it the poster says:

"Old lady in our village got [hearing aid] supplied for free by the state on the 30 baht scheme..."

"My kids had a "gold card", available to any thai who applies for it, free of charge ... They didn't pay one cent for any medical procedure or medicine at any government hospital-not even the 30 baht ..."

In his reply regarding hearing aids, he mentioned the "Gold Card" scheme that was available to his kids, and any Thai can apply for it.

Could someone with knowledge of the Gold Card please provide further details of what you know about it and how the Thai's apply and where?

Any accurate information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I am a disabled blind pensioner (4% vision left) and my beautiful fiancee (together for 8 years) was just diagnosed with Thalassemia Intermedia, the medical term for Hereditary Anemia, that will only require more detailed treatments as it progresses. Ironically, it was picked up on a pre-pregnancy health checkup in readiness for us to plan our first child. I now feel I am inadequate as her partner because I cannot afford her treatments with my small pension income, but with the knowledge of this Gold Card option, there is a new door of opportunity to open and explore.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide, and have a great day my friends!!

Regards,

Thomas

Edited May 22, 2013 by Telecom66

[citizen33]

Look at the other threads currently running in this subforum and in the insurance subforum. The gold card scheme = UCS = 30 baht scheme. As mentioned in the other threads, gold cards are being replaced by the multi-purpose ID smart card.

Edited May 22, 2013 by citizen33

[Sheryl]

It is extremely unlikely that your fiance does not already know about this and is not already enrolled in it. All Thais know well about this.

If by some chance she really never has been enrolled, she needs to go to her local government hospital with her tabien ban and Thai ID card and they will register her. Any problems, call 1330 (the NHSO office helpline).

What is perhaps more likely is that she may already be registered but at a different location i.e. wherever she is in a tabien ban. There is a process for changing registration to a new location, a bit of bureaucratic hoop-jumping but can be done, this the NHSO can advise on.

The system does have its inconveniences, similiar to that of any national health system. She has to go first to the hospital where she is registered for care (usually the government hospital for her district which, if you live in a village outside the main amphur, may be a first tier district hospital) and can only progress to higher levels on referral. People living in cities and provincial towns are lucky in that the district hospital for them will also be a provincial level hospital, but people living further out will have their registration at a facility of low capacity. they'll refer OK but it's an extra step.

You however have a problem and need to think carefully about how to ensure health care cover for yourself as you are not eligible for the Thai scheme and will not be even after marriage to a Thai. If you do not have health insurance that covers you in Thailand you had best self-insure. Foreigners are eligible for care in Thai government hospitals but have to pay the full fee.