Thailand Social Security Health Coverage for expats

[morning glory]

I am 62 and currently paying the Social Security monthly fee out of my savings account, and I am still working.

When I have used SS for health expenses in the past, the hospital has always asked to make a copy of my company ID card in addition to taking the SS card. I've never paid more than 50 baht for any of my expenses (the biggest would have been 5000 baht without SS).

I'm wondering if anyone has been using only their SS card for health coverage after retirement? I will retire at the end of September and am concerned that I will no longer have SS health coverage since I'm not working and therefore can't produce that company ID card anymore.

As I mentioned, I have been paying the premium by myself (and have been since I turned 60), and plan to continue to do so--it's an automatic deduction from my savings account. I've always been puzzled as to why the hospital needed to see my ID card.

Thank you for any advice/help you can give.

[Sheryl]

There are a number of TV members who are retired and using Thai SS -- as long as you keep paying into it, you are covered for life.

Don't know why the request for company ID card, it is a new one to me. Usually once you have registered at a hospital, need only show your SS card.

[TerryLH]

I'm wondering if anyone has been using only their SS card for health coverage after retirement?

Yes, many of us are paying on our own to stay in the system.

Once the hospital has seen, and probably copied, your SS card, they shouldn't need to see it again.

Having said that, they might want to check every so often that you're still in the system, but they get SS info that tells them that.

Now when I go to the hospital I just give my hospital number that tells them where to find my file. I haven't had to show my SS card in many years, and never had to show them a work ID.

Are you paying 432 baht a month - or sometimes lower the last couple of years -- or 750B?

When you retire, make sure that SS continues getting your monthly payment. Probably not needed, but easy enough to do for such a valuable benefit.

Terry

PS Check out the "insurance" forum There are three threads on the first page that talk about SS/government insurance. There is some info in them that will be helpful for anyone wanting to understand the system a little better.

T

Edited August 8, 2013 by TerryLH

[morning glory]

I'm wondering if anyone has been using only their SS card for health coverage after retirement?

Yes, many of us are paying on our own to stay in the system.

Once the hospital has seen, and probably copied, your SS card, they shouldn't need to see it again.

Having said that, they might want to check every so often that you're still in the system, but they get SS info that tells them that.

Now when I go to the hospital I just give my hospital number that tells them where to find my file. I haven't had to show my SS card in many years, and never had to show them a work ID.

Are you paying 432 baht a month - or sometimes lower the last couple of years -- or 750B?

When you retire, make sure that SS continues getting your monthly payment. Probably not needed, but easy enough to do for such a valuable benefit.

Terry

PS Check out the "insurance" forum There are three threads on the first page that talk about SS/government insurance. There is some info in them that will be helpful for anyone wanting to understand the system a little better.

T

Thanks Terry and Sheryl for the helpful info. 336 baht is currently being automatically deducted from my savings account every month. I assume this will continue until i tell them to stop, so my coverage should continue indefinitely. That's reassuring to know that retirees are still getting their health benefits under SS. Thanks for the tip to go look at the posts in the insurance forum--heading over there now.

[morning glory]

Hmmmm as I read lots of posts on the insurance forum, I only see 432 baht mentioned as the amount for self-paying. I wonder why I only have to pay 336 baht? I made a trip to Social Security with my HR dept., so I thought everything was taken care of properly...I hope I don't have less coverage!

[TerryLH]

The regular cost is 432 Baht a month, but for the last couple of years the government has lowered the fee to try to help boost the economy.

I think this year there have been 2 or 3 different prices. I think it will return to 432 at the start of next year. SS usually sends me a letter outlining all that kind of stuff, but since the cost is so modest, even at full price, I don't pay a lot of attention to some of the details.

There are also some much older threads in the teaching forum. You'd have to go back a ways to see those. The info there was probably gone over in the newer threads in the insurance forum.

Terry

[Sheryl]

Be aware though that when you stop working you will have to make specific arrangements to continue your coverage through self-pay into the system. It won't be automatic and many people unwittingly loose their cover as a result.

Should not be a problem as long as you are employed.

[WitawatWatawit]

Be aware though that when you stop working you will have to make specific arrangements to continue your coverage through self-pay into the system. It won't be automatic and many people unwittingly loose their cover as a result.

Should not be a problem as long as you are employed.

Sorry Sheryl, not quite true. You can make arrangements with the Social Security Office to make auto payments through Krung Thai Bank. This is how I do it. The biggest problem is finding an SS hospital close to you. I live in Jomtien and have to go to Laem Chabang Int. Hospital. Maybe the Navy hospital in Sattahip might be closer, but I don't know.

Cheers,

Wit.

[Sheryl]

Yes, of course you can make arrangments for auto payments. But you have to make that arrangement, or other arrangement to pay. The coverage does not automatically continue if you do not. You will not automatically be billed, AFAIK.

[TerryLH]

The OP has apparently already made arrangements, even though he is still employed.

Since he is paying a lower rate, I assume he is in a job not eligible for SS through employment.

If that is the case, his arrangement will continue once he stops working.

"The biggest problem is finding an SS hospital close to you."

Each SS Office should have a list of what hospitals are included in the SS system, and which ones are currently available to join. Depending on your location, there might be both government and private hospitals in the SS system.

Each year there is a small window of time when you can apply to change hospitals within the same area. You can ask the SSO which hospitals are available.

For those wanting to make auto deductions from their bank, and I think SS is encouraging that option now, there are several banks that you can do that at.

Terry

[WitawatWatawit]

Yes, of course you can make arrangments for auto payments. But you have to make that arrangement, or other arrangement to pay. The coverage does not automatically continue if you do not. You will not automatically be billed, AFAIK.

My apologies, I misread your comment (I seem to be doing that a lot since my illness). You are correct. It is not automatic continuation. When I retired 2 years ago, I went to the SSO in Nonthaburi to make the arrangements to continue my SS payments (previously handled through my company). I was told I had six months in which to complete the arrangements or lose my SS coverage. The staff (very friendly, very helpful) told me Laem Chabang Int. was the nearest SS hospital to me in Jomtien, so I accepted that - it's 25km from my home. The automatic payments from my bank began six months after I finished work. (This info is for others, as the OP has clearly made his own arrangements already.)

Cheers

[Issangeorge]

You have to be enrolled for 12 months before you can pay on your own. I was enrolled for 11 months, lost my job in March and went to the social security office in May to pay on my own and they said I had to be enrolled for 12 months to do that. They did give me a refund on my 11 months.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[morning glory]

Thanks so much for all of your help. I have another question.

Can a company withdraw monthly SS from the paycheck of someone over 60? I thought that once you turn 60, you get back what you have paid into the fund (plus employer's part), assuming you meet the requirements, and then you start the salf-pay of the monthly fee.

A friend who turned 60 a few months ago just changed jobs. His old place said that they SS refund could be handled at his new job. However, the new place said a refund wasn't necessary at this time because they would continue to withhold the SS payment from his monthly check.

I've checked the SS website and other places and haven't found anything relating to rules that say when a company has to stop withdrawing the monthly SS payment. I'm not sure his new company knows what they are doing, and I don't want him to lose out on benefits. Any thoughts?

[TerryLH]

I had the payments deducted after 60, and never heard it was a problem.

It might be they won't enter you in the system as a new participant after 60.

If there is any question about it, after the new place deducts the money, have him check with SS to see if it was credited to him.

I've always found them to be helpful, and the info is easily available on their computers.

[Sheryl]

Yes, all the feedback I have heard is that the SS offices are very helpful.

In addition to their 1506 call center, here is a listing of the various provincial offices http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/contactus.html

[NCC1701A]

just wondering, how long do you need to be employed in Thailand to qualify for SS benefits?

In the US I believe it is 10 years.

[TerryLH]

Since you are trying to compare it to the US SS system, I take it that you are referring to the retirement aspect of it.

15 years, I believe. But don't expect much. I think it's capped at several thousand baht.

The health coverage kicks in after 3 months, and can continue on long after you retire if you make the payments yourself.

This, in my opinion, is the systems best feature. I don't even concern myself with any of the other stuff.

One thing not mentioned here, is that there are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

There are also unemployment , maternity, and a couple of other minor benefits.

Retirement, of course, but at a much lower rate than most would get in their own country.

I'm a bit outspoken about this subject for a couple of reasons.

For me this has been a fantastic benefit. I'm not sure if 'fantastic' is strong enough for how well it has served me over the years.

Many foreigners who are in the system know very little or nothing about what benefits they can get from SS. Many think that it can't be any good.

I don't remember ever hearing bad things about the Thai SS system from anyone understanding and actually using it.

Hope this helps.

Terry

[morning glory]

Since you are trying to compare it to the US SS system, I take it that you are referring to the retirement aspect of it.

15 years, I believe. But don't expect much. I think it's capped at several thousand baht.

The health coverage kicks in after 3 months, and can continue on long after you retire if you make the payments yourself.

This, in my opinion, is the systems best feature. I don't even concern myself with any of the other stuff.

One thing not mentioned here, is that there are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

There are also unemployment , maternity, and a couple of other minor benefits.

Retirement, of course, but at a much lower rate than most would get in their own country.

I'm a bit outspoken about this subject for a couple of reasons.

For me this has been a fantastic benefit. I'm not sure if 'fantastic' is strong enough for how well it has served me over the years.

Many foreigners who are in the system know very little or nothing about what benefits they can get from SS. Many think that it can't be any good.

I don't remember ever hearing bad things about the Thai SS system from anyone understanding and actually using it.

Hope this helps.

Terry

Thanks so much, Terry. I agree---it's an amazing benefit!