Affordable health insurance.

[Sheryl]

Thanks for that, I am keeping a list which is currently:

Receipt of cards confirmed from:

Udon Thani Hospital

Pakchong Nana Hospital in Korat

Maharat Hospital in Korat

Bua Yai Hospital in Korat

Chiang Rai Hospital (register at Chiangrai 2 hospital (Sar glang gow)

Sanam Chai Khet hospital in Chachengsao

Nakornping hospital in Chiang Mai

Sansai district hospital, Chiang Mai

Kuchinarai, Crown Prince Hospital in Kalasin

Khao Wong Hospital in Kalasin

Banglamung in Pattaya

Kanthawichia Hospital (ampur) MahaSarakam Province.

Refused to issue card, said only for migrants:

Nang Rong Hospital, Buriram

“Not Issuing These Yet but Heard About It”

“Kilometre 10 hospital” in Sattahip

[meatboy]

Thanks for that, I am keeping a list which is currently:

Receipt of cards confirmed from:

Udon Thani Hospital

Pakchong Nana Hospital in Korat

Maharat Hospital in Korat

Bua Yai Hospital in Korat

Chiang Rai Hospital (register at Chiangrai 2 hospital (Sar glang gow)

Sanam Chai Khet hospital in Chachengsao

Nakornping hospital in Chiang Mai

Sansai district hospital, Chiang Mai

Kuchinarai, Crown Prince Hospital in Kalasin

Khao Wong Hospital in Kalasin

Banglamung in Pattaya

Kanthawichia Hospital (ampur) MahaSarakam Province.

Refused to issue card, said only for migrants:

Nang Rong Hospital, Buriram

Not Issuing These Yet but Heard About It

Kilometre 10 hospital in Sattahip

just to confirm what i posted earlier,marahat[korat] do not cover the scheme,its the new hospital that at first was called marahat 2 but they changed the name to THEPARAT.kok-kruad.

[Sheryl]

Noted, thanks.

[harrry]

I've been reading through this thread with great interest and I would intend to go to Banglamung Hospital very shortly to attempt to register but I am confused as to what to take with me. I am a single man living here on a non O extension for retirement. I rent a condo from a friend and therefore don't have a rental agreement let alone a yellow tabien baan. I have lived in the same condo for 6 years and have ToT bills and Truevisions bills in my name. I have a 5 year Thai driving licence and presumably can get an up to date Residence Certificate from Immigration. I also have a Thai Income Tax card with my name and address on it.

Can any kind soul who has been following this thread please advise what I would need to take with me from the above info. and anything else that would be relevant. I'd hate to have to come back for something I'd forgotten. Chok Dee Khrap!

I would take what you have and go there. It seems there is a large degree of flexibility. If they ask for more that is the time to worry about getting more documentation. Just to make it easier I would make a photocopy of your passport and your licence etc just in case and to save time getting them, All you have to lose is an extra trip and I do not think you will need that.

I would advise however trying to go without having drunk alchol the night before and of course drugs are a no no. These are the main things that would rule out some foreigners.

[meatboy]

although i took along tax id card and 5yr.driving licence both with name and address they only seemed interested in my visa and extension status in my passport.before you see anyone you have to fill in a form which requires you to put your address down.

[Iamemjay]

Received confirmation from Chiangmai's Suan Doc Hospital that yes, what the OP has described is true. A resident foreigner (not just from Myanmar) can now register and receive a health card for a total of 2800B

[Iamemjay]

Fang Hospital (Chiangmai province) has also confirmed the existence of the scheme and under the same conditions they will issue the card to us.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

My wife called the NHSO's 1330 call center number today trying to get the correct info on the hospital to contact for folks in the BKK area. She couldn't reach anyone there this afternoon, and I couldn't get past their all-Thai automated voice response system.

Curiously, it seems there are a lot of Thai government hospitals around the Victory Monument area including Rajavithi, but none in the entire Klong Toey, Phrakanong, On Nut areas where many falang live, myself included. So I'm still struggling to determine what's the local "amphur" hospital here to go to apply at.

One member from BKK posted above about going to Chula Hospital and being turned away, apparently because Chula is not a primary care hospital. Tonight, my wife called Police General Hospital in the Chidlom area and Ramathibodi Hospital, and was told they don't deal with "dtaang daaw" cards, for falang or for workers from neighboring countries. So both of those seem out.

Still trying to get to the bottom of things here...

BTW, my wife also called Udon Thani hospital just to bone up on the background on this, and after talking in Thai to the staff there, she came away telling me they had advised her that the hospital only had up to some certain number of cards that they could issue to farang residents, and once they reached that number, they wouldn't issue any more. That's the first I've heard of any notion about that.

[NancyL]

Received confirmation from Chiangmai's Suan Doc Hospital that yes, what the OP has described is true. A resident foreigner (not just from Myanmar) can now register and receive a health card for a total of 2800B

But, can you register at Suan Dok? If so, this would be a huge improvement over the two-songthaew ride to Nakorn Ping hospital. Plus, in general, staff at Suan Dok has better English-language skills (yes, this is wrong to expect people signing you up for what is basically a gift to speak your language!)

[yermanee]

Anyway a neighbour of mine ( German) has applied for it at Banglamung hospital and now has the card.

Yermanee

Well, Yermanee, maybe you could talk to your friend, or ask him to show you the card, then report back here on how he managed to get "the card" at Banglamung. I went there this morning and was told flatly by a lady at the nurses station, after being redirected from the information desk and registration desk, that Banglamung Hospital is not ready for the scheme yet. I persisted, telling her that I had read on this forum of somebody who had been there and had already received the card. She categorically denied that anybody had been accepted into the scheme at Banglamung yet. "It's my job" she said. I asked her name and reluctantly she gave me "Tasranporn". Tel no...038-411551-2. Contact 4-16, which I think is her workstation number. She asked me to call again perhaps in the New Year, as she had no idea when Banglamung would be set up for the scheme, then after a bit of banter and small talk, she offered to phone my mobile when they were ready......I won't hold my breath!

So dejectedly I braved a thunderstorm and torrential rain and caught the baht buses back to Jomtien where I have just dried out and am reporting to Thai Visa so other people won't get misled. Many thanks.

Sheryl, please amend your list and keep on the good work. It's appreciated.

Just read your above post.

Cannot ask this guy today because he's gone for the week-end.

Anyway will try to get to the bottom of this since I don't like to be made looking like a fool.

Will reply as soon as I can.

Yermanee

[Thanyaburi Mac]

The "other" newspaper has a blurb this morning from the MoHealth, copy attached. Contains conflicting info by my reading.

I note several items:

"... policies to care for migrant workers and other foreigners residing in Thailand, ..."

"3) Tourists or alien works who enter the country occasionally."

"The health card is exclusively designed for three groups of the migrant workers."

Mac

[NancyL]

Received confirmation from Chiangmai's Suan Doc Hospital that yes, what the OP has described is true. A resident foreigner (not just from Myanmar) can now register and receive a health card for a total of 2800B

But, can you register at Suan Dok? If so, this would be a huge improvement over the two-songthaew ride to Nakorn Ping hospital. Plus, in general, staff at Suan Dok has better English-language skills (yes, this is wrong to expect people signing you up for what is basically a gift to speak your language!)

No, you cannot register at CM's Suan Dok hospital. It is a regional medical center, so under this program you would have to be referred by the hospital where you're registered, in this case Nakorn Ping hospital which serves Amphur Muang. You could go to Suan Dok for emergency treatment under the program, but once you're stabilized there's a big chance you'll be transferred to Nakorn Ping if it's within their capability to provide the care needed.

Yes, I agree that Suan Dok is better located to serve residents of A. Muang and the English-language skills of the staff are better, but you could continue to use Suan Dok on a fee-paid basis for routine care and save the UC card from Nakorn Ping for emergencies and most costly treatment.

Please visit the thread running on the TV-CM forum now about this topic. Things are very fluid with this program and Nakorn Ping has been overwhelmed with demand for enrollment and have had to ask some applicants to return the next day. They're in the process of streamlining their enrollment procedure. If possible, wait for a couple weeks before taking that two-songthaew ride out to Nakorn Ping.

Edited October 19, 2013 by NancyL

[meatboy]

The "other" newspaper has a blurb this morning from the MoHealth, copy attached. Contains conflicting info by my reading.

I note several items:

"... policies to care for migrant workers and other foreigners residing in Thailand, ..."

"3) Tourists or alien works who enter the country occasionally."

"The health card is exclusively designed for three groups of the migrant workers."

Mac

yes mac i thought it was aimed at migrant workers rather than us,it does say foreigners residing in thailand also living along the borders of thailand that is about all.

the cards,the price,the health care insurance benefits only mentions migrant workers.

i registered tues at theparat[korat] and the clerk where we paid for the card 2,200bht.told the wife that many farangs had signed up,in 3hrs.i never saw one there and nobody has posted here or in the isaan forum. as they say the proof will be in the eating.

[yermanee]

Today my better half went to Banglamung hospital to check on what Bahtboy informed us.

They pretty much confirmed what Bahtboy told us i,e, that for the moment they do NOT accept foreigners, and that the insurance was intended for workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia only.

Furthermore the woman explained that the computer program needed is not in place yet for us farangs. When my wife asked whether the computer program for those foreign workers was in place because its the same program, the woman in question became evasive and my wife did not insist more.

So Bahtboy my apologies seems the neighbour who said he has a card from Banglamung was either lying or as someone else suggested they accept only a certain number of foreigners in any hospital.

Again, I'm sorry

Yermanee

[edandpranee]

Today my better half went to Banglamung hospital to check on what Bahtboy informed us.

They pretty much confirmed what Bahtboy told us i,e, that for the moment they do NOT accept foreigners, and that the insurance was intended for workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia only.

Furthermore the woman explained that the computer program needed is not in place yet for us farangs. When my wife asked whether the computer program for those foreign workers was in place because its the same program, the woman in question became evasive and my wife did not insist more.

So Bahtboy my apologies seems the neighbour who said he has a card from Banglamung was either lying or as someone else suggested they accept only a certain number of foreigners in any hospital.

Again, I'm sorry

Yermanee

Yermanee,

Thanks for the follow through and correction---a rare thing indeed on TV.

[FBN]

Sheryl's list updated with above info.

Thanks for keeping the thread alive and relevant.

[NancyL]

I found a list of hospitals in Thailand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Thailand

It would appear that, at least in Chiang Mai, the only hospitals participating are those operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Sheryl, does this list look complete?

There does not seem to be any public hospitals operated by the MOPH in Bangkok -- could this explain why Bangkok residents are having trouble finding a hospital that will admit permit expats to enroll in UC?

[citizen33]

Nancy raises an interesting point, which highlights the complexity of the Thai system. The public hospitals in Bangkok generally come under the BMA rather than the MoPH. This means that as far as the main UCS scheme for Thai citizens is concerned, there are differences in the way things operate in Bangkok and in the provinces. In Bangkok the BMA division of the NHSO contracts directly with the various public and private provider CUPs, while in the provinces the regional offices of the NHSO (in the past and still today I think) contract with MoPH hospital CUPs through the MoPH, and direct with a few private hospital CUPs. In all areas a Thai citizen seeking coverage under the UCS registers with a contracting unit for primary care (CUP), which is then responsible for referrals within and outside the local provider network. However, while provincial CUPs are usually based in the local MoPH community or provincial hospital, the situation is more complicated in Bangkok. I can't lay my hands easily on the current breakdown, but in 2005 the CUPs were based in 3 university hospitals, 9 BMA hospitals, a police hospital, 3 hospitals of the Ministry of Defence, 3 MoPH hospitals. 39 private hospitals,38 BMA health centres and 75 private clinics (which interestingly can be the base for a CUP in Bangkok). Don't ask me what the 3 MoPH hospitals are/were as this is not specified in my source - http://ihppthaigov.net/publication/attachresearch/217/chapter1.pdf

The new scheme provides similar coverage to the UCS (apart from the daily inpatient bed charge), but enrollment seems to be direct with hospitals rather than CUPs. It seems that most of the rural hospitals that register UCS patients via the CUP are registering members under the new voluntary 'con dtaang daao' scheme too, but as far as we can see the Bangkok hospitals either aren't sure what to do or are saying they aren't registering entrants. Logically one would think that intending members should approach the hospitals linked to existing CUPs but as the CUPs relate specifically to the UCS and not the new scheme, it may not be that simple.

Edited October 20, 2013 by citizen33

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

However, while provincial CUPs are usually based in the local MoPH community or provincial hospital, the situation is more complicated in Bangkok. I can't lay my hands easily on the current breakdown, but in 2005 the CUPs were based in 3 university hospitals, 9 BMA hospitals, a police hospital, 3 hospitals of the Ministry of Defence, 3 MoPH hospitals. 39 private hospitals,38 BMA health centres and 75 private clinics (which interestingly can be the base for a CUP in Bangkok). Don't ask me what the 3 MoPH hospitals are/were as this is not specified in my source - http://ihppthaigov.net/publication/attachresearch/217/chapter1.pdf

The new scheme provides similar coverage to the UCS (apart from the daily inpatient bed charge), but enrollment seems to be direct with hospitals rather than CUPs. It seems that most of the rural hospitals that register UCS patients via the CUP are registering members under the new voluntary 'con dtaang daao' scheme too, but as far as we can see the Bangkok hospitals either aren't sure what to do or are saying they aren't registering entrants. Logically one would think that intending members should approach the hospitals linked to existing CUPs but as the CUPs relate specifically to the UCS and not the new scheme, it may not be that simple.

Last Friday, my wife also spoke on the telephone with the local government health center for our area in BKK, and explained what she was calling about and what she wanted to do (see about enrolling me in the new coverage scheme for farangs). The center staff my wife spoke with didn't know anything about it and told her instead to check with one of the local hospitals -- the results of which I already mentioned above.

[gamini]

PR are entitled to bt30 health care

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I was refused a gold card at my local hospital despite being a PR for 20+ years.

Surely the 30bt fee was abandoned some years ago, and treatment is now free.

They don't issue gold cards any more. I get free treatment only at my local hospital . Show my blue tambien baan which starts with no. 3

[elektrified]

I found a list of hospitals in Thailand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Thailand

It would appear that, at least in Chiang Mai, the only hospitals participating are those operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Sheryl, does this list look complete?

There does not seem to be any public hospitals operated by the MOPH in Bangkok -- could this explain why Bangkok residents are having trouble finding a hospital that will admit permit expats to enroll in UC?

I'm not sure how accurate that list is NancyL; at least for Chiang Mai. For example a number of hospitals are listed as private when no doubt they are government hospitals.

[citizen33]

Sorry, but I said the system was complicated. You need to do some background reading, such as the report at the link I posted.

CUP means 'contracting unit for primary care'. This is a local provider network - in the provinces typically a district hospital and a cluster of health centres (now generally called tambon health promotion hospitals; cue more confusion) - which enters contracts with the National Health Security Office to provide primary care services, and passes a proportion of the funding it receives on to bigger hospitals to pay for secondary and tertiary care referrals.

BMA means Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (or Authority) - this is the local government authority overseeing the greater Bangkok area.

UCS means the universal coverage (healthcare) scheme - the name now usually given to the 30 baht scheme or gold-card scheme.

As stated, the new scheme is different from the UCS, but one might guess that hospitals participating in the UCS might also participate in the new scheme. As Nancy says, the public hospitals in Bangkok are mostly not Ministry of Public Health hospitals so the first port of call might be BMA hospitals, and yet we seem to be getting mixed reports. This could be because there is a lot of uncertainty about the 'con dtaang daao' scheme even in the Ministry of Public Health. Presumably the Medical Services Department of the BMA is even less clear about things. This seems in line with TallGuy's report.

Nancy raises an interesting point, which highlights the complexity of the Thai system. The public hospitals in Bangkok generally come under the BMA rather than the MoPH. This means that as far as the main UCS scheme for Thai citizens is concerned, there are differences in the way things operate in Bangkok and in the provinces. In Bangkok the BMA division of the NHSO contracts directly with the various public and private provider CUPs, while in the provinces the regional offices of the NHSO (in the past and still today I think) contract with MoPH hospital CUPs through the MoPH, and direct with a few private hospital CUPs. In all areas a Thai citizen seeking coverage under the UCS registers with a contracting unit for primary care (CUP), which is then responsible for referrals within and outside the local provider network. However, while provincial CUPs are usually based in the local MoPH community or provincial hospital, the situation is more complicated in Bangkok. I can't lay my hands easily on the current breakdown, but in 2005 the CUPs were based in 3 university hospitals, 9 BMA hospitals, a police hospital, 3 hospitals of the Ministry of Defence, 3 MoPH hospitals. 39 private hospitals,38 BMA health centres and 75 private clinics (which interestingly can be the base for a CUP in Bangkok). Don't ask me what the 3 MoPH hospitals are/were as this is not specified in my source - http://ihppthaigov.net/publication/attachresearch/217/chapter1.pdf

The new scheme provides similar coverage to the UCS (apart from the daily inpatient bed charge), but enrollment seems to be direct with hospitals rather than CUPs. It seems that most of the rural hospitals that register UCS patients via the CUP are registering members under the new voluntary 'con dtaang daao' scheme too, but as far as we can see the Bangkok hospitals either aren't sure what to do or are saying they aren't registering entrants. Logically one would think that intending members should approach the hospitals linked to existing CUPs but as the CUPs relate specifically to the UCS and not the new scheme, it may not be that simple.

Wow! I know that you mean well, citizen 33, but that was like wading through treacle. I spent more time trying to decipher the CUPs,UCSs and BMAs than reading the post properly. Have a bit of compassion for the readers who don't know off the cuff what all these mean, and don't shorten them all. I've found the same problem in many other articles that I've tried to read, not just on this forum.....is it just me? I doubt it!

[NancyL]

I found a list of hospitals in Thailand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Thailand

It would appear that, at least in Chiang Mai, the only hospitals participating are those operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Sheryl, does this list look complete?

There does not seem to be any public hospitals operated by the MOPH in Bangkok -- could this explain why Bangkok residents are having trouble finding a hospital that will admit permit expats to enroll in UC?

I'm not sure how accurate that list is NancyL; at least for Chiang Mai. For example a number of hospitals are listed as private when no doubt they are government hospitals.

Yes, that list shows at least three hospitals in CM as being Private that I thought were gov't hospitals -- Chang Phuak, Central Memorial and Klaimor. Actually, they don't list the operating agencies for those hospitals. Perhaps they are private hospitals that contract with the gov't.

But this list is in line with what we've been told at Nakorn Ping hospital -- the list of hospitals participating in the UC for expat foreigners is identical to the hospitals listed as being run by MOPH in that Wikipedia article. I specifically asked about Chang Phuak and Central Memorial (because they're more conveniently located than NKP) and was told no, they're not part of this new UC scheme.

[DonaldBattles]

I take 2 copies of my blue Tabien Baan book with me and have never been refused treatment including surgery. I had laser treatment on my eye last week. the bill showed 2,000 Baht but I was not charged. I feel that it is simply up to the hospital if they wish to accept this approach. Iin 2 years I have never seen a farang in the Chiang Rai Hospital. However, I am not there often.

[FBN]

I found a list of hospitals in Thailand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Thailand

It would appear that, at least in Chiang Mai, the only hospitals participating are those operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Sheryl, does this list look complete?

There does not seem to be any public hospitals operated by the MOPH in Bangkok -- could this explain why Bangkok residents are having trouble finding a hospital that will admit permit expats to enroll in UC?

Not wanting to create general panic on the forum but Sheryl is "Out of Office" for a few days; she'll be back asap!!

[casicook]

Udon Thani has stopped issuing cards now!

Health Card for foreigners in Udon Thani no longer available

[Tafia]

Udon Thani has stopped issuing cards now!

Quote

Health Card for foreigners in Udon Thani no longer available

What happens to those who have already been issued with one?

Edited October 21, 2013 by Tafia

[casicook]

Udon Thani has stopped issuing cards now!

Quote

Health Card for foreigners in Udon Thani no longer available

What happens to those who have already been issued with one?

So far no reports of people having been refused treatment under the scheme. The more interesting question is, will there be a kind of "grandfathering" rule for those who have signed up for the upcoming renewal?

[Issangeorge]

I just had two biopsies taken at Kuchinarai Hospital, Kalasin, and received some drugs and there was no charge. I presented my card, and my hospital card when I registered, and as far as I could see, when she typed my hospital # into the computer the fact that I had a Foreign Health Card was already in the computer, because when I showed her my health card, she said "already have". This was today Oct. 21.

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

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Udon Thani has stopped issuing cards now!

Health Card for foreigners in Udon Thani no longer available

As I mentioned in a prior post here, when my wife called Udon Hospital on Friday afternoon and spoke with the Thai staff there, they indicated there was some limit on the number of cards they were going to issue to farangs.. although my wife didn't get any sense of what that limit is/was.

But at least, based on her conversation, it didn't sound like they were going to cancel the existing cards -- just not issue any additional ones. That doesn't answer, unfortunately, what will happen a year down the road when those originally issued cards come up for renewal.