Affordable health insurance.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thanks for those useful and informative links..

At this point, it's certainly clear that some hospitals around Thailand are offering the new coverage scheme to regular farangs...

But what's still less clear is are they doing it on their own, or is that approach really the intent of the Ministry of Public Health.

I don't read Thai language. But when I Google Translate the original government announcement linked in the prior post, the Health Minister seems to have made the announcement during a joint meeting with Myanmar.

And in the text, it has this language re the second covered group being loosely translated as "foreigners.:

Group 2. Aliens are not in the labor and social security system, such as agriculture, fishing, construction worker, or family rate for each 2,800 consist of monitoring the health of 600 million and 2,200 health insurance coverage last year,

Based on that Google translation, it seems to be talking about the neighboring country foreigners who often work in the specific industries mentioned.... as opposed to the ThaiVisa type western foreigners such as non-working retirees.

But perhaps someone who can read the original Thai section could give a clearer assessment.

I'm still looking for something direct from the government indicating that the new health scheme actually is intended to cover those of us reading here.

[samran]

People are wanting to know which is the best hospital in their area to go to.

We went through this process with our Burmese maids. Given this programme was originally designed for people working under the migrant labour scheme, the local department of labor offices have a list of hospitals once can attend to get this type of insurance.

As such, perhaps people could go to their local DOL office and ask for the desk which processes work permits under the migrant labour scheme. There they should be able to point you in the right direction.

For BKK based people. From memory our maid went to a hospital on Rama 4, across the river in Thonburi but I can remember the name. She also tried at the hospital by Victory Monument, but the queues were horrendous (she applied when the system was new), but from memory, the do issue these cards there.

[yermanee]

Thanks for those useful and informative links..

At this point, it's certainly clear that some hospitals around Thailand are offering the new coverage scheme to regular farangs...

But what's still less clear is are they doing it on their own, or is that approach really the intent of the Ministry of Public Health.

I don't read Thai language. But when I Google Translate the original government announcement linked in the prior post, the Health Minister seems to have made the announcement during a joint meeting with Myanmar.

And in the text, it has this language re the second covered group being loosely translated as "foreigners.:

Group 2. Aliens are not in the labor and social security system, such as agriculture, fishing, construction worker, or family rate for each 2,800 consist of monitoring the health of 600 million and 2,200 health insurance coverage last year,

Based on that Google translation, it seems to be talking about the neighboring country foreigners who often work in the specific industries mentioned.... as opposed to the ThaiVisa type western foreigners such as non-working retirees.

But perhaps someone who can read the original Thai section could give a clearer assessment.

I'm still looking for something direct from the government indicating that the new health scheme actually is intended to cover those of us reading here.

Following booklet from the department of public health clearly states on page 1 and page 7 : Health card for uninsured foreigners in English

Whether it was intended for Burmese, Laotion, Cambodian or "farangs" is unimportant as long as you can benefit from it.

Information booklet - Department of Public Health

http://www.tro.moph..../1.3.1board.pdf

Don't rely on google translations. They are good for single words or simple short sentences but notoriously inadequate for complex pages.

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

Yermanee

[Sheryl]

See post 86 and the link there

http://203.157.12.21/cmshigthai/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/fwf2800.pdf

The first page is the directive signed by the minister, the rest is detailing by the ministry of health.

The directive names three groups:

- those waiting to be added to the prakan sangkhom scheme

- children

- foreigners in general

However to my understanding the term given for foreigners is one usually used to refer to migrant workers. Hence the impression on the part pf some hospitals that migrants are the foreigners targeted. The language is, however, not really definitive in either direction.

[Sheryl]

Following booklet from the department of public health clearly states on page 1 and page 7 : Health card for uninsured foreigners in English

Whether it was intended for Burmese, Laotion, Cambodian or "farangs" is unimportant as long as you can benefit from it.

Information booklet - Department of Public Health

http://www.tro.moph..../1.3.1board.pdf

Don't rely on google translations. They are good for single words or simple short sentences but notoriously inadequate for complex pages.

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

Yermanee

To my reading, page 1 reads more like " system to check and guarantee the health and well-being of long-staying workers."

But my Thai reading abilities are limited, so I am checking this in the Thai language forum where people with higher skills in reading Thai than I can comment.

Of course, the very fact that it is difficult to agree on the meaning of the terms used, is why different hospitals have different interpretations.

[scooterboy]

See post 86 and the link there

http://203.157.12.21/cmshigthai/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/fwf2800.pdf

The first page is the directive signed by the minister, the rest is detailing by the ministry of health.

The directive names three groups:

- those waiting to be added to the prakan sangkhom scheme

- children

- foreigners in general

Thanks - and apologies for missing the original post the first time around

and thanks too for others that have provided interesting links......

[tango]

Last year i went to Naton Koh Samui public hospital with bad chest infection. Saw 2 doctors had xrays and was given medicine & antibotics all cost me less than Bht 1000. No fancy card or form filling was required !

Last year i went to CMai Lanna hospital with a bad chest infection, presumed caused by the black mold growing on the wet rain-soaked walls of the kitchen due to leaky flat roof and subsiding of floor/walls of rented house .

Saw 1 doctor once for 10 minutes in each of 3 weeks, had 1 xray,

and was given medicine & antibiotics which all cost me more than Bht 9,900.

Already had their plain card, and form filling was required to start the Baht ball rolling.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Following booklet from the department of public health clearly states on page 1 and page 7 : Health card for uninsured foreigners in English

Whether it was intended for Burmese, Laotion, Cambodian or "farangs" is unimportant as long as you can benefit from it.

Beg to disagree on the issue of government intent.

If the MOPH didn't explicitly intend for this policy to cover farangs, then those getting their government cards now at various hospitals could well find themselves in the future holding cards that aren't honored and aren't accepted for any medical care. And potentially, along the way, might have ended up giving up private insurance, only to find themselves with nothing.

I sincerely hope the current clap-trap government for whatever reasons is intending to offer government medical insurance to farang residents along with the other designated groups. But in the big picture of things, they hardly have much of a reputation for consistency or dependability -- except when it comes to lining their own pockets.

[tango]

#183 WG stated "...I am 68,I also have BUPA but that ends at 70 (when you most likely need it),...."

Actually BUPA will continue well past age 70, as long as you live, provided you had signed on before age 60(I think) and continuously renewed each year thereafter. Check with BUPA to confirm sign on age.

I had the same, but opted out of BUPA for near identical plan coverage with LMG Pacific at just over half the price of BUPA; but you can not now enroll with LMG Pacific as you must have had your insurance medical and have been enrolled before the day you turn 66.

Cheers.

[NancyL]

Last year i went to Naton Koh Samui public hospital with bad chest infection. Saw 2 doctors had xrays and was given medicine & antibotics all cost me less than Bht 1000. No fancy card or form filling was required !

Last year i went to CMai Lanna hospital with a bad chest infection, presumed caused by the black mold growing on the wet rain-soaked walls of the kitchen due to leaky flat roof and subsiding of floor/walls of rented house .

Saw 1 doctor once for 10 minutes in each of 3 weeks, had 1 xray,

and was given medicine & antibiotics which all cost me more than Bht 9,900.

Already had their plain card, and form filling was required to start the Baht ball rolling.

CM Lanna is a private hospital, part of the same hospital group as CM Ram. Having a Lanna Hospital card in your wallet just means you've been there before, been assigned a hospital number (I.D. number) and they have some info on file for you. It doesn't entitle you to anything extra. It certainly isn't an insurance card.

Oh yeah, that CM Lanna card could be handy, too, because it probably has their address and phone number. Also, if you're unable to communicate and need medical attention someone looking in your wallet for I.D. might think it's a good idea to take you to Lanna.

[nivram4491]

I went to my local government hospital today to try to get registered for the government 2200 + 600 health scheme. I took a farung friend who is fluent in Thai, as I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without him.

The first reaction was that they were not aware of any such scheme. After some time and some phone calls I was told that it is possible to get the 2200 + 600 Baht insurance. I needed some extra documents like the tabien ban and ID of the house owner, even though I have my own yellow book.

When I returned in the afternoon I was told by the lady in charge that she had checked my ID number in the system (issued with a yellow book) and since my 13 digit ID number starts with a 6 there is no need to get the insurance as I could get free (30 Baht scheme) treatment. She gave me a print-out of my details that she retrieved from the system. She told me to show the print-out when I needed to get treatment at the hospital.

This seems to be quite different to what is happening in other hospitals.

[Firefan]

Nivram; very interesting indeed. What hospital was it?

It will be my first question to them too - as we before have heard stories about how yellow book owners actually got free treatment. Some years back some even got the insurance card mailed too without even knowing about it. Later - they stopped sending insurance cards (as they did to Thais too btw) - but some here on TV have kept claiming just with their yellow tabien ban and not had anything to pay.

My 13-digit number in the tabien ban also start with a 6 - which I believe all yellow book owners does?

Cheers!

[harrry]

http://www.bkps.ac.th/a06_Education/22Education.htm gives a list of all the numbers in thai. Google translate gives a useable result. for this..

a slightly simplified result is here but I cannot remember where I got it.

More explaination:

The number system is X XXXX XXXXX XX X. (13 digits)

Digit 1: Type of citizen
1: Legal Thai citizen and registered within 15 days when the child was born.
2: Legal Thai citizen and registered after 15 days when the child was born.
3: Legal Thai citizen born before 1984 and was named in the thabien baan.
4: Legal Thai citizen born before 1984 but not have the 13 digits before 31 May 1984.
5: Any Thai citizen who is permitted to add their names in the thabien baan in case of their names were not registered in the first place for any reason.
6: Illigal immigrant born in Thailand and legal immigrant who is temporarily resident of Thailand.
7: Child of citizens with number 6
8: Foreigners who earned Thai citizenship

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.

[KhunBENQ]

http://www.bkps.ac.t...22Education.htm gives a list of all the numbers in thai. Google translate gives a useable result. for this..

a slightly simplified result is here but I cannot remember where I got it.

An easier read is the Thai WiKi about the citizien ID:

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A2

Number 9 is for the Royals btw.

[harrry]

http://www.bkps.ac.t...22Education.htm gives a list of all the numbers in thai. Google translate gives a useable result. for this..

a slightly simplified result is here but I cannot remember where I got it.

An easier read is the Thai WiKi about the citizien ID:

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A2

Number 9 is for the Royals btw.

You found it...I knew I had seen it in two other places this is one of them. The other is a translation of a thai law I think. I think the law translation was more in line of the English one given previously. My thai cannot make a good enough translation though of 6 to know though.

[Issangeorge]

Just picked up my "Health Card for Foreigner" it sure looks official and was done through the hospital computer system that was obviously programmed to handle these cards. I would say that these cards are sanctioned and approved by the government. Now it will be interesting to see what kind of coverage they provide.

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

[DonaldBattles]

In my blue Tabien Baan as a PR the first number is 8.

[harrry]

In my blue Tabien Baan as a PR the first number is 8.

Type 8 is a foreigner who is a legal immigrant who received a certificate of Alien. Or who receive

a citizenship naturalization Thailand. And those who have been given citizenship, Thailand. From the date of May 31, 2527 until the present

the group with a number of records, such as number 8 01234 1018 8 24 7.

This means you have received a certificate of alien...or possibly that you were such prior to the date of the start of the numbering plan.

The short traslation is very much an oversimplification. I wish I could find the translated law I found the data in originally. I think it was to do with the ID card system but if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be good.

[citizen33]

I went to my local government hospital today to try to get registered for the government 2200 + 600 health scheme. I took a farung friend who is fluent in Thai, as I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without him.

The first reaction was that they were not aware of any such scheme. After some time and some phone calls I was told that it is possible to get the 2200 + 600 Baht insurance. I needed some extra documents like the tabien ban and ID of the house owner, even though I have my own yellow book.

When I returned in the afternoon I was told by the lady in charge that she had checked my ID number in the system (issued with a yellow book) and since my 13 digit ID number starts with a 6 there is no need to get the insurance as I could get free (30 Baht scheme) treatment. She gave me a print-out of my details that she retrieved from the system. She told me to show the print-out when I needed to get treatment at the hospital.

This seems to be quite different to what is happening in other hospitals.

I think one reason why we are struggling for clarity on this is that there are several schemes. There were a number of past ad hoc initiatives to improve the situation of stateless people funded by the Ministry of Public Health, with the most important one introduced by the cabinet resolution of 23 March 2010. This promised to safeguard the rights to heathcare of over 400,000 stateless people (mainly from ethnic minorities), with a new budget allocation of over 470 million baht. My understanding is that this is not part of the NHSO's main UC budget, but is a kind of add on that gives benefits to stateless people similar to those enjoyed by Thais under the UCS. I think this remains an MoPH project rather than a NHSO project.

http://thai.senate.go.th/senate_inter/Connections/upload-download/translation/show_file.php?id=145

(see page 6)

Stateless people registered under this scheme initially had 3 months to register, and there were complaints that because it had not been widely publicised many missed the deadline and then had problems getting registered. Most stateless people registered had registration numbers that started with either 6 or 0. From what I can work out, this is the basis upon which some westerners with yellow books (registration number starting with 6) managed to get registered for what is a kind of add-on to the UCS rather than the UCS proper. However, as they are not really stateless persons it seems to me their position is vulnerable if they get referred on for more expensive treatments.

This is different from the new 'con dtaang daao' scheme (whether this is for migrant workers or all resident foreigners) and the earlier Compulsory Migrant Health Insurance Scheme (1300 baht plus 600 baht), but seems to be part of the same cluster of policies (see report in link below). I still haven't been able to get any sense on the view from the top on the latest scheme, but have the impression that it will be the people in the MoPH rather than the NHSO who know.

Here is another interesting report I came across which discusses how policy on migrants and stateless persons developed.

http://www.migrationcenter.mahidol.ac.th/download/435-HSS-Report.pdf

[citizen33]

P.S. There is an interesting table on p. 15 of the Mahidol report mentioned above. It mentions health cards sold by hospitals on a voluntary basis since 2008, which is something I did not know about. I wonder if any members bought such a card.

[firefox999uk]

Although this is my first post I have been in Thailand for about 4 years and a member of Thai visa for 2 years. I thought that as this is such an important topic I would post my experience of events today

Amphur Hospital in Kanthawichia. MahaSarakam Province.

Well today I went to the local government amphur hospital. I was armed with the 18 page document from the heath ministry and the information booklet - Department of Public Health, downloaded from Post no 209 by Yermanee. (Also my Thai wife)

I am already registered at this hospital due to requiring stitches to a wound on my arm about 2 years ago

On arrival we went to the desk and my wife showed the receptionist the health ministry document, Low and behold the girl said no problem and gave me a simple (scrap) piece of paper form to fill in my name, d.o.b. nationality, and address. From there we waited about 10 mins to get my blood pressure taken and to ask for allergies etc.. I was then told to go to the lab for a blood sample and urine test from there I went for a chest x-ray then back to the lab for the results. All was ok.

On going back to where the nurse took my blood pressure I had to wait to see the Doctor only about 5-10 mins. The doctor listened to my chest and said, in Thai, that all was ok. From there the nurse gave me a pile of papers one of which was the bill to pay 2800 baht…..paid the bill and got a receipt and was sent to the admin dept.

At the admin department the lady took my pile of papers and asked for my Passport and a photo (lucky I had a passport photo in my wallet) My wife told her I had a yellow Tabien Bann which the lady took instead of my passport and then about 15 mins later handed me my “Health Card For Foreigner”. All this took only 2hrs and 20mins.

The admin lady told my wife that I was the first to get this card from the hospital.

I told the wife to ask if a yellow book was a necessity, the answer was NO.

I told the wife to ask if marriage was a necessity, the answer was NO.

I told the wife to ask if I had anything to pay on a hospital visit or for prescriptions, the answer was NO…..ONLY if it was an accident on a motor bike or car and then the payment is detailed in the information booklet - Department of Public Health,

She went on to say that any Foreigner could get the card even a tourist visiting a girl friend.

She also explained that as the same as Thais do, the hospital is the first port of call and only if they cannot provide the treatment they will refer me to the main hospital in Mahasarakham.

Any way the card is laminated with a big official stamp on it. It has all my details on the card, the Photo(which she cut down to 20mm x 25mm) plus the date of issue as the 1^st October 2556 date of expiry 31^st October 2557. Yes 13 months (a mistake? I don’t know) next time I pass the hospital I will go and check.

On the rear of the card is the “terms of use”

1, Please bring this card for every visit.

2, this card can only be used at the specified Clinic/Hospital.

3, this card can only be used by the patient it was issued to.

4, Privileges of services are in accordance with the Ministry Of Public Health Regulations/guidelines.

All I can say is that seeing I was the first to get this card in the hospital I was very impressed by speed and efficiency of all the staff

[Sheryl]

Thanks for that Firefox.

here isthe current tally:

Receipt of cards confirmed from:

Udon Thani Hospital

Pakchong Nana Hospital in Pakchong and Maharat 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

Kuchinarai, Crown Prince Hospital in Kalasin

Banglamung in Pattaya

Kanthawichia Hospital (ampur) MahaSarakam Province.

And possibly another location not yet specified (TB+V member worgeordie)

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

[citizen33]

I have now had some further information from a senior contact in the MoPH, although this is again not very conclusive. My contact is a former Permanent Secretary, who is one of the 'senior experts' involved in policy making, especially in the areas of UHC and workforce issues. He characterised the present situation as a 'dynamic' one, and said that it is the case that hospitals have been registering resident foreigners as well as migrant workers and that it is unclear how the scheme will develop. According to him the intention of the MoPH is to cover three groups of foreigners:

1 Migrant workers

2 Temporary travelers

3 Foreigners who stay for a long time in Thailand but are not workers.

He says the Ministerial statement we have posted on the forum was supposed to be for the first group only.

'The ministry is negotiating for a separate HI fund for 2 (we have around 20 millions tourists and temporary visitors and expect to be more and more). We don't have a concrete mechanism and systems for 3 yet. It may be possible to include 3 in the 1 fund. However, the different ageing structure may require different price of premium.'

His personal view is that the voluntary scheme may not survive, and that it would be better if the NHSO oversaw all the HI schemes.

So it seems that the situation is dynamic and that there isn't yet a consensus within the MoPH about how this scheme will develop.

[liberty9133]

Harry,

Thank you much, I'm in CNX and have used Suan Dok a number of times.

I'm gonna look into this asap.

I have nothing against a state / university hospital like SD.

When I need good medical care I don't need a private room nor do I need TV or pastel colored walls

I never watch TV at home and frankly doing so in the hospital I know I'd feel worse.

The nurses can be and are (I'm sure) as beautiful as at any private and my bill will range about 25 to 33% of a private.

Now...if I only get them to up the morphine dosage I'd be all set

DB

So in CNX I am not married, I would like to ask whether I can still get the "yellow book" designation and get the health card being single? Also would like to know about this as I am not in Thailand yet and want to move there. Insurance is very important as I am 69.

[harrry]

Harry,

Thank you much, I'm in CNX and have used Suan Dok a number of times.

I'm gonna look into this asap.

I have nothing against a state / university hospital like SD.

When I need good medical care I don't need a private room nor do I need TV or pastel colored walls

I never watch TV at home and frankly doing so in the hospital I know I'd feel worse.

The nurses can be and are (I'm sure) as beautiful as at any private and my bill will range about 25 to 33% of a private.

Now...if I only get them to up the morphine dosage I'd be all set

DB

So in CNX I am not married, I would like to ask whether I can still get the "yellow book" designation and get the health card being single? Also would like to know about this as I am not in Thailand yet and want to move there. Insurance is very important as I am 69.

It seems CNX is giving the card. Remember this health insurance is not of the standard you obtain in the west. It seems that marriage status is not signifigent.

SD is actually not a standard government hospital. It is part of the ChiangMai University. It gives care in a slightly diferent way to most hospitals. Relatives are not encouraged to stay in the wards. A degree of personal care is given by staff there. Other hospitals rely on relatives staying overnight for care and supervision of patients as nursing care especially at night is very limitedl.

It seems the card is given by the provincial hospital and not SD so care here would not be covered by the card although it may be for referals but that is to be seen.

[meatboy]

Thanks for that Firefox.

here isthe current tally:

Receipt of cards confirmed from:

Udon Thani Hospital

Pakchong Nana Hospital in Pakchong and Maharat 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

Kuchinarai, Crown Prince Hospital in Kalasin

Banglamung in Pattaya

Kanthawichia Hospital (ampur) MahaSarakam Province.

And possibly another location not yet specified (TB+V member worgeordie)

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

if you live in korat as i do,maharat korat knows nothing about it,wf.tried a tel.no.they gave to her,they have given her another no.its the new hospital just before corquote on mittapap rd.to register go between 8.30am-3pm,monday to friday counter no1.tel.044-305750

name of the hospital "theparat"

[Tafia]

We got this at Udon if it helps, http://udon-news.com/en/law/health-insurance-for-foreigners

I applied and received a card similar to the one pictured in one of the links..

I had to produce Passport and Yellow Book. (They took the pic via webcam and produced it on the card)

Underwent a health check including Chest X Ray, Urine and Blood tests followed by a chat with the Doctor who would discuss any problems raised by the tests, although nothing in my case I am aware of two acquaintances one having high blood pressure who received free medication the other a shadow on his lung who was asked to make an appointment the following day. Both were accepted into the scheme.

I wouldn't say its instead of private health insurance for most but certainly a fall back should your insurance company stop funding you or you dont have the necessary funds for private insurance.

[OccamsRazor]

Since I do not have a yellow book but do have a work permit which verifies I am a permanent resident wonder if that will be acceptable in lieu of the yellow book. Due to a screw up by staff at work when I reached 60 I lost my social security insurance due to not paying into the system for 3 months after reaching 60. Couldn't convince them it was a clerical error and request to continue was denied and as such am looking at this alternative.

[Issangeorge]

I did not have to produce anything that proved I have a permanent residence. Just my passport with a one year extension of stay in it, and a copy of my wife's ID and her blue house book (my name is not on it), I do not have a yellow book. I would think a work permit would be fine.

There seem to be more and more hospitals that not only give out the card, but are set up for it. The more people that get it the better as far as the insurance funding is concerned. Although this card may have been designed for migrant workers, when you think about it, it is expensive for migrant workers. The cost for them is probably a half month or more salary, and if the daily hospital costs of ฿350 are true, that's more than one day pay for a migrant worker. Not very affordable at all. It would be similar to ฿20,000 to ฿40,000 a year for the average long term farang (affordable), but then consider a hospital stay of ฿2,000 a day and perhaps not so affordable, or at least not a very good deal. I doubt if many migrant workers will be signing up.

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

[yermanee]

On request from Harry here again the link http://www.siam-info.com/english/for_uninsured_alien.html to following article on www.siam-info.com.

I have authorisation from the author to publish here on Thaivisa.

Quote :

State health insurance for uninsured foreigners

Meanwhile, the free hospital treatment of foreigners (30 THB scheme) living permanently in Thailand has been cancelled At first, no new hospital cards were issued to foreigners, later around mid-September 2013, also the foreigners who were already in possession of this card, were denied free treatment.

I would like to point out that this information is based on Banglamung conditions and that it is quite conceivable that this is handled differently across the country.

With the expiry of the free hospital treatment, however, a new low-cost health insurance for protection of permanently in Thailand residing foreigners was created.

This new cheap, 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.

The permanent 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.

Links

Ministry of Public Health
http://www.thaigov.go.th/...

Information booklet - Department of Public Health
http://www.tro.moph.go.th/download/Strategy/boardmeeting072556/1.3.1board.pdf

Information booklet - Saiyairakhospita (PowerPoint)
http://www.saiyairakhospital.com/back-office/upload/document/Health%20card.pptx

Newspaper - thairath
http://www.thairath.co.th/content/edu/333060.

Hfocus News System
http://www.hfocus.org/content/2013/08/4343

Udon-News.com
http://udon-news.com/en/law/health-insurance-for-foreigners

List of hospitals in Thailand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Thailand

All data provided without guarantee!

Unquote

As mentioned here on Thaivisa some hospitals do not require the "House book" or having a Thai partner.

Yermanee