Affordable health insurance.

[DonaldBattles]

There are elevators in the Chiang Rai Hospital.

[harrry]

There are elevators in the Chiang Rai Hospital.

Not in the section where Orthopedics and the section that covers medical examinations is. It is located fairly near the train. I believe it is called Chiangrai 2

[Sheryl]

I have an appointment and my wife has had long discussions..Chiangrai does too. Biggest problem they seem to have is the machine to take the photo and print the card is upstairs....and I cannot climb stairs but they worked it out...

Ok, that makes 3 provincial hospital in 3 very different parts of the country. This is getting very interesting. I'd try my own just to see what happens but it is currently flooded.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

A Q here: Is this only at the Provincial hospitals or must one start at the local District hospital?

Mac

[gamini]

So you people who probably do not have PR are telling me that over the last 50 years every single one of the 30 odd major Goverment and Provincial Hospitals in Thailand have been giving me free health care in Error. Get your facts right and stop confusing members of this forum! As a permanent resident you get a Thai (alien) ID card which entitles you to a lot of things, for instance I do not longer have to have a passport unless I leave the country! The problem is that so few foreigners have PR that most hospital employees have not clue what is.

It may be unfair and illogical, but it is the case that those with PR rather than citizenship are not covered by the UCS. i checked that point at a very high level in the NHSO when we discussed the issue on other threads, and indeed you will find the information in the Thai language section of the NHSO website if you care to look. Alternatively ring the 1330 helpline. Please don't shoot the messenger.

Incidentally the UCS has only been available to most Thais since 2002, so the 50 years doesn't really come into it. As we have said in the thread, some local hospitals may sometimes misinterpret central government policies.

Extract from website follows.

http://www.nhso.go.th/FrontEnd/page-forpeople_nhso.aspx

ใครคือผู้มีสิทธิ หลักประกันสุขภาพ

ตามพระราชบัญญัติหลักประกันสุขภาพแห่งชาติ พ.ศ.2545 มาตรา 5 กำหนดให้ บุคคลทุกคนมีสิทธิได้รับบริการสาธารณสุข ที่มีมาตรฐาน และมีประสิทธิภาพตามที่กำหนด ในพระราชบัญญัติ ซึ่งบุคคลในที่นี้ หมายถึง บุคคลที่มีสัญชาติไทย

ดังนั้น ผู้มีสิทธิหลักประกันสุข ภาพ คือ บุคคลที่มีสัญชาติไทย มีเลขประจำตัวประชาชน 13 หลัก และไม่มีสวัสดิการด้านการรักษาพยาบาลอื่นใดที่รัฐจัดให้

Who is entitled to healthcare?

The National Health Security Act 2545, Section 5 entitles all persons to standard and efficient health services as required. In the Act this means individuals who are Thai nationals.

Therefore, health insurance is the right of persons with Thai nationality. a 13-digit identification number and who are not covered by other state health care schemes

I have a 13 digit identification number as follows 350990018XXXX which proves my point. And as I said in a previous post I have and am being treated at Major government Hospitals free of charge. So are you still saying these Hospitals are in error or that my 13 digit identification number is in error. (It can't be it has my name next to it!) I actually got my free health care card using my Thai (alien) ID registration which serves me instead of a passport). Have you got one yourself? I don't think that you or anybody on this post should comment on this matter if you are not a PR with presumambly a Thai ID (alien) Some of these posts smack of envy in that others can get what they can not!!

[gamini]

This may help to clarify the entitlement to Universal Scheme.

Sorry it is just a google translation as my THai is not good enough.

It does seem Permanent residents are not covered.

http://www.nhso.go.th/FrontEnd/page-forpeople_nhso.aspx

Who is entitled to. Health.

National Health Security Act 2545, Section 5 requires that all persons are entitled to a standard and efficient health services as required. In the Act. This means that individuals who are nationals of Thailand.

Therefore, health insurance is the right person with the nationality Thailand. A 13-digit identification number and any other welfare state healthcare provide.

For example, individuals with the welfare of the state, such as healthcare.

1. Entitled under the Social Security Act, as employees in the companies that have one or more employees from the employee or employee's individual work hawker stalls. No business included.
2. Entitled to welfare payments under the care of the government, such as government employees and their families.
3. Who are wards of the state to provide health insurance for enterprise employees. Employee or officer of the organization. Private school teachers in the system.

I have a 13 digit identification am a PR and get free healthcare.

[Firefan]

Gamini; calm down mate. I am sure that PR rules confuses many. Anybody getting a yellow tabien bahn (with their name as head of household) get the 13 digit ID. There is however a difference in the actual nos. I.e. what they start with Etc. signal different status. My ID no start with 6-1028, me not being a PR (a mere mortal!) so surely your status of PR is indicated in your ID No. Nobody disagrees with that.

As for medical cover even people with just a yellow book with their ID number in it have been reported to get free medical treatment as the Thais rarely see them too and have no idea. Also seems that some even got the medical card send automatically some time after obtaining the yellow book - but it seems that 1. they have stopped issuing cards, and 2. the card is not needed anymore even for Thais as other ID (or the yellow book for the lucky ones that seem to have cover) replaced it. 3. the medical cards was issued in error (or at least was not intended for foreigners).

Above said; it is not really the point of this thread, so just calm down and enjoy your free coverage. (or start a new thread).

I will call NHSO tomorrow and at least figure out with hospital is my amphur assigned hospital. The staff at Chula and my staff was guessing Lerdsin Hospital. When got that confirmed I will go visit there and report back.

Cheers!

[Firefan]

For the ones that already GOT this new card:

1. What are the rules as to renewal? One of the posts stipulated one had to do the full health check again? True? And if so why? (can get cancelled if get 1 of the no-no sicknesses?)

2. how does renewal then work? Besides question 1. does one have to remember the date exactly? renew a wk before? A wk after ok? A month?

3. When not near ones assigned amphur hospital and acute illness or accidents happen - will this card then be accepted all over Thailand at government hospitals? Will it in an emergency even cover elsewhere? Thinking clinics Etc. if no time to get to a real hospital (as a side question will costs happening abroad also be covered after the fact - I presume not)

Cheers!

[citizen33]

Re Gamini - 'that proves my point'.

How does this prove your point? The first digit of your 13-digit number identifies you as a permanent resident, rather than a Thai citizen. The 2002 Act requires you to meet all three conditions listed to qualify for UCS membership, and these include Thai nationality. My information on this point came from a personal contact at the very top of the NHSO, but the information is also there on the NHSO website for all to see. The 1330 helpline is free; you can check the information you got from the local hospital administrator by just making a quick phone call. It is worth being sure of your ground if you ever need a tertiary referral.

More generally, I agree we are seeing some very interesting reports on the new scheme, but the crunch will come when the MoPH realises that different hospitals are giving applicants different answers and decides what to do. I would be delighted if they allow expats to join this scheme alongside migrants. However, the NHSO informant whom I quoted in an earlier post is very senior and worked with Pradit on the current health sector plan. Thus I will be surprised if his view doesn't reflect the view at the centre.. The only chink of light would be if some people in the MoPH have a different view from people in the NHSO.

Edited October 3, 2013 by citizen33

[harrry]

Re Gamini - 'that proves my point'.

How does this prove your point? The first digit of your 13-digit number identifies you as a permanent resident, rather than a Thai citizen. The 2002 Act requires you to meet all three conditions listed to qualify for UCS membership, and these include Thai nationality. My information on this point came from a personal contact at the very top of the NHSO, but the information is also there on the NHSO website for all to see. The 1330 helpline is free; you can check the information you got from the local hospital administrator by just making a quick phone call. It is worth being sure of your ground if you ever need a tertiary referral.

More generally, I agree we are seeing some very interesting reports on the new scheme, but the crunch will come when the MoPH realises that different hospitals are giving applicants different answers and decides what to do. I would be delighted if they allow expats to join this scheme alongside migrants. However, the NHSO informant whom I quoted in an earlier post is very senior and worked with Pradit on the current health sector plan. Thus I will be surprised if his view doesn't reflect the view at the centre.. The only chink of light would be if some people in the MoPH have a different view from people in the NHSO.

the number may not identify him as a PR

Aparently if PR was obtained prior to 1984 he has the same prefix as a thai.

[Sheryl]

So you people who probably do not have PR are telling me that over the last 50 years every single one of the 30 odd major Goverment and Provincial Hospitals in Thailand have been giving me free health care in Error. Get your facts right and stop confusing members of this forum! As a permanent resident you get a Thai (alien) ID card which entitles you to a lot of things, for instance I do not longer have to have a passport unless I leave the country! The problem is that so few foreigners have PR that most hospital employees have not clue what is.

It may be unfair and illogical, but it is the case that those with PR rather than citizenship are not covered by the UCS. i checked that point at a very high level in the NHSO when we discussed the issue on other threads, and indeed you will find the information in the Thai language section of the NHSO website if you care to look. Alternatively ring the 1330 helpline. Please don't shoot the messenger.

Incidentally the UCS has only been available to most Thais since 2002, so the 50 years doesn't really come into it. As we have said in the thread, some local hospitals may sometimes misinterpret central government policies.

Extract from website follows.

http://www.nhso.go.th/FrontEnd/page-forpeople_nhso.aspx

ใครคือผู้มีสิทธิ หลักประกันสุขภาพ

ตามพระราชบัญญัติหลักประกันสุขภาพแห่งชาติ พ.ศ.2545 มาตรา 5 กำหนดให้ บุคคลทุกคนมีสิทธิได้รับบริการสาธารณสุข ที่มีมาตรฐาน และมีประสิทธิภาพตามที่กำหนด ในพระราชบัญญัติ ซึ่งบุคคลในที่นี้ หมายถึง บุคคลที่มีสัญชาติไทย

ดังนั้น ผู้มีสิทธิหลักประกันสุข ภาพ คือ บุคคลที่มีสัญชาติไทย มีเลขประจำตัวประชาชน 13 หลัก และไม่มีสวัสดิการด้านการรักษาพยาบาลอื่นใดที่รัฐจัดให้

Who is entitled to healthcare?

The National Health Security Act 2545, Section 5 entitles all persons to standard and efficient health services as required. In the Act this means individuals who are Thai nationals.

Therefore, health insurance is the right of persons with Thai nationality. a 13-digit identification number and who are not covered by other state health care schemes

I have a 13 digit identification number as follows 350990018XXXX which proves my point. And as I said in a previous post I have and am being treated at Major government Hospitals free of charge. So are you still saying these Hospitals are in error or that my 13 digit identification number is in error. (It can't be it has my name next to it!) I actually got my free health care card using my Thai (alien) ID registration which serves me instead of a passport). Have you got one yourself? I don't think that you or anybody on this post should comment on this matter if you are not a PR with presumambly a Thai ID (alien) Some of these posts smack of envy in that others can get what they can not!!

I don't think anyone is envious and we all understand that you have been issued a free UC card that you have been using. What we also understand is that this does not accord with national policy. It is not unusual for policy to be interpreted differently in different places, same thing happens all the time with visa regs.

Per national policy, free UC cards are for Thai nationals only, and most PRs I have heard from over the many years I have been dealing with this issue have been told that.

[Sheryl]

.....I agree we are seeing some very interesting reports on the new scheme, but the crunch will come when the MoPH realises that different hospitals are giving applicants different answers and decides what to do. I would be delighted if they allow expats to join this scheme alongside migrants. However, the NHSO informant whom I quoted in an earlier post is very senior and worked with Pradit on the current health sector plan. Thus I will be surprised if his view doesn't reflect the view at the centre.. The only chink of light would be if some people in the MoPH have a different view from people in the NHSO.

It does sound like there is some intention to eventually address the issue of health insurance for resident expats and for tourists, but I agree that this current scheme does not sound like that is meant to be it. In addition to the valuable info you have, it just doesn't make sense that they would make it that inexpensive for farang, and that farang and migrant laborers would be charged the same. Also the way it is structured, with the requirement for physical exam to exclude certain diseases of public health importance, again sounds aimed at migrant workers. And lastly there is the wording of the decree itself which while vague does nto use the terminology oner would expect if it meant to refer to all foreigners.

It makes sense to me that they would tackle the needs of the "three groups" one by one with first priority being migrant workers. Hopefully they will get around to resident expats next as I think it will only be when such a plan is officially in place that all the confusion will end (maybe not even then, this being Thailand ). Hopefully when/if that happens anyone who was issued a card under the migrant scheme will either be grandfathered in or transition only at their next renewal.

I would also expect that once a scheme for resident expats is in place it won't be long before proof of insurance becomes a requirement for visa extension, and that's fair enough provided the scheme has no age restrictions and doesn't exclude pre-existing conditions.

[Issangeorge]

I would not mind paying up to ฿2,000 a month if therr were no pre conditions. More than that would be unaffordable for me, as I am on a limited pension and support a family of eight.

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

[harrry]

THe exclusion conditionions are basicly those on the visa application forms and I believe now the Work Permit. I think that in thinking it is too cheap for foreigners you are not considering the many who are supporting families here on what amounts to the pay for a mid range civil servant. Better than some but not a fortune.

[Eneukman]

I would not mind paying up to ฿2,000 a month if therr were no pre conditions. More than that would be unaffordable for me, as I am on a limited pension and support a family of eight.

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

I would consider this as well especially as I have some pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, which is actually kept well under control by the medication I take.

Alan

[harrry]

I would not mind paying up to ฿2,000 a month if therr were no pre conditions. More than that would be unaffordable for me, as I am on a limited pension and support a family of eight.

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

I would consider this as well especially as I have some pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, which is actually kept well under control by the medication I take.

Alan

The thai scheme is completely self funding. 2000 baht per person is what the hospital gets to service thai people. Does it cost more to service foreigners.posibly. but costing should be based on that not race.

[Jingthing]

I would actually welcome multi-level options. I would be be happy to pay A LOT more than 2k monthly for a better level of coverage than the standard Thai national coverage. However, if the coverage offered is the same, I'm afraid we had better be grateful that ANYTHING is offered to "f-rang" resident expats at all, even at a higher price for the same thing. Knowing Thailand, it would be quite foolish to expect "equal" treatment on a matter like this. Also, variant pricing can likely be well justified based on resident expats not paying Thai TAXES.

Signed, Mr. Realistic

In truth, I will be surprised if resident "f-rang" expats are offered ANYTHING. But most welcome!

Also note, before anyone makes the silly comment, just buy private insurance. Great. But they won't sell it to many of us, so that objection is answered.

Edited October 4, 2013 by Jingthing

[citizen33]

the number may not identify him as a PR

Re Gamini - 'that proves my point'.

This may be true because the first number 3 does not ring a bell.

My understanding was

5 - Thai

6 - Stateless person (and anybody with yellow tabian baan)

7 - Child of stateless person

8 - PR

Does anybody know the full set of codes?

Harry said:

The thai scheme is completely self funding. 2000 baht per person is what the hospital gets to service thai people. Does it cost more to service foreigners.posibly. but costing should be based on that not race.

This is nearly, but not quite true. For the main public scheme, the UCS, a capitation payment (just over 2K per beneficiary) is set for each year by the Government (and the National Health Security Board) and goes to the 'contracting unit for primary care' (CUP) with which the UCS member is registered (usually based in a community hospital but sometimes a larger public hospital or a private hospital or clinic) according to the number of registered members. This is then used to pay for primary care services and also referrals to larger hospitals, with treatments usually priced in DRGs up to a budget ceiling when the total amount payable to the hospital is capped. However some specialist services are funded according to a price schedule direct from the NHSO with no cap. Additionally hospitals also receive revenue from the Social Security Scheme, the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (both giving higher rates per patient), reimbursement for road traffic accidents, the 30 baht co-payments and some other MoPH initiatives. Originally the plan was to include salaries in the capitation payment, or more precisely to reduce the capitation payment to adjust for the monies paid for civil servant salaries, which were not channelled through the MoPH. However, this was watered down so that the big hospitals in central region were allowed to spend more on their large staff complements than the capitation payment would have permitted. Thus on average hospitals are getting more that 2K per patient, especially in central region, but not vastly more. If one considers that the fixed costs remain constant, the marginal cost per expat might not be much more than Harry is suggesting.

Edited October 4, 2013 by citizen33

[Issangeorge]

I doubt very much if anyone on the ฿30 plan pays any taxes. Most people who pay taxes will be on a different plan. The only reason farangs would be more expensive than Thais is A because on average we would be older, and B most of the farangs applying would have preconditions, otherwise they would probably be on a private plan.

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

[harrry]

the number may not identify him as a PR

Re Gamini - 'that proves my point'.

This may be true because the first number 3 does not ring a bell.

My understanding was

5 - Thai

6 - Stateless person (and anybody with yellow tabian baan)

7 - Child of stateless person

8 - PR

Does anybody know the full set of codes?

Harry said:

The thai scheme is completely self funding. 2000 baht per person is what the hospital gets to service thai people. Does it cost more to service foreigners.posibly. but costing should be based on that not race.

This is nearly, but not quite true. For the main public scheme, the UCS, a capitation payment (just over 2K per beneficiary) is set for each year by the Government (and the National Health Security Board) and goes to the 'contracting unit for primary care' (CUP) with which the UCS member is registered (usually based in a community hospital but sometimes a larger public hospital or a private hospital or clinic) according to the number of registered members. This is then used to pay for primary care services and also referrals to larger hospitals, with treatments usually priced in DRGs up to a budget ceiling when the total amount payable to the hospital is capped. However some specialist services are funded according to a price schedule direct from the NHSO with no cap. Additionally hospitals also receive revenue from the Social Security Scheme, the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (both giving higher rates per patient), reimbursement for road traffic accidents, the 30 baht co-payments and some other MoPH initiatives. Originally the plan was to include salaries in the capitation payment, or more precisely to reduce the capitation payment to adjust for the monies paid for civil servant salaries, which were not channelled through the MoPH. However, this was watered down so that the big hospitals in central region were allowed to spend more on their large staff complements than the capitation payment would have permitted. Thus on average hospitals are getting more that 2K per patient, especially in central region, but not vastly more. If one considers that the fixed costs remain constant, the marginal cost per expat might not be much more than Harry is suggesting.

but 50 baht of the new scheme is paid to the central fund for high cost care which is the part you are refering to. The new scheme also has a 30 baht repayment but importantly it has a 350 a day charge for ward stay.

Interestingly even the IMO document you provided also stressed that people not covered by the old plan contributed to the economy of the area they lived and thus were of net value to thailand. (rough paraphrasing )

Basically I think it seems costs would be covered (for what is given) by this but it is possible that expats will buy extra drugs such as those covered under the Civil serrvant and SOcial Security Schemes.

Could it be charged more reasonably...possibly...but not 1 times as one poster has suggested. Using Western costing here is not relevent.

Edited October 4, 2013 by harrry

[touch]

I have this card, and have used it for minor ailment.

On the card it says Health Card for Foreigner and it is valid for one year, after that it has to be "Bought again" as they phrased it at the hospital.

At renewal one has to pass the same health check as one did the first time.

It was a very painless procedure to get the card. Basically, the only thing they asked for was my passport and a copy of my wife's ID card.

And after this was done I had to do the health check described in this thread. After completed health check they issued the card and said they would get in touch within a week if there was any problem with the results from the check up.

Total cost was 2.800B

My private insurance only covers In Patient treatment and since for example cancer treatments are mostly on an out patient basis I would say that this program is really worth this minor cost.

I live in Pakchong/ Korat

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I would not mind paying up to ฿2,000 a month if therr were no pre conditions. More than that would be unaffordable for me, as I am on a limited pension and support a family of eight.

Re costs, at least in the information posted earlier in this thread coming out of Udon Thani, the cost of Thai government health coverage being quoted to the applying farangs there was 2,200 baht advance payment for ONE YEAR of coverage for the single applicant -- not some amount per month.

But, notably, according to those reports, the government coverage doesn't include inpatient hospitalization room charges, which can be a pretty significant cost in some situations.

Still, for 2200 baht per year, coverage for doctor's fees, treatments and whatever medicines are included in their coverage, likely a somewhat limited list, stands as a pretty appealing option, especially for those who may not already have their own private health insurance or are unable to get it.

Assuming, that is, that the whole thing isn't just a case of local misinterpretation by a few random upcountry hospitals, and the whole thing doesn't vanish once the central government/MOPH gets involved and "corrects" the whole thing.

The policy covers the cost of all medical treatments and prescribed medication in Udonthani Hospital, including cancer and HIV therapy! The cost to stay in the hospital in a ward is charged 350 baht per day (excluding food). For 700 baht per day you can stay in a private room, and for 1,500 baht per day you can have a VIP room. The insurance is valid for one year. For the renewal the same health check is required.

[citizen33]

This is nearly, but not quite true. For the main public scheme, the UCS, a capitation payment (just over 2K per beneficiary) is set for each year by the Government (and the National Health Security Board) and goes to the 'contracting unit for primary care' (CUP) with which the UCS member is registered (usually based in a community hospital but sometimes a larger public hospital or a private hospital or clinic) according to the number of registered members. This is then used to pay for primary care services and also referrals to larger hospitals, with treatments usually priced in DRGs up to a budget ceiling when the total amount payable to the hospital is capped. However some specialist services are funded according to a price schedule direct from the NHSO with no cap. Additionally hospitals also receive revenue from the Social Security Scheme, the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (both giving higher rates per patient), reimbursement for road traffic accidents, the 30 baht co-payments and some other MoPH initiatives. Originally the plan was to include salaries in the capitation payment, or more precisely to reduce the capitation payment to adjust for the monies paid for civil servant salaries, which were not channelled through the MoPH. However, this was watered down so that the big hospitals in central region were allowed to spend more on their large staff complements than the capitation payment would have permitted. Thus on average hospitals are getting more that 2K per patient, especially in central region, but not vastly more. If one considers that the fixed costs remain constant, the marginal cost per expat might not be much more than Harry is suggesting.

but 50 baht of the new scheme is paid to the central fund for high cost care which is the part you are refering to. The new scheme also has a 30 baht repayment but importantly it has a 350 a day charge for ward stay.

Interestingly even the IMO document you provided also stressed that people not covered by the old plan contributed to the economy of the area they lived and thus were of net value to thailand. (rough paraphrasing )

Basically I think it seems costs would be covered (for what is given) by this but it is possible that expats will buy extra drugs such as those covered under the Civil serrvant and SOcial Security Schemes.

Could it be charged more reasonably...possibly...but not 1 times as one poster has suggested. Using Western costing here is not relevent.

Don't think we are that far apart. Yes, the high-cost treatments are within the UC budget and by analogy the new scheme is also making a contribution. I am just saying that in the main UCS scheme the 2K or so goes to the CUP to cover both primary and secondary/tertiary care. The hospitals get a portion of this plus other bits and pieces, and there isn't an exact match between what CUP A gets and what its local provincial hospital gets for CUP A referrals. So the payment arrangement is probably more complicated than one would imagine. This will bore most people but the attached diagram for the UC part may interest you (doesn't include the 30 baht co-payment which was reintroduced last year). As mentioned the hospitals have some other revenue streams as well and there may be some informal cross subsidisation. The other thing is that the 2K capitation payment is a payment per member made to the CUP whether they use the service or not. Hospital inpatient and outpatient services on the other hand are funded on a per case (DRG) or fee for treatment basis according to actual utilisation.Your argument, of course, would be that if a hospital received about 2K per new scheme member it would pretty much equate to the payments it will get from the NHSO/CUP under the UCS for the patients it actually treats.

UCSpaymentmechanism.docx

Edited October 4, 2013 by citizen33

[Sheryl]

I have this card, and have used it for minor ailment.

On the card it says Health Card for Foreigner and it is valid for one year, after that it has to be "Bought again" as they phrased it at the hospital.

At renewal one has to pass the same health check as one did the first time.

It was a very painless procedure to get the card. Basically, the only thing they asked for was my passport and a copy of my wife's ID card.

And after this was done I had to do the health check described in this thread. After completed health check they issued the card and said they would get in touch within a week if there was any problem with the results from the check up.

Total cost was 2.800B

My private insurance only covers In Patient treatment and since for example cancer treatments are mostly on an out patient basis I would say that this program is really worth this minor cost.

I live in Pakchong/ Korat

OK now a fourth location heard from. Can I ask which hospital you are registered at, since you live outside the ampur?

[Sheryl]

On the costing issue, I would add that how much hospitals receive per patient and how much they spend are not the same thing, and many hospitals are deeply in the red since the start of this scheme, which seems to be its main drawback i.e. it is not adequately funded.

Farang likely to opt into it will indeed be a much higher risk group with above average utilization. Those working in Thailand will already have coverage through SS. Those without pre-existing conditions and under say 60 years of age will usually have private insurance. There are exceptions of course, but by and large It is older, retired expats that have the most reason to opt into a plan like this. Whereas the Thai population covered s everyone who is not a civil servant nor employed in the formal sector -- an overall young and healthy population. That alone would argue for higher pricing for farang, if letting them opt in is not to worsen the budget deficit at public hospitals.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I have this card, and have used it for minor ailment.

On the card it says Health Card for Foreigner and it is valid for one year, after that it has to be "Bought again" as they phrased it at the hospital.

At renewal one has to pass the same health check as one did the first time.

It was a very painless procedure to get the card. Basically, the only thing they asked for was my passport and a copy of my wife's ID card.

And after this was done I had to do the health check described in this thread. After completed health check they issued the card and said they would get in touch within a week if there was any problem with the results from the check up.

Total cost was 2.800B

My private insurance only covers In Patient treatment and since for example cancer treatments are mostly on an out patient basis I would say that this program is really worth this minor cost.

I live in Pakchong/ Korat

OK now a fourth location heard from. Can I ask which hospital you are registered at, since you live outside the ampur?

It also would be informative if TV member Touch could mention WHEN he first obtained the card in question, meaning, just obtained lately or obtained some time in the past.

[Mike45]

the number may not identify him as a PR

Re Gamini - 'that proves my point'.

This may be true because the first number 3 does not ring a bell.

My understanding was

5 - Thai

6 - Stateless person (and anybody with yellow tabian baan)

7 - Child of stateless person

8 - PR

Does anybody know the full set of codes?

Harry said:

The thai scheme is completely self funding. 2000 baht per person is what the hospital gets to service thai people. Does it cost more to service foreigners.posibly. but costing should be based on that not race.

This is nearly, but not quite true. For the main public scheme, the UCS, a capitation payment (just over 2K per beneficiary) is set for each year by the Government (and the National Health Security Board) and goes to the 'contracting unit for primary care' (CUP) with which the UCS member is registered (usually based in a community hospital but sometimes a larger public hospital or a private hospital or clinic) according to the number of registered members. This is then used to pay for primary care services and also referrals to larger hospitals, with treatments usually priced in DRGs up to a budget ceiling when the total amount payable to the hospital is capped. However some specialist services are funded according to a price schedule direct from the NHSO with no cap. Additionally hospitals also receive revenue from the Social Security Scheme, the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (both giving higher rates per patient), reimbursement for road traffic accidents, the 30 baht co-payments and some other MoPH initiatives. Originally the plan was to include salaries in the capitation payment, or more precisely to reduce the capitation payment to adjust for the monies paid for civil servant salaries, which were not channelled through the MoPH. However, this was watered down so that the big hospitals in central region were allowed to spend more on their large staff complements than the capitation payment would have permitted. Thus on average hospitals are getting more that 2K per patient, especially in central region, but not vastly more. If one considers that the fixed costs remain constant, the marginal cost per expat might not be much more than Harry is suggesting.

Citizen33

I readily admit I know nothing about Thai I'd numbers. But I looked at my wife's and daughters to see what the first number is.

Wife 100% Thai born in Thailand begins with 3.

Daughter born outside Thailand issued a Thailand passport and number begins with 5.

[touch]

As requested

I'm registered at Pakchong Nana Hospital in Pakchong and Maharat Hospital in Korat. Got my card on Sept. 20.

It has been possible to get this UC card since Aug. 12 2013

You can obtain more first hand knowledge by calling 02 590 1580 or sending an email to [email protected]

They are very quick to reply. All in Thai though.

When I spoke with them the last time, to get the renewal requisites clarified, they said they were going to have a meeting discussing various aspects of the program and asked me to call back next week.

They lady I spoke with on that occasion was not very helpful and I intend to let my hospital get in contact with them during next month and see how things are going.

[gamini]

Having a long experience of getting free health care at government hospitals. Quite frankly it really is not such a big deal unless you are really poor. They will only give you really cheap medicine and for any serious problems will refer you to a major hospital where they have long waiting lists. I think that this Bt2800 scheme will save you very little. If you have a heart problem and need a stent in your heart do you really think they are going to pay for it Bt176,000? Many first class doctors at Major Hospitals have a clinic and if you visit then they charge only Bt50 or so. Even if you don't have a health card government hospitals are very cheap.

[cooked]

Maybe I wrote this before: public hospitals are pretty grim places to go to, dirty and uncaring. Without a family here to look after you, not a good place to be at all. I am talking about the provinces of course..