How Can A School Not Be "Registered" At The Social Security Office & More...

[lostinisaan]

          Hello,

 

              Just curious about laws in this country regarding social security for a school's employees. Just changed school in May and found out that nobody had an idea about my social security, where I've been paying in since 10 years.

 

Then a teacher's sister who works at the SS office said that the director of the school has to "register" his school at the office. That on the other hand would also mean that janitors, teacher's assistants, etc.. would also have to get into the social security system.

 

   A weird situation, as the director was planning to "register" his school, but unfortunately didn't do so yet.

 

    I'll be able to pick up my work permit on Monday, then visit the SS office next door in person and try to continue paying in around 400 baht/ month to have full coverage, independently of the school now.

 

  One passage in my contract says: " Article 9 The employee will confirm the Ministry of Finance in case of any disputes because the contract is set forth and endorsed by Ministry of Finance."

 

Any ideas would be deeply appreciated.  

[casualbiker]

I think article 9 is just trying to absolve the school of any responsibility if problems occur with your tax payments.

At my school the Thai staff and a few Filipinos are on the social security scheme. We foreign staff get told "can not " which is bullcrap.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[lostinisaan]

     Just wanted to add that said school is an "Anuban" in a smaller town and rural area. 

[lostinisaan]

I think article 9 is just trying to absolve the school of any responsibility if problems occur with your tax payments.

At my school the Thai staff and a few Filipinos are on the social security scheme. We foreign staff get told "can not " which is bullcrap.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 

     Hard to understand. Do you guys have a valid work permit? Isn't it a Thai law that you have to have the social security? 

 

I assume that they only want to save some money, as they also have to pay in 600 baht per month and person. That's really bulls-ith. 

 

The Filipino at my school never had a work permit for the last two years, so it was never a topic.

 

And how much do they really care about a janitor, or a teachers' assistant? Guess we all know the answer. 

 

Will post what they'll tell me on Monday at the SS office. 

[BruceMangosteen]

 

Will post what they'll tell me on Monday at the SS office. 

 

 

 

If you don't mind, and have a Thai person with you or speak Thai yourself, please find out for us out here what happens when you in fact go to the self pay as you describe and intend. I know a few people who got lump sum payments for the as you describe it, "ten years" of paying into the system. However, there is another who made a phone inquiry and was told if you take the lump sum payment you can no longer participate and be insured(medical). Thank you. 

[BruceMangosteen]

 

The Filipino at my school never had a work permit for the last two years, so it was never a topic.

 

And how much do they really care about a janitor, or a teachers' assistant? Guess we all know the answer. 

 

Will post what they'll tell me on Monday at the SS office. 

 

 

Like you indicate, the WP activates the Social Security. I thought it was 750baht employee, 750baht school per month. As for the other employees, my understanding is that as Government employees they also get the Social medical coverage. There remains a remote chance some of the workers are in fact working for some sort of outside service provider but I doubt it in a Government school. 

[casualbiker]

The SSO website has an EXCELLENT English version were there is a translated copy of the governing act. Teachers in private schools are NOT covered.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[TerryLH]

"Isn't it a Thai law that you have to have the social security?"

No.
As Casualbiker posted, employees at private schools are no longer eligible. If they've been in the system for 12 months, they can continue to pay on their own. The cost is 432 baht per month. There is a time limit to start paying on your own. If you wait too long you might have to start over to qualify.



"Like you indicate, the WP activates the Social Security. I thought it was 750baht employee, 750baht school per month. As for the other employees, my understanding is that as Government employees they also get the Social medical coverage."

The work permit doesn't activate SS. The Labor and SS Offices don't have anything to do with each other.
The maximum amount you would have to pay is 750 baht. It's a percentage of your salary, up to a max of the 750 for both you and the employer. Someone making 10k a month would only be paying 500 baht.

Government employees who are not civil servants would be enrolled in SS. Those that are civil servants have a different health system they belong to.



"And how much do they really care about a janitor, or a teachers' assistant? Guess we all know the answer."

I'm sorry, I must have missed that. I don't know the answer. What is it?

[lostinisaan]

 

 

Will post what they'll tell me on Monday at the SS office. 

 

 

 

If you don't mind, and have a Thai person with you or speak Thai yourself, please find out for us out here what happens when you in fact go to the self pay as you describe and intend. I know a few people who got lump sum payments for the as you describe it, "ten years" of paying into the system. However, there is another who made a phone inquiry and was told if you take the lump sum payment you can no longer participate and be insured(medical). Thank you. 

 

 

 

 My Thai is good enough to have a polite enough conversation regarding that matter.But for understandable reasons, I'll taker my wife with me, as she'd paid in for me when I worked for an agency and then when I'd to leave Thailand for a few months for medical reasons.

 

Not too long ago, I was at the social security office where i paid in, but in a neighboring province. They printed all out for me and informed me that I could take the amount of almost 70 K out next year, when I turn 55.

 

It's of course in my interest to continue paying in, plus the school's part.

 

Unfortunately, the director had promised that he'll "register" his school soon. I'll -of course- inform you, as we're all sitting in the same boat, working here as teachers.

[TerryLH]

"Unfortunately, the director had promised that he'll "register" his school..."

"His school" leads me to think it's a private school.
Good luck with SS.

[lostinisaan]

"Isn't it a Thai law that you have to have the social security?"

No.
As Casualbiker posted, employees at private schools are no longer eligible. If they've been in the system for 12 months, they can continue to pay on their own. The cost is 432 baht per month. There is a time limit to start paying on your own. If you wait too long you might have to start over to qualify.



"Like you indicate, the WP activates the Social Security. I thought it was 750baht employee, 750baht school per month. As for the other employees, my understanding is that as Government employees they also get the Social medical coverage."

The work permit doesn't activate SS. The Labor and SS Offices don't have anything to do with each other.
The maximum amount you would have to pay is 750 baht. It's a percentage of your salary, up to a max of the 750 for both you and the employer. Someone making 10k a month would only be paying 500 baht.

Government employees who are not civil servants would be enrolled in SS. Those that are civil servants have a different health system they belong to.



"And how much do they really care about a janitor, or a teachers' assistant? Guess we all know the answer."

I'm sorry, I must have missed that. I don't know the answer. What is it?

 

     I apologize when I forgot to mention that I'm working at a government Anuban school, from Kindergarten to Prathomsuksa one to six, and Matayom one to three.

 

Regarding the 750 baht somebody was talking about, that's what I paid in for many many moons, but it changed into 600 baht/ month not too long ago. But how much I'll pay is not even an issue now.

 

A work permit doesn't activate the SS, but you have to have one to even apply for the social security. To make a long story short, I'll try my best to get that done on Monday, right after I picked up my new work permit.

 

My last sentence was more what Thai school directors, who don't register their schools/ employees at the SS department, think about the importance of paying the same amount in for their janitors, Anuban teacher's assistants, etc.,.those who're NOT Civil Servants.

 

   The answer is that they don't really care, as this money could be used by the director for let's say one of his Mia Nois instead. 

 

One of our Anuban teachers has got a sister working at the SS office and the information that all employees, including the janitors, etc.. will also have access to the social security, once they start the process for one Filipino and me, comes from her.

 

What I do not understand is that a Thai government school is not registered at the social security office in Sisaket, where the school's location belongs to?

 

Will post how it goes. Cheers and a good weekend.

[lostinisaan]

"Unfortunately, the director had promised that he'll "register" his school..."

"His school" leads me to think it's a private school.
Good luck with SS.

 

 

      Don't Thai school directors usually act like everybody and everything is owned by him/ her? 

 

 

      I've seen teachers already on their third level ( the highest they can approach, after many years of teaching) had to bow down on their knees to serve the director an orange juice. 

[TerryLH]

If it's a government school, the SS Office can get it fixed with a phone call.

Paying 600 a month to SS would indicate a salary of 12,000 a month.

[Neeranam]

 

 

The Filipino at my school never had a work permit for the last two years, so it was never a topic.

 

And how much do they really care about a janitor, or a teachers' assistant? Guess we all know the answer. 

 

Will post what they'll tell me on Monday at the SS office. 

 

 

Like you indicate, the WP activates the Social Security. I thought it was 750baht employee, 750baht school per month. As for the other employees, my understanding is that as Government employees they also get the Social medical coverage. There remains a remote chance some of the workers are in fact working for some sort of outside service provider but I doubt it in a Government school. 

 

The employee pays 1/3 as do the government and the school. Well that;s what I was told about 10 years ago.

[Kf6vci]

This is a biggie - 10 years' contributions are nothing to sneeze at!

 

"You can only start contributing once you have a WP". ** But then, the chosen hospital had no idea that I've been enrolled. My guess is that the contributions were never actually paid. (Try getting something documenting such SS contributions. I was often asked to pay them in cash). When I needed treatment, I had to pay 

 

My contributions were increased to 750 B this semester. Are you sure about yours at "400 B"?

[Kf6vci]

If it's a government school, the SS Office can get it fixed with a phone call.

Paying 600 a month to SS would indicate a salary of 12,000 a month.

Above a certain pay grade, it's no longer a percentage of one's gross salary.

 

I used to pay 600, now it's 750. (they tried to collect without the new WP but after arguing I got the full amount paid out. Just sharing to give an example of schools attempting to sucker some foreign teachers).

[VocalNeal]

"Unfortunately, the director had promised that he'll "register" his school..."

"His school" leads me to think it's a private school.
Good luck with SS.

 

Has the OP been paying directly to SS or has school simply been deducting 750 a month from salary? 

 

Best to take WP to SS office and see if you are in fact on their books? 

 

I suspect school has not been paying their contribution so 10 years for nothing. Hope I'm wrong but...

[BruceMangosteen]

 

The Labor and SS Offices don't have anything to do with each other.

 

 

 

   The answer is that they don't really care, as this money could be used by the director for let's say one of his Mia Nois instead. 

 

 

 

 

 

You make two important points.....the second of which is in dispute...

 

1. The fact that these various offices don't communicate with each other is somewhat shocking coming from a western country but it's just part of "emerging" from the third world into the "second" world. You could of course add immigration to it and you've got three agencies not inter linked as far as the citizen or foreigner(legally working in said country) is concerned yet, said communication and interface is of the utmost importance for a country to succeed and as I say, emerge and contribute to the world.

 

2. I still don't think it's so easy for a Director to detour funds such as payroll deductions and/or SS contributions to his private stash. Much easier to require commissions on major projects such as book purchases, paving, computer equipment, and other "grants" which require an outside supplier. I personally don't think my Director is involved in such antics but that's an opinion formed with very little actual contact and virtually no conversation as I don't speak Thai. Being an honest Director has to have it's benefits. The also, as you imply, some anyhow, are faithful to their wives and don't have these girlfriends(Mia Nois) on the side to support and buy motorcycles, phones, cars, and pay rent for etc.. 

 

Not to get far off topic, but how much money do you think a Director makes in salary in a major high school?(Government)

[lostinisaan]

This is a biggie - 10 years' contributions are nothing to sneeze at!

 

"You can only start contributing once you have a WP". ** But then, the chosen hospital had no idea that I've been enrolled. My guess is that the contributions were never actually paid. (Try getting something documenting such SS contributions. I was often asked to pay them in cash). When I needed treatment, I had to pay 

 

My contributions were increased to 750 B this semester. Are you sure about yours at "400 B"?

 

   Sorry, when i wasn't clear enough at this point. The 400 baht would just be when continuing paying in without any school/ employer involved.( Which I did, when working for an agency)

 

 I paid in 750 baht in 2005, until this year in March, where they must have changed the law and they only deducted 600. 

 

So, there's a high possibility that they continued to take 750 baht out of a foreigners' salary. But that's not the point now. The deal is that you have to pay in for three months, to be entitled to receive the social security card, where you can usually choose two hospitals.

 

It's pretty easy to find out how much and when the school started to pay into your account. Just go there in person and they'll print you all details out. And even if you had to pay out of your pocket, when already paying in, without having the card yet, they'll reimburse you.

 

 

The law can state a percentage, but it always was 750 baht for foreigners (except a few months only paying 600). It doesn't matter if an employee's making 15 K, or 40 K, it's always 750 baht/ month.

[lostinisaan]

 

 

The Labor and SS Offices don't have anything to do with each other.

 

 

 

   The answer is that they don't really care, as this money could be used by the director for let's say one of his Mia Nois instead. 

 

 

 

 

 

You make two important points.....the second of which is in dispute...

 

1. The fact that these various offices don't communicate with each other is somewhat shocking coming from a western country but it's just part of "emerging" from the third world into the "second" world. You could of course add immigration to it and you've got three agencies not inter linked as far as the citizen or foreigner(legally working in said country) is concerned yet, said communication and interface is of the utmost importance for a country to succeed and as I say, emerge and contribute to the world.

 

2. I still don't think it's so easy for a Director to detour funds such as payroll deductions and/or SS contributions to his private stash. Much easier to require commissions on major projects such as book purchases, paving, computer equipment, and other "grants" which require an outside supplier. I personally don't think my Director is involved in such antics but that's an opinion formed with very little actual contact and virtually no conversation as I don't speak Thai. Being an honest Director has to have it's benefits. The also, as you imply, some anyhow, are faithful to their wives and don't have these girlfriends(Mia Nois) on the side to support and buy motorcycles, phones, cars, and pay rent for etc.. 

 

Not to get far off topic, but how much money do you think a Director makes in salary in a major high school?(Government)

 

 

 

       First point wasn't mine. Regarding the second one: The only thing what Sisaket labor department and the social security office have in common is their location. They're next to each other. 

 

What I was trying to say was that all directors are not very interested in paying social security for quite a few people who're not teachers.

 

( Just thinking about Laotian woman, foreigners on ed, or no visas, etc...)

 

This is my fourth school in ten years and I haven't seen a government school yet, that  wasn't registered at the social security office. My statement that they'll have more money then to spend with their Mia Nois was more a joke.

 

Call the Mia Noi Mercedes, Villa, Holiday, or anything else, please.

 

Being an honest director seems to be very rare in this country. Sorry, I can only speak for lower north east now. A good example, happened at my first school, the most expensive Anuban in town, with an EP. When I went out to have a coffee, a Thai man approaching and asking me if I'd work at this school. ( Pointing at that direction, then said the name of the school.)

 

I couldn't deny as I had the school's emblem on my shirt. The guy seemed to be an honest guy and told me: " When I give 1000 baht to your director, he keeps 600 in his own pocket." I apologized for not having more time and left him alone. But he was damn right, as people were pretty much openly discussing that issue. 

 

The former director had just lost her "position" as she "Ginn Tang Maak" ( Kept too much money in her own pocket.)

 

What goes around, usually comes around. Your question what a director of a big high school makes a month is pretty difficult to answer. Directors of schools buy their positions, and once they retire they'll even make money out of it selling "their school." ( Aeeeh, sorry, their position to make money)

 

 Let's say he/she'd have a basic salary of 70 K /month. Then his/her share when people are trying to bring their kids in and pay at least 30 K, about 60+ when kids want to join the EP.

 

Then those directors who "use" (or get abused by?) agencies. It's not just the free holidays for wife and other school staff, there's always cash involved as well.

 

Considering the various "Tamboons" for temples, then the ones for the school, when they need new computers, a new building, etc...

 

It's very common to "show" receipts of what was being purchased, but 200 baht change the world here........adding a few zeros is not a big deal.

 

 

   The one million dollar question. How much does a director of a bigger high school really make? The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind. 

[lostinisaan]

 

"Unfortunately, the director had promised that he'll "register" his school..."

"His school" leads me to think it's a private school.
Good luck with SS.

 

Has the OP been paying directly to SS or has school simply been deducting 750 a month from salary? 

 

Best to take WP to SS office and see if you are in fact on their books? 

 

I suspect school has not been paying their contribution so 10 years for nothing. Hope I'm wrong but...

 

 

      Haven't met anybody employed by a government school who payed in "directly" at the SS department. One reason might be that the school has to start to send them the needed documents and pay in the same amount they deduct from their employees. 

 

Please read post # 9, I've got all printed out from the office and will be able to take out almost 70 K next year in May, when I turn 55.

 

My post was about my new school that never had foreigners employed and it seems that the director just wanted to save some money to register the janitors, teacher's assistants, etc...

[lostinisaan]

     What a mess. Okay, got almost all I wanted. Could pick up my new work permit, went straight ahead to the labor department next door and then the surprize.(s) 

 

Had my social security card, issued by a neighboring provincial office with me, showed it to an employee and told her what I needed. She checked in her computer and found out that I'm still registered, my former school didn't inform them that I'm not working there anymore.

 

So she wanted to give me a form, send me to the director of my former school, to get it signed.Then talking to my wife, we were asking her if there wouldn't be an easier way to get this solved, as i was NOT in the mood to waste my time and money for a signature, considering that all the offices are connected. (Back and forth 140 km)

 

 So a phone call to an ex- Thai colleague at my former school solved this problem and they promised they'd do that and send it to the office. Then the next shock.

 

   Another form was handed over with a handwritten note, this time a yellow form. Okay, my new school was never registered, what the guys at the social security office didn't understand, nor did I, or my wife.

 

 Now I've got all requirements the school has to come up with, which I'll deliver by tomorrow, when going back to work. The fact that also another foreigner's work permit is ready to get picked up could put a sort of pressure on our director to register his school ASAP.

 

  Then to the Immigration, received my new visa extension on the last day of validity. Why am I not surprised? 12 years of living here. -

[BruceMangosteen]

 

 Let's say he/she'd have a basic salary of 70 K /month. Then his/her share when people are trying to bring their kids in and pay at least 30 K, about 60+ when kids want to join the EP.

 

 

 

Thank you for your report on the WP etc. elsewhere...

 

Regarding this, there have been a few "questionable" arrivals in my classroom. Questionable in the sense that the student has no English ability and is a behavior nightmare etc.. After being told the students are culled out to some extent, I wondered aloud what was going on but it fell on deaf ears. "He got in not the normal way" was one comment. This 30-60K figure is tuition and we are told used to pay the farangs and upkeep such as AC and desks and chairs etc.. How this "budget" could be skimmed is sort of mind boggling to me. It's all on paper I thought.

 

In another situation in a NON EP/MEP school, a friend(farang) had to pay 1000baht to the Director to get his child in a Government school due to a zoning issue. They had moved, I won't bore you, but wanted the kid in this school vs. the one assigned etc.. 1000baht was all it took, admitted. It seemed rude crude and unattractive to me being a teacher in a Government school. 1000baht? Come on I insisted and he confirmed it was in fact 1000baht. What kind of Director is taking 1000baht? So many larger opportunities out there as I mentioned, if said corruption really exists. 

 

Your other mention of buying the position, well once again, this may have some factual basis. It can even be a bidding war of sorts so I was told. 

 

I hope the "New Army" leaders rid the system of this type of corruption. 

[lostinisaan]

 

 

 Let's say he/she'd have a basic salary of 70 K /month. Then his/her share when people are trying to bring their kids in and pay at least 30 K, about 60+ when kids want to join the EP.

 

 

 

Thank you for your report on the WP etc. elsewhere...

 

Regarding this, there have been a few "questionable" arrivals in my classroom. Questionable in the sense that the student has no English ability and is a behavior nightmare etc.. After being told the students are culled out to some extent, I wondered aloud what was going on but it fell on deaf ears. "He got in not the normal way" was one comment. This 30-60K figure is tuition and we are told used to pay the farangs and upkeep such as AC and desks and chairs etc.. How this "budget" could be skimmed is sort of mind boggling to me. It's all on paper I thought.

 

In another situation in a NON EP/MEP school, a friend(farang) had to pay 1000baht to the Director to get his child in a Government school due to a zoning issue. They had moved, I won't bore you, but wanted the kid in this school vs. the one assigned etc.. 1000baht was all it took, admitted. It seemed rude crude and unattractive to me being a teacher in a Government school. 1000baht? Come on I insisted and he confirmed it was in fact 1000baht. What kind of Director is taking 1000baht? So many larger opportunities out there as I mentioned, if said corruption really exists. 

 

Your other mention of buying the position, well once again, this may have some factual basis. It can even be a bidding war of sorts so I was told. 

 

I hope the "New Army" leaders rid the system of this type of corruption. 

 

 

You’re more than welcome. I’ve had 38 kids in an Ep set up, where all kids never had an English lesson at Anuban/ Kindergarten level. A few days ago, there was a little seven year old boy and his parents, waiting for me to open the doors in front of our new EP program.Makes it to 39.

 

 

It turned out that they just came back from the UK, after being there for four years. Both parents are Thai, the boy speaks Cockney English, almost perfectly, but he can’t read, nor write in English.

 

 

Then the aftershock, while my Co-teacher had been seriously sick for a longer time.

 

The little boy can’t speak, write, nor read Thai.

 

 

Which made me to the “tool” that the Thai teacher and the kid can communicate together. I had lessons where Thai math teachers just didn’t get it, speaking Thai to the kid, because he is Thai.

 

 

So now I’m telling the kid what the Thai teachers say, until my Co comes back. She can speak an okay English, because she’s married to a foreigner.

 

Nobody, and I mean nobody was being informed that we’d have a new child, even considering that we wanted to let some go, kids who can’t follow in Thai and in English.

 

 

Then it turned out that the parents went to see the director of our school. The deal was that they wanted to give it a try for a week and then see.

 

 

The same director, who didn’t even register his school as a school and it’s an Anuban, doesn’t matter in a small town. Now I’ve got kids with zero knowledge of English, because their parents are filthy rich.

 

 

 

Many kids who struggle in Thai, unfortunately those who struggle in their mother tongue also have a problem to learn English. Then adding subjects like a little bit of science and math in English does create confusion.

 

 

 

But our program is new, so they’ll have to learn by doing mistakes, which had already started.

 

 

About that 1000 baht thing, I remember when I brought our son to a Anuban, they wanted to have 6000 baht. Why? Because there were six people working in the “financial office.”

 

 

Considering that I was a teacher at that school at this time, I just showed them my cold shoulder and I paid nothing.

 

 

Yeeahh, the Army might be able to change many things, but that could take a long time, for all involved. But once the cancer has developed, it’s sometimes hard to find out where exactly to find it.

 

 

And you can’t fight an enemy that you can’t see. Can you? -

 

[TerryLH]

"The law can state a percentage, but it always was 750 baht for foreigners (except a few months only paying 600). It doesn't matter if an employee's making 15 K, or 40 K, it's always 750 baht/ month."

It's a percentage up to a maximum of 750 baht. Since most foreigners make more than 15k a month, it has appeared to be that is what is always what is due. I've known a couple of foreign teachers who earned less, and payed less into SS.

So what was the 600 baht for?

[lostinisaan]

"The law can state a percentage, but it always was 750 baht for foreigners (except a few months only paying 600). It doesn't matter if an employee's making 15 K, or 40 K, it's always 750 baht/ month."

It's a percentage up to a maximum of 750 baht. Since most foreigners make more than 15k a month, it has appeared to be that is what is always what is due. I've known a couple of foreign teachers who earned less, and payed less into SS.

So what was the 600 baht for?

 

     Seems that our director will send the form I brought back from the social security office and I'll be back paying in next month. No idea why they deducted only 600 baht for a few months.

[BruceMangosteen]

 

     Seems that our director will send the form I brought back from the social security office and I'll be back paying in next month. No idea why they deducted only 600 baht for a few months.

 

 

Where did the money go? "Follow the money...." Several post back you also mentioned you were paying the social insurance yourself. Since there was never a break in your enrollment, the 90 wait should not apply. I might also caution you to pick your own hospital, don't leave it up to another person. You can do so without anyone losing face. Changing hospitals isn't as easy as some might tell you. I know this from first hand experience. 

[lostinisaan]

 

 

     Seems that our director will send the form I brought back from the social security office and I'll be back paying in next month. No idea why they deducted only 600 baht for a few months.

 

 

Where did the money go? "Follow the money...." Several post back you also mentioned you were paying the social insurance yourself. Since there was never a break in your enrollment, the 90 wait should not apply. I might also caution you to pick your own hospital, don't leave it up to another person. You can do so without anyone losing face. Changing hospitals isn't as easy as some might tell you. I know this from first hand experience. 

 

 

    Sorry, for not having time to explain what actually happened. My current school never insured foreigners, or janitors, but now they'll have to. 

 

My former school "forgot" to tell them that I'm not working for them anymore. So a yellow form for my former school, and a blue form for my current school should fix that.

 

They'd promised to get that in order by next week. Once you've got a social security for a particular hospital, but you'll have to go to another one, they'll ( the social security from your area XXX) will reimburse you immediately. Not a big deal in the Land of Why's> ,

[TerryLH]

"Changing hospitals isn't as easy as some might tell you. I know this from first hand experience."

There is a time frame each year when you can change hospitals without any hassles. The requirements are that the hospital you want to go to actually takes SS patients, and that they are currently accepting new SS patients.



"Once you've got a social security for a particular hospital, but you'll have to go to another one, they'll ( the social security from your area XXX) will reimburse you immediately. Not a big deal in the Land of Why's>"

I think you left out a few details.
If you have an emergency and use another hospital it will most likely be covered.
If you just choose to use another hospital, because of a specialist doctor or whatever, you have to get a letter from the old hospital that gives the new hospital permission to treat you under SS. That permission normally has to be done in advance.

You should ask for your 600 baht back if it wasn't going to SS.