Thai government health insurance

[ICyou]

Someone in Chiang Mai mentioned the Thai government now has insurance for foreigners costing $100 US a year. Anyone know anything about this insurance?

[NancyL]

This program has been discontinued. You can read about the current status here:

http://www.lannacarenet.org/foreigner-health-insurance-program-moph-directive/

[jcgodber]

I spent half a day yesterday here in Sa Kaeo completing my application for health coverage . I paid a sum of 2600 baht and was accepted. I will get my card this morning

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[meatboy]

thai gov.doesn't quote $ its thai.baht. to get health cover you have to enroll at your nearest gov.hospital that implaments the scheme.i paid and I have not seen any diff.amount quoted 2,800bht.

[Sheryl]

There is massive confusion about this. A scheme was introduced meant to be for migrant workers from neighboring countries but the decree from the Ministry failed to say so and just said "foreigners".

Some provinces from the onset understood that this meant Foreign migrant workers and have never extended cards to other expats. This is especially true of Bangkok and surrounding areas, and also Chonburi/Pataya.

Some provinces understood it to mean all foreigners and began actively enrolling large numbers of expats, which came to the attention of the central Ministry which told them to cease and desist. This happened in Chiang Mai.

Some provinces understood it to mean all foreigners, still understand it that way and still issue cards to expats. Seems to be the case in much of Issan and, apparently, Sakeo. As the numbers are not great it has thus far flown under the radar but at some point the central MoPH may become aware and if they do they will instruct the hospitals to stop, just as they did in Chiang Mai. So be forewarned that if you have a card you may lose it in the near future and should if possible also get private insurance.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Not just that, but one of Nancy's updates re Chiang Mai talked of some of the government hospitals there who had signed up farangs under the government health insurance scheme lately asking for the cards back and issuing refunds for any unbilled portions of the premium paid, or, deducting any actually incurred medical expenses from the refunded annual premium amount.