public hospital registration for expat thai resident?

[fcbkk]

Wonder if someone can shed light on this?

Permanent Thai resident with Tabien Baan housebook in BKK, currently not working i.e. no work permit.

i heard or read somewhere that it is possible to register with the local public hospitals to get treatment e.g. vaccination boosters at better cost compared to let's say Bumrungrad - but how does it work exactly? Which hospital(s) - is it a free choice or has to be the one nearest i.e. where my household is registered? Anyone knows where there is more info online (including in Thai), e.g. to confirm which hospital for my postcode or similar?

Thank you

[TerryLH]

The registration at government hospitals is to give you a file number that allows them to find your file when you visit again.

Anyone can use government hospitals.

The registration itself doesn't give you any discount. It may seem like it, but the government hospitals regular prices are normally less than private hospitals.

In theory, you can register at every hospital in Thailand.

[fcbkk]

thanks TerryLH - reading your reply made me realise that it is that simple, but i guess i mixed it up a bit and was not clear with my question. what i heard/read somewhere must relate to the Thai insurance, i.e. by registering with the local hospital it is possible to be covered for at least basics. Is this something you/or others can help clarify?

cheers

[harrry]

There was a scheme for one year but it has ended. Apparently some hospital boards accepted all foreigners while some kept it to only foreigners from the neighbouring countries.

[Sheryl]

You may be thinking of the Social Security system, which applies to people employed in the formal sector and is financed through payroll deductions.

If you are employed in Thailand and thus covered by Social Security, you have to select a hospital and register at it, and you will be covered for free care only there (or at other hospital they refer you to if unable to provide what you need). There is some choice as to which hospital you can register at, and can change though I think only at certain times of the year.

If paying out of pocket, you can register at, and get care from (on a fee basis) any and all hospitals you like. It is not necessary to do an advance registration but it does save time later to already have a patient number and card.

In addition to regular government hospitals, you can also use the service of military hospitals and these are often less crowded, and usually good quality. The military hospitals will treat anyone on a fee basis but provide free care only to the military and their dependents. Because Thai civilians can usually get free (or 30 baht) care at government hospitals whereas they would have to pay to use a military hospital, they seldom do, hence the less crowded conditions.

In the provinces especially, provincial hospitals are often severely overcrowded and underfunded (where I live, patients are doubled up on the floor of the wards) so military a good alternative.

Costs at government hospitals (inc. military) are a fraction of that in private hospitals but should still not underestimate how much a catastrophic accident or illness can set you back. Insurance or self-insurance for hospitalization is a must. Outpatient care is pretty affordable.

[TerryLH]

OP, you are probably thinking about the insurance program set up for migrant workers and mistakenly issued to many foreigners last year.

I think in most cases the hospitals corrected their mistake.

So, no insurance like that available at this time.

[fcbkk]

Thank you all for the comments and good info

[Aussieroaming]

I am registered and after getting a dodgy examination for a painful knee I decided that some things were worth paying for.

[Sheryl]

If you are in Bangkok, Dr. Panya at Bumrungrad is highly recommended for knee problems.