I've been in Thailand on a Marriage visa for a few years now and thought I'd better find out if I'm entitled to anything at the local hospital. I don't expect that I am, but thought I'd ask anyway :-)

No matter what your visa, even as a tourist, you are welcome to get care at a government hospital. You are not, however, entitled to it for free, you will have to pay. Again no matter what type of visa you have.

The only situation in which being married to a Thai entitles you to free care is if you spouse is a government civil servant, in which case you will come under the civil service social security scheme.

Some government hospitals - a minority - are reported to treat foreigners for free (or for the token 30 baht) as well as Thais, apparently because they are just not used to charging or don't want to bother with it. Mostly this happens in areas which do not have many farang, and usually it is a lower level facility like a community hospital. Most governent hospitals know very well that they can charge foreigners full fee and will do so, and definitely all tertiary level facilities (which is where a local community hospital will have to refer you for anything specialized or really major) do.

Costs for outpatient care at government hospitals is quite reasonable. But major hospitalizations, while still costing much less than at a private facility, can run to over a million baht, so insurance is essential.

Thanks Sheryl - that clears it up for me.

Can anyone let me know how much it costs for entry-level health insurance for foreigners in Thailand?