Affordable health insurance.

[touch]

I went to my local hospital today to ask about renewing my "Health Card for Foreigner". As have already been said in this thread

they are not renewing any health cards.

"It is the policy of the present government to only allow nationals from Laos, Burma and Cambodia to purchase cards".

As to whether something was in the pipeline for other foreigners living in Thailand they couldn't say and advised to come back regularly and check.

[PacificCrossInsurance]

Normally the entitlement to access the Thai Government free hospital scheme is a function of whether or not you have a Thai Social Welfare card and ID number. If you have one (which means you or your employer have been contributing to the Social Welfare fund) you are eligible, and if you don't have one you are not eligible. That's the 'official' position.

That is not to say there are exceptions where a particular hospital or official may allow access without the required Social Welfare ID - it is not unknown for the left hand not to know what the right hand is doing let alone all the other hands that appear from time to time ... but it would be wise to be aware that if you are currently enjoying the free hospital scheme but don't have a Thai Social Welfare card/ID to be aware you could lose this access (but while it's there and if it's free then long may it last).

[MajarTheLion]

It also is limited to government hospital where you are registered (which in turn is based on where you live -- you can't choose). No choice of doctors. If you live outside the ampur you may be required to register at a district hospital where facilities are very limited and will have to get referral from them to get care at the provincial hospital. Those who live within an ampur will usually be registered at a provincial hospital (which in some lucky cases may also be a regional hospital), which offer more comprehensive services, but will still have to go through them to get referral to a tertiary facility . In other words, all the same drawbacks as government health systems usually have.

For those who are able to get local insurance it is still well worth it IMO, so as to be able to choose your doctor and hospital and get direct access to specialists.

However there are many here who due to age and/or pre-existing conditions can't get insurance., in which case the scheme described by OP would certainly be better than being uninsured.

Hi Sheryl:

My wife and I are looking to move to Thailand. She is a national and we have gone together many times. Any kind of number(s) on what health insurance costs would be greatly appreciated. Our ages are 64 and 51 if that matters or helps.

[PacificCrossInsurance]

Inexpensive, state health insurance can be obtained at the local state hospital of your residence. The yearly premium amounts to 2200 THB. Additionally, a preliminary investigation is obligatory and costs 600 THB. In addition to the measurement of weight, height and blood pressure, a blood and urine lab test and X-raying of the chest will be performed. For children, this investigation is not required. The yearly premium for a child is 365 THB.

There are no restrictions regarding the age of entry or on pre-existing medical conditions. Only alcohol and drug abuse, as well as syphilis or tuberculosis will lead to rejection.

Residence in Thailand has to be demonstrated. This can be done giving proof of marriage with a Thai partner and then over inscription in her/his blue house book or one’s own yellow house book.

[stevenl]

Inexpensive, state health insurance can be obtained at the local state hospital of your residence. The yearly premium amounts to 2200 THB. Additionally, a preliminary investigation is obligatory and costs 600 THB. In addition to the measurement of weight, height and blood pressure, a blood and urine lab test and X-raying of the chest will be performed. For children, this investigation is not required. The yearly premium for a child is 365 THB.

There are no restrictions regarding the age of entry or on pre-existing medical conditions. Only alcohol and drug abuse, as well as syphilis or tuberculosis will lead to rejection.

Residence in Thailand has to be demonstrated. This can be done giving proof of marriage with a Thai partner and then over inscription in her/his blue house book or one’s own yellow house book.

Are you referring to the insurance that was meant for expat workers from lao, Myanmar etc., but was also briefly offered to foreigners from overseas?

[kptravel]

Anybody have any information about this local government health access availability for foreigners ,as quoted by Pacific Cross? Cheers

[harrry]

Anybody have any information about this local government health access availability for foreigners ,as quoted by Pacific Cross? Cheers

That plan has been discontinued except for cross border workers.

[kptravel]

That's what I thought ,Harry. I was quite surprised to see the article by Pacific Cross ,dated December 2015,saying it was available.

Why would they print this information, if not true?

Maybe they can clarify their earlier statement, as I know they post here regularly.

Look forward to their response, as I hope it is available, if not please confirm otherwise.

[stevenl]

That's what I thought ,Harry. I was quite surprised to see the article by Pacific Cross ,dated December 2015,saying it was available.

Why would they print this information, if not true?

Maybe they can clarify their earlier statement, as I know they post here regularly.

Look forward to their response, as I hope it is available, if not please confirm otherwise.

I asked this question already a week ago, so far no answer.

[CharlieH]

Inexpensive, state health insurance can be obtained at the local state hospital of your residence. The yearly premium amounts to 2200 THB. Additionally, a preliminary investigation is obligatory and costs 600 THB. In addition to the measurement of weight, height and blood pressure, a blood and urine lab test and X-raying of the chest will be performed. For children, this investigation is not required. The yearly premium for a child is 365 THB.

There are no restrictions regarding the age of entry or on pre-existing medical conditions. Only alcohol and drug abuse, as well as syphilis or tuberculosis will lead to rejection.

Residence in Thailand has to be demonstrated. This can be done giving proof of marriage with a Thai partner and then over inscription in her/his blue house book or one’s own yellow house book.

To my Knowledge and experience of my local hospital this is NO LONGER available. I had this previously and was not allowed to renew it.

[impulse]

Under the old chestnut, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't", I can't imagine how a country can afford any kind of publicly funded health care coverage to foreigners for 2200 baht per month, much less per year. Try it on, maybe. But longevity would be doubtful when boatloads of the uninsured show up just to sign up. Hell, I'd sign up myself just in case my employer's insurance ends tomorrow if (when?) they run me off.

Which brings it back to the OP. Does anyone have favorable (and recent) experience with affordable health coverage for foreigners that isn't tied to employment, defunct government programs, or knowing somebody that can sneak you in?

By experience, I mean the whole gamut, including actually getting treated and having it paid for. Too many horror stories about people who have a wonderful insurance policy, right up until they need the benefits. Then the tears start.

If so, what was the annual cost and for what age? I'd love to post my experience, but I'm covered under my foreign employer. Today, anyway. Who knows about tomorrow?

[stevenl]

Inexpensive, state health insurance can be obtained at the local state hospital of your residence. The yearly premium amounts to 2200 THB. Additionally, a preliminary investigation is obligatory and costs 600 THB. In addition to the measurement of weight, height and blood pressure, a blood and urine lab test and X-raying of the chest will be performed. For children, this investigation is not required. The yearly premium for a child is 365 THB.

There are no restrictions regarding the age of entry or on pre-existing medical conditions. Only alcohol and drug abuse, as well as syphilis or tuberculosis will lead to rejection.

Residence in Thailand has to be demonstrated. This can be done giving proof of marriage with a Thai partner and then over inscription in her/his blue house book or one’s own yellow house book.

To my Knowledge and experience of my local hospital this is NO LONGER available. I had this previously and was not allowed to renew it.

Already for quite some time not available. It was never meant for westerners and only issued due to a lack of instructions.

[elizabethay]

Hi there, I'm new to Bangkok (husband and I moved here a few weeks ago), and the people on this forum and others have been very kind to give us some great info on the topic. Since many of the comments here are from a few years ago, just thought I'd contribute with some newer info that we have first hand: 

 

We took someone's advice and used a new website out of Bangkok called Masii https://masii.co.th/ for insurance comparison. They were actually great (once we figured out how to change the page to English) and it seems to be geared for expats buying insurance in Thailand. I'm sure there are other websites out there, but this one worked great for us this week.

 

Also, as some of you have been talking about, we love Bangkok Hospital. I had a minor medical emergency this last weekend, and they were extremely professional, low cost, clean, great deal over all - what more could you want? We went to one other small hospital in Bangkok and it didn't even compare. 

 

Hope this helps and feel free to private message me at anytime. I'm new here, and don't know exactly how these forums work, but just trying to make some friends. Thanks all, Lizzie

 

[stevenl]

Strange, because judging from their website they don't offer health insurance.

[lopburi3]

You are actually calling Bangkok Hospital, the facility in Bangkok, small?  Not only is it very large, spread over six buildings it is the basis of the largest hospital group in Thailand.  Cheap. for Thailand, it is not - but it is clean and professional.